Choose your country and language:

Africa

  • Global
  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • DRC
  • Ethiopia
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nigeria
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • shotLeft

Americas

  • USA
  • Argentina
  • Brazil

Asia Pacific

  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia

Europe

  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • United Kingdom
Back

LLion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo…and Southern Right whales and Great White sharks.

With two-thirds of our country surrounded by coastline, a trip to South Africa is not complete without seeing Southern Right whales and Great White sharks. And if you’re looking to see the Big Seven in one outing, the Eastern Cape is the place to head to.

Famed for its elephants, the Addo Elephant National Park is home to all seven of the biggest species in Africa. Not only can you see the famed Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) but you can also turn your gaze towards the ocean.

In 2000, the Addo Elephant National Park extended their conservancy to include the ocean. Every year, about 2500 Southern Right whales make their way around South Africa’s coastline to calve, swim and play offshore. As locals know, the sharks are there all-year round.

Did You Know?
BBryde’s whales are keen streamlined hunters who turn and pounce with such speed they look like giant torpedoes.

SSeabird sites are also protected – the park’s marine reserve now includes Bird Island and St Croix where you can see Cape gannet and African penguins. Birders will be pleased to spot the endangered roseate tern and the black oystercatcher.

AAmong these islands, Southern Right whales and Great White sharks swim and feast. If you are there at the right time, you’ll also see Humpback whales, plus a resident group of Bryde’s whales. And the dolphins? If you’re out on the Indian Ocean, they’re almost always around, frolicking in the waves or moving through the open sea. 

Who to contact
How to get there
Best time to visit
Get around
Length of stay
Where to stay

Related articles

Wildlife safari

Vervet monkeys: the mischievous primates with long tails are plentiful in many South African habitats

Wildlife safari
Vervet monkeys: the mischievous primates with long tails are plentiful in many South African habitats
Vervet monkeys are playful, mischievous primates that can be found all over eastern South Africa and are hugely entertaining to watch – as long as you keep the kitchen windows closed.
Active adventure

Trail running in South Africa: off the beaten track… into Eden

Active adventure
Trail running in South Africa: off the beaten track… into Eden
South Africa has amazing trail-running terrain for visiting athletes, including mountains, forests, bushveld, beaches, savannahs and deserts – as well as some competitive runs to consider.
Active adventure

The Freedom Trail: coast to coast on a mountain bike

Active adventure
The Freedom Trail: coast to coast on a mountain bike
The Freedom Trail is an exhilarating mountain-bike route from East Coast to West Coast in South Africa that runs through some of the most spectacular natural beauty the country has to offer.
Breathtaking scenery

Flowering aloes in South Africa: see hills aflame with orange and crimson flowers in Eastern Cape and other arid areas

Breathtaking scenery
Flowering aloes in South Africa: see hills aflame with orange and crimson flowers in Eastern Cape and other arid areas
Aloe ferox – the red or bitter aloe – grows all over South Africa, but Eastern Cape hills are ablaze with orange and red from May to August; the province also produces great aloe health products.
Wildlife safari

The South African savanna – spotting the teeming life in bushveld grasslands

Wildlife safari
The South African savanna – spotting the teeming life in bushveld grasslands
The Big 5 and a bewildering array of life can be found on South Africa’s savanna – regions rich in plant, bird, insect and animal diversity protected in parks like Hluhluwe-Imfolozi and Kruger.
Wildlife safari

Sheep shearing in the Karoo Heartland: adding to the fun of your farm stay

Wildlife safari
Sheep shearing in the Karoo Heartland: adding to the fun of your farm stay
Shearing sheep or goats is an art; one much prized on the wool and angora farms of the Karoo – the area produces world champions – so watching the shearing is a fascinating drawcard for tourists.
Breathtaking scenery

Rock climbing in South Africa: some of our cliffs are tough; others are a little boulder

Breathtaking scenery
Rock climbing in South Africa: some of our cliffs are tough; others are a little boulder
Rock climbers are spoilt for choice in South Africa – Western Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape are all provinces blessed with plentiful mountains and myriad climbing routes.
Active adventure

Port Elizabeth to Nature’s Valley: soaring forests and much more on the way to Tsitsikamma from Eastern to Western Cape

Active adventure
Port Elizabeth to Nature’s Valley: soaring forests and much more on the way to Tsitsikamma from Eastern to Western Cape
The N2 route from Port Elizabeth in Eastern Cape to Nature’s Valley in Western Cape offers seaside history, excellent seafood, surfing and adventure, and magnificent views in the Tsitsikamma Forest.

South Africa on social media

Copyright © 2023 South African Tourism
|Terms and conditions|Disclaimer|Privacy policy