Page 77 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa
P. 77
WILD SOUTH AFRIC A 75
FIELD GUIDE
South Africa’s national parks and other protected areas are home to an astounding
diversity of wildlife, from the charismatic “Big Five” (see pp76–7) to the lofty giraffe,
greyhound-like cheetah, elegant impala and diminutive dwarf mongoose. Bird
enthusiasts can look forward to sighting an enormous variety of birds. About
850 species have been recorded here, either typically African birds, migrants from
Europe or endemics found only in South Africa. There are some 500 species of
reptiles and amphibians, ranging from large crocodiles to tiny geckos.
The following pages introduce some of to offer. However, despite the relative
the many wild creatures that inhabit South profligacy of wildlife in South Africa, much
Africa. Some, such as the gregarious impala biodiversity has been lost during the past
and comical warthog, will be seen several three centuries of European settlement.
times daily on safari. Others, like lions and The sablelike bluebuck and zebralike
elephants, can usually be sighted at least quagga that once roamed the fynbos
once over the course of a few days. On the strewn slopes of the Western Cape were
other hand, creatures such as the nocturnal hunted to extinction by the early settlers,
aardvark and pangolin are so secretive while the protection of dwindling
that you could spend a year in the bush populations of fewer than 100 bonteboks,
without catching so much as a fleeting Cape Mountain zebras and white rhinos
glimpse. While the main focus of this field within national parks and game reserves
guide is mammals, a more generic saved these species from a similar fate.
overview of South Africa’s varied cast of The conservation ethic that now prevails
reptiles and amphibians is also provided, in South Africa is generally wellmanaged
along with a few dozen of the more con and forwardthinking, but the scourge
spicuous and memorable bird species. of poaching and inevitable habitat
The vast Kruger National Park, in loss caused by an expanding human
particular, is one of the world’s top population remain real concerns. For
destinations for the “Big Five” and host to this reason, the descriptions that follow
many other popular favourites, including are accompanied by the International
the giraffe, wildebeest and cheetah. These Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
are just a fraction of what the country has Red List status of each species (see p77).
Zebras mixing with an impala herd for protection against predators
Cheetah in a tree in the Kruger National Park
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