boisetaxicompany.com – There are some most impressive South Africa animals! Wildlife in South Africa is abundant, with almost 300 mammal species.
South African animals you should know about
Among the South African animal species are some of the world’s tallest, fastest or even tiniest animals such as the majestic giraffe, the speedy cheetah or the tiny pygmy shrew.
Several animal species are endangered such as the African wild dogs, the oribi or the rhino which is hunted for its horn. Many wild animals are kept and protected in national parks or private game reserves.
Conservation efforts in South Africa have been successful in growing populations of the mountain zebra and bontebok, an antelope species that only exists in South Africa.
The Blue Crane is the South African national bird. It is one of the vulnerable bird species that are native to South Africa.
Over 850 species of birds live in South Africa, many can only be found here. Among the typical African bird species that can be seen in South Africa are the ostrich, kingfishers, sunbirds and the blue crane.
South Africa Animals | Big Five
And then of course, there are the Big Five: elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, lion and the leopard.
The term ‘Big Five’ is used to describe the power and strength of the animals. The term was coined last century as these five animals were the most difficult to be hunted on foot.
The ‘Big Five’ are shown on the South African bank notes.
15 Animals in South Africa you should know about
The springbok is the national animal of South Africa. Springboks are very common in rural areas and on many farms. The springbok belongs to the Antelope species that includes over 90 different species, that are mostly native to the African continent.
The springbok is very common in the bush veld and in deserts of South Africa. This antelope can jump up to 2 m/ 6.5 ft high. Watch them jump here. Did you know that the South African rugby team is called “The Springboks”?
These big cats live in prides that are led by a male lion. Lions are only encountered in enclosures or private game reserves as well as some national parks. The Southern African lions are the largest of the lion species.
The African elephant is the largest land-based mammal and can grow up to almost 4 m/13 ft tall. Elephants live in tight-knit families and are very protective of their young.
Elephants have an excellent memory. Sadly there are only few wild elephants left in South Africa, elephants are endangered and thus kept in national parks such as Kruger Park or Addo Park as they are hunted for their tusks.
These huge animals can be spotted near waterholes in many South African national parks. They usually move in herds and can be really aggressive!
Remember, buffalos belong to South Africa’s “Big Five”.
South Africa animals: There are white and black rhinos, both of which are massive and strong. They cannot see well, but smell their prey. These endangered species are poached for their precious horn.
Although the black and white rhino can hardly be distinguished by their skin colour, it’s quite easy to recognise the rhinoceros species. The white rhinos have a broad lip and are called friendly, as they are not as aggressive as the black rhinos, which have a small lip and look more threatening.
In South Africa, the leopard lives mainly in game reserves. Only a few of these big cats are left to roam freely in the remote bush veld. They hunt at night but during the day, they usually hide on or under trees.
Leopards can also be spotted occasionally on rocks or craggy hills.
Baboons are cheeky monkeys that can often be seen along the roadside in South Africa.
They can be quite curious and are also known to approach people, but be careful and do not touch or feed them, they’re quite strong and have very sharp teeth.
Hippopotamuses (also known as hippos) are the most dangerous mammals. Hippos cannot swim, they only walk or run underwater!
In St Lucia, a small town in the iSimangeliso wetlands, you can encounter hippos at night when they roam the streets in search for water or food. See our link in the resources below for more info and photos.
9. Pygmy shrew
South Africa animals: The pygmy shrew is the world’s smallest mammal. The tiny shrew which looks like a mouse is only 8 cm/3 inches long and weighs less than 4 g/a teaspoon of sugar.
South Africa animals: There are eight species of whales in South African waters. Southern Right Whales can be seen along the entire western and southern coastline, where they can be seen from May to December.
The town of Hermanus, a three-hours drive from Cape Town, even has its own whale crier, who announces when whales are in the bay, this it is a major spectacle.
11. African penguin
There are three penguin colonies in South Africa. Two of the penguin sites are at Boulders Beach near Cape Town, where you can even swim with penguins!
Read more about African penguins here.
