Southern Africa

Southern Africa is the southernmost sub-region of the African continent, encompassing countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique. Characterized by its temperate and sub-tropical climates, southern Africa straddles the Tropic of Capricorn, which cuts right through the middle of the sub-region, roughly dividing Namibia in two. Southern Africa hosts one of the largest and most popular tourist locations in the entire continent: the mighty Victoria Falls which lies on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Feeding the majestic waterfalls of Victoria Falls is the Zambezi River that flows from the northwestern quarter of Zambia to the Indian Ocean via Mozambique. 

The geography of southern Africa is incredibly varied; from dry and arid zones such as deserts to green, luscious areas such as forests and grasslands, southern Africa possesses some of the continent’s most extensive and beautiful wildlife. Famed for its natural landscapes and wildlife, southern Africa attracts millions of people to its meadows, deserts, forests, and coastal areas each year. While southern Africa holds much tourist potential, and thereby business opportunities as well, it also possesses vast natural resources. Indeed, southern Africa hosts the world’s largest resources of platinum, cobalt, vanadium, and chromium. Additionally, southern Africa also has plentiful natural mineral resources such as diamond, gold, copper, and iron ore. As a result, southern Africa is blessed with mineral resources, which makes it one of the foremost regions of the world with the highest economic potential. Another key natural resource found in abundant quantities in southern Africa is oil. Angola is the primary beneficiary of this natural lottery, having 50% of its GDP and 89% of its exports driven by oil. For this reason, Angola has been a member of OPEC since 2007, one of only seven African countries to have become a member of the organization. 

Similarly, to development projects undertaken in Central Africa such as the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), southern Africa engages in missions to boost business and economic development in the sub-region. For instance, the Southern African Development Community was founded in 1980 by 16 southern African states to facilitate cooperation and investment.