Africa is the world’s second largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. Separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, it is joined to Asia at its northeast extremity by the Isthmus of Suez, 163 km wide.

Most important cities: Cairo, Marrakech, Casablanca, Algiers, Abidjan, Nairobi, Dakar, Cap Town, Dar es Salaam, Accra…

Demographics: Total Africa’s population is estimated at around 900 million people in 2005.

Languages: There are an estimated 1800 languages spoken in Africa. The more spoken languages are -with more than 120 millions speakers- : Arabic, Swahili, Hausa, and Yoruba. Then come the European languages spoken by many people in Africa: English, French, and Portuguese. These are languages used by post-colonial organisations and urban people. It is important to notice that there is a multitude of dialects in the countries that make the African continent.

Geography: Africa is an enormous and very old continental elevated platform, between 600 and 800 msnm. There are very big rivers but few of them. Lands are very fertiles and highly adapted to the breeding of herds. Africa’s largest country is Sudan, and its smallest country is the Seychelles, an archipelago off the east coast. The smallest nation on the continental mainland is The Gambia.

Climate: The climate of Africa ranges from tropical to subarctic on its highest peaks. Its northern half is primarily desert or arid, while its central and southern areas contain both savanna plains and very dense jungle (rainforest) regions. In between, there is a convergence where vegetation patterns such as sahel, and steppe dominate. Africa is the sunniest continent in the World, which could explain the origin of its name: Africa from Latin: without cold.

North America is a sub-continent which is a part of the American continent and which extends in the Occidental hemisphere from the Arctic Icy Ocean in the North to the border with Guatemala in the South. It also extends from the Pacific Ocean in the West to the Atlantic Ocean in the East.

Most important cities: Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Mexico City, Cancún, Acapulco, Guadalajara, Monterrey…

Demographics: Total North America’s population is estimated at around 434 million people in 2005.

Languages: Obviously there is no official language in North America. However principal ones are the following: English in the United States and Canada, French in the Canadian province of Quebec (around 7 million people), Spanish in Mexico as in the USA (many Spanish-speaking live there)… We can also remind there are many Indian languages such as Nahuatl and Quiché in Mexico as well as other Indian languages in Canada and the USA.

Geography: North America is one of the sub-continents constituting the American continent. It is made up of a high mountainous chain on the Western coast (mainly the Rocky Mountains, the Occidental Sierra Madre and some parts of Cinturón de Fuego), resulting of the shock between continental plates and oceanic plates and the plains in the Eastern areas.
The border area between Canada and the United States is made up of large lakes. In the south of the USA and the east of Mexico is located the Golf of Mexico which is famous for its oil fields.

Climate, fauna, and flora: Vegetation and climate in North America are very variable since thanks to its surface (19 339 262 km²) there are almost all the climates of the world. Arctic tundras (Greenland, Yukon) are found in the north and wet jungles such as in Mexican south-east (Lacandana, Montes Azules) in the south, while passing by a large range of forests (the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachian Mountains and the three Sierras Madre), deserts (Pinacate, Valle del Silencio), plains (the Large Plains, Comarca Lagunera), mangroves (Louisiana, Tabasco), etc.

Latin America countries used to be European colonies where Latin languages were spoken (Spanish, French and Portuguese) .
The ‘Latin America’ term was introduced for the first time by the French Emperor Napoleon III who mentioned it at the time of his politico-military project in Mexico. The term evolved as the years went by and includes nowadays the concepts of cultural, ethnic, political, economic and climatic characteristics.

Most important cities: Bogota, Caracas, Quito, Guayaquil, Lima, La Paz, Cochabamba, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Asunción, Brasilia, Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, Tegucigalpa, San Jose, Panama, Havana, Santo Domingo…

Demographics: The total population of Latin America in 2005 was approximately 484 million people.

Languages: Obviously there is not an official language in Latin America. However, two languages leave the batch: Portuguese in Brazil and Spanish in the other countries of the sub-continent. It is also important to remind there is many Indian languages such as Aymara (native language spoken in the Andes and particularly in Peru and in Bolivia), Quechua (native language spoken by the Indian minorities in Ecuador, Peru, south of Colombia and north of Chile and Argentina). Some French Departments (territories) of America are also located in this sub-continent, such as the French Guayana, and the Guadeloupe and Martinique islands, where French is of course the official language.

