Wildlife in South Africa
Every species below has been recorded by a host on or near a stay in South Africa. Choose one to see where to stay for a chance to see it, the parks where it is recorded most, and the months it is seen. A record is a sighting, never a promise.
Mammals
Leopard, MammalsPhoto: Raja bandi, CC BYWhere to see: Leopard
Lion, MammalsPhoto: David Knox, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Lion
Giraffe, MammalsPhoto: tlaloc27, CC BYWhere to see: Giraffe
Cape Buffalo, MammalsPhoto: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Cape Buffalo
African Elephant, MammalsPhoto: dhfischer, CC BYWhere to see: African Elephant
Bushbuck, MammalsPhoto: Jean-Paul Boerekamps, CC0Where to see: Bushbuck
Cheetah, MammalsPhoto: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Cheetah
Greater Kudu, MammalsPhoto: Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, CC BYWhere to see: Greater Kudu
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Impala, MammalsPhoto: Diogo Luiz, CC BYWhere to see: Impala
Caracal, MammalsPhoto: Christiaan Viljoen, CC BYWhere to see: Caracal
Plains Zebra, MammalsPhoto: Connor Long, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Plains Zebra
Black-backed Jackal, MammalsPhoto: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Black-backed Jackal
Warthog, MammalsPhoto: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Warthog
Hippopotamus, MammalsPhoto: Tommy Andriollo, CC BYWhere to see: Hippopotamus
Blue Wildebeest, MammalsPhoto: CC0Where to see: Blue Wildebeest
Chacma Baboon, MammalsPhoto: datadan, CC BYWhere to see: Chacma Baboon
Common Eland, MammalsPhoto: Rhonda Ridley, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Common Eland
Cape Porcupine, MammalsPhoto: Jeremy Gilmore, CC BYWhere to see: Cape Porcupine
Spotted Hyena, MammalsPhoto: Liaka ac, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Spotted Hyena
Vervet Monkey, MammalsPhoto: CC0Where to see: Vervet Monkey
Serval, MammalsPhoto: Morten Ross, CC BYWhere to see: Serval
Aardvark, MammalsPhoto: Kelly Abram, CC0Where to see: Aardvark
Common Duiker, MammalsPhoto: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Common Duiker
Waterbuck, MammalsPhoto: Rafael Tosi, CC BYWhere to see: Waterbuck
Honey Badger, MammalsPhoto: Sumeet Moghe, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Honey Badger
Nyala, MammalsPhoto: Rafael Tosi, CC BYWhere to see: Nyala
Springbok, MammalsPhoto: Yathin S Krishnappa, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Springbok- Cape Clawless Otter, MammalsWhere to see: Cape Clawless Otter
Brown Hyena, MammalsPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Brown Hyena
Gemsbok, MammalsPhoto: CK2AZ, CC BYWhere to see: Gemsbok
Rock Hyrax (Dassie), MammalsPhoto: Rudolph Steenkamp, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Rock Hyrax (Dassie)
Small-spotted Genet, MammalsPhoto: Diego González Dopico, CC BYWhere to see: Small-spotted Genet
Black Wildebeest, MammalsPhoto: Derek Keats, CC BYWhere to see: Black Wildebeest
Bushpig, MammalsPhoto: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Bushpig
African Wild Dog, MammalsPhoto: Per Arne Slotte, CC BY-SAWhere to see: African Wild Dog
Scrub Hare, MammalsPhoto: Kevin Murray, CC BYWhere to see: Scrub Hare
Cape Fox, MammalsPhoto: Yathin S Krishnappa, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Cape Fox
Bontebok, MammalsPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Bontebok
Meerkat, MammalsPhoto: Justin Ponder, CC BYWhere to see: Meerkat
Slender Mongoose, MammalsPhoto: Yathin S Krishnappa, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Slender Mongoose
Blesbok, MammalsPhoto: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Blesbok
Banded Mongoose, MammalsPhoto: Don Loarie, CC BYWhere to see: Banded Mongoose
Thick-tailed Bushbaby, MammalsPhoto: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Thick-tailed Bushbaby
Water Mongoose, MammalsPhoto: Klaus Wehrlin, CC0Where to see: Water Mongoose
Cape Genet, MammalsPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Cape Genet
Marine life
Southern Right Whale, Marine lifePhoto: Oregon State University, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Southern Right Whale
Cape Fur Seal, Marine lifePhoto: Shaun Swanepoel, CC BYWhere to see: Cape Fur Seal- Humpback Whale, Marine lifeWhere to see: Humpback Whale
Leatherback Turtle, Marine lifePhoto: Bill Levine, CC BYWhere to see: Leatherback Turtle
