Bat-eared foxes are nocturnal, insect-loving members of that secretive society, the Shy 5. But if you look for them in mid-winter, when they’re likely to still be about looking for insects after dawn, you’ve a good chance of seeing them, especially in the dry Karoo and Kalahari regions. more

Aardwolves and aardvarks are both nocturnal, both eat termites and both are members of the ‘Shy 5’. But you have a much better chance of seeing an aardwolf because it forages mostly in open country with short grasses. Aardvarks are far shyer and can dig their way to invisibility within minutes. more

The Lubombo Transfrontier Park, combining the conservation efforts of South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique, will reunite elephant families, ecosystems and offer greater sanctuary for turtles. But the greatest change has been in the new opportunities that have opened for the people. more

The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park combines the best of the world-renowned Kruger National Park with Zimbabwe's Gonarezhou and Mozambique's Limpopo National Park. This will one day be one of the greatest wilderness areas on Earth. more

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was declared in 2000, formalising an ecological entity that was already there. Tourists loved it, but this inspiring wilderness has given rise to something more. Now there are ideas of linking this gigantic conservation areas to others nearby. Desert ecology and tourism will be the winners. more

The ancient Mkhuze Fig Forest in northern KwaZulu-Natal forms part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site, an area renowned for its natural splendour, exquisite bird life, many hiking trails, diversified ecosystems and abundant insect life. more

Penguin conservation in South Africa has had to overcome a bewildering array of challenges – climate change, dwindling fish stocks, and lack of suitable habitat. But the most dramatic moment came in 2000, when an oil slick threatened the largest concentration of African penguins. South Africans sprang to the rescue. more

The Dunes Country House is set within in the delicate coastal vegetation of St Francis Bay, only an hour away from Port Elizabeth. The owners are passionate about conserving the fynbos vegetation and protecting the ecosystem. Guests love going on their frogging safaris to discover and log local amphibians. more

Thakadu River Camp is one of the finest examples of responsible tourism bringing benefits – social and financial upliftment – to the local community that owns it. The 5-star lodge is Fair Trade in Tourism certified and is set on the eastern side of Madikwe Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s few malaria-free parks. more

Sustainable seafood is only a text message away. If you find yourself in a seafood restaurant and want to make an eco-smart choice by ordering something sustainably harvested, all you have to do is consult the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative – and it’s at your fingertips. more

Tigers in the Karoo? It seems quite unlikely until you travel to the little town of Philippolis roughly in the middle of South Africa. Here, maverick conservationist and film-maker John Varty has established a sanctuary for these magnificent beasts. Varty believes sanctuaries like this are crucial for the endangered tiger. more

White rhino conservation seems entirely superfluous – this animal looks quite indestructible. But its population plummeted to no more than a few hundred during the 1960s. That’s when a group of South Africans, including legendary conservationist Dr Ian Player, turned everything around. more

The wild dogs of South Africa were once the country’s least appreciated predator. As a result, their numbers sank perilously low. Wild dogs, which need vast areas to roam and hunt in, are now managed as a 'meta-population' and parks work together to prevent inbreeding. more

Mountain zebra conservation had a close shave back in the 1930s, when numbers sank perilously low. But with the help of government, a few farmers and a dint of luck, their numbers have risen. Now authorities have trans-located them to new parks to ensure their survival. more