/ 11 July 2011

Google broadens SA street view

Google has expanded its South African street view image bank, allowing users to explore even more of the country from the comfort of their PCs, the company announced on Monday.

Substantial additions to Street View have been made for Limpopo, Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, North West, and Mpumalanga, the company said in a statement.

The southernmost tip of Africa was also now part of Street View, with the inclusion of Cape Agulhas, where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet.

This development came after what the company said was the successful launch of Google Street View in the country in June last year, and the addition of numerous heritage sites and Cape wineries.

Among many other new additions, users who are more interested in urban centres can explore the wool producing district of Harrismith, Polokwane, Mokopane and Mthatha.

“We are delighted to be adding a host of new South African imagery to Google Street View, both rural and urban, whether you want to visit the edge of the Kalahari desert or coastal Margate, drive through the Karoo or just check out parking options in Polokwane” said Google Sub-Saharan Africa communications manager Julie Taylor.

Google Street View is another dimension to Google Maps, with 360° street-level photographic images. — Sapa