Animals in South Africa
Springbok
Antidorcas marsupialis
The springbok is a slender antelope found across the dry open plains of the interior and the Karoo, where it lives in herds that can number in the thousands. It is best known for its pronking, a series of vertical leaps with rigid legs performed when startled or excited. Fast and agile, it can sustain speeds that keep it ahead of most predators across open ground. Beyond nature, the springbok is deeply woven into South African culture as the emblem of the national rugby team and a symbol of the country's identity on the world stage.
View details→Wildlife in South Africa
South Africa stretches from the dry Kalahari and Namib edges in the west to subtropical forests and Indian Ocean coasts in the east, with the Drakensberg mountains rising through the interior. This range of habitats supports an extraordinary variety of wildlife, from savanna herds of elephants, lions and giraffes to coastal colonies of penguins and seals, offshore dolphins and whales, and forest leopards and antelopes. National parks such as Kruger, iSimangaliso and Addo Elephant offer excellent infrastructure for game drives, walking safaris and marine watching, making South Africa one of the most accessible countries in the world for close wildlife encounters.
Most Dangerous Animals in South Africa
South Africa has a genuine concentration of dangerous wildlife and visitors should take it seriously. In the bush, lions, leopards, elephants, hippos and buffalos can all be lethal if encountered outside a vehicle or without a guide. The black mamba is among the fastest and most venomous snakes in the world and lives across a wide range of habitats. In the water, great white sharks patrol the cold Atlantic coast and bull sharks are common in warmer KwaZulu-Natal waters. Hippos cause more human deaths than most large animals in Africa and are particularly dangerous in and near rivers. Always follow park rules, stay in vehicles during game drives, and take local advice seriously.
Top 10 Animals in South Africa
South Africa brings together savanna, coastline and ocean in a way few countries can match. The big predators of Kruger draw visitors year after year, while the open plains of the Karoo and Kalahari host fast moving herds of antelope and the specialists that follow them. Along the southern and eastern coasts, whale watching from shore is a genuine option for much of the year, and great white sharks draw divers to colder Atlantic waters near the Cape. Penguin colonies, seal rookeries and diverse marine life complete a picture that covers everything from arid scrubland to deep ocean in a single destination.
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
South Africa holds significant populations of African elephants, with Kruger National Park home to over twenty thousand individuals, one of the largest elephant populations in Africa. Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape was created specifically to protect a remnant population that had been reduced to just eleven animals in the 1930s and has since grown to over six hundred. Elephants are the largest land animal on Earth and their movement and feeding shape the landscape, creating clearings and water access used by many other species.
Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
South Africa supports some of the largest and best managed buffalo populations on the continent. Kruger National Park is home to tens of thousands of individuals, making it one of the most important sites for the species globally. Buffalo also occur in many private and provincial reserves across KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the Eastern Cape. Disease management, particularly around bovine tuberculosis, is a central conservation concern in areas where wildlife and livestock share landscapes. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
In South Africa, cheetahs were once extinct in the wild and have been reintroduced to a number of fenced reserves, including the Karoo, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal regions. The population is growing but remains dependent on managed conservation areas. Organizations such as the Endangered Wildlife Trust work closely with landowners to expand suitable habitat and reduce conflict between cheetahs and farming operations.
Sable Antelope
Hippotragus niger
In South Africa, wild sable live mainly in the north of Kruger National Park, around Punda Maria and Pafuri, and in Loskop Dam Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga. The latest national assessment counted about 1,107 within their natural range and lists them as Vulnerable in the country, though Kruger and Loskop are increasing. Thousands more live on private game ranches, mostly in Limpopo. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
South Africa is home to a well-managed giraffe population, largely found in the savannas of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in iconic reserves such as Kruger National Park. Many animals also live on private game farms across the country. South Africa has been an important source for giraffe reintroductions elsewhere in Africa. The IUCN lists the giraffe as Vulnerable, though South Africa's populations are considered relatively stable.