Geography: South America and Central America form one of the two sub-continents which constitute the American continent. Latin America is mainly made up of a high mountainous chain on the Western coast (the Andes), geological result of the collision of continental plates with the oceanic plate and the Eastern plains where one of the two largest rivers of the world is: the Amazon river. It is in the same way necessary to mention the presence of many Antilles islands in the Caribbean sea in the west of the golf of Mexico.

Climate, fauna, and flora: South America includes a large variety of biogeographic areas, the largest jungles and tropical forests of the world because of the fact that the two third of its surface are located between the tropics. The subcontinent reached its maximum width on the level of the equator where reigns the Amazonian jungle. The Central America areas are characterized by a climate with high temperatures and with very important rainy seasons.

Africa is the world’s second largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. Separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, it is joined to Asia at its northeast extremity by the Isthmus of Suez, 163 km wide.

Most important cities: Cairo, Marrakech, Casablanca, Algiers, Abidjan, Nairobi, Dakar, Cap Town, Dar es Salaam, Accra…

Demographics: Total Africa’s population is estimated at around 900 million people in 2005.

Languages: There are an estimated 1800 languages spoken in Africa. The more spoken languages are -with more than 120 millions speakers- : Arabic, Swahili, Hausa, and Yoruba. Then come the European languages spoken by many people in Africa: English, French, and Portuguese. These are languages used by post-colonial organisations and urban people. It is important to notice that there is a multitude of dialects in the countries that make the African continent.

Geography: Africa is an enormous and very old continental elevated platform, between 600 and 800 msnm. There are very big rivers but few of them. Lands are very fertiles and highly adapted to the breeding of herds. Africa’s largest country is Sudan, and its smallest country is the Seychelles, an archipelago off the east coast. The smallest nation on the continental mainland is The Gambia.

Climate: The climate of Africa ranges from tropical to subarctic on its highest peaks. Its northern half is primarily desert or arid, while its central and southern areas contain both savanna plains and very dense jungle (rainforest) regions. In between, there is a convergence where vegetation patterns such as sahel, and steppe dominate. Africa is the sunniest continent in the World, which could explain the origin of its name: Africa from Latin: without cold.

Asia is the largest and the most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth’s total surface area, or 29.4% of its land area, and it contains more than 60% of the world’s human population.

Most important cities: Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Phnom Penh, Jakarta, Manila, New Delhi, Bombai, Calcutta, Jerusalem, Beirut, Kuala Lumpur, Katmandou, Moscow, St Petersbourg, Singapore, Colombo, Bangkok, Taipei, Abu Dhabi, Hanoi…

Demographics: Total population in 2005 was roughly estimated at 3,66 billion people.

Languages: There are many languages spoken in this continent. Most Asian countries have more than one language that is natively spoken. Among all of them, the most important ones are the Chinese or the Mandarin, then the Hindi and Arabic. Others like Japanese, Indonesian, Korean, Tagalog are also very commonly spoken, according to the countries. Some European languages have also appeared in this part of the World. For instance, English is used as an alternative language in India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Lebanon, Israel, United Arab Emirates. French is spoken in India, Lebanon. Spanish is spoken by minorities in the Philippines, in Palestinia and in Turkey.

Geography: Asia is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Africa-Eurasia – with the western portion of the latter occupied by Europe – lying east of the Suez Canal, east of the Ural Mountains, and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas.

Climate, fauna, and flora: Because of Asia’s tremendous size, its regions have a wide variety of climates. These varied climates include the bitter cold of the polar north, the hot, dry desert environment of the center and southwest, and the hot, humid conditions of the tropical south. Winds called monsoons influence the climate of much of Asia. A monsoon blows regularly in the same direction during definite seasons. In winter, monsoons from the north move into East Asia and cause cold, dry weather.

Europe is the second smallest continent in the World, after Oceania. It extends on 10 530 751 km², representing 7% of the immersed grounds.