The largest of the bird species are flightless, but grow up to 2.7 m/ 8.8 ft tall. They roam the countryside freely but are kept also on large ostrich farms. The town of Oudtshoorn in south-western South Africa is known as the ‘ostrich capital of the world’!
Ostriches have big eyes, but a very small brain! Their eggs are huge and weigh up to 1.9kg/ 4 pounds! One egg can be feed up to 19 people at a time!
Be aware that ostriches have a powerful kick, which can kill a person. So when you see an ostrich approach, lie flat on the ground, so they cannot kick you!
There are several shark species swimming in South African waters. Great white sharks are not the largest shark species in the world but certainly impressive! They can become massive, up to 7 m/23 ft in length – this is almost half the length of a basketball court!
Once a shark is fully fed, it can live without food for three months. Sharks follow vibrations in water when searching for prey. They also have a very good sense of smell and can also detect the scent of blood from about 5km/3 miles away.
South Africa animals: There are 175 species of scorpions in South Africa!
Though most of them are harmless, look at the pinchers and tail to determine if a scorpion is venomous. In general, only scorpions with small pinchers and a short thick tail are venomous.
15. Cape Cobra
The Cape Cobra is one of the most deadly snakes in the world! Together with the puff adder, the boomslang and the green or black mamba, they are the most poisonous snakes in South Africa.
Cobras can be encountered throughout the country, so be careful when walking through dunes or bushland especially close to the sea, rivers or near a national park.
Crocodiles are found in South Africa as well, mostly in the eastern and northern provinces.
South Africa Animals | Did you know…?
And this cute animal we just could not leave out – so here is our number 16 of South Africa animals. The cute green and orange striped Cape Dwarf Chameleons are home in many gardens around Cape Town.
The eyes of the tiny chameleon move independently from each other and can turn in all directions. The tongue is about twice the length of the chameleon’s body so it can catch insects that are quite a distance away!
boisetaxicompany.com  Kuna baadhi ya wanyama wa Afrika Kusini wenye kuvutia zaidi! Afrika Kusini ina wanyama wengi wa pori, na karibu aina 300 za mamalia. Miongoni mwa spishi za wanyama za Afrika Kusini ni baadhi ya wanyama mrefu zaidi, wa haraka au hata wadogo zaidi ulimwenguni kama vile giraffe ya kifalme, cheetah ya haraka au shrew ndogo ya pygmy. Aina kadhaa za wanyama ziko hatarini kama vile mbwa wa mwituni wa Afrika, oribi au punda-mwitu ambaye huwindwa kwa pembe zake. Wanyama wengi wa porini huhifadhiwa na kulindwa katika mbuga za kitaifa au hifadhi za kibinafsi za wanyama. Kwa mfano, Afrika Kusini ina idadi kubwa ya wanyama aina ya zebra na bontebok, ambao ni aina ya antelope inayopatikana tu nchini humo. Ndege anayeitwa Blue Crane ni ndege wa taifa la Afrika Kusini. Ni mojawapo ya spishi za ndege zilizo hatarini ambazo ni za asili ya Afrika Kusini. Kuna zaidi ya spishi 850 za ndege katika Afrika Kusini, na wengi wao ni wa asili ya Afrika. Miongoni mwa spishi za ndege za Kiafrika ambazo zinaweza