South Africa offers some of the most diverse landscapes on the African continent - from forests and mountains, deserts, grassland and savannahs to coasts and canyons, waterfalls and wetlands. The 'Big Five': the lion, the African elephant, the Cape buffalo, the leopard and the rhinoceros can be found in many parks and reserves across the country. There are also more than 200 other mammal species including hippopotamus, giraffes, wildebeest and zebras. Cheetahs are also found mostly to the far north in places like Kruger National Park, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in Northern Cape and reserves in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The caracal, the African wild cat and the rare black-footed cat can also be spotted. Over 800 bird species are found in various places around the country throughout the year. The coastal waters of South Africa house the Marine Big Five: the great white shark, the southern right whale, the bottlenose dolphin, the Cape fur seal and the African penguin. South Africa is the ultimate destination for visitors who seek scenic landscapes and extraordinary wildlife encounters.
