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| An
Introduction |
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| Our
Plant and Animal Life |
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| South
Africa is home to an astonishing variety of plants and
animals. Our indigenous plant life includes some 22
000 species of flowering plants (including 730 species
of trees) and some 900 species of bird, representing
22 of the world’s living orders.
The country is divided into six natural vegetation
regions. The Mediterranean winter rainfall
area in the south-western Cape is characterised by Fynbos
vegetation. To the east lie natural temperate forests
and subtropical coastal forests. Behind the mountains
that divide the coast from the inner plateau lies a
desert and semi-desert landscape, characterised by shrubs
and grassland. The central highland consists of natural
grassland and sparse clumps of trees. |
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The coastal
stretches are characterised by subtropical humid conditions.
Sparse desert flora characterises the vegetation of
the west coast. South Africa is the natural habitat
of many species of animals, both carnivore and herbivores.
Our most famous four-footed inhabitants are the Elephant,
Buffalo, Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros, better known
as the Big Five.
Fortunately, we have a long history of protecting our
natural heritage. Visitors can therefore look forward
to exploring our many nature reserves and game farms,
set among such different landscapes as grassy veld,
mountains, beaches, forests and deserts. The country
boasts with some 800 game reserves and 16 National Parks
and hundreds of privately owned wildlife sanctuaries.
We also have large tracts of land, wilderness
areas, that have been established to protect their original
natural character. Romantic and adventurous
safaris into the bush are an experience not to be missed,
an opportunity to become one with nature and discover
our land in a unique way. |
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| Animals |
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| BLACK
WILDEBEEST (CONNOCHAETES GNOU) |
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There
was a time, not so long ago, when these strange looking
antelope roamed the plains of South Africa in their
millions until the arrival of the White settlers, who,
in a few decades, reduced their numbers to a few hundred.
The black wildebeest or black gnu has a rather large
head, a hump on its upper back and a sloping lower back.
Adult males have a distinctive tuft of stiff hair on
their muzzles. Adult males reach a shoulder height of
some 1,2 metres and weigh up to 200 kilograms. Males
are dark brown to black and females are lighter in colour
and slightly smaller, weighing about 140 kilograms.
Both males and females possess forward curving horns
and have tails with long white hair.
These large antelope prefer open grasslands. This is
not only because they are grazers but also because they
can easily spot predators from afar. A distinctive characteristic
of black wildebeest is that, unlike most other animals,
they do not seek shelter from the hot African sun. They
are well adapted to survive the searing heat.
Black wildebeest are gregarious and usually form three
different social units within the herd. The females
and the young form the largest group. The second group
is the bachelor males and the territorial bulls are
scattered throughout the herd.
Another interesting feature of these animals is that
they synchronise the births of their calves so that
all the calves are born within a specific period. It
takes advantage of the fact that there is safety in
numbers and ensures the survival of the species. Although
a large number of calves are lost to predators, many
still survive. Once a calf is a few hours old, it can
keep up with the herd, even if they travel at a gallop.
Only the supreme efforts of conservationists over the
last fifty years have saved the black wildebeest from
extinction. Today, their numbers are stable and they
can be seen in most of the reserves and parks of South
Africa. |
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| BLUE
WILDEBEEST (GNU) (CONNOCHAETES TAURINUS) |
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This
antelope is often confused with the black wildebeest.
However, they are quite different, and once the
differences have been pointed out, it is easy
to distinguish between the two species.
The two main differences concern the mane and
the horns. The blue wildebeest has a long mane
that falls to its shoulders while the black wildebeest
has a stiff mane that stands upright. The horns
of the blue wildebeest grow sideways and then
curve up, while those of the black wildebeest
grow forward and hook upwards. The blue wildebeest
is also larger than the black wildebeest. Adult
males can reach a shoulder height of 1,5 metres
and weigh up to 250 kilograms, the females being
slightly smaller.In South Africa, blue wildebeest
calves are born in the summer months of December
and January. The gestation period is about nine
months and the calves are able to run with the
herd a few hours after birth.
