South Africa Primary Ecosystems, Wildlife and Birds
Primary Ecosystems
- Arid Desert
- Savannah
- Montane grassland
- Dense green Forests
Wildlife and Birds
The Big 5 is one of the main attractions to South Africa in terms of wildlife. This includes the African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Lion, Black Rhino and Leopard. South Africa is one of the few safri destinations where all the Big 5 can be sighted in one outing. It is also the one place to easily spot the Big cats especially the elusive Leopard. The landscapes of South Africa offer the full spectrum of habitat types making them ideal for thousands of species. In total, there are about 230 species of mammals to be found in South africa which makes for fabulous sightings on any game drive or safari.
The Country is home to approximately 175 endemic bird species as well as hundreds more species. Notable endemic varieties include the Black Oystercatcher, Blue crane, Cape parrot, cape vulture, Forest canary, Ground woodpecker, Jackal Buzzard among others. Birding enthusiasts are sure to be well rewarded when they visit South Africa.
South Africa Major Landmarks, Climate and Weather
Major Landmarks
- Kruger National Park
- The Table Mountain
- The Garden Route
- Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park
- Cape Floral Kingdom
- The Vredefort Dome
Climate and Weather
South Africa’s climatic conditions generally range from mediterranean in the southwestern corner of the country to temperate in the interior plateau, and subtropical in the northeast. South Africa is famous for its sunshine – an average of 2500 hours of sunshine per year. Its a dry country classified as semi-arid. The average annual rainfall for the whole of South Africa is about 464mm most of it falling in the summer.
Main Activities in South Africa
- Game Drives and Guided walks
- Camping
- Bush Walks
- Excursions
- Photography
- Bird watching
- Cultural Visits.
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Microlight and Helicopter Flights
- Sound Safaris
- Field Guide and Wildlife Courses
- Canoeing and Makoro
- Kayaking and Rafting
- Boating