Loggerhead Turtle, Marine lifePhoto: Radu Teodoreanu, CC BYWhere to see: Loggerhead Turtle
Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Marine lifePhoto: Laurent Bouveret, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Green Turtle, Marine lifePhoto: Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble, CC BYWhere to see: Green Turtle
Reptiles
Nile Crocodile, ReptilesPhoto: Stephen Temple, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Nile Crocodile
Puff Adder, ReptilesPhoto: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Puff Adder
Water Monitor, ReptilesPhoto: Ben Machado, CC BYWhere to see: Water Monitor
Leopard Tortoise, ReptilesPhoto: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Leopard Tortoise
Boomslang, ReptilesPhoto: Karen Eichholz, CC BYWhere to see: Boomslang
Flap-necked Chameleon, ReptilesPhoto: Christoph Moning, CC BYWhere to see: Flap-necked Chameleon
Rock Monitor, ReptilesPhoto: CC0Where to see: Rock Monitor
Southern Rock Agama, ReptilesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Southern Rock Agama
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Cape Cobra, ReptilesPhoto: Ryan van Huyssteen, CC BYWhere to see: Cape Cobra
Black Mamba, ReptilesPhoto: Wynand Uys, CC BYWhere to see: Black Mamba
Angulate Tortoise, ReptilesPhoto: Timothy Whitehead, CC BYWhere to see: Angulate Tortoise
Cape Dwarf Chameleon, ReptilesPhoto: linkie, CC BYWhere to see: Cape Dwarf Chameleon
Trees
Spekboom, TreesPhoto: Shaun Swanepoel, CC BYWhere to see: Spekboom
Leadwood, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Leadwood- Marula, TreesWhere to see: Marula
Red Bushwillow, TreesPhoto: brianvds, CC BYWhere to see: Red Bushwillow
Knobthorn, TreesPhoto: lallen, CC0Where to see: Knobthorn- English Oak, TreesWhere to see: English Oak
Sickle Bush, TreesPhoto: Tam, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Sickle Bush
Tamboti, TreesPhoto: Andrew Deacon, CC0Where to see: Tamboti
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Sycamore Fig, TreesPhoto: Alan Manson, CC BYWhere to see: Sycamore Fig
Russet Bushwillow, TreesPhoto: Ricus Nel, CC BYWhere to see: Russet Bushwillow- Jacaranda, TreesWhere to see: Jacaranda
Magic Guarri, TreesPhoto: Andrew Deacon, CC0Where to see: Magic Guarri
Mopane, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Mopane
Silver Cluster-leaf, TreesPhoto: Alan Manson, CC BYWhere to see: Silver Cluster-leaf
Real Yellowwood, TreesPhoto: Eric Knight, CC BYWhere to see: Real Yellowwood
Round-leaved Bloodwood, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Round-leaved Bloodwood
Buffalo Thorn, TreesPhoto: Dave U, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Buffalo Thorn
Delagoa Thorn, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Delagoa Thorn
Jackalberry, TreesPhoto: Robert Taylor, CC BYWhere to see: Jackalberry
Wild Olive, TreesPhoto: viridian, CC0Where to see: Wild Olive
Cape Beech, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Cape Beech
Outeniqua Yellowwood, TreesPhoto: Jeremy Gilmore, CC BYWhere to see: Outeniqua Yellowwood
Wild Date Palm, TreesPhoto: Caroline Voget, CC BYWhere to see: Wild Date Palm- Ana Tree, TreesWhere to see: Ana Tree
Ilala Palm, TreesPhoto: Brian du Preez, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Ilala Palm- Makalani Palm, TreesWhere to see: Makalani Palm
Purple-pod Cluster-leaf, TreesPhoto: Eric Knight, CC BYWhere to see: Purple-pod Cluster-leaf
Sausage Tree, TreesPhoto: Charles Stirton, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Sausage Tree
Tree Fuchsia, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Tree Fuchsia
Umbrella Thorn, TreesPhoto: Rabah Al-Shammary, CC BYWhere to see: Umbrella Thorn
White Milkwood, TreesPhoto: Nicola van Berkel, CC BY-SAWhere to see: White Milkwood
Wild Pear, TreesPhoto: Mahomed Desai, CC BYWhere to see: Wild Pear
Fever Tree, TreesPhoto: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Fever Tree
Sticky Thorn, TreesPhoto: Andrew Hankey, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Sticky Thorn
Weeping Boer-bean, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Weeping Boer-bean
White Raisin, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: White Raisin- Wild Peach, TreesWhere to see: Wild Peach
Impala Lily, TreesPhoto: Karen Eichholz, CC BYWhere to see: Impala Lily
Scented-pod Thorn, TreesPhoto: Wynand Uys, CC BYWhere to see: Scented-pod Thorn