The natural habitat of the blue wildebeest
is the savannah veld. They also need an adequate
supply of surface water and ample shade. The call
that the blue wildebeest males make sounds like
“gnu”, which earned them their alternative
name. Blue wildebeest can also sometimes
be heard lowing and they snort when they notice
predators. In earlier times, during periods of
drought, these antelope migrated over great distances
that covered several countries, in search of good
grazing and water. They were able to do this only
until people erected fences, restricting their
migratory movements. In southern Africa, hundreds
of thousands of blue wildebeest died of starvation
and thirst along these fences. Fortunately, successful
conservation efforts over recent years have stabilised
the population of this antelope species and they
are no longer regarded as threatened. Today, large
herds can be seen in nature reserves all over
the country, e.g. in the Kruger National Park.
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| ELAND
(TAUROTRAGUS ORYX) |
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These magnificent
animals are the largest antelopes in Africa. They
move together in herds of up to a thousand and
are known for their agility and their ability
to easily jump a height of two metres. Males can
grow to a shoulder height of 1,7 metres and weigh
about 700 kilograms. Females are much smaller,
weighing about 450 kilograms. Both males and females
have horns. Males have a patch of dark hair on
their foreheads that covers glandular skin. Both
males and females have fawn coloured coats. They
also have faint vertical white stripes on their
flanks, which are distinctive to the eland.
Although the eland does not have a specific breeding
season, in South Africa it has been noted that
there are peak months when significantly more
calves are born than in other months. A single
calf is born to a mother after a gestation period
of approximately nine months. Calves can run with
the herd a few hours after birth. The eland’s
habitat ranges from fynbos to hilly grasslands
to the arid parts of South Africa. The eland is
a nocturnal animal and the vegetation that absorbs
moisture from the atmosphere at night provides
ample fluid sustenance for his large antelope
that lives in areas with little surface water.
One of the interesting characteristics of an eland
herd is that it includes a nursery for the calves.
When threatened by predators, the herd forms a
front with the large males taking the lead positions
while the calves and pregnant females are protected
behind the fortress of large males. Adult eland
are only preyed upon by lions and spotted hyenas
and the young fall prey to most of the larger
carnivores such as leopards, cheetahs and wild
dogs. In South Africa, many attempts have been
made to domesticate this antelope but so far,
these attempts have not been successful. One reason
is that it is very difficult to restrict their
movements, since an eland can easily jump over
a two metre high fence! Younger animals have even
been known to manage 3 metres. Eland can be seen
in most of the game reserves in South Africa.
In areas where they used to roam and became extinct,
they have been reintroduced with great success. |
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| GEMSBOK
(ORYX GAZELLA) |
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The gemsbok
is a splendid antelope, characterised by its long
scimitar-like horns and regal bearing. Both males
and females have pale grey coats with black bands
on their flanks, bordering their white underbodies.
The top halves of their legs are black in colour
and they have distinctive black and white facial
markings. The gemsbok male is a large antelope
and stands about 1.2 metres high at the shoulder.
It weighs between 200 and 250 kilograms. Although
the gemsbok does not have a specific breeding
season, in certain parts of South Africa it has
been observed that there are peak months when
the numbers of calves born are significantly higher
than at other times of the year. Usually only
one calf is born after a gestation period of approximately
9 months. These antelopes are normally grazers.
However, when grazing is sparse the gemsbok will
browse. The gemsbok is well adapted to survive
in dry conditions and can be found in arid and
semi-arid areas, as well as in open grasslands
and semi woodlands. They even survive in the harsh
Namib and Kalahari deserts of southern Africa.
They accomplish this feat by resting in the shade
during the hottest periods of the day. Also, the
animal’s body temperature is allowed to
rise on very hot days and re-radiate to the cool
night air. This means that the antelope does not
have to waste precious body fluids in perspiration.
Using a complex network of blood vessels called
carotid rete, which are situated in the nose,
the antelope is able to cool down the blood supplied
to the brain, thus protecting it from deadly temperatures.
Gemsbok males are territorial while females move
in herds and drift between male territories. Mating
takes place between receptive females and the
dominant male of the territory.
When conditions deteriorate,
gemsbok herds move to find better grazing and
males then abandon their territories and follow
the herds. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted
hyenas and wild dogs prey upon the gemsbok and
calves are especially vulnerable, accounting for
the very high (up to 80 per cent) mortality rate.
