Mapungubwe (1050–1270) Cape Colony (1652–1910) Swellendam (1795) Graaff Reinet (1795–1796) Waterboer's Land (1813–1871) Adam Kok's Land (1825–1861) Winburg (1836–1844) Potchefstroom (1837–1848) Republic of Utrecht (1854–1858) Lydenburg Republic (1856–1860) Nieuw Republiek (1884–1888) Griqualand East (1861–1879) Griqualand West (1870) Klein Vrystaat (1886–1891) Stellaland (1882–1885) Goshen (1882–1883) Zululand (1816–1897) Natalia Republic (1839–1843) Orange Free State (1854–1902) South African Republic (1857–1902) Union of South Africa (1910–1961) Bophuthatswana (1977–1994) Ciskei (1981–1994) Transkei (1976–1994) Venda (1979–1994) Republic of South Africa (1961–present)

The Republic of South Africa, also known by other official names, is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa. The South African coast stretches 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) and borders both the Atlantic and Indian oceans. To the north of South Africa lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland, while the Kingdom of Lesotho is an independent enclave surrounded by South African territory.

Modern human beings have inhabited South Africa for more than 100,000 years. At the time of European contact, its indigenous peoples reflected migrations from other parts of Africa, where new tribes had become dominant. Two major groups were Xhosa and Zulu peoples.