Morphology can be described as the form and structure of the landscape. The structure is given by the underlying geology, and the form is given by erosion factors such as the rivers cutting through the geology to form valleys, or the wind eroding the tops of the mountains and filling in the valleys to form rolling hills and plains.

The terrain morphologies of the nine provinces are quite varied and to a large extent establish the unique visual character of the provinces. No one can argue that the irregular plains of the Karoo are characteristic of the area and once seen this landscape is not easily forgotten. These plains are almost as synonymous with the Karoo as the folded mountains are of the Cape.

Two areas in Southern Africa have high mountains, in Lesotho and in Mpumalanga along the escarpment. The Eastern Cape and the Transkei are known for their parallel hills and incised rivers. One cannot easily reach the sea and one has to cross several bridges, such as the famous Storms River Bridge. KwaZulu-Natal also has deeply cut parallel hills and valleys formed by rivers such as the Tugela and the Mfolozi/Pongola.

Strong images are formed in areas where the workings of geology and other morphological processes have taken place. One example is the Pilanesberg in the North West Province, where the remaining volcanic core has created a concentric arrangement of low mountains. Another example is the Augrabies Waterfall where the Orange River has cut an 18 kilometre gorge into solid granite. By knowing something about the processes that form the landscape, one can begin to recognise the wide variety of landscape shapes as one travels through the country.

Choose a province to view map or click on province in image

Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
KwaZulu-Natal
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
Northern Province
North West
Western Cape