The High Veld, or continental tableland south of the Tropic of Capricorn, forms a separate region by reason of its height. The surface of the tableland is tilted downwards to the west (see diagram below) from a height of about 6000 feet to one of 4000. The eastern edge rises up in the Drakensberg and Quathlamba Mountains, some parts of which are 10,000 feet above sea-level. In the south, where the most prominent parts of the plateau edge are the Stormberg and the Nieuwveld, the general height is less, and in the north tliere is a gradual falling away in the Low Veld to the valley of the Limpopo. A knot in the Drakensberg forms the hilly country of Basutoland. Elsewhere, the tableland presents a monotonous surface broken by rocky hills, known locally as kopjes, and by dongas, or gorge-like river valleys. The southern portion of the region is drained by the Orange River and its feeder, the Vaal, and the northern portion by the Limpopo.

The region lies just outside the hot belt, and its height makes its mean temperature cooler than that of the east coast strips. Yet in summer the days are hot, since the clear air allows the sun's rays to act fully on the ground. For the same reason the summer nights are cool, radiation being assisted by the absence of clouds and other atmospheric moisture. Winter is a period of cool days and nights, the temperature being between 20° F. and 25° F. lower than in summer. On the highest ground towards the south falls of snow are not uncommon, while in most of the region morning frosts occur every year. It is the winter temperatures that bring the annual mean below that of the east coast. But the influence of the Benguella Current keeps the temperatures of the west coast even lower. Thus,

It is the occurrence of a really cool season that makes the region fit for permanent settlement by Europeans.

The prevailing wind is the Southeast Trade, which blows strongly in summer. But in winter anticyclonic conditions are usual, and at this season the sky is clear and there is little or no rain. Summer is the period of greatest rainfall, precipitation being due partly to convection and partly to relief.