kuonekana katika Afrika Kusini ni ndege aina ya ostrich, kingfisher, sunbirds na blue crane. Wanyama wa Afrika Kusini: Simba, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati, Nyati. Neno "Big Five" hutumiwa kuelezea nguvu na nguvu ya wanyama. Neno hilo lilitokana na karne iliyopita kwa sababu wanyama hao watano ndio waliokuwa vigumu zaidi kuwinda kwa miguu. "Big Five" zinaonyeshwa kwenye noti za benki za Afrika Kusini. Mnyama wa Afrika Kusini anayeitwa Springbok ni mnyama wa taifa la Afrika Kusini. Springboks ni za kawaida sana katika maeneo ya mashambani na katika mashamba mengi. Springbok ni aina ya antelope ambayo inajumuisha zaidi ya spishi 90 tofauti, ambazo ni za asili ya bara la Afrika. Mnyama huyo ni wa kawaida sana katika misitu na jangwani za Afrika Kusini. Antilope huyu anaweza kuruka hadi urefu wa mita mbili na nusu. Angalia wao kuruka hapa. Je, unajua kwamba timu ya rugby ya Afrika Kusini inaitwa <unk>The Springboks<unk>? Paka hao wakubwa huishi katika makundi yanayoongozwa na simba wa kiume. Simba hupatikana tu katika maeneo yaliyofungwa au katika hifadhi za kibinafsi za wanyama-pori na pia katika mbuga fulani za kitaifa. Simba wa Afrika Kusini ni mkubwa zaidi kati ya aina zote za simba. Tembo wa Afrika ni mnyama mkubwa zaidi duniani na anaweza kukua hadi urefu wa mita nne. Tembo huishi katika familia zenye uhusiano wa karibu na huwalinda sana watoto wao. Tembo wana kumbukumbu nzuri sana. Kwa bahati mbaya, kuna tembo wa mwituni wachache tu katika Afrika Kusini, tembo wako hatarini na hivyo huhifadhiwa katika mbuga za kitaifa kama Kruger Park au Addo Park kwani huwindwa kwa ajili ya meno yao. Wanyama hao wakubwa wanaweza kuonekana karibu na visima vya maji katika mbuga nyingi za kitaifa za Afrika Kusini. Kwa kawaida wao husafiri katika makundi na wanaweza kuwa wakali sana! Kumbuka, nyati ni wa "Big Five" ya Afrika Kusini. Wanyama wa Afrika Kusini: Kuna panya weupe na weusi, wote wawili ni wakubwa na wenye nguvu. Hawawezi kuona vizuri, lakini wanaweza kunusa mawindo yao. Spishi hizi zilizo hatarini mwa kutoweka huuawa kwa ajili ya pembe zao zenye thamani. Ingawa nyumbu mweusi na mweupe haiwezi kutofautishwa na rangi ya ngozi yao, ni rahisi sana kutambua spishi za nyumbu. Panya mweupe ana mdomo mpana na anaitwa rafiki, kwa kuwa si mkali kama panya mweusi, ambaye ana mdomo mdogo na anaonekana kuwa mhatarishaji zaidi. Katika Afrika Kusini, chui huishi hasa katika hifadhi za wanyama. Ni paka hao wakubwa wachache tu walioachwa wakizurura kwa uhuru katika misitu ya mbali. Wao huwinda usiku lakini wakati wa mchana, kwa kawaida hujificha juu au chini ya miti. Pia, nyakati nyingine chui wanaweza kuonekana kwenye miamba au vilima vyenye miamba. Nyani aina ya baboon ni nyani wenye ujasiri ambao mara nyingi huonekana kando ya barabara nchini Afrika Kusini. Wanaweza kuwa na udadisi sana na pia wanajulikana kukaribia watu, lakini kuwa makini na usiguse au kulisha yao, wao ni nguvu sana na kuwa na meno makali sana. Panya (au hipopotamu) ni wanyama hatari zaidi duniani. Pomboo hawawezi kuogelea, wao hutembea au kukimbia tu chini ya maji! Katika mji mdogo wa St. Lucia, unaweza kukutana na mbweha usiku wanapokuwa wakitafuta maji au chakula. Angalia kiungo chetu katika rasilimali hapa chini kwa habari zaidi na picha. 