Where is South Africa located?
South Africa is located at the southern tip of the African continent. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe to the north, Mozambique and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south.
1. Which South African island is home to the largest breeding colony of African penguins?
Dyer Island
2. Robben Island, known for its prison that housed Nelson Mandela, lies off the coast of which South African city?
Cape Town
3. Marion Island and Prince Edward Island form a volcanic group south of South Africa, known as what?
Prince Edward Islands
4. The Albatross Sanctuary on Bird Island is known for protecting which iconic seabird?
The wandering albatross
5. St. Croix Island, near Port Elizabeth, was once a leper colony. What is its current claim to fame?
It's a breeding ground for endangered African penguins.
6. The small island of Dassen has the largest colony of what mammal in South Africa?
The Cape fur seal
7. What notorious pirate captain used Tristan da Cunha, a remote island group, as a hideout?
François Leguat
8. Marion Island is home to a rare freshwater fish found nowhere else in the world. What is it called?
The Marion Island galaxias
9. Gough Island, part of the Tristan da Cunha group, is a World Heritage Site due to its unique ecosystem. What type of habitat is it?
A subantarctic oceanic island
10. The Malgas Island Marine Reserve offers stunning underwater photography opportunities. What type of underwater life is it famous for?
Kelp forests and colorful reef fish
11. Which South African island chain is home to the world's smallest flightless bird, the Tristan da Cunha rail?
Tristan da Cunha Islands
12. The penguin species on Robben Island are not native to South Africa. Where did they originally come from?
Australia
13. Marion Island has a harsh climate with frequent snowstorms. What is the highest recorded wind speed ever measured there?
221 kilometers per hour (137 mph)
14. Gough Island is home to some of the world's oldest and largest mosses. What is the nickname for these ancient giants?
The "Gough moss forest"
15. Bird Island was once known as "Isles aux Cochons" by French explorers. What does this translate to in English?
"Island of Pigs"
16. The Dassen Island Lighthouse, built in 1865, is the oldest operational lighthouse in South Africa. What unique feature does it have?
It is the only remaining square lighthouse in the country.
17. The Prince Edward Islands are home to several active volcanoes. What is the name of the most recently active volcano?
Marion Island volcano
18. St. Croix Island is now a popular tourist destination for birdwatching and beach activities. What was the nickname given to it during its leper colony days?
"Rotten Island"
19. The Malgas Island Marine Reserve is a popular spot for scuba diving and snorkeling. What is the Afrikaans word for "kelp," the underwater forests found there?
"Blaskelp"
20. The Tristan da Cunha archipelago is the most remote inhabited island group in the world. How far is it from the nearest continent (South America)?
2,816 kilometers (1,749 miles)
21. Gough Island is home to a colony of northern rockhopper penguins with an unusual orange crest. What gives them this unique coloration?
Carotenoids in their diet, such as krill
22. The Prince Edward Islands are a breeding ground for several seabird species, including the majestic southern giant petrel. What is the wingspan of this large seabird?
Up to 3.5 meters (11.5 feet)
23. Marion Island has a research station operated by the South African National Antarctic Programme. What is the name of the station?
Marion Island Marine Mammal Research Station
24. Bird Island is named for the incredible number of seabirds that nest there. How many pairs of breeding seabirds are estimated to be on the island?
Over 2 million