Beautiful beaches primed for surfing, cultural icons in cities like Jo’burg and Cape Town, and some of the best hikes on earth, South Africa — aka the ‘Rainbow Nation’ — really has it all. Topping that list is an endless bounty of wildlife seen across 19 national parks dotted about the country. From the famous ‘big five’ to one of the world’s most venomous snakes, here’s a rundown of 16 species of South African wildlife you might very well spot. Budding David Attenborough’s at the ready!
1. Lion
With a nickname of ‘King of the Jungle’, these magnificent beasts are something to both be revered and feared in equal measure. Africa’s largest big cat, these mighty creatures weigh two to four times more than their cousins, the leopard and the cheetah. On many a traveller’s bucket list, you’ll stand a good chance of spotting one on safari.
There are thought to be around 3,940 free-roaming lions resident here according to the South African National Biodiversity Institute — 1,500 of which are thought to reside in Kruger National Park. A part of the ‘big five’, seeing one of these cats in their natural habitat is a real thrill, and if you’re lucky enough to encounter a chase, it’s something you really won’t forget in any hurry.
Spot them for yourself on: Journeys: Explore Kruger National Park
2. African elephant
The world’s largest land mammal, weighing up to a staggering seven tons (7000 kilograms), the African elephant is a real success story when it comes to conservation. Numbering around just 120 individuals back in 1920, the population of these magnificent creatures has boomed to around 10,000 or so.
You’ll stand a very good chance of spotting them on safari though Kruger protects large herds numbering in their tens of thousands. Another great spot is Addo Elephant National Park on the scenic Garden Route, home to over 600 elephants as well as Cape buffalo, lion, Burchell’s zebra, and spotted hyena.
Spot them for yourself on: Kruger Safari & The Garden Route
3. Leopard
Another of Africa’s legendary big cats, the leopard is also one of the hardest species to spot while on safari. They’re predominantly nocturnal and incredibly elusive — even though they’re the second-largest member of Africa’s big cat family. Your best bet for spotting one is to head out at dusk or dawn — or even at night — and keep your eyes looking up into the branches of acacia trees during the day.
A telltale sign is a rosetted tail or leg twitching during a midday snooze — or perhaps a kill placed high up to avoid being scavenged by other hungry hunters. While leopards can be found all over South Africa, the best places to spot them tend to be in Kruger, in Sabi Sands Nature Reserve, and in the wilderness of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
4. Rhino
One of Africa’s most recognizable species, there are actually two varieties of rhino found here – the white rhino and black rhino. Even though both have been hit hard by poaching, the latter has been hit the hardest. Tragically, there are only around 2,000 or so left within the country, and poaching still remains an ongoing threat for these critically-endangered creatures. In that vein, this is one where we’re not going to mention where they’re found specifically to help protect the species as a whole.
On the other hand, the white rhino numbers around 13,000 individuals — the highest population of any country in Africa — though poaching still remains a threat for these formidable animals too. You’ll find the largest population in Kruger National Park with significant conservation projects in place to safeguard them as a species.
5. Cape buffalo
Sometimes referred to as the ‘black death’, the African buffalo is often considered the most dangerous member of the ‘big five’, and even lions are wary. It’s easy to see why, as they can weigh up to 900 kg (1984 pounds) and charge at speeds of 50 km/h (31 miles per hour) — not something you’d want to be at the end of! They’re thought to number almost 70,000 in South Africa, with the biggest herds found in Kruger and the Eastern Cape.
6. Great white shark
Another feared customer here, the great white shark is the world’s largest-known predatory fish, and South Africa is one of the best places in the world to see them. After a hiatus from their previous strongholds of Gansbaai and False Bay — due to a pair of orca with a taste for their livers if rumours are to be believed — they’ve now begun to return to the region. You can sometimes spot them walking along the cliffs at places like the Robberg Nature Reserve.
Of course, many are fearful of these mighty fish — which make up part of South Africa’s ‘big seven’ — but you really needn’t worry. You’ll find shark spotters keeping tabs in many popular surfing spots, as well as warning alarms and shark flags.
Spot them for yourself on: Cape Town Day Tour: Shark Cage Diving (full day)
7. Southern right whale
The final member of South Africa’s ‘big seven’, the endangered Southern right whale can reach up to 17m (55.7 ft) in length and weigh up to a whopping 110 tons (100,000 kilograms). In other words, they’re not exactly on the small side! Known to be curious and friendly, these majestic creatures are now thought to number around 14,000 or so within the southern hemisphere. A real change from the heights of the whaling industry, when there were thought to be less than 300 left in the world’s oceans.
Hermanus — the ‘whale watching capital of South Africa’ — is the place to spot these mighty mammals. During the whale-watching season from June to November, you’re practically guaranteed sightings. The best part is you don’t even need to be on the water — take a wander along the 12km (7.5 mi) long coastal path where you’ll often see them bobbing up and down right off South Africa’s beaches.