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
In South Africa, greater kudus are widespread across the bushveld of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, as well as in the Eastern Cape. Kruger National Park supports a large and well-studied population. They browse in dense woodland and rocky hillsides, where their striped coats provide excellent camouflage. Both private reserves and national parks play an important role in their conservation. Their IUCN status is Least Concern.
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
In South Africa, hippos are found mainly in Kruger National Park and the rivers of KwaZulu-Natal, including the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. They spend their days resting in rivers and waterholes, emerging at night to graze. South Africa sits at the southern edge of their range, and protected areas play a key role in supporting the population. The IUCN lists the hippopotamus as Vulnerable.
Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
In South Africa, spotted hyenas are mainly found in Kruger National Park and a handful of other protected areas, including the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Kruger supports a well-studied population that shares territory with lions and wild dogs. Outside reserves, hyenas rarely survive due to conflict with farmers and fragmented habitat. Conservation efforts within fenced parks have helped stabilize local numbers. Their IUCN status is Least Concern.
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
South Africa holds one of the largest impala populations on the continent, with the Kruger National Park being home to an estimated 150,000 individuals. These antelopes are a cornerstone of the savanna ecosystem, forming a vital part of the diet of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs. Impalas graze on grass in the wet season and browse shrubs when conditions are drier. Their agility and speed of around 60 km/h make them formidable survivors. The IUCN lists them as Least Concern.
Black backed Jackal
Canis mesomelas
The black backed jackal is one of South Africa's most widespread carnivores, found from the Karoo and Kalahari scrublands to the coastal fynbos and bushveld of Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. It thrives near farmland, making it a frequent target of lethal control by livestock farmers. Despite heavy persecution, populations remain healthy. Its status is Least Concern. Pairs mate for life and raise pups with help from older siblings.
Leopard
Panthera pardus
South Africa holds one of the more stable leopard populations on the continent, with strongholds in the Kruger National Park, the Cape Fold Mountains, and the bushveld of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The Cape leopard, found in the mountainous southwest, is notably smaller than its counterparts elsewhere. Research programs and camera trap networks have provided detailed insight into leopard behavior and territory use. Outside protected areas, conflict with farmers remains a significant threat.
Lion
Panthera leo
South Africa's lion population is concentrated mainly in Kruger National Park, which holds the largest free ranging lion population in the country, and in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Smaller populations exist in various private reserves and provincial parks. Lions live in prides led by females that do most of the hunting, while males defend territory and cubs. They are the largest predators in South Africa and their roaring at night is one of the defining sounds of the African wilderness.
Oryx
Oryx spp.
In South Africa, the gemsbok is strongly associated with the Kalahari region and is one of the signature species of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which it shares with Botswana. Herds roam open desert plains in search of food, relying on grasses and wild melons for moisture. Conservation efforts across protected areas have helped maintain stable populations, and the species is considered of least concern within the country.
Springbok
Antidorcas marsupialis
The springbok is South Africa's national animal, and for good reason. Across the Karoo and the dry plains of the Northern Cape, herds gather in the hundreds, moving in search of food and water. Famous for its pronking, a dramatic leaping display, this antelope is remarkably adapted to arid conditions, drawing moisture from the plants it eats. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
In South Africa, warthogs are a familiar sight across Kruger National Park and many private game reserves in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. They graze on open savannas and take refuge in burrows at night or when threatened. Their populations are healthy and well protected within the country's extensive network of reserves, where they share the landscape with lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas.
Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus
South Africa holds one of the more carefully managed wild dog populations on the continent, found mainly in Kruger National Park and a network of fenced reserves. Because their territories are so large, packs in smaller reserves are monitored closely and sometimes moved between sites to maintain healthy genetics. Conservation programs involving local communities have helped bring numbers back from a very low point in the twentieth century.
Wildebeest
Connochaetes spp.
