What is the narrow strip of Namibia that reaches the Zambezi River called?

Zambezi Region, or Caprivi Strip

Which African country has nine land neighbors, the most on the continent?

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Why do many African borders run in straight lines?

They were drawn along lines of latitude and longitude by colonial powers

They follow ancient trade routes

Which four countries nearly meet at a point on the Zambezi near Kazungula?

Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia

Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda

African Borders Quiz: 10 Questions That Test What You Know

This African borders quiz explains the straight lines on Africa's map, enclaves like Lesotho, the Caprivi Strip and which countries have the most neighbors. Ten questions test what you know about how Africa's borders were drawn.

Start African Borders Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

History
Which 1884-85 meeting set rules for European colonization of Africa?
Enclaves
Which country is completely surrounded by South Africa?
Namibia
What is the narrow strip of Namibia that reaches the Zambezi River called?
Neighbors
Which African country has nine land neighbors, the most on the continent?
Gambia
The Gambia is surrounded on land by which country?
Borders
Why do many African borders run in straight lines?
Sudan
South Sudan became independent from Sudan in which year?
Kazungula
Which four countries nearly meet at a point on the Zambezi near Kazungula?
Islands
Which Spanish cities on Africa's north coast border Morocco?
Ethiopia
Which African country was never colonized, apart from a brief Italian occupation?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which 1884-85 meeting set rules for European colonization of Africa?
Answer: Berlin Conference
European powers met in Berlin without any African representatives, and many later borders followed their claims.
Q2: Which country is completely surrounded by South Africa?
Answer: Lesotho
Lesotho is one of only three countries in the world entirely surrounded by another country.
Q3: What is the narrow strip of Namibia that reaches the Zambezi River called?
Answer: Zambezi Region, or Caprivi Strip
Germany wanted access to the Zambezi, so the strip was added in an 1890 agreement with Britain.
Q4: Which African country has nine land neighbors, the most on the continent?
Answer: Democratic Republic of the Congo
The DRC borders Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo.
Q5: The Gambia is surrounded on land by which country?
Answer: Senegal
The Gambia follows the Gambia River inland and is surrounded by Senegal except for its Atlantic coast.
Q6: Why do many African borders run in straight lines?
Answer: They were drawn along lines of latitude and longitude by colonial powers
Straight lines were easy to draw on maps but often split ethnic groups and ignored local geography.
Q7: South Sudan became independent from Sudan in which year?
Answer: 2011
South Sudan is Africa's newest country after a 2011 referendum.
Q8: Which four countries nearly meet at a point on the Zambezi near Kazungula?
Answer: Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia
A bridge opened in 2021 links Zambia and Botswana across one of the world's shortest borders.
Q9: Which Spanish cities on Africa's north coast border Morocco?
Answer: Ceuta and Melilla
Ceuta and Melilla are autonomous Spanish cities and the EU's only land borders in Africa.
Q10: Which African country was never colonized, apart from a brief Italian occupation?
Answer: Ethiopia
Ethiopia defeated Italy at the Battle of Adwa in 1896 and kept its independence until a 1936-41 occupation.

African Borders Quiz – How Africa's Map Was Drawn

Most of Africa's borders were drawn by European powers in the late 1800s, often during and after the Berlin Conference. Colonizers used rivers, lakes and straight lines on maps, sometimes without visiting the land.

These borders often split communities and joined rival groups together. After independence, the Organisation of African Unity agreed to keep colonial borders to avoid endless conflict, a principle the African Union still follows.

Some borders have odd shapes as a result. The Caprivi Strip, The Gambia's river shape and Lesotho's enclave status all show how colonial deals shaped modern countries. New borders have been rare, but South Sudan's independence in 2011 and Eritrea's in 1993 are exceptions.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz helps students and news readers understand how Africa's borders were made.

What the Berlin Conference decided
Why straight borders exist
Which countries are enclaves
Which country has the most neighbors
Which country is Africa's newest

Did You Know?

Africa has 54 recognized countries.
Eswatini is almost surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique.
The Sahara's borders run through very sparsely populated land.
The Lake Victoria border divides the lake among three countries.
Bir Tawil between Egypt and Sudan is land claimed by neither country.