8. Spotted hyena
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood of South Africa’s creatures, the spotted hyena is often characterized as being part thuggish scavenger, part pathetic coward — and we’ve got The Lion King in part to blame. That’s not entirely fair, as they’re actually formidable predators — second only to lions for sheer ferocity and hunting prowess — who hunt more than they scavenge.
Run by an alpha female, clans can number up to 30 individuals, and there’s a strict power structure in place, with dominance passing down the alpha’s line to her cubs. It’s actually the wandering males who are the lowest in the hierarchy, so when it comes to girl power, the spotted hyena rules the roost.
Spot them for yourself on: Solo-ish South Africa
9. African penguin
Chances are if you’ve read anything about Cape Town, you’ll have heard of the Boulder’s Beach penguins. Pint-sized and weighing just around five kgs (11 pounds), they’re incredibly cute, and can be seen bounding over boulders and torpedoing through the waves. A colony of around 1,000 pairs lives in this Marine Protected Area about a 40-minute drive from central Cape Town. Also known as ‘jackass penguins’, you’ll often hear them letting out a noise similar to a braying donkey or ass.
Spot them for yourself on: Southern Africa Family Journey: In Search of the Big Five
10. African wild dog
One of the world’s most endangered mammals, the African wild dog (aka painted dog) is perhaps one of the hardest creatures to spot on our list. One of the world’s most effective predators, there are thought to just be around 650 or so within the country — predominantly in Kruger and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.
Success rates for kills on hunts with these charismatic pack animals is 85% — one of the highest of any carnivore on the planet — and they can run at speeds of 48 km/h (29.8 miles per hour) for up to five km (3.1 mi). Not too shabby! You’ll often hear them before you see them — listen out for whines, tweets, and yips sounding like various bird calls.
Spot them for yourself on: Active South Africa: Kruger Safari and Tugela Falls
11. Aardvark
Nocturnal and solitary animals, the aardvark — meaning ‘earth pig’ in Afrikaans — can be notoriously difficult to find. Their burrows can reach 13 metres in length, and the only real reason they leave them is to munch on insects — 50,000 of them no less — when twilight hits. Your only realistic chance of seeing them then is on a night drive — ideally in open terrain during the southern African winter (May to August). The best place to find them is arguably the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park — a vast wilderness right on the fringes of the Kalahari Desert bordering both Namibia and Botswana.
12. Kudu
From one animal you probably won’t see to one you will, the kudu is one of the largest species of antelope in the world — weighing up to a mammoth 315kg (695 pounds). They’re synonymous with their mighty, twisting horns — which only the males have and grow to an incredible length of 1.8 metres (5.90 feet). They prefer scrub and woodland to open savannah, and you’ll find them in various national parks and game reserves across the country — including Pilanesberg and Kruger.
13. Honey badger
Made an internet sensation back in 2011, the honey badger is now synonymous with being a badass — and you can see why. Known for defending themselves from prides of lions, eating venomous puff adders, and even chasing off leopards from a fresh kill, they’re often referred to as the ‘tank’ of the savannah.
They’re utterly fearless and earned themselves a spot in the Guinness World Records as the ‘world’s most fearless animal’. Your best bet to spot these ferocious critters (at a safe distance, naturally) is at the aforementioned Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
14. Springbok
We couldn’t whip up a list of South African wildlife without mentioning their national animal now — could we? The elegant springbok is a small and slender antelope reaching speeds of up to 88 km/h (55 miles-per-hour) and leaping up to two metres (6.56 ft) in the air. No wonder that the national rugby team adopted the name ‘The Springboks’. The animals are widely distributed across central and northwestern South Africa — though strangely you won’t find them in Kruger.
15. Black mamba
There’s a reason Uma Thurman’s character was called ‘black mamba’ in Kill Bill: Volume 1. These slinking assassins are one of the most feared creatures in the whole of Africa, and the second-largest venomous snake after the mighty king cobra. If that wasn’t enough, it’s also the fastest snake in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 19 kph (12 miles per hour) — and they’re aggressive when threatened.
The good news is that they tend to live in game parks and off the beaten track. Meaning that you’re most likely to spot them when you’re actually in a game vehicle — phew! On a very different note, the ‘Black Mambas’ are a fantastic anti-poaching initiative made entirely of women in the Great Kruger National Park. Meeting these women is truly inspiring and something you can do at Balule Nature Reserve.
Spot them for yourself on: Best of South Africa
16. Cheetah
Rounding off our list of South African wildlife, here comes the cheetah — another of Africa’s most iconic big cats. The world’s fastest land animal — capable of reaching speeds of up to a whopping 120 kph (74.5 miles per hour) — they’re incredible to witness in the wild.
Africa’s most endangered wild cat after decades of persecution, their numbers in South Africa have steadily risen after years of conservation efforts — and the country now has the third-largest population in the world. Both Kruger and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park are strongholds of these fascinating felines — and your best bet for spotting them while you’re in South Africa.
Spot them for yourself on: Journeys: Explore Cape Town & Kruger National Park
