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Several Big Five reserves in South Africa protect the more charismatic large mammals associated with the African savannah. Foremost among these is the Kruger National Park and its abutting private reserves.
Still, other key safari destinations include iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Madikwe, Pilanesberg, Addo Elephant National Park, and a variety of smaller and more exclusive private reserves.
These premier reserves all support healthy lion, elephant, and buffalo populations. South Africa stands as the world’s most important stronghold for rhinos – around 90% of the global population of white rhinos and black rhinos is concentrated here.
At the same time, the private reserves bordering Kruger have few, if any, rivals when it comes to intimate leopard encounters. Other wildlife associated with these reserves includes African wild dogs, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, giraffes, zebra, warthogs, baboons, and vervet monkeys.
Leopards are elusive and shy animals so spotting one on safari is a magical experience.
South Africa supports around two dozen species of antelope, ranging from the outsized eland and stately, spiral-horned greater kudu to the gregarious blue wildebeest and impala, as well as arid-country specialists such as gemsbok, springbok, and the diminutive forest-dwelling red and blue duikers.
The iconic Cape mountain zebra in the Karoo National Park.
Several large mammal species are endemic to South Africa. The black wildebeest and blesbok are associated mainly with grassy habitats in the Highveld. At the same time, the Cape mountain zebra and bontebok are fynbos-dwellers more or less confined to the Western Cape.
A Southern right whale breaks the water near the coastal town of Hermanus in the Western Cape.
Marine wildlife is a strong feature of South Africa. The clifftop town of Hermanus offers the world’s finest land-based whale-watching, while other aquatic wildlife attractions range from caged shark dives at Mossel Bay and turtle-nesting excursions in iSimangaliso to the penguin colony at Cape Town’s Boulders Beach and dolphins that frequently visit many of the country’s bays.
The Knysna turaco is confined to the lush forests of Southern Africa
South Africa is a key bird-watching destination. The national checklist comprises around 840 species and includes the world’s largest bird (ostrich) and what is reputedly the heaviest flying species (kori bustard), along with a dazzling variety of bee-eaters, turacos, parrots, rollers, and waxbills.
Avian variety is most significant in the southern summer (November-March) when several resident species assume a colorful breeding plumage and dozens of migrant species arrive from Europe or elsewhere in Africa.
There are several sites in South Africa, most notably perhaps Kruger, where a moderately skilled birder could tick 100 species in a day.
