98 Amazing Southern Africa Fun Facts for 2025
Southern Africa is the hub for Africa’s safaris, and wildlife is definitely a highlight. But there are so many other amazing things to learn about Southern Africa!
This area is a jigsaw puzzle of countries, all with their own histories, cultures, and landscapes.
Southern African countries tend to be a bit more stable politically, and so more accessible to travellers. There are 25 countries on this list, arguably some of Africa’s most fascinating ones.
Here are some great Southern Africa fun facts. I’d suggest visiting as many of these countries as possible! And once you’re done with these, check out some fun facts about North Africa, too!
⚠️ Safety Tip: Check out the Travel Risk Map before you make your travel plans, to be sure your destination is safe.
Fun Facts About Southern Africa
There are many familiar country names in the southern part of Africa. I think we’re all somewhat familiar with the names Kenya and Tanzania, for example. But there are some surprises, too.
In fact, there are a myriad of interesting Southern Africa fun facts. Check it out!
Sao Tome and Principe Facts
1. This little-known country is a wee archipelago off Africa’s west coast, just north of the equator.
2. It gained independence from Portugal in the mid-70s and is one of the least-visited countries in the world.
3. It’s a paradise for lovers of the outdoors, avid bird watchers, and for adventurous foodies.
4. This was one of Africa’s first countries to hold democratic elections.
Equatorial Guinea Facts
5. This small country is made up of a mainland area, Rio Muni, and 5 tiny islands.
6. It’s one of Africa’s richest countries, but most people live in abject poverty.
7. Spanish is the main language in Equatorial Guinea.
* This country is NOT recommended for tourists right now. One of the important things to know about southern Africa is, there are parts that are safer than others.
And even if you get a visa to visit Equatorial Guinea, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be allowed to enter.
Gabon Facts
8. Home to the Loango National Park, thought to be one of the very best spots in Africa for viewing wildlife. Forest elephants, chimps and gorillas can be seen here.
9. Leatherbacks, the world’s largest sea turtle, call Gabon home. This is one southern Africa fun fact that I love!
10. In contrast to the arid northern countries, almost 90% of Gabon is rainforest.
11. This is where the equator begins to pass through Africa from the west.
* Use caution if you decide to visit Gabon. Due to some civil unrest in the country, certain areas can be risky to be in.
Republic of the Congo Facts
12. It’s also known as the “Congo Republic”, or “Congo (Brazzaville)”.
13. An air-conditioned train, La Gazelle, runs through part of the country, and provides captivating views of the scenery.
14. There are Pygmy tribes native to the country. Anywhere from 250,000-900,000 Pygmies remain there today.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Facts
15. DRC was formerly known as Zaire.
16. More than 200 ethnic groups are represented here today. Kinshasa, the capital, is the world’s second-largest French-speaking city.
17. It is one of the most resource-rich countries in the world, but music is among its most significant exports.
18. The DRC is home to the Virunga National Park, famous for its Mountain Gorillas. It also plays host to over 1000 other wildlife species.
Rwanda Facts
18. Known as the Land of a Thousand Hills.
19. The country came to the world’s attention due to the work of Dian Fossey with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. This work was memorialized in the movie Gorillas in the Mist.
20. A great deal of the country’s income in the past has come from poaching. To replace this income and thereby discourage poaching, honey farms have been set up.
21. Rwanda’s parliament has the highest percentage of female members of any country worldwide, at 60%. This is an awesome thing to know about Africa!
Burundi Facts
22. Two-thirds of Burundian people are Roman Catholic. The Jehovah’s Witness and 7th Day Adventist churches have been banned. Their teachings are thought to challenge civil authority.
23. Home to the Mosso screeching frog and the walking catfish can be found here.
24. The city of Bujumbura is an excellent spot to find French cuisine, as well as wine and nightlife.
25. The political climate makes Burundi dangerous at the moment. Check the Safety Index here if you’re thinking of visiting.
Uganda Facts
26. Uganda has the youngest average population in the world, at 15.7 years. Life expectancy here is 65 years.
27. The national bird of Uganda is the grey-crowned crane. I love that there are so many Southern Africa fun facts about the iconic wildlife here!
28. The endangered Mountain Gorilla is also found here.
29. The country is known for having some of the least expensive wildlife safaris in Africa.
Kenya Facts
30. Kenya’s Turkana Basin is the spot where the oldest human bones ever discovered were found.
31. The first woman ever to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize was Wangari Muta Maathai, from Kenya, in 2004. Another awesome southern Africa fun fact!
