South Africa was the first country visited in 'The Amazing Race' season 1 after the United States. The inaugural season began in New York City and then sent teams to Cape Town, South Africa.
The first route established many features that became central to the franchise: international travel, clue boxes, roadblocks, detours and pit stops. Teams had to navigate unfamiliar locations while managing limited money and strict instructions.
After South Africa, the season continued through countries including Zambia, France, Germany, Tunisia, Italy, Austria, India and Thailand before ending in New York.
The season premiered on CBS in 2001. Rob and Brennan became the first winners, finishing the final leg ahead of Frank Mesa and Margarita Rodriguez. The season's route is distinct from later editions, which used different countries and rules.