Interesting Facts

The annual Midmar Mile is one of the largest open-water swimming events in the world. Thousands of swimmers cross the Midmar Dam in KwaZulu-Natal every February in a series of races.

South Africa is home to the largest population of the critically endangered geometric tortoise. This small, beautifully marked tortoise is found only in the Western Cape and is the focus of dedicated conservation programmes.

The first successful living-donor liver transplant in South Africa was performed in the 1990s. Living-donor programmes have since expanded, giving more patients access to life-saving surgery.

The town of Clarens in the Free State is known as the “Jewel of the Eastern Free State” and is a popular arts and tourism destination. Surrounded by the Maluti Mountains, it hosts galleries, craft shops, and outdoor activities.

South Africa has one of the most advanced blood-transfusion services in Africa. The South African National Blood Service and Western Cape Blood Service supply safe blood products across the country and support complex surgeries and trauma care.

The first successful heart-lung transplant in South Africa was performed in 1991. The procedure remains rare but is available at specialised centres for patients with end-stage heart and lung disease.

The annual Wines of South Africa (WOSA) events and the Cape Wine trade show help promote the country’s wines globally. South African wines regularly win international awards for quality and value.

South Africa is one of the few countries that still operates a working funicular railway for tourists. The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is more famous, but historic funiculars and inclined railways exist at several heritage sites.

The first successful multi-organ transplant involving a heart and kidney in South Africa was performed in the 1990s. Complex multi-organ procedures continue to be carried out at the country’s leading academic hospitals.