33. Kenya cares about its wildlife. It’s protected by 4 marine national parks, and 6 marine reserves. Also 23 terrestrial national parks, 28 terrestrial reserves, and 4 national sanctuaries.
Somalia Facts
34. In ancient times, Somalia formed part of “Punt”. This was a region of Africa once known as the “Land of Aromatics and Incense.”
35. The book and movie Black Hawk Down were based on true events in Somalia.
36. Camels are a part of the fibre of Somali life. They are transportation, status, and income. They are also the country’s main source of milk and meat.
37. According to the International SOS Travel Risk Map, travel to Somalia carries an Extreme Travel Risk.
Tanzania Facts
38. Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is one of the most well-known parks in the world. It’s a World Heritage Site and one of the 7 Wonders of the World.
39. The Serengeti is a part of the great migration of the wildebeest. When it comes to things to know about southern Africa for visitors, this is important. The migration is an incredible spectacle!
40. The waters off its coast, in particular around the Zanzibar Islands, have some of the best scuba diving in the world.
41. Its name is a combination of the name of Lake Tanganyika, on Tanzania‘s west border. Along with the country’s famous Zanzibar island.
The Seychelles
42. Made up of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, most of which are uninhabited. Together they form a country that is one of the wealthiest in Africa.
43. They were once a pirate hideout. Also, one of the islands is thought to be haunted, the spirit guarding a treasure that’s buried there.
44. Water sports are a main attraction here, as well as wildlife such as giant tortoises and bird life. An important thing to know about Africa – there is a lot more to do than safari!
45. Has no indigenous population; the Seychellois people descend from past immigrants from France, India, China, and other parts of Africa.
Comoros
46. The main industries of the small archipelago are tourism, fishing, and perfume distillation. Ylang-ylang, an ingredient in perfumes, is endemic to the islands.
47. The national dish is often considered to be Lobster a la Vanille, or lobster with vanilla sauce.
48. The languages spoken here are French, Arabic, and Comorian, called Shikomoro by the locals. This is a combination of Arabic and Swahili.
49. Cars in Comoros drive on the right.
Angola Facts
50. Home to the Kalandula Waterfall, second in size only to Victoria Falls on the Zambia -Zimbabwe border.
51. They have a couple of interesting laws: 1) No removing Kwanza, the local currency, from the country, and 2) No taking pictures of government buildings, or looking at them with binoculars.
52. A popular attraction is called Miradoura da Lua, Portuguese for “Viewpoint if the Moon”. The striking lunar-like landscape is the result of millions of years of erosion.
53. At one point in history, Angola was under Portuguese rule.
Zambia Facts
54. Zambia has a rare and well-deserved reputation for political stability. It has been able to avoid the war, conflict, and political upheaval that has plagued much of Africa.
55. Its spectacular Victoria Falls were named after Britain’s Queen Victoria. The naming was done by well-known explorer David Livingstone of Scotland.
56. One thing to know about Africa that most people don’t – Zambia has one of the fast-growing populations on the planet.
57. Most ATMs here dispense US dollars, as well as the local kwacha.
Malawi Facts
58. Home to the first Carlsberg Beer Brewery outside of Denmark.
59. The renowned friendliness of Malawian people has earned the country the nickname The Warm Heart of Africa.
60. Dance is an essential element in Malawian culture. The traditional dance Gule Wamakulu, or “The Big Dance”, is the most important dance.
61. It’s best known for the beautiful Lake Malawi. The 3rd largest freshwater lake in Africa, it’s an ideal spot for diving, snorkelling, and lounging on the beach.
Mozambique Facts
62. Home to the Bazaruto Archipelago, a national park protecting more than 2000 types of fish.
As well, leatherhead, loggerhead, and green turtles, along with dolphins, rare dugongs, and many other marine creatures find a safe home here.
63. During the country’s civil war, from 1977-1992, at least 90% of its elephants were killed by poachers. As the elephant population has recovered, the number of females with a genetic mutation causing tuskless-ness has increased exponentially.
64. The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese.
65. About 2/3 of the population lives in rural areas, many dwelling in traditional huts. They have round mud walls and thatched roofs.
