Southern Africa, as the UN groups it, has five countries at the southern tip of the continent, south of the Central and East African countries you have met.
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| South Africa | Pretoria (see the note) |
| Namibia | Windhoek |
| Botswana | Gaborone |
| Lesotho | Maseru |
| Eswatini | Mbabane (see the note) |
Key idea
South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (where the president and government work), Cape Town (where parliament meets) and Bloemfontein (home of the highest court of appeal). Namibia (Windhoek) and Botswana (Gaborone) lie to the north. Lesotho (Maseru) and Eswatini (Mbabane; its royal and legislative capital is Lobamba) are small kingdoms.
Why it works
South Africa split its capital three ways in 1910, when four colonies joined to form one country: each of the main parts got one branch of the government. Lesotho is an enclave: a country completely surrounded by another. It is also very high; all of its land is above 1,000 meters. Eswatini, which was called Swaziland until 2018, sits between South Africa and Mozambique.
Worked example: Is Lesotho part of South Africa?
Lesotho is surrounded by South Africa on every side. Is it part of South Africa?
- Lesotho has its own government, king and capital, Maseru.
- It is a UN member state.
Answer: No. It is an independent country inside South Africa.
Worked example: Biggest city or capital?
Is Johannesburg one of South Africa's capitals?
- Johannesburg is South Africa's largest city.
- The three capitals are Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein.
Answer: No.
Common mistake
Many people think Lesotho is part of South Africa, because it is completely surrounded by it. Lesotho is an independent country. Also, Johannesburg is the biggest city, but it is not one of the three capitals.