South Africa Crossword - WordMint - Free Printable

Let's solve this South Africa-themed crossword puzzle step by step. I'll go through each clue and fill in the answers based on general knowledge about South Africa.

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Across Clues:

2. Missing flag color: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, White
- The South African flag has six colors: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, White, and Black.
→ Missing color is Black
✔ Answer: BLACK

3. Northernmost capital of South Africa
- South Africa has three capitals:
- Pretoria (executive)
- Cape Town (legislative)
- Bloemfontein (judicial)
- The northernmost is Pretoria
✔ Answer: PRETORIA

6. Largest National Park
- Kruger National Park is the largest national park in South Africa.
✔ Answer: KRUGER

9. National bird
- The national bird of South Africa is the Blue Crane
✔ Answer: BLUE CRANE

12. Current president
- As of 2024, the President of South Africa is Cyril Ramaphosa
✔ Answer: RAMAPHOSA *(Note: This may change over time; current as of 2024)*

13. Capital along southern Pacific coast
- The only major capital city on the southern coast is Cape Town, which is on the Atlantic Ocean. Wait — Pacific? That’s a mistake.
- South Africa does not border the Pacific Ocean. It borders the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
- The southern coast is Atlantic-facing. But Cape Town is on the southwestern coast.
- However, no South African capital is on the Pacific coast — that’s impossible.
- Possibly a trick or error in the clue.
- But perhaps it refers to Cape Town being on the southern coast (though not Pacific). Alternatively, maybe the clue meant Indian Ocean?
- Let's double-check: Cape Town is on the Atlantic, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and Durban are on the Indian Ocean.
- But none are capitals. So likely, the clue means Cape Town, even if geographically off.
- Or maybe it's a typo — perhaps "Pacific" should be "Atlantic"?
- Since Cape Town is the legislative capital and located on the southern coast (Atlantic), we’ll go with that.
✔ Answer: CAPE TOWN

15. Located in which continent
- South Africa is in Africa
✔ Answer: AFRICA

17. Most popular sport
- Rugby, cricket, and soccer are all popular, but soccer (football) is the most popular.
✔ Answer: SOCCER

18. National tree
- The national tree of South Africa is the Real Yellowwood (*Podocarpus latifolius*)
✔ Answer: YELLOWWOOD

19. How many official languages
- South Africa has 11 official languages
✔ Answer: ELEVEN

20. Largest city in South Africa
- Johannesburg is the largest city by population
✔ Answer: JOHANNESBURG

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Down Clues:

1. Largest Lake
- The largest lake in South Africa is Lake Ngami (in Botswana, but historically part of SA’s region?)
- Actually, South Africa doesn't have very large natural lakes. The largest natural lake is Lake Sibayi (coastal lagoon), but the largest man-made lake is Gariep Dam (also called The Orange River Dam) or Olifants Dam?
- But commonly accepted answer for "largest lake" in South Africa is Lake St Lucia (a coastal lake system).
- However, Lake Ngami is not in SA.
- The largest artificial reservoir is Gariep Dam, but the largest natural lake is Lake Sibayi.
- But the most commonly cited answer is Lake St Lucia.
- However, Lake Ngami is in Botswana.
- Let’s check: Lake St Lucia is a large coastal lake in KwaZulu-Natal. It's one of the largest in the country.
- But another candidate: Vaal Dam?
- Actually, Lake St Lucia is often considered the largest natural lake in South Africa.
✔ Answer: ST LUCIA (or possibly LAKESIBAYI — but more likely ST LUCIA)

Wait — let’s reconsider: Lake Sibayi is actually larger than St Lucia? No, St Lucia is larger.

But some sources say Lake Sibayi is the largest lagoon.

But St Lucia is a lake system and is the largest freshwater lake?

Actually, South Africa has no large freshwater lakes. Most are dams.

So the best answer might be Gariep Dam (also known as The Orange River Dam), but it's artificial.

But the clue says "Largest Lake" — likely meaning natural.

Most reliable answer: Lake St Lucia — a large coastal lake/lagoon system.

✔ Answer: ST LUCIA

4. South Africa is the second biggest producer of
- South Africa is the second-largest producer of gold in the world (after China or Australia — depends on year).
- Also, it's a major producer of platinum, diamonds, uranium, etc.
- But gold is the most common answer to this type of clue.
- South Africa used to be #1, now #2 or #3.
- Still, gold is a strong candidate.
✔ Answer: GOLD

5. National flower
- The national flower of South Africa is the Protea (specifically *Protea cynaroides*, the King Protea)
✔ Answer: PROTEA

7. Highest mountain
- The highest mountain in South Africa is Mount Nelso — wait, Mafadi? No.
- Table Mountain? No.
- Mafadi is the highest peak in the Drakensberg range, at 3,450 meters, but Mount Kilimanjaro is higher — but that’s Tanzania.
- In South Africa: Mafadi is the highest point — 3,450 m.
- But actually, Thabana Ntlenyana is the highest mountain in Southern Africa, located in Lesotho, but also part of the Drakensberg range.
- Wait — Thabana Ntlenyana is in Lesotho, not South Africa.
- The highest mountain entirely within South Africa is Mafadi (3,450 m).
✔ Answer: MAFADI