South Africa is the only country where the black wildebeest lives in its native highland grasslands. Once nearly extinct due to hunting, it was saved through private and state conservation efforts and now numbers in the tens of thousands. The blue wildebeest also thrives here, especially in Kruger National Park. Both species carry a status of Least Concern, reflecting the success of decades of wildlife management.
Zebra
Equus spp.
The plains zebra is one of South Africa's most familiar animals, commonly seen on game drives in Kruger and many other reserves, living in family groups led by a dominant stallion. South Africa also has the mountain zebra, a separate species found mainly in Mountain Zebra National Park in the Eastern Cape and parts of the Karoo, where it was nearly hunted to extinction before strict protection allowed it to recover.
Black Rhinoceros
Diceros bicornis
South Africa supports a significant black rhinoceros population distributed across several protected areas, including Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, and a number of private reserves. The country manages intensive conservation programs involving translocations, dehorning in some areas, and robust anti-poaching units. SANParks and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife oversee much of this work. South Africa also plays a central role in regional metapopulation management across southern Africa.
Meerkat
Suricata suricatta
In South Africa, meerkats are found mainly in the Kalahari and Karoo regions, where arid scrubland gives them ideal conditions for digging burrow networks and foraging. The Kalahari Meerkat Project, based in the Northern Cape, has studied wild meerkat families for decades. These social mammals are popular with wildlife tourists and are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN across their range.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Feral populations of wild boar exist in parts of South Africa, particularly the Western Cape, where Eurasian wild boars were introduced in the early twentieth century to control pine moth caterpillars in forestry plantations. These populations have persisted and hybridized with escaped domestic pigs over the decades. Listed as an invasive species, they damage vineyards, crops and natural vegetation, and should not be confused with the warthog or bushpig, South Africa's true native wild pigs.
Fruit Bat
Pteropodidae
In South Africa, the Egyptian fruit bat is the most commonly encountered species, roosting in caves and mine shafts across the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. They feed on wild figs, marula fruits, and other native trees. Their roosting sites in caves sometimes overlap with those of other bat species. Conservation groups monitor colonies in protected areas to track population health and protect these important pollinators and seed dispersers.
Caracal
Caracal caracal
South Africa holds one of the most robust caracal populations on the continent. The species thrives in the Karoo, fynbos shrublands, and savanna regions, and is also found in areas close to human settlement. It is frequently persecuted by farmers due to predation on livestock, particularly small stock. Despite this pressure, the IUCN rates it as Least Concern. Adults stand up to 50 cm at the shoulder and are agile, versatile hunters.
Serval
Leptailurus serval
In South Africa, servals are most common in KwaZulu-Natal and the Limpopo region, where wetlands and moist grasslands provide ideal hunting grounds. They have also been reintroduced to several private game reserves. Though listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, they face pressure from trapping and the illegal pet trade. Their ability to leap nearly 3 meters makes them remarkably effective hunters of rodents and birds.
African Civet
Civettictis civetta
The African civet is restricted to South Africa's northeast, in the bushveld and woodland zones of Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal and in Kruger National Park. It does not occur in the Western Cape, the Karoo or the arid west. Night drives in Kruger regularly produce sightings as civets patrol roads and river edges after dark. Their spotted coat and low, deliberate movement make them easy to identify in headlights.
Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis
The honey badger is found across most of South Africa in a wide range of habitats, from the Kalahari desert to bushveld and coastal scrub. It is famously fearless and will confront animals much larger than itself, including lions and leopards, when threatened. It feeds on a wide variety of prey including rodents, snakes, scorpions, bee larvae and roots, and its thick loose skin provides protection against bites and stings. It is one of the most adaptable and resilient small carnivores in Africa and is regularly seen on night drives in Kruger.