Gemsbok are to be found in many game reserves
throughout South Africa and have been successfully
re-introduced to areas where they once roamed
and became extinct.
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| GIRAFFE
(GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS) |
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The giraffe
is the tallest land mammal in the world. This
herbivore attains a height of a dizzying 5 metres,
its incredibly long neck accounting for much of
its height. Adult males generally reach a height
of about 5 metres and females about 4,5 metres.
Big males can weigh a massive 1 200 kilograms
while females usually weigh some 800 to 900 kilograms.
Their skin colour is tan with light brown patches
on females and dark brown patches on males. Both
males and females have short horns covered in
skin.
Because of their very long necks, giraffes are
able to feed on the foliage of trees that is not
accessible to other herbivores. They can also
selectively choose tender leaves, ripe fruit and
fresh flowers, thanks to a long and dexterous
tongue.
A single calf is born after a gestation period
of about 15 months. The calves are weaned in roughly
8 months but only about 52 per cent of the calves
ever reach maturity, since the young are preyed
upon by lions, hyenas and leopards.
Giraffes are fairly social animals
and get together in herds from time to time. However,
there is no group bonding. Youngsters stay with
a few adult females and the males are nomadic
and move between groups of females. Because giraffes
do not have a fixed breeding season, males are
always wandering in search of receptive females.
The male fights for dominance, and for the right
to mate with females, are fascinating to watch.
They use their long muscular necks to strike at
an opponent’s body and wrestle by twining
their necks around each other. The loser is pushed
off balance and the encounters very rarely lead
to serious injury. Giraffes are generally quiet
animals that go about their business with an air
of serenity. Occasionally, when disturbed, they
will snort and, when attacked by predators, they
bellow. Giraffes occur naturally in the Mpumalanga
Lowveld but can also be seen in any number of
game reserves throughout South Africa.
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| IMPALA
(AEPYEROS MELAMPUS) |
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If
you visit any of the famous game reserves in South
Africa, you are guaranteed to see this fleet-footed
antelope since it is the most common type of antelope
in the country. The impala is chestnut
brown on its back and flanks and can be recognised
by the two black stripes on its buttocks. It is
a medium sized antelope that stands about 0,9
metres tall at the shoulders, with males weighing
about 60 kilograms and[U1] females about 45 kilograms.
They also have a unique gland, covered with a
tuft of hair on the lower part of the hind leg.
In this species, only males have horns. These
can grow to a length of 0,7 metres. Usually only
a single calf is born after a gestation period
of about 200 days. In the Kruger National Park,
calves are usually born in the month of May, while
in KwaZulu-Natal, calves are born during April
and May. In other parts of southern Africa, calves
are born in November.
This is one species of antelope that has benefited
from poor management of woodlands since the woodlands
that were destroyed and the semi-forest areas
that were left bare to become savannah are ideal
conditions for impala. Impalas feed on a variety
of plants such as grass, the leaves of woody plants,
as well as on shrubs when grass is unavailable.
Males are territorial during mating periods. They
wait for a herd of females to enter their territory
and will mate with any receptive female. Males
guarding territories that have rich grazing have
a better chance of mating with receptive females
than those in other areas. Females form breeding
herds while bachelors group together in a separate
herd.
The impala is preyed upon by most of the large
carnivores and the young often fall prey to pythons.
The impala are therefore on constant alert. Should
one of them spot danger, it will snort an alarm
and the whole herd will scatter. It is one of
the treats offered by nature to see this antelope
perform their incredible 3 metre high and 12 metre
long leaps.
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| KUDU
(TRAGELAPHUS STREPSICEROS) |
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The kudu is
a large and handsome antelope, the males sporting
magnificent spiral horns. The males also have
muscular necks graced with long hair growing on
the underside of the neck. The kudu has a fawn
grey coat and a unique white stripe between the
eyes. Males weigh about 250 kilograms while females
weigh about 150 kilograms. Adult male kudus can
reach a shoulder height of about 1,4 metres.
The kudu’s natural habitat ranges
from woodlands to savannah areas and they can
be seen in most of the game reserves in South
Africa, including the Kruger National Park.
