Africa Travel Information

South Africa Information

Since the end of apartheid, South Africa, also nicknamed “the rainbow nation” has become one of the most visited Africa travel destinations especially among wildlife safari enthusiasts. This country at the southernmost tip of Africa hosts arguably the greatest diversity of African wildlife.

South Africa Wildlife Attractions

1. The Big five
The big five animals remain at the top of all South Africa attractions, and are what attract most visitors to a South Africa safari. Consisting of the lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and the cape buffalo, the big five were so called by big-game hunters because of the difficulty in hunting them. Today, the big five are found in abundance in South African game parks and reserves. Kruger national park, the most renowned game reserve in South Africa, for example, has over 10,000 elephants, over 20,000 buffaloes, plus a flourishing White rhino population.

2. The Big Cats
The African big cats comprise the lion, leopard and cheetah, all of which exist in plenty in the South African wild. The lion is the biggest of the big cats and is also the most admired and respected, occupying the position of the Africa’s largest predator. African lions are social animals, living and hunting in large family groups called prides.

Leopard on a tree

Leopards are the most beautiful and elegant among the big cats, and also the most elusive. They lead solitary lives and mostly hunt at night, while spending most of the daytime resting on tree branches. Being excellent tree climbers, leopards hide the prey they catch on top of trees away from other predators, more so the opportunistic hyenas. Leopards are also the most adaptive and are thus widespread throughout South Africa.

The cheetah is the fastest animal on land, capable of attaining speeds of up to 70mph. Cheetahs hunt during the day and it is usually very fascinating to observe a cheetah tiring its prey by sheer speed, then tripping it down. However, cheetahs are found in smaller numbers than the other big cats in South Africa.

3. Birdlife
South Africa is considered a birdwatching paradise, with more than 700 resident birds species  found there. The African birds found in South Africa include eagles, vultures, ostriches, ibis, mouse birds, and cranes among many more.  In addition, many migratory birds from other African countries and other regions of the world often come to South Africa.

4. Other Animals
The big five are not the only wildlife in South Africa. Other equally interesting animals to see while on safari include giraffes, zebras, hippos, antelopes, wildebeest, wild dogs, hyenas, and many many more.