Madagascar Facts
66. The vast majority of Madagascar’s wildlife exists nowhere else on the planet.
67. Its ecosystems consist of rainforest, dry forest, and desert.
68. Some of the world’s largest coral reefs encircle the island country of Madagascar.
69. 111 species and subspecies of lemurs are endemic to Madagascar.
70. People here have many taboos, called Fady. For example, farming on Tuesdays is Fady.
Mauritius Facts
71. In the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. There is no official language, but most people speak Creole.
72. The most densely populated of all African countries. There are almost 1.4 million people in only 2,040 km², with a high life expectancy.
73. There are 9 species of birds that are only found in Mauritius. Winter horse racing, the Mauritius National Botanical Garden, and the beaches are main attractions.
74. The island was home to the now-extinct dodo bird. The dodo is still considered to be the national bird. This is another of my favourite Southern Africa fun facts!
Namibia Facts
75. Home to the Himba people, some of the few indigenous people still living according to ancient traditions.
76. The first country in the world to include environmental protection in its constitution.
77. Some of the highest sand dunes in the world are here – great for sandboarding!
78. The Caprivi Strip, the panhandle in the far northeast of Namibia, has some of the last true wilderness in Africa.
Botswana Facts
81. Mopane worms and roasted termites are delicacies to the Batswana people, as Botswana citizens are called.
82. The video for pop star Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” was filmed in one of the world’s biggest salt pans, Makgadikgadi Salt Pan.
Zimbabwe Facts
83. Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, the most in the world. They also use multiple foreign currencies, having abandoned the Zimbabwean dollar.
84. It shares Victoria Falls with Zambia. When the Falls are full, they can be heard from up to 40 km away.
85. In 2008 Zimbabwe experienced inflation of 231 million percent.
86. The Great Zimbabwe Ruins are the remains of an Iron Age medieval city in the country’s southeast. Smaller ruins are also found in the area.
South Africa Facts
87. Made up of treed savannah, called bushveld, and grasslands, called highveld. “Veld” is Afrikanns for “field”.
88. Home to some well-known and loved road trips, such as the Garden Route and the Namaqualand Road Trip.
89. Afrikaans of one of the 11 official languages of South Africa. If there’s one thing to know about Africa before you go, it’s what languages you’ll be able to understand.
90. The beautiful mixture of cultures in South Africa has earned it the nickname the “Rainbow Nation”.
eSwatini) Facts
91. Legally known as Swaziland until 2018. The country was always Eswatini to its people, but the name was legally changed in 2018.
92. All 17,364 km² of Eswatini lies within South Africa but is also bordered by Mozambique.
93. Hosts the MTN Bushfire Festival, an annual internationally known music, arts and cultural festival. You can also observe the Reed Dance of Swaziland, also known as the Dance of 100,000 Virgins.
94. Eswatini’s monarchy is found in the town of Lobamba. The Royal Village is here, and all of its most important buildings.
Lesotho Facts
95. Lesotho as a whole is the world’s highest country, as all of it is above 1,400 m. It’s also completely surrounded South Africa.
96. Its motto is “Peace, Rain, and Prosperity”.
97. Downhill skiing is available in Lesotho between June and August.
98. Tsehlanyani Nature Reserve is home to 180 million-year-old dinosaur footprints. They’re preserved in sandstone at the Subang Stream.
Southern Africa Map
Facts About Southern Africa: FAQs
What is unique about Southern Africa?
Southern Africa is unique in its enormous number of spoken languages, rich mineral deposits, and varied topography.
As many as 1,500 to 2000 languages are spoken in Southern Africa, and mineral deposits include diamonds, gold, and platinum. Landscapes range from rainforests to deserts to bushveld.
What is Southern Africa best known for?
One of the things Southern Africa is best known for having the world’s largest variety of animals. is its epic wildlife. Between mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates like spiders and insects, Southern Africa is home to thousands of animal species.
What types of animals live in Southern Africa?
Southern Africa is home to the world’s most epic wildlife. This includes hippos, rhinos, lions, elephants, African Wild Dogs, pangolins, bushbabies, gorillas, baboons, bats, and many, many more.
Summing It Up: Southern Africa Facts
So you see, Africa is so much more than amazing wildlife safaris! The people, cultures, landscape, history, food… I don’t think that there’s another place in the world that has more to offer a traveller.
If you get the chance, visit as many of these countries as you can, and see what new southern Africa fun facts you can find!
Every time I go, I discover more.
Happy Travels!
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