Africa · neighbouring countries
Neighboring Countries of South Africa
South Africa shares land borders with 6 countries: Botswana (1,969 km), Lesotho (1,106 km), Namibia (1,005 km), Mozambique (496 km), Eswatini (438 km) and Zimbabwe (230 km).
- South Africa
- Neighbouring countries
- Neighbours of neighbours
Countries bordering South Africa
| Neighbour | Border length | Capital | Visa for South Africa citizens |
|---|---|---|---|
 Botswana |
Gaborone | Visa-free · 90 days | |
 Lesotho |
Maseru | Visa-free | |
 Namibia |
Windhoek | Visa-free | |
 Mozambique |
Maputo | Visa-free · 30 days | |
 Eswatini |
Mbabane | Visa-free | |
 Zimbabwe |
Harare | Visa-free |
Botswana accounts for 38% of South Africa's 5,244 km of land borders. Lengths: CIA World Factbook (public domain).
Geography of South Africa
Location
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Area
1,219,090 km² — slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Terrain
Vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Climate
Mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Highest and lowest points
Highest: Ntheledi (Mafadi) 3,450 m. Lowest: Atlantic/Indian Oceans 0 m. Mean elevation: 1034 m.
Natural resources
Gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Natural hazards
Prolonged droughts volcanism: the volcano that formed Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands is South Africa's only active volcano
Good to know
Note 1: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Eswatini note 2: sometimes mistaken for the southernmost point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope is more accurately described as the southwestern-most point of the African continent; Cape Agulhas, the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, is the southernmost point of the African continent
Neighbours of South Africa's neighbours
Countries one border further away — reachable overland through a neighbouring country.
Angola
Malawi
Tanzania
ZambiaAlso with 6 neighbours in Africa
Neighboring countries of Burkina Faso
Neighboring countries of Cameroon
Neighboring countries of Central African Republic
Neighboring countries of Chad
Neighboring countries of Ethiopia
Neighboring countries of Guinea
Neighboring countries of Libya- Neighboring countries of Mozambique
Neighboring countries of South Sudan- Countries with the most neighbours
- Longest land borders in the world
- Visa-free countries for South Africa passport holders
- South Africa visa requirements
Frequently asked questions about the borders of South Africa
How many countries border South Africa?
Which is the longest border of South Africa?
Is South Africa landlocked?
How long are the land borders of South Africa?
Do South Africa citizens need a visa for neighbouring countries?
What is the highest point of South Africa?
Borders and geography: CIA World Factbook (public domain). Visa rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0).