9. (a) Kwa nini? Pygmy shrew wanyama Afrika Kusini: Pygmy shrew ni duniani's ndogo mamalia. Mnyama huyo mdogo anayeonekana kama panya ana urefu wa sentimita 8 tu na uzito wa chini ya gramu 4 kwa kijiko cha sukari. Wanyama wa Afrika Kusini: Kuna spishi nane za nyangumi katika maji ya Afrika Kusini. Nyangumi wa Kusini wanaweza kuonekana kwenye pwani nzima ya magharibi na kusini, ambako wanaweza kuonekana kuanzia Mei hadi Desemba. Mji wa Hermanus, ulio umbali wa saa tatu kwa gari kutoka Cape Town, hata una mwimbaji wake mwenyewe wa nyangumi, ambaye anatangaza wakati nyangumi wako katika ghuba, hii ni maonyesho makubwa. 11. (a) Kwa nini? Pengwini wa Afrika Kuna makoloni matatu ya pengwini katika Afrika Kusini. Maeneo mawili ya pengwini yapo kwenye Pwani ya Boulders karibu na Cape Town, ambako unaweza hata kuogelea pamoja na pengwini! Soma zaidi kuhusu pengwini wa Afrika hapa. Ndege wengi hawawezi kuruka, lakini wanaweza kukua hadi urefu wa mita 2.7 hadi mita 8.8. Wao hutembea-tembea mashambani kwa uhuru lakini huhifadhiwa pia katika mashamba makubwa ya mbweha. Mji wa Oudtshoorn kusini-magharibi mwa Afrika Kusini unajulikana kama "mji mkuu wa dunia wa mbweha"! Nyigu wana macho makubwa, lakini ubongo mdogo sana! Mayai yao ni makubwa na huweza kupima uzito wa kilogramu 1.9 au pauni 4! Kwa kutumia yai moja, watu 19 wanaweza kula kwa wakati mmoja. Kumbuka kwamba mbweha wana nguvu za kupiga makofi, ambazo zaweza kumuua mtu. Kwa hiyo unapoona mbweha akikaribia, lagaa chini, ili wasiweze kukupiga makofi! Kuna spishi kadhaa za papa zinazogelea katika maji ya Afrika Kusini. Papa mweupe mkubwa si aina kubwa zaidi ya papa ulimwenguni lakini kwa hakika ni mwenye kuvutia! Wanaweza kuwa wakubwa sana, hadi urefu wa mita 7 - hii ni karibu nusu ya urefu wa uwanja wa mpira wa kikapu! Mara tu papa anapolishwa kikamili, anaweza kuishi bila chakula kwa miezi mitatu. Papa hufuata miendo ya maji wanapotafuta mawindo. Pia wana hisi nzuri ya kunusa na wanaweza kugundua harufu ya damu kutoka umbali wa kilomita tano. Kuna aina 175 za nge katika Afrika Kusini. Ingawa wengi wao si wenye madhara, angalia vidole na mkia ili uone ikiwa nge ni mwenye sumu. Kwa ujumla, ni nge tu wenye vidole vidogo na mkia mfupi na mzito walio na sumu. 15. (a) Kwa nini? Nyoka anayeitwa Cape Cobra ni mmoja wa nyoka hatari zaidi ulimwenguni! Pamoja na nyoka anayeitwa puff adder, boomslang, na mamba wa rangi ya kijani au nyeusi, nyoka hao ndio wenye sumu zaidi nchini Afrika Kusini. Kobra wanaweza kupatikana katika nchi nzima, hivyo kuwa makini wakati wa kutembea kupitia dunes au bushland hasa karibu na bahari, mito au karibu na Hifadhi ya Taifa. Mamba hupatikana pia katika Afrika Kusini, hasa katika majimbo ya mashariki na kaskazini. Wanyama wa Afrika Kusini | Je, ulijua...? Kwa hivyo, kwa sababu ya kuwa na wanyama wengi wa kusisimua, hatukuweza kuwa na idadi kubwa ya wanyama wa Afrika Kusini. Ndege aina ya Cape Dwarf Chameleons wenye mistari ya kijani-kibichi na machungwa wanaishi katika bustani nyingi karibu na Cape Town. Macho ya mnyama huyo mdogo hutembea bila kujali upande wowote na yanaweza kugeuka katika pande zote. Ulimi wake ni mrefu mara mbili ya urefu wa mwili wa mnyama huyo, kwa hiyo anaweza kukamata wadudu walio mbali sana!