Creatures

AmaZingwe

African Tours and Safaris

Creatures

South Africa is an absolutely awesome game-viewing destination. With our many different biomes, and vast protected areas, we have more variety and sheer abundance of game than almost anywhere else on earth. Many visitors come here to see the big five, but there's so much more. As well as the many birds and marine animals, the small animals like the incredibly cute bushbaby, the curious meerkat and the ubiquitous dassie or rock hyrax are, perhaps, more interesting than the big guys. South Africa has got to be one of the most incredible destinations worldwide for watching marine mammals. Southern right whales, humpback whales, Brydes whales or orcas, bottlenose, common and humpback dolphins and Cape fur seals can easily be seen in the wild. With about 900 bird species, many of which are endemic, rare, or just plain beautiful, South Africa is megatickland. Even if you just drive around on the edge of the cities, you'll be constantly reaching for that pair of binoculars. And, of course, a visit to one of our national parks will absolutely overwhelm you with the sheer number and variety of birds.

	De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Center At the foot of the Magaliesberg - near the Hartbeespoort Dam - lies the renowned De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Center, a research and breeding reserve for cheetahs, wild dogs and other endangered species. The center was founded in 1971 through the private initiative of the conservationist Ann van Dyk on her 65-hectare farm.
	Sundown Ranch Lion Park Sundown ranch lion park was started in 1995. Situated in the North West Province, close to Rustenburg, Pilanesburg game reserve and Sun City resort. Sundown ranch Lion Park currently has 42 lions, including 13 lions under the age of 18 months. The main purpose and motivation behind our lion park is to bring the lion to the people. Unlike driving through game reserves and looking for lions, here the public will be able to handle small cubs and have their photo taken with them. Visitors get a guided and informative tour of the lions in the Lion Park.
	Hartbeespoortdam Snake and Animal Park The park features one of the finest reptile collections in Southern Africa. Entertaining seal shows & snake handling demonstrations are performed on Sundays & Public Holidays (12h00 & 15h00). The Hartbeespoort zoo exhibits lions, tigers, panthers, cheetahs, pumas, leopards, jaguars, chimpanzees & more. The park is world renowned for its breeding of threatened & endangered species, such as the black-footed wild cat and the cape vulture.
	Pretoria Zoo The Pretoria Zoo was established in 1899 and is the only zoo in South Africa with National Status and is rated as one of the top zoos in the world, attracting hundreds and thousands of local and international visitors annually. In the Zoo you will find 97 mammal species, 161 bird species, 279 fish species, 106 reptile species, 7 amphibian species. In total at least 4 340 creatures! Other features include a walk-through aviary with indigenous birds from four different habitats, an animal nursery where some animal babies are housed and cared for, a farmyard area where the animals roam around freely, a well-equipped veterinary hospital and research center to meet the needs of all the animals. Each enclosure resembles the animal's natural habitat.
	Sea world Dolphinarium and Aquarium Durban Sea World is home to ten bottlenose dolphins (eight of which were born at Sea World), nine cape fur seals and a colony of African penguins. Dynamic dolphin and seal demonstrations are held daily, featuring these extraordinary animals and our dedicated animal care staff. These demonstrations, while being thoroughly entertaining, are also educational and focus on the need to conserve our oceans including what the public can do to help.
	Crocworld A visit to Crocworld is your chance to get up close and personal with the Nile crocodile, one of Africa’s largest, most powerful predators. This 200-million year old reptile may reach up to 7 meters in length and can weigh over 900 kg. The meandering paths of the beautifully designed water park allow you to within meters of these magnificent reptiles. Crocworld boasts a large collection of southern Africa’s most deadly snakes as wells as some of South Africa’s endangered tortoise species. The park is a haven for an abundance of indigenous bird life too.
	Zululand Birding World-famous birding venues including Amanzimtoti Bird Sanctuary and Umgeni River Bird Park, provide forest, grassland, wetland, bushveld, mountains, estuarine, coastline and open ocean habitats, making this Southern Africa's most diverse area for birding. 63 Southern African endemic or near-endemic species are present, making this region a must on any birders' wish list.
