Natal Fauna and Flora

The ungainly gnu earned the Afrikaans name wildebeest, or "wild beast," for the menacing appearance presented by its large head, shaggy mane, pointed beard, and sharp, curved horns. In fact, the wildebeest is better described as a reliable source of food for the truly...

The Springbok prefers the more arid savannahs of the country, moving around at high speeds. Typical of this species is the jumping display which lead to its common name. Springbok are fast sprinters. They reach speeds of 80 km per hour and jump more than 10 metres....

A member of the dwarf antelope group, the Steenbok is a delicate little dwarf antelope that spends the day moving through the savannah in search of food. Steenbok are petite, weighing 7-16 kg and measuring 70-95 cm in length. Unlike the crouched stance of forest...

Lions are the second largest members of the feline family in the world. Lion are tan in colour and have a slightly white under-body, with a tuft of black hair at the end of their tails. Most cat species live a fundamentally solitary existence, but the lion is an...

The African Elephant is the largest living land mammal, one of the most impressive animals on earth. The Elephant's muscular trunk serves as a nose, hand, extra foot, signaling device and a tool for gathering food, siphoning water, dusting, digging and a variety of...

Suricates spend a lot of their time on guard, looking out for predators. (Meerkat is a South African Dutch word meaning 'lake cat' since Meerkats are often found near stretches of water). Suricates have a tan to grey coat with brown bands on the back and sides, the...

The most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores, the leopard is also the shrewdest. Pound for pound, it is the strongest climber of the larger cats and is capable of killing prey far larger than itself. The coloring of the leopard varies from white to bright...

Once popular trophies for hunters, these large and often dangerous animals have continued to capture the imagination. Buffalos have earned a bad reputation from hunters and other people who come in close contact with them. They are unpredictable and can be dangerous...