Within South Africa's borders lie some of the world's most diverse natural landscapes, rich mosaics of plant and animal biological diversity. South Africa is recognized as megadiverse together, support more than 70% of the earth's biological diversity on less than 10% of its global surface. It is recognized as one of the world's biologically wealthiest countries. Together, South Africa's rich natural assets and heritage 'leave ordinary behind'.

The Cape Floristic Region (CFR), falling largely into South Africa's Western Cape Province, speaks to the unique nature of the country's natural diversity. Stretching from the Cederberg mountainous areas in the north-west, south around the Western Cape coast and east up to the Nelson Mandela metropolitan area, the CFR represents less than 0.5% of the area of the African continent but is home to nearly 20% of its flora and contains nearly 3% of the world's plant species, making it one of the richest plant zones in the world based on density, diversity and endemism.