	Butterflies Butterflies for Africa has been developed to combine the best elements of top butterfly houses from around the world with some unique features of its own. The complex currently houses a walk-through Butterfly House (housing both exotic and indigenous butterflies), Butterfly Craft Shop, Art Gallery, Coffee Bar, African Art & Craft Centre, Butterfly Nursery and a Butterfly Garden planted with a large range of butterfly foodplants. Butterflies for Africa aims to be one of the finest facilities of its kind worldwide, spreading its conservation message whilst at the same time providing a world class attraction in Pietermaritzburg. The Prime attraction of Butterflies for Africa is the impressive walk through butterfly house where visitors are able to come into close contact with butterflies from around the world as they fly freely in an attractive, lush environment.
	Hermanus Whales The most prominent sea resort at the Overberg coast is Hermanus, one of the oldest seaside resorts of South Africa. Hermanus can call itself the "whale capital of the world". Every year between July and November dozens of Southern Right Whales come to the calm waters of Walker Bay for breeding. At times almost a hundred whale cows with their calves can be found in the bay. The marine mammals come within a few meters of the cliffs and can be watched at close rank.
	Gans Bay Sharks Shark Alley is located near Gans Bay, which until a few years ago was still a sleepy fishing village with a small harbor, a fish factory and a few shops and pubs. The cause of this boom is Dyer Island, 12 kilometers off the coast. There is a large colony of some 30,000 Cape Fur Seals on the island, which make excellent prey for sharks. Hence the waters around the island are teeming with sharks. South Africa and is one of a mere handful of places in the world where the magnificent predator can be found on a daily basis. These Sharks are surface feeders and are happy to come and perform just inches away from the boat. You don't need to be a diver to get close. It is the world's most favorable site for watching this predator fish.
	Two Oceans Aquarium The Two Oceans Aquarium is an all weather, all year round destination which offers its visitors a glimpse into a world usually reserved for a fortunate few. Displaying the rich diversity of life found in the oceans surrounding our coastline, the Aquarium has had over 3 million visitors since it opened its doors in 1995. Cape Town is the original link between the land and the sea for all of Southern Africa. It is also here that the cold water of the Atlantic meets the warmer Indian Ocean. Few places in the world are in a more favorable position to feature the flora and fauna of oceans so different in temperature and the life they support.
	Cango Wildlife Ranch The Cango Wildlife Ranch is situated just outside Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo, and since its inception in 1977 it has grown to become one of the largest tourist attractions of the region. Cango Wildlife Ranch is just like the name says: a ranch, where most of the animals are free to roam in their natural habitat, seeing endangered species such as Cheetah, Jaguar, Wild Dog, Pygmy Hippos and the newest arrival, the White Bengal Tiger.
	World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park Over 3 000 birds and small animals of 400 different species in walk-through aviaries - experience nature up close! Enjoy a fascinating glimpse into the private lives of birds. Get a close-up view of them as they feed, sing, display, socialize, build nests, incubate eggs and feed chicks right before your eyes - an unforgettable experience which changes with the seasons. Take a stroll through the Monkey Jungle and make friends with the inquisitive little Squirrel Monkeys! World of Birds is one of Cape Town's premier tourist attractions. A paradise for nature lovers and photographers, it occupies 3,5ha of tropically landscaped hillside in the beautiful Hout Bay valley, which is surrounded by mountains. It is a quick 15 minute drive from Cape Town along one of two scenic drives - either along the coastal route via Camps Bay and Llandudno, or via Kirstenbosch and Constantia Nek.
	Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farms Amidst the 400 ostrich farms surrounding the town, 3 have distinguished themselves worthy to be named show farms. Get exposed to this exotic bird species, the largest in the world, and for the more adventurous take an ostrich ride.