8. Longest River
- The longest river in South Africa is the Orange River
✔ Answer: ORANGE

10. National fish
- The national fish of South Africa is the Galjoen (*Dichistius capensis*)
✔ Answer: GALJOEN

11. National animal
- The national animal of South Africa is the Springbok
✔ Answer: SPRINGBOK

14. City with highest population
- Johannesburg has the highest population among cities in South Africa.
✔ Answer: JOHANNESBURG

16. Central most capital
- The central capital is Bloemfontein — the judicial capital.
✔ Answer: BLOEMFONTEIN

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Now, let's compile the answers:

#### Across:
2. BLACK
3. PRETORIA
6. KRUGER
9. BLUE CRANE
12. RAMAPHOSA
13. CAPE TOWN
15. AFRICA
17. SOCCER
18. YELLOWWOOD
19. ELEVEN
20. JOHANNESBURG

#### Down:
1. ST LUCIA
4. GOLD
5. PROTEA
7. MAFADI
8. ORANGE
10. GALJOEN
11. SPRINGBOK
14. JOHANNESBURG
16. BLOEMFONTEIN

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Final Crossword Grid Filling (Based on Clue Numbers):

We can now reconstruct the grid using these answers.

Let’s map them:

- Across 2: BLACK (5 letters) → fits in 2
- Across 3: PRETORIA (8 letters) → starts at 3
- Across 6: KRUGER (6 letters)
- Across 9: BLUE CRANE (10 letters) → “BLUE” + “CRANE” = 10 letters
- Across 12: RAMAPHOSA (9 letters)
- Across 13: CAPE TOWN (9 letters)
- Across 15: AFRICA (6 letters)
- Across 17: SOCCER (6 letters)
- Across 18: YELLOWWOOD (10 letters)
- Across 19: ELEVEN (6 letters)
- Across 20: JOHANNESBURG (13 letters)

Down:
- 1: ST LUCIA (8 letters)
- 4: GOLD (4 letters)
- 5: PROTEA (6 letters)
- 7: MAFADI (6 letters)
- 8: ORANGE (6 letters)
- 10: GALJOEN (7 letters)
- 11: SPRINGBOK (9 letters)
- 14: JOHANNESBURG (13 letters)
- 16: BLOEMFONTEIN (13 letters)

Now, check intersections:

- Across 3: PRETORIA intersects Down 16: BLOEMFONTEIN? No — different positions.
- Across 20: JOHANNESBURG must intersect Down 14: JOHANNESBURG — same word!
→ So both 14 Down and 20 Across are JOHANNESBURG — makes sense.
- Across 13: CAPE TOWN — C-A-P-E-T-O-W-N (9 letters)
- Across 12: RAMAPHOSA — R-A-M-A-P-H-O-S-A (9 letters)
- Across 19: ELEVEN — E-L-E-V-E-N (6 letters)
- Across 18: YELLOWWOOD — Y-E-L-L-O-W-W-O-O-D (10 letters)
- Across 9: BLUE CRANE — B-L-U-E-C-R-A-N-E (10 letters)
- Across 6: KRUGER — K-R-U-G-E-R (6 letters)
- Across 15: AFRICA — A-F-R-I-C-A (6 letters)
- Across 17: SOCCER — S-O-C-C-E-R (6 letters)

Now check Down clues:

- Down 1: ST LUCIA — 8 letters → probably starts at 1
- Down 4: GOLD — 4 letters → intersects with Across 5?
- Down 5: PROTEA — 6 letters → starts at 5
- Down 7: MAFADI — 6 letters
- Down 8: ORANGE — 6 letters
- Down 10: GALJOEN — 7 letters
- Down 11: SPRINGBOK — 9 letters
- Down 14: JOHANNESBURG — 13 letters
- Down 16: BLOEMFONTEIN — 13 letters

Wait — Down 14 and 20 Across are both JOHANNESBURG — so they cross at the start.

Similarly, Down 16: BLOEMFONTEIN must intersect with Across 3: PRETORIA? Probably not.

Let’s assume standard layout.

But since the actual image isn’t visible, we’re solving from clues.

Given that, here’s the completed answer key:

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✔ Final Answer Key:

| Clue | Answer |
|------|------------------|
| Across | |
| 2 | BLACK |
| 3 | PRETORIA |
| 6 | KRUGER |
| 9 | BLUE CRANE |
| 12 | RAMAPHOSA |
| 13 | CAPE TOWN |
| 15 | AFRICA |
| 17 | SOCCER |
| 18 | YELLOWWOOD |
| 19 | ELEVEN |
| 20 | JOHANNESBURG |
| Down | |
| 1 | ST LUCIA |
| 4 | GOLD |
| 5 | PROTEA |
| 7 | MAFADI |
| 8 | ORANGE |
| 10 | GALJOEN |
| 11 | SPRINGBOK |
| 14 | JOHANNESBURG |
| 16 | BLOEMFONTEIN |

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Notes:

- Clue 13: "Capital along southern Pacific coast" — this is incorrect geography. South Africa does not border the Pacific Ocean. It borders the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Cape Town is on the Atlantic coast. Likely a typo — should be Atlantic.
- Clue 1: "Largest Lake" — Lake St Lucia is the best answer, though it's a coastal lagoon.
- Clue 4: "Second biggest producer of" — Gold is correct.
- Clue 7: "Highest mountain" — Mafadi (3,450 m) is the highest point within South Africa.
- Clue 10: National fish — Galjoen
- Clue 11: National animal — Springbok

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This completes the solution! If you'd like, I can help draw the filled-in grid based on these answers.