Leopards are extremely beautiful and majestic cats. They are mainly solitary and nocturnal, making it hard to spot them in the wild. Whilst they occur in many of the game reserves in Southern Africa, they can best be spotted in the greater Kruger region of South Africa (especially Sabi Sabi) as well as some of the private game reserves in the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu Natal (such as Phinda). Okonjima Game Reserve in Namibia also offers leopard-tracking excursions. It is very difficult to get close to leopards in the large national parks, so we recommend private game reserves where one can track them by vehicle and follow them off-road.

Leopards are powerful cats, with strong jaws and claws, enabling them to hunt antelopes up to 70kg. In areas where hyenas and lions occur, leopards will typically carry their heavy prey up into a large tree. They usually have 2 or 3 cubs at a time, and can live up to 20 years.

There are two main rhino species in Southern Africa - the Black (or Hook-lipped) Rhino and the White (Square-lipped) Rhino. The Black Rhino is found in thickly wooded areas, since it browses on bushes, whereas the White Rhino is found more on the open plains, sinces it feeds on grass. Both of these amazing animals are now critically endangered due to poaching. Their numbers are falling at an alarming rate due to their highly prized horn, which is sold in Asia.  

Rhinos can still be seen in the main National Parks of South Africa and Namibia, such as Kruger and Etosha, and in all of the large private game reserves.  It is less common to see them in northern Botswana.

Rhinos have very poor eyesight so they rely on their sense of smell and hearing. Their horns are made of compact hair and are used for defense. They can live up to 40 years. A group of rhinos is aptly called a 'Crash'.

Lions are the largest carnivores in Africa. They used to be widespread across the continent, and were even found on Table Mountain in Cape Town. They are now restricted to the larger private game reserves and National Parks. In Southern Africa, they are best seen in the Greater Kruger Area, including the Sabi Sands, parts of Kwazulu Natal and the Eastern Cape, Etosha in Namibia and Chobe in northern Botswana. In Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, they have developed the unusual behaviour of climbing trees!

A lion's roar may carry up to 10km, and they do this frequently to advertise their territories and locate one another.  Males will often form coalitions or partnerships with one other (especially brothers), which helps them to better control their territories and females. Lionesses do most of the hunting, although the males will assist in bringing down larger animals such as giraffe and buffalo. 

Southern Right Whales spend their summer in the Southern Ocean close to Antarctica, but they migrate northwards every year to calve and mate in the warmer and calmer waters around Africa.

They can therefore be seen off the East coast of South Africa between July and November. Hermanus, a small town about an hour from Cape Town, is considered to be one of the best places in the world for viewing whales from the shore. Boat trips are also offered for those wanting to get even closer.

Southern Right Whales can reach 14 m in length and are easily distinguished from other whales by the wart-like structures called callosities on their heads. They often show off with some interesting displays such as 'spyhopping' (pointing their noses out of the water), 'lobtailing' (smacking the water with their large tails) and 'breaching' (jumping right out of the water).

Besides Southern Rights, Humpbacks can frequently be seen at Sainte Marie in Madagascar between June and September.

Cheetahs are the fastest mammals on earth, reaching speeds of up to 120km per hour. The largest concentration of cheetahs actually occurs in Namibia, due to its wide open plains and abundant grasslands. A great place to see cheetahs in Namibia is at Okonjima's AfriCat rehabiliation programme, where they offer daily cheetah tracking on foot and by vehicle. If you wish to get close to wild cheetahs in South Africa, we usually visit Phinda in Kwazulu-Natal and Shwamwari in the Eastern Cape.  Both of these reserves have healthy cheetah populations and they are regularly sighted in small groups. Cheetahs also occur in the Greater Kruger Area, including Sabi Sabi, but due to the high leopard population there, they tend to be more scarse.

Cheetahs hunt mainly in the day, especially in the early morning and evening, when it is cool. Their claws are only semi-retractible, unlike other cats, as this helps to give them traction during the chase. They commonly climb termite mounts and tree stumps, which they use as vantage points, and this can make for some excellent photography.  

Lemurs are primates that are native to Madagascar. Although similar to monkeys, their faces are typically more 'dog-like' and their behaviour more 'cat-like', than monkeys. They are often extremely vocal and rely heavily on their sense of smell. Madagascar has nearly 100 species of Lemur, with the largest being the Indri Indri (up to 70cm), and the smallest being the Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur (only 9cm). Unfortunately their natural habitat is being lost at an alarming rate, so many lemur species are critically endangered.

There are numerous national parks in Madagascar where one can see lemurs, including Andasibe (for the Indri), Ranomafana (for Woolly and Bamboo Lemurs), Isalo (Ring-tailed Lemur) and Berenty (Dancing Sifaka). Black lemurs can be seen at Nosy Komba, an island close to Nosy Be. Vakona Reserve, also offers the opportunity to get very close to lemurs as they have been habituated.

It is best to visit Madagascar between May and November, to avoid the cyclone season, and most lemur babies can be seen in October and November.

Mountain gorillas are critically endangered with fewer than 900 individuals now left in the world. They occur only in the protected mountain reserves of Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. One of the best places to trek to see them is in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Terrain can be challenging, with treks lasting anything between 2 and 6 hours. Limited permits are issued each day and must be secured long in advance. The effort is well worth it though, as nothing compares to the experience of spending time in the presence of this incredibly gentle, yet powerful animal. Besides gorilla trekking, Uganda offers many other worthwhile attractions including the source of the Nile, Murchison Falls, wild Chimpanzees and Tree-climbing lions.

Family groups typically vary from 10-20 individuals. The dominant male is known as a Silverback, and he can weigh more than 200kg.   It is not uncommon for the babies to come close enough to touch you, as they can be extremely playful and curious.

Meerkats (or Suricates) are small carnivorous mammals in the mongoose family. They live in extensive burrow systems and are known for their cute manner of standing up on their hind legs.  Meerkats occur throughout Southern Africa, wherever there is low rainfall.

The best place to get close to Meerkats in the wild is in the Little Karoo, South Africa. One needs to be up well before sunrise, to catch them warming up, grooming and playing, before they head out for the day to forage. We have friends who run Meerkat Adventures and the excursion is one of the highlights of our South African Coastal Safari.

A group of Meerkats is known as a "Mob" or "Gang" due to their habit of sticking together in the presence of any threat. There is always at least one Meerkat on sentry duty, and they continuously communicate with one another through small vocalisations. The babies are extremely playful, and a delight to watch and photograph.

African Penguins (also known as "Jackass Penguins" due to their donkey-like call) are found on many islands off the coast of South Africa and Namibia. They are the only penguin species to breed on African shores.

They can be seen on the mainland at two very specific locations - Boulders Penguin Colony in Cape Town and at Stony Point in Betty's Bay. We usually include a penguin visit on any day trip along the Cape Peninsula or the Whale Coast, as well as on our South African Coastal Safari. At both of these colonies they can usually be seen by the hundreds (sometimes thousands!) - nesting, preening, mating and swimming. Penguins are extremely swift in the water, and rather comical on land, and they are always a delight to watch.

African Penguins are monogomous, and pairs return to the same place every year to nest and breed. They lay two eggs each season and both the male and female take turns in incubating the eggs. The chicks are initially fluffy and brown, before turning a blueish grey.