Most important cities: Bruxels, Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nice, Madrid, Barcelona, Geneva, Bern, Rome, Milan, Lisboa, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Dublin, Edinburgh, Berlin, Vienna, Kiev, Amsterdam, Athens, Moscow…

Demographics: Total population of the European Union in 2005 is around 455 million people.

Languages: It is clear that there is no official language in Europe, even in the European Union. However, here are the main languages spoken in this part of the world calles the Old Continent: English, German, French, Spanish -Castilian-, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Portuguese… It is also important to mention that there is a multitude of regional languages or dialects in the different countries that makes the European Continent.

Geography: Europe is the flattest continent with an average height of 230 meters. The highest tops are: Mount Elbrus (Russia) in eastern Europe (5642 m), el Shkara (Georgia) (5204m), and the Mont Blanc (France) in western Europe (4807m).
Among the most important European Gulfs, let us mention the Gulf of Vizcaya (France-Spain) and the Gulf of Botania (Sweden-Finland). The most important European straits are the followings: Straits of Pas-de-Calais (France-United Kingdom), Gibraltar (Spain-Marocco) and the Dardanelles Strait (Turkey), the Bosphorus Strait (Turkey), the Strait of Messina (italy) and the one in Orensund (Denmark-Sweden), etc.
The main European peninsulas are : The scandinavian peninsulas (Sweden – Norway), the Iberian peninsula (Spain– Portugal), the Italic peninsula (Italy, San Marino, Vaticano), peninsula of Balkan (Greece – Albania). It also seems important to mention the peninsula of Kola (Russia), Jutlandia (Denmark), Bretagne (France) and Crimea (Ukraine).

Climate: The European continent is a large extent tempered zone. Its nonsingle climate also varies of north to the south but of the west to this because of continental marine and continental the marine and polar tropical airflow and airflows polar, to a lesser extent tropical. In the Mediteranean countries such as Spain, italy, Greece and the South of France, temperatures are higher. On the other hand, countries located in the middle of Europe do not profit of so good temperatures. Countries like Poland, Hungary, Austria and others, have very cold and dry winters.

Europe is the second smallest continent in the World, after Oceania. It extends on 10 530 751 km², representing 7% of the immersed grounds.

Most important cities: Bruxels, Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nice, Madrid, Barcelona, Geneva, Bern, Rome, Milan, Lisboa, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Dublin, Edinburgh, Berlin, Vienna, Kiev, Amsterdam, Athens, Moscow…

Demographics: Total population of the European Union in 2005 is around 455 million people.

Languages: It is clear that there is no official language in Europe, even in the European Union. However, here are the main languages spoken in this part of the world calles the Old Continent: English, German, French, Spanish -Castilian-, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Portuguese… It is also important to mention that there is a multitude of regional languages or dialects in the different countries that makes the European Continent.

Geography: Europe is the flattest continent with an average height of 230 meters. The highest tops are: Mount Elbrus (Russia) in eastern Europe (5642 m), el Shkara (Georgia) (5204m), and the Mont Blanc (France) in western Europe (4807m).
Among the most important European Gulfs, let us mention the Gulf of Vizcaya (France-Spain) and the Gulf of Botania (Sweden-Finland). The most important European straits are the followings: Straits of Pas-de-Calais (France-United Kingdom), Gibraltar (Spain-Marocco) and the Dardanelles Strait (Turkey), the Bosphorus Strait (Turkey), the Strait of Messina (italy) and the one in Orensund (Denmark-Sweden), etc.
The main European peninsulas are : The scandinavian peninsulas (Sweden – Norway), the Iberian peninsula (Spain– Portugal), the Italic peninsula (Italy, San Marino, Vaticano), peninsula of Balkan (Greece – Albania). It also seems important to mention the peninsula of Kola (Russia), Jutlandia (Denmark), Bretagne (France) and Crimea (Ukraine).

Climate: The European continent is a large extent tempered zone. Its nonsingle climate also varies of north to the south but of the west to this because of continental marine and continental the marine and polar tropical airflow and airflows polar, to a lesser extent tropical. In the Mediteranean countries such as Spain, italy, Greece and the South of France, temperatures are higher. On the other hand, countries located in the middle of Europe do not profit of so good temperatures. Countries like Poland, Hungary, Austria and others, have very cold and dry winters.