Common Genet
Genetta genetta
The common genet is found across much of South Africa, from the bushveld of Limpopo to the fynbos edges of the Western Cape. It favors dense riverine thickets and rocky outcrops where it can rest during the day. Strictly nocturnal, it preys on rodents, birds, and insects. Its IUCN status is Least Concern, and it remains relatively common throughout the country.
Brown Hyena
Parahyaena brunnea
South Africa holds one of the most significant brown hyena populations on the continent, with strongholds in the Kalahari Gemsbok region and the Kruger to Canyons biosphere. This scavenger thrives across arid and semi-arid savanna, covering vast territories each night in search of carrion. Conflict with farmers remains the greatest threat, as individuals are frequently poisoned or trapped near livestock areas. The IUCN lists it as Near Threatened.
Hartebeest
Alcelaphus buselaphus
South Africa is home to the red hartebeest, a subspecies found across the Karoo, Kalahari, and northern savanna regions. It is well established in reserves such as Kruger National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Once heavily reduced by hunting, populations have recovered strongly thanks to conservation efforts and reintroductions on private game farms. The red hartebeest is one of the more common large antelopes in the country and is listed as Least Concern.
Topi
Damaliscus lunatus
The topi has a very limited presence in South Africa, restricted to areas in the far north near the border with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. This sits at the southernmost edge of the species' natural range. Grassland loss and land use changes have reduced suitable habitat over the decades. Where small populations do persist, they depend on protected areas and well-managed conservation land to survive. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
South Africa supports bushbuck populations primarily in the eastern woodlands, coastal forests, and grasslands adjacent to watercourses. These antelope prefer areas with dense, protective vegetation where they can hide from predators and humans. Their distinctive white spots and stripes vary between individuals and subspecies. Bushbucks are surprisingly aggressive when cornered and use their sharp horns and hooves as defense. They feed selectively on nutritious leaves and fruits.
Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
Green turtles forage along South Africa's warm east coast, especially off KwaZulu-Natal, where young and adult turtles graze on algae on rocky reefs, including in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. They do not nest in the country; the turtles that nest on the beaches north of St Lucia are loggerheads and leatherbacks. Green turtles here come from rookeries elsewhere in the western Indian Ocean. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
In South Africa Nile crocodiles are most abundant in KwaZulu-Natal, especially Lake St Lucia in iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the Ndumo reserve, and in the rivers of Kruger National Park. In the 2000s and 2010s dozens died of pansteatitis, a disease linked to pollution, in the Olifants River and at Loskop Dam. Well managed reserves keep most populations stable, and iSimangaliso is one of the best places to see them. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Black Mamba
Dendroaspis polylepis
South Africa is one of the best known homes of the black mamba, from the bushveld of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, around Kruger, to the coastal bush and rocky slopes of KwaZulu-Natal. It is one of the most feared snakes in the country, yet it avoids people whenever it can, and snake rescuers relocate many from gardens and homes. The country makes the polyvalent antivenom used across Africa, which has saved many lives. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Bateleur
Terathopius ecaudatus
In South Africa, the bateleur is most regularly seen in Kruger National Park and the surrounding lowveld, where open woodland and savanna provide ideal hunting conditions. Once more widespread, its numbers have declined sharply due to poisoning, power line collisions, and habitat degradation. It is classified as Endangered, and conservation efforts within protected areas remain vital to its survival in the country.
Blue Crane
Anthropoides paradiseus
The blue crane is South Africa's national bird, and more than 99 percent of the world population lives here, in the grasslands of the east, the Karoo and the farmland of the Western Cape, where the Overberg has long held about half of all blue cranes. It once appeared on the five cent coin. Power line collisions, poisoning and grassland loss are the main threats, and Overberg counts fell sharply after 2011. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Grey Crowned Crane
Balearica regulorum
In South Africa, the Grey Crowned Crane is found mainly in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and parts of the Highveld, where grasslands and wetlands meet. It is a familiar bird on farms, often seen walking through fields in search of seeds, insects, and small frogs. South Africa has an active conservation community working to protect this species, including programs focused on reducing power line collisions. It holds Endangered status globally and is also protected under South African law.
