Wild South Africa

The wildlife in South Africa’s savannah, mountain and coastal regions is as diverse as it is spectacular, making South Africa a perfect destination for a safari. Most wildlife areas boast modern infrastructure set amidst pristine wilderness areas, including national parks, private game reserves and animal sanctuaries.

South Africa is one of only 17 countries in the world that is considered to be mega-diverse. Between them, these countries are home to the majority of the earth’s species, so if it’s animals you’re looking for, South Africa’s wildlife will not disappoint.

South Africa’s astonishing array of wildlife is protected in a range of private game reserves, national parks, transfrontier parks and animal sanctuaries, located in the most diverse and beautiful landscapes imaginable.

From lunar-like deserts, to mountains, estuaries, beaches and bushveld, there are a number of places to view animals interacting in their natural habitats. Whether its penguins at Boulders Beach or crocodiles at iSimangaliso, or perhaps the big cats that roam our private game reserves, you won’t be disappointed by South Africa’s wildlife.

Common bushveld mammals include lion, leopard, white rhino, blue wildebeest, kudu, impala, hyena, hippopotamus and giraffe, not to mention smaller mammals like the fruit bat and the bush baby. There are also thousands of amphibians, reptiles, fish, butterflies, bugs and beetles that form part of South Africa’s animal kingdom.

There are also more than 850 bird species recorded in South Africa and 50 of these are endemic or near endemic and can only be seen in this country. South Africa also teems with more than 20,000 plant species, which form 10% of all the known species of plants in the world
You can enjoy South Africa’s biodiversity in a number of ways – on foot with specially trained guides, on guided game drives, from a hot air balloon or river raft while enjoying a wide range of accommodation to suit any budget.

If you’re looking for a Big 5 (leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo and lion) safari experience in South Africa you can go to almost any province in South Africa, but the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces remains an iconic tourism drawcard.  

Accommodation for Big 5 safaris in Mpumalanga are either within the Kruger National Park or on the neighbouring private reserves such as Sabi Sand (which has the highest density of leopards in the world), Timbavati and Klaserie. Some lodges pride themselves on showing the Big 5 to guests in record time, and you’ll even walk away with a certificate.