What countries does South Africa border?

South Africa is located at the southern tip of the African continent and shares borders with six countries. The total length of South Africa’s border is approximately 4,000 kilometres. To the north, South Africa borders Namibia (967 km), Botswana (1,070 km), and Zimbabwe (225 km). To the east, it shares borders with Mozambique (491 km), and to the northeast, it borders Eswatini (formerly Swaziland, 430 km). Additionally, South Africa surrounds Lesotho (909 km), which is an entirely landlocked country within South Africa’s borders. This geographic position makes South Africa a central player in Southern Africa, with major influences in politics, trade, and regional cooperation.