Asia is the largest and the most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth’s total surface area, or 29.4% of its land area, and it contains more than 60% of the world’s human population.

Most important cities: Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Phnom Penh, Jakarta, Manila, New Delhi, Bombai, Calcutta, Jerusalem, Beirut, Kuala Lumpur, Katmandou, Moscow, St Petersbourg, Singapore, Colombo, Bangkok, Taipei, Abu Dhabi, Hanoi…

Demographics: Total population in 2005 was roughly estimated at 3,66 billion people.

Languages: There are many languages spoken in this continent. Most Asian countries have more than one language that is natively spoken. Among all of them, the most important ones are the Chinese or the Mandarin, then the Hindi and Arabic. Others like Japanese, Indonesian, Korean, Tagalog are also very commonly spoken, according to the countries. Some European languages have also appeared in this part of the World. For instance, English is used as an alternative language in India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Lebanon, Israel, United Arab Emirates. French is spoken in India, Lebanon. Spanish is spoken by minorities in the Philippines, in Palestinia and in Turkey.

Geography: Asia is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Africa-Eurasia – with the western portion of the latter occupied by Europe – lying east of the Suez Canal, east of the Ural Mountains, and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas.

Climate, fauna, and flora: Because of Asia’s tremendous size, its regions have a wide variety of climates. These varied climates include the bitter cold of the polar north, the hot, dry desert environment of the center and southwest, and the hot, humid conditions of the tropical south. Winds called monsoons influence the climate of much of Asia. A monsoon blows regularly in the same direction during definite seasons. In winter, monsoons from the north move into East Asia and cause cold, dry weather.

Oceania is a geographical, often geopolitical, region consisting of numerous lands—mostly islands and usually including Australia in the Pacific Ocean. The exact scope of Oceania is defined variously, with interpretations normally including Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and various islands of the Malay Archipelago. The term is also used by many authors and in many languages to define one of the continents. Originally found by the French explorer Dumont d’Urville in 1831, Oceania has been traditionally divided into Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia, and Australasia.

Most important cities: Sidney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Noumea, Papeete, Suva, Apia, Nuku alofa, Port Vila…

Demographics: Total population in Oceania is around 30.2 million people.

Languages: In each island groups there are several local languages and dialects. It is estimated that there are roughly 900 diferent languages. In Papua New Guinea, for instance, 85 languages are spoken. 32 in New caledonia, and 5 in French Polynesia. The first language is English, followed by French and in some islands close to Chile, like Isla Gomez or Easter Island, Spanish is still spoken.

Geography: As an ecozone, Oceania includes all of Micronesia, Fiji, and all of Polynesia except New Zealand. New Zealand, along with New Guinea and nearby islands, Australia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia, constitute the separate Australasia ecozone. In geopolitical terms, however, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia are almost always considered part of the Oceania continent, and Australia and Papua New Guinea are usually considered part of this same continent, as well.

Climate: Most of the South-West Pacific has reasonably sunny weather, with most rainfall recorded in short but heavy storms. While there is less extreme weather than northern Pacific islands like Hawaii, major storms can cause major floods and considerable damage.

South Africa offers a good road infrastructure and hiring a car is an ideal mean to discover the country. But it is vast and distances are long: be careful not to be tired and plan to have breaks. By night be vigilant on smaller roads which are sometimes badly kept.

Driving on the right-hand side of the road: take time to get used to the controls and be careful with crossroads.

Distances and speed limits are indicated in kilometers.

Accidents rate is high. It is often due to speed excesses, a lack of experience from drivers, alcohol and non respect of traffic lights. Be careful!

An insurance which guarantees a medical cover and a medical repatriation is strongly recommended: two vehicles out of three are not insured.

Pay attention in rural zones because you are likely to meet all kinds of animals on the road: dogs, hens, sheep, cows.

Pay attention also to the antelopes which cross sometimes the road. These areas are signalled with road signs.