Check out these 10 mega-cool facts about South Africa, and you'll beam with pride for your country. South Africa rocks! First Car Rental is a proudly South African car rental company with branches across the country, ready to get you to and from your destination of choice.
1. Rovos Rail
"We lost so much money in the early days and we knew nothing about hospitality. In my naivety, I believed what we were offering was so unique that tickets would sell easily. Boy, was I mistaken." — Rohan Vos, owner and CEO of Rovos Rail Tours.
On 29th April 2019, Rovos Rail celebrated three decades in South Africa with a new route, Trail of Two Oceans. The maiden voyage launched in July 2019, starting in Dar es Salaam and traveling to Lobito in Angola. This marks the first time in history that a passenger train has traveled the east-to-west copper trail. Rent a car for your return journey after this incredible rail experience.
2. Route 62
The French may love their wine, but in South Africa, wine takes you on a journey—literally! Route 62 is the longest wine route in the world, stretching over 850 km between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The scenic route passes through Klein Karoo, Robertson, Wellington, Calitzdorp, Worcester, and Oudtshoorn, where you can even ride an ostrich. Get car rental in Cape Town from First Car Rental and explore this world-famous route.
3. The Hummer 3
General Motors South Africa is the only place outside the USA to build the Hummer 3. In 2006, GM SA began production of this popular American sports utility vehicle at a plant in Port Elizabeth. The plant produces a right-hand drive version for export to markets in Europe and Asia and for local sale. Hire a car to visit this historic production site.
4. No Nukes
South Africa is the only country in the world that has voluntarily abandoned its Nuclear Weapons Programme. South Africa ended its nuclear weapons programme in 1989. All the bombs (six constructed and one under construction) were dismantled, and South Africa acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons when South African Ambassador to the United States, Harry Schwarz, signed the treaty in 1991. Rent a car from First Car Rental and explore this peaceful nation.
5. The CAT Scan
South Africans invented the CAT Scan. The computed axial tomography scan, or CAT scan, was developed at Tufts University in the UK by South African Physicist Allan Cormack and British Electrical Engineer Godfrey Hounsfield of EMI Laboratories. Their achievement secured them the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Book a car rental from First Car Rental and visit the birthplace of this groundbreaking invention.
6. FIFA World Cup
South Africa is the first African country to host a FIFA World Cup (in 2010) and is one of two countries in the world to have hosted the cricket, rugby, and soccer world cups (along with England). Hire a car from First Car Rental to visit the iconic stadiums that hosted this historic event.
7. Macadamia Nuts
South Africa is the largest macadamia nut producer in the world, with production increasing by 4,000 hectares a year. The nuts are mostly grown in the Limpopo region, where they thrive in tropical conditions alongside avocados, papayas, mangoes, and bananas. Need a ride in Limpopo? First Car Rental has you covered with convenient car hire options.
8. Bloukrans Bridge
Adventure seekers from all over the world flock to leap off the Bloukrans Bridge, the highest commercial bungee jump in the world, standing 216 meters above the Bloukrans River. The bridge is situated in the heart of the Garden Route and forms part of the N2 Highway, connecting Cape Town with Durban. Rent an SUV from First Car Rental to drive along the Garden Route and experience this thrilling adventure.
9. The Great White Shark
In 1991, South Africa became the first country in the world to legally protect the Great White Shark. If caught or killed unintentionally, a Great White Shark must be kept whole and handed over to a fisheries officer. No Great White Shark, part or product thereof, may be sold. In 2005, the Whale Shark and the Basking Shark were added to the prohibited species list. Hire a car from First Car Rental and visit the coastal areas where these majestic creatures are protected.
10. Vilakazi Street
There is no other street in the world that can claim to have been home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners. Vilakazi Street in Soweto was home to both the late President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Rent a car from First Car Rental Roodepoort and explore this historic street, rich in South Africa’s heritage.