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| MOUNTAIN
REED BUCK (REDUNCA FLUVORUFULA) |
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The body of
this medium sized antelope has a grayish yellow
colour while the head and shoulders are reddish
brown in colour - hence its Afrikaans name ‘rooiribbok’
(red ribbok). Only the male has horns, which slope
gently back and curve sharply forward towards
the tip. Their natural habitat is, as their name
suggests, mountainous terrain and they can be
seen on mountain slopes feeding or resting in
the shade and camouflage of the thick bush. The
mountain buck is a grazer and needs an adequate
supply of fresh water.
This antelope can be seen in the game reserves
of the eastern and northern parts of South Africa.
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| NYALA
(TRAGELAPHUS ANGASII) |
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This species
shows considerable dimorphism, which means that
males and females differ so much from each other
that the layman could easily consider them to
be different species. Adult males are dark grey-
brown in colour with a number of stripes running
from their backs down their flanks. Males also
have manes of long hair on the tops and bottoms
of their necks. They have long hair on the bottoms
of their bellies and upper parts of the hind legs
and have dark bushy tails. Males sport long dark
horns with a noticeable ivory tip. They stand
just over a metre high at the shoulders and weigh
over 100 kilograms. Prominent markings on the
nyala are the two white lines on the face.
None of these distinctive characteristics is seen
in the female of the species. The females are
pale reddish-brown in colour and they have no
horns. They are also significantly smaller than
the males.
The nyala breeds throughout
the year. Usually a single calf is born after
a gestation period of about seven and a half months.
An interesting fact is that the
juvenile males look like females. It is thought
that this camouflages the young males and protects
them from the jealous eyes of the dominant bulls.
The young males are therefore allowed to grow
up peacefully under the protection of the herd.
Nyalas prefer dense bush and forest areas, which
occur in the warmer parts of South Africa. This
antelope feeds by both grazing and browsing and
will readily feed on leaves, fruit and flowers.
This variety in their diet is one of the factors
ensuring their successful survival. As a result
of translocation, nyalas are found in a number
of game reserves and private farms throughout
South Africa. They are most numerous in the Kruger
National Park but there are also large herds of
nyala in other game reserves in the northern parts
of the countryl.
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| REEDBUCK
(REDUNCAARUNDINUM) |
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The reedbuck
is a medium-sized antelope, greyish brown to tawny
yellow in colour. The males stand at 0,95 metres
high at the shoulder and weigh about 70 kilograms.
Females are smaller, having a shoulder height
of 0,8 metres and weighing about 50 kilograms.
The reedbuck is a nocturnal animal that feeds
by grazing.
This antelope’s natural habitat is wet grasslands.
Unfortunately, this type of habitat has shrunk
significantly, with a subsequent reduction in
the number of reedbuck. Today, this antelope can
be seen in the Kruger National Park, on the eastern
shores of St. Lucia, in the Hluhluwe game reserve
and a few other game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal. |
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| ROAN
ANTELOPE (HIPPOTRAGUS EQUINUS) |
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This
stately antelope is one of the largest antelopes
in Africa, second only to the Cape buffalo and
the eland. Roan antelope bulls have an
average shoulder height of 1,4 metres and weigh
about 270 kilograms and females are slightly smaller.
Roan antelopes are greyish-brown in colour, the
males being slightly darker than the females.
Both males and females have heavy, ringed horns
that curve towards the back.
These antelopes are semi-gregarious
with the females and the young forming the main
herd. There is usually only one bull in
each herd and young bachelors form separate groups.
In each herd there is a hierarchy, the dominant
female in the herd playing the role of matriarch.
Roan antelopes are most active during the early
hours of the day. They mostly inhabit lightly
wooded savannah - open areas of medium sized grass,
with easy access to surface water. Roan antelopes
are grazers and prefer the leaves of grass rather
than the stem. These antelope do not have a fixed
breeding season and calves are born after a gestation
period of about 40 weeks. For the first month
of its life, the calf is kept hidden among thick
bush and when the calves join the herd they group
together in crËches. There is a very high
mortality rate among roan antelope calves, up
to 80 per cent in the first seven weeks.