Ostrich
Struthio camelus
South Africa is one of the most important countries in the world for ostriches, both in the wild and in farming. The Little Karoo region around Oudtshoorn is the global centre of ostrich farming, producing feathers, leather, and meat. Wild ostriches roam the Karoo, Kalahari, and Kruger National Park. Standing up to 2.75 meters tall and running at 70 kilometers per hour, they are a striking presence across the country's open landscapes.
Steppe Eagle
Aquila nipalensis
The steppe eagle visits South Africa as a non breeding migrant during the austral summer, at the southern end of its range. It is found mainly in the north and east, in the former Transvaal and northern KwaZulu Natal, and is most frequent in the lowveld around Kruger National Park. It favours open savanna and gathers at termite emergences and carcasses, sometimes alongside vultures and tawny eagles. IUCN status: Endangered.
White backed Vulture
Gyps africanus
South Africa holds one of the most important breeding populations of white backed vultures on the continent, centered largely in Kruger National Park and the Limpopo region. The Vulture Conservation Program and dedicated restaurant sites, known as vulture restaurants, provide supplementary food to support struggling populations. Classified as critically endangered, the species faces poisoning, electrocution on power lines, and demand from traditional medicine markets.
Lanner Falcon
Falco biarmicus
South Africa holds one of the stronger lanner falcon populations on the continent. The bird is found across the Karoo, the Drakensberg foothills, and open bushveld, nesting on cliff ledges and occasionally on tall pylons. It is well known to South African birders and falconers alike. Electrocution on power lines remains a documented threat. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern, and it is monitored through local raptor studies.
Tawny Eagle
Aquila rapax
In South Africa, the tawny eagle is found mainly in the drier north and east, including the Kruger National Park area, the Kalahari and the Highveld, where it often nests on electricity pylons. Its diet here ranges from francolins to mongooses and ground squirrels. It has declined even inside protected areas, partly because of poisoned carcasses set out by poachers and farmers. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Secretary Bird
Sagittarius serpentarius
South Africa is one of the strongholds for the secretary bird, with populations present across the Highveld grasslands, Karoo, and the open savannas of Limpopo and the Northern Cape. It is protected by law and sits at the top of the national coat of arms. Despite this, the national population has declined sharply in recent decades due to habitat loss, and the IUCN now lists the species as Endangered.
African Fish Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
The African fish eagle is one of the most recognizable birds in South Africa, famous for its loud call ringing across rivers, dams and estuaries. It hunts by swooping low over the water and snatching fish near the surface with its talons. It lives near permanent water across most of the country, from Kruger, iSimangaliso and the Limpopo rivers to the Orange River and the Western Cape, and is missing only from the dry interior. Locally it is known as visarend in Afrikaans and inkwazi in Zulu. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Black browed Albatross
Thalassarche melanophris
The black browed albatross is a regular visitor to South African waters, riding the cold Benguela Current along the western coast and the warmer Agulhas Current to the south and east. Seen frequently from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, it forages far offshore for fish, squid, and krill. Bycatch from longline fishing fleets operating in South African waters remains one of the most serious threats to this species here.
