Africa is the second-largest of the Earth's seven continents - covering about 30,330,000 sq km (11,699,000 sq mi), which makes up about 22 per cent of the world's total land area.

Highest Point
Mount Kilimanjaro - Uhuru Point - (5895m/19,340 ft) in Tanzania

The Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert alone is expanding southwards at an average of 0.8 km (½ mile) a month.

Most Populated Country
With a population of more than 113 million, Nigeria is easily the most populated country in Africa and the 10th most populous country in the world

Largest Country
The Republic of Sudan in north-eastern Africa, the largest country of the African continent. Sudan has a total area of 2,505,800 sq km.

Smallest Country
The smallest African country is The Seychelles covering an area of 455 sq km but Gambia is the smallest of the mainland African states, covering an area of 11,295 sq km.

Diamonds
The world's largest diamond was the Cullinan, found in South Africa in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut. It was cut into the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats, the Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.40 carats, and 104 other diamonds of nearly flawless colour and clarity. They now form part of the British crown jewels

Weddings
Did you know that in Africa it is almost imposible to hold a small wedding? The idea of a private wedding is unknown and is greatly frowned upon. Friends and relatives expect to be invited to a wedding and to play a role in the ceremony.

Beer
Apart from Muslim nations, Ghana has the lowest per capita consumption of beer in Africa, yet its brewery industry is one of the most competitive

Languages
More than 1,000 different languages are spoken in Africa. Somalia is the only country in the world where all the citizens speak one language, Somali. The Berbers of North Africa have no written form of their language.

Wildlife
Four of the five fastest land animals live in Africa - the cheetah (70 mph), wildebeest, lion, and Thomson's gazelle (all about 50 mph).

Beetles
The world's largest and heaviest beetle, the Goliath Beetle is found in tropical Africa. It can reach a length of 5 inches and weigh up to ¼ lb

Frogs
The world's biggest frog is found in Cameroon. Named the goliath frog, their body can be one-foot long.

Penguins
South Africa has a penguin colony, which thrives thanks to the cold Antarctic currents on the west coast near the Cape.

Chameleons
Madagascar is the home of the worlds largest as well as the smallest chameleons! Almost half of the world’s chameleon species live on the island of Madagascar.