In the Red Data book, the roan antelope is listed
as an endangered species. Fortunately, they can
still be seen in many game reserves throughout
South Africa.
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| SABLE
ANTELOPE (HIPPOTRAGUS NIGER) |
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The male of
this species is particularly striking-looking,
with large curved horns and a jetblack coat. The
males stand about 1,4 metres high at the shoulder
and weigh about 260 kg. Both sexes have horns
but the females are dark brown in colour. A sable
antelope can be distinguished from a roan antelope
by the white stripe that starts at the mouth and
runs on the side of the nose up to the base of
the horns.
Sable antelopes breed between
the months of January and March. Usually, only
a single calf is born after a gestation period
of about 9 months. Like roan antelope calves,
sable calves also stay hidden for the first month.
They then join the herd and stay together in a
nursery within the herd. Sable antelopes prefer
open savannah veld and woodlands. They are mainly
grazers, feeding on long grass shoots and sedges.
They have also been observed chewing on old bones,
a custom believed to compensate for phosphor deficiency.
Like roan antelopes, sable antelopes are also
most active in the mornings and are dependent
on an ample supply of surface water. Sable antelopes
are gregarious but the size of the herd varies
from time to time, depending on conditions. For
example, in winter when food is scarce, a large
herd might be found feeding in an area of comparatively
good grass.
Although sable antelope males
are territorial, they very rarely engage in violent
encounters. They perform ritual displays such
as standing tall with their necks arched and moving
sideways as a threat. The smaller male will eventually
yield and trot off in submission with lowered
head and tail between his legs.
Sable antelopes can be seen throughout South Africa
in most of the game reserves and on many private
farms. |
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| SPRINGBOK
(ANTIDORCAS MARSUPIALIS) |
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This gazelle
derives its name, Springbok, from its “pronking”
(jumping) behaviour. “Pronking” is
the behaviour these animals exhibit when they
are fleeing from a predator. The springbok jump
high and far, a display that gives the predator
a chance to make an appropriate “selection”.
The choice will obviously fall on the weakest
animal in the herd. This process ensures the survival
of the fittest and therefore the success of the
species. The springbok is a medium-sized antelope.
Males weigh about 50 kilograms and females 37
kilograms. Males stand 75 cm high at the shoulder
and females are slightly shorter. Their colour
is light brown with a very dark brown stripe on
the flanks. Both males and females have horns.
The habitat of these antelopes is dry semi desert
and they range widely in the semi-desert Karoo.
Springbok feed on a variety of vegetation. In
summer when grass is plentiful they graze. They
also browse on leaves, fruit and flowers. When
food is scarce, they have been observed to dig
for roots and bulbs of plants. They absorb water
from certain plants and from fruit such as melons.
Springbok do not have a specific breeding season
but have periods of mating called the rut. Calves
are born in the cover of bush after a gestation
period of 25 weeks and are introduced to the herd
after two days. Springbok move in large herds,
which comprise males and females. Territorial
males do not form part of these herds. Instead,
they wait for a herd to move into their territory
and they then mate with receptive females. Springboks
are very popular antelopes in South Africa. They
may be seen in most national game reserves and
private reserves. Because they breed readily,
they are also popular on private farms
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| WATER
BUCK (KOBUS ELLIPSIPRYMNUS) |
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This large sturdy
antelope has a very distinctive coat of long grey-brown
hair. Males stand 1,4 metres high at the shoulder
and weigh about 250 kilograms. The smaller females
weigh about 180 kilograms. Males possess large
horns that grow sideways and curve forward. At
the tip end, the horn has ridges. A distinctive
feature of the waterbuck is the white semicircle
on its rump.
An interesting characteristic of the waterbuck
is its distinctive odour, smelling like musk.
This smell is known to linger for a while after
the animal has left the scene. The natural habitat
of these antelopes is floodplains and reed beds.
They prefer to graze on long grass and tend to
feed at dawn and dusk. These are therefore the
best times for viewing these shy antelopes.
In South Africa, waterbuck
can be seen in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the
Northern Province. They have also been reintroduced
to the Itala game reserve and to the shores of
Lake St. Lucia.
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