King Penguin
Aptenodytes patagonicus
South Africa's king penguins live on the subantarctic Prince Edward Islands, Marion and Prince Edward, about 1,800 kilometers southeast of Gqeberha in the Southern Ocean. Together they hold about 228,000 breeding pairs, one of the largest populations in the world. Pairs balance their single egg on their feet, and each chick needs more than a year to grow up. The islands are a nature reserve with no tourism. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Macaroni Penguin
Eudyptes chrysolophus
South Africa's macaroni penguins live far from the mainland, on the subantarctic Marion and Prince Edward Islands, about 1,800 kilometers southeast of Gqeberha in the Southern Ocean. Marion held around 278,000 breeding pairs in 2013, a third fewer than in the mid 1990s, probably because food became harder to find. The birds nest on steep, rocky slopes and feed mostly on krill. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Cape Petrel
Daption capense
Along the South African coast, the Cape Petrel appears as a non-breeding visitor, most often recorded off the Western Cape and along the southern coastline. Birds venture north from their Southern Ocean range during the austral winter. Pelagic boat trips out of ports such as Cape Town offer reliable sightings. It does not breed here but is a consistent feature of offshore southern African waters. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Brown Skua
Stercorarius antarcticus
In South Africa, the brown skua breeds on the subantarctic Prince Edward Islands, Marion and Prince Edward, where about 1,000 pairs nest on coastal slopes and feed on the eggs and chicks of petrels, penguins and other seabirds. In winter, birds also reach the waters off the Cape, where they follow trawlers and chase other seabirds to steal their food, and are a regular sight on pelagic trips from Cape Town. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl is widespread across South Africa, found in farmland, open grassland, villages and urban areas from the Cape to Limpopo. It nests in farm buildings, old mine shafts, cliff faces and large trees, and is one of the most effective natural controllers of rodents in agricultural landscapes. It hunts entirely by sound in complete darkness, locating mice and rats with extraordinary precision. In many farming communities it is actively encouraged by the installation of nest boxes.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
South Africa marks the southern limit of the white stork's wintering range. Large flocks spend the northern winter months in the grasslands of the interior, particularly in the Free State and Limpopo provinces, where they feed on insects, small vertebrates, and other prey. They often follow locust swarms and gather around freshly plowed fields. By late summer in the southern hemisphere, they begin the long flight back to Europe.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
In South Africa, the peregrine falcon is present year round, with resident birds nesting on cliff faces in the Drakensberg and other mountain ranges, while additional individuals arrive from the northern hemisphere during the southern summer. Cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town also host urban nesting pairs on tall buildings. The Cape coast provides excellent foraging over the sea and rocky shores. South Africa represents the southern edge of the species' African range. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Flamingo
Phoenicopteridae (6 species)
South Africa supports both lesser and greater flamingos, most notably at Langebaan Lagoon on the west coast and at various pans across the Northern Cape. The Kamfers Dam near Kimberley has become one of the most significant inland breeding sites for lesser flamingos in southern Africa. Urban water management and conservation partnerships have helped protect this colony. The lesser flamingo is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, giving sites like Kamfers Dam added importance.
Fur Seal
Arctocephalus spp.
The Cape fur seal lives along the whole coast of South Africa, and about two million live in southern Africa. Boats from Hout Bay visit the crowded colony on Duiker Island, and Seal Island in False Bay, with tens of thousands of seals, is famous for the great white sharks that leap out of the water to catch them. South Africa's subantarctic Marion and Prince Edward Islands also have Antarctic and subantarctic fur seals. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
South Africa sees humpbacks on both coasts. From June to November they migrate past KwaZulu Natal along the humpback highway to breeding grounds in Mozambique, and can be watched from Durban and St Lucia. In spring huge groups, sometimes of more than a hundred, feed off the west coast near Cape Columbine, a behavior first described here. Plettenberg Bay is another good spot. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Orca
Orcinus orca
South Africa has orcas offshore all year, and near the coast they became famous for a pair of males called Port and Starboard, which from 2017 killed great white sharks in False Bay and near Gansbaai and ate their livers. After the attacks, white sharks largely left those places. Orcas are also seen with some regularity off Plettenberg Bay, where they hunt dolphins, In 2022 a group was filmed killing a white shark off Mossel Bay. IUCN status: Data Deficient.
