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Fauna
 When
it comes to land mammals, South Africa hogs the superlatives: it
has got the biggest (the African elephant), the smallest (the
pygmy shrew), the tallest (the giraffe) and the fastest (the
cheetah). The country is also home to the last substantial
populations of black and white rhinos - with horns intact. One is
most likely to encounter these critters in any of South Africa's
national parks, but he should keep an eye out for lurking
crocodiles in lowveld streams and rampaging hippos in the northern
coastal regions. No slacker when it comes to birdlife, South
Africa is home to the ostrich (the world's largest bird), the Kori
bustard (the largest flying bird), as well as sunbirds,
flamingoes, and the sociable weaverbirds that live in 'cities' of
woven grass.
South Africa's terrestrial animals are among the most spectacular
on earth. Numbering over 300 species, they range in size from the
tiny pygmy shrew to the imposing African elephant. This is one of
the few countries where the "Big Five" (elephant, lion,
rhino, leopard and buffalo) are frequently seen. Whales can also
be seen off the Western Cape coastline
Mammals
Some 356 species out of a worldwide total more than 4,000 are
found in South Africa. The country has reason to be proud of its
mammals. The elephant is nearly 2.8 m tall (only exceeded in
height by the 3.3 m tall giraffe) and can weigh over 5,000 kg
compared to the white rhino, 2,300 kg and the hippo, 1,500 kg.
Powerful predators include the lion, the nocturnal leopard and the
extremely fast cheetah, which can reach speeds of 75 km an
hour.
Antelope are the most common mammals in South Africa, with eland
being the tallest (1.70 m) and blue duiker the shortest (30 cm).
All male antelope - plus a few female ones - have horns, the most
impressive of which are those of the kudu, the Oryx (gemsbok) and
the waterbok. Gemsbok and springbok are only found in the west,
whereas most of the others are found in the Kruger National Park.
Impalas and wildebeest are extremely common. The baboon and the
vervet monkey are the most frequently seen, often outside national
parks. Feeding them is illegal. Zebra and warthog are also found
in large numbers. The enormous whales, which can be sighted at
Hermanus in the Western Cape, are also a major tourist
attraction.
Reptiles and Amphibians
All reptiles in South Africa, of which the tortoise is the oldest
species (over 200 million years old), are protected by law.
Turtles are almost extinct, except for the leatherback turtle,
which can weigh up to 400 kg, These turtles struggle ashore up  the
beaches at Maputaland in KwaZulu-Natal to lay their eggs, up to a
1.000 a time. Fierce and dangerous crocodiles are found in the
warmer rivers of the Kruger National Park and the game reserves of
KwaZulu-Natal. Of the 98 different types of snakes found in South
Africa, only sixteen are dangerous to man, including the
puff-adder, cobra, green and black mambas and the boomslang (tree
snake).
The most common reptile found in South Africa is the lizard,
ranging from the tiny gecko to the large liguana. Frogs, which
breed in large numbers in swamps and high rainfall areas, are
heard rather than seen, and offer the visitor entertaining sound
effects.
Fish
An indication of the great diversity of South Africa’s marine life is the fact that there are 270 families of fish types out of a total of 325 worldwide, are found in its coastal waters. South African rivers and dams are also very well stocked, which makes the country a fisherman’s paradise. Of the 1,600 or more types of fish found in South African waters, the visitor will probably only find a few on local menus, of which shell fish (prawns, lobster, crayfish) are strongly recommended. These are mainly caught off the West Coast and are exported to Europe in great numbers. Oysters are a speciality of the Knysna region. Sharks are numerous in the warm Indian Ocean but are no real danger to bathers as they are kept away by means of shark nets and lately by electronic fields, which are too weak to be dangerous to humans.
Birds
Approximately 880 species of birds are found in South Africa from the largest, the flightless ostriches, (mainly bred in the little Karoo near Oudtshoorn although they can be found almost every- where in the country), down to the smallest, colorful Nectar-birds, which live off the nectar from the protea. The widow birds (wydahs) with their enormous tails, the hornbill (tokos) famous for their large bills, or the many artistic weavers are fascinating sights for bird watchers. Pelicans, flamingos, herons, fish eagles and spoonbills, can be found around lakes and coastal areas. During the months of September to March, storks and swallows spend the summer season in South Africa.
Insects
There are over 800 recorded butterfly species in South Africa. If any one is not able to see any of these in their natural environment, pay a visit to the "World of Butterflies" at Klapmuts near Paarl in the Western Cape. Termite hills are seen almost all over the country even in the urban areas. Termites, which do not belong to the ant family, construct these solid ‘fortresses’ with built-in air conditioning. They are crushed and used for road construction, when no longer inhabited.
Mosquitoes are as annoying as anywhere else in the world. The tsetse fly, the carrier of the fatal sleeping sickness, is almost extinct today; however, the carrier of malaria, the anopheles fly, also thought to be completely under control, is still widely dispersed in the northern and eastern rainfall regions in particular.
South Africa’s fauna is better known than its flora. The abundance and variety of animal life is a draw-card for the tourist. Visitors never tire of this scenic beauty a subject. The National Parks Board, the provincial governments, and also some private organizations, and individuals such as farmers protect wildlife in South Africa.
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