Sweet Thorn, TreesPhoto: Riaan Stals, CC0Where to see: Sweet Thorn
Water Berry, TreesPhoto: Andrew Deacon, CC0Where to see: Water Berry
Flaky-bark Thorn, TreesPhoto: Jens-Christian Svenning, CC BYWhere to see: Flaky-bark Thorn
Large-leaved Rock Fig, TreesPhoto: CC0Where to see: Large-leaved Rock Fig
Natal Mahogany, TreesPhoto: Andrew Deacon, CC0Where to see: Natal Mahogany
Shepherd’s Tree, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Shepherd’s Tree
Camel Thorn, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Camel Thorn
Large-fruited Bushwillow, TreesPhoto: Nicola van Berkel, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Large-fruited Bushwillow- River Bushwillow, TreesWhere to see: River Bushwillow
White Pear, TreesPhoto: James Deacon, CC BY-SAWhere to see: White Pear
Baobab, TreesPhoto: Christiaan Viljoen, CC BYWhere to see: Baobab
Corkwood, TreesPhoto: Wynand Uys, CC BYWhere to see: Corkwood
Matumi, TreesPhoto: Wynand Uys, CC BYWhere to see: Matumi
Cape Chestnut, TreesPhoto: Wynand Uys, CC BYWhere to see: Cape Chestnut
Forest Elder, TreesPhoto: Melburnian, CC BYWhere to see: Forest Elder
Horned Thorn, TreesPhoto: CC0Where to see: Horned Thorn
Waboom, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Waboom
Mountain Kirkia, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Mountain Kirkia
Pod Mahogany, TreesPhoto: Robert Taylor, CC BYWhere to see: Pod Mahogany- Quiver Tree, TreesWhere to see: Quiver Tree
White Kirkia, TreesPhoto: Wynand Uys, CC BYWhere to see: White Kirkia
Wild Banana, TreesPhoto: Mahomed Desai, CC BYWhere to see: Wild Banana
Mustard Tree, TreesPhoto: Wynand Uys, CC BYWhere to see: Mustard Tree
Black Mangrove, TreesPhoto: 葉子, CC0Where to see: Black Mangrove
Dune Crowberry, TreesPhoto: Nicola van Berkel, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Dune Crowberry
Nyala Tree, TreesPhoto: agujaceratops, CC BYWhere to see: Nyala Tree
Silver Tree, TreesPhoto: linkie, CC BYWhere to see: Silver Tree
Stinkwood, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Stinkwood
White Mangrove, TreesPhoto: Saryu Mae 前 朝琉, CC BYWhere to see: White Mangrove
Wild Almond, TreesPhoto: Dave Richardson, CC BYWhere to see: Wild Almond
Assegai, TreesPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Assegai
Brack Thorn, TreesPhoto: Andrew Hankey, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Brack Thorn
Coastal Red Milkwood, TreesPhoto: JMK, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Coastal Red Milkwood- Flamboyant, TreesWhere to see: Flamboyant
Halfmens, TreesPhoto: Andrew Hankey, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Halfmens
Plants
Mountain Aloe, PlantsPhoto: Peter Warren, CC0Where to see: Mountain Aloe
Common Sugarbush, PlantsPhoto: Karen Eichholz, CC BYWhere to see: Common Sugarbush
Krantz Aloe, PlantsPhoto: Ton Rulkens, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Krantz Aloe
Arum Lily, PlantsPhoto: Bruce Calvert, CC BYWhere to see: Arum Lily
Red Hot Poker, PlantsPhoto: magriet b, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Red Hot Poker
Red Crassula Heath, PlantsPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Red Crassula Heath
King Protea, PlantsPhoto: Klaus Wehrlin, CC0Where to see: King Protea
Agapanthus, PlantsPhoto: C T Johansson, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Agapanthus
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Sour Fig, PlantsPhoto: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Sour Fig
Bitter Aloe, PlantsPhoto: desertnaturalist, CC BYWhere to see: Bitter Aloe
Cape Watsonia, PlantsPhoto: Sam McCarren, CC BYWhere to see: Cape Watsonia
Pincushion, PlantsPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Pincushion
Wild Pelargonium, PlantsPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Wild Pelargonium
George Lily, PlantsPhoto: Nic Knott-Craig, CC BY-SAWhere to see: George Lily
Red Disa, PlantsPhoto: Chris Vynbos, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Red Disa
Blushing Bride, PlantsPhoto: Di Turner, CC0Where to see: Blushing Bride
Botterboom, PlantsPhoto: Marc Fradera-Soler, CC BYWhere to see: Botterboom
Cape Cowslip, PlantsPhoto: CC0Where to see: Cape Cowslip
Cape Restio, PlantsPhoto: Brian du Preez, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Cape Restio
Chincherinchee, PlantsPhoto: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SAWhere to see: Chincherinchee
Fan Aloe, PlantsPhoto: linkie, CC BYWhere to see: Fan Aloe