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
South Africa has two bottlenose dolphins. The common bottlenose dolphin of this page lives mostly offshore and along the south and west coasts, where large groups are seen off Plettenberg Bay, False Bay and the Western Cape. The smaller dolphins that swim close to the beaches of KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape are mostly Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, a different species. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
South Africa has one of the most spectacular common dolphin events in the world. During the Sardine Run, from about June to July, superpods of thousands of dolphins follow the sardine shoals up the Eastern Cape and the Wild Coast toward KwaZulu Natal, herding fish into bait balls while gannets dive from above and sharks join in. They are also common off the Western Cape and Plettenberg Bay. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Elephant Seal
Mirounga spp.
South Africa's southern elephant seals breed on Marion and Prince Edward Islands, in the subantarctic Indian Ocean. About 5,500 seals live there, and close to 1,400 pups were counted in 2023, a recovery after a drop in the 1980s and 1990s. Since 1983 almost every pup born on Marion has been tagged, one of the longest studies of the species. On the mainland coast an elephant seal is only a rare stray. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Southern Right Whale
Eubalaena australis
South Africa has one of the most important southern right whale nurseries in the world, along the Western Cape coast. From June to November mothers and calves rest in sheltered bays, and Hermanus is famous for watching them from its cliff path, with a whale festival every September. De Hoop Nature Reserve holds the largest concentration of the coast. Long term aerial surveys here track the health of the population. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Leopard Seal
Hydrurga leptonyx
Leopard seals reach South Africa at Marion and Prince Edward Islands, its subantarctic territory in the Indian Ocean. They are few but regular: 35 different animals were recorded at Marion between 2006 and 2024, about two a year, mostly young seals arriving in winter and early spring, with a peak in September. Researchers now call them seasonal visitors rather than strays. On the mainland coast a leopard seal is a rare wanderer. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
In South Africa whale sharks visit the warm east coast of KwaZulu Natal, carried south by the Agulhas Current. They are seen mostly in summer, from about November to March, off Sodwana Bay and the other reefs of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, close to the border with Mozambique, and some of the same sharks are later recorded at Tofo. Farther south they are only occasional, and they do not reach the cold west coast. IUCN status: Endangered.
Barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
In South Africa the great barracuda lives on the warm east coast of KwaZulu Natal, where the Agulhas Current brings tropical water south. Divers see it at Sodwana Bay and the other reefs of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and on Aliwal Shoal farther south, usually alone at the reef edge. It becomes rare toward the Cape, and is absent from the cold Atlantic west coast. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
In South Africa tiger sharks visit the warm east coast of KwaZulu Natal, mostly in summer, from about December to April. Aliwal Shoal, south of Durban, and Protea Banks are famous among divers for close encounters with them. The shark nets and drumlines that protect many KwaZulu Natal beaches catch tiger sharks every year, and researchers tag them to follow their journeys along the coast and into Mozambique. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrnidae (Sphyrna mokarran, S. lewini and others)
In South Africa scalloped hammerheads gather along the warm east coast of KwaZulu Natal, where divers see schools at Protea Banks, especially in summer, and smooth hammerheads are common in the cooler waters farther south, around the Eastern Cape and False Bay. The shark nets that protect many KwaZulu Natal beaches catch large numbers of scalloped hammerheads, which has been a long concern for scientists. IUCN status: Critically Endangered.
Great White Shark
Carcharodon carcharias
South Africa has long been one of the best places in the world to see great white sharks, around Gansbaai, False Bay and Mossel Bay, where Cape fur seal colonies draw them close to shore. It pioneered cage diving with the species and protected it in 1991, one of the first countries to do so. Since about 2017, sightings at Gansbaai and False Bay have dropped sharply, partly because orcas began hunting the sharks there. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
In South Africa the bull shark lives along the warm east coast of KwaZulu Natal, where it is often called the Zambezi shark. Divers meet large bull sharks at Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoal, and young sharks grow up in the St. Lucia estuary, in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The shark nets that protect many KwaZulu Natal beaches also catch them, and their numbers in the country are falling. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .