South African Safari

Here's just a few of the amazing animals you can see on a safari tour in South Africa, courtesy of Matthew Karsten, world traveler and blogger for ExpertVagabond.com.

By: Matthew Karsten

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Photo By: Matthew Karsten

Cheetah

Here are a few photos of some of the animals I saw in South Africa. This teenage, male cheetah is on the lookout for some dinner. If you're lucky, you may even be able to see them hunt.

Hippopotamus

I took this photo while this hippopotamus was charging the boat. The hippo is the most dangerous animal in Africa.

Warthog

A member of the pig family, warthogs are spotted all over the African savannas, including the Serengeti. They live in ground burrows, where they are always ready to burst out.

Giraffe

These famous animals can grow up to 20 feet tall and weigh over 1 ton. Male giraffes use their necks as weapons. You can see an old battle scar on this giraffe’s neck.

Chacma Baboon

Found throughout South Africa, this Chacma Baboon decided to hitch a ride with us. He stayed on the hood of the car for a mile or 2.

Zebra

The stripes of a zebra are different for each animal, just like human fingerprints. These two were playfully fighting with one another.

Agama Lizard

This is a Southern Rock Agama, a colorful lizard you can find along the rocks off Cape Point. They eat insects, and can be found in many sizes, from 12.5 to 30 centimeters in length.

African Penguin

Yes, there are penguins living in South Africa. The hotter these guys get, the pinker their eyes get.

Spotted Hyena

Always thought of as scavengers, hyenas actually kill most of their food. Hyenas are nocturnal animals, and they've have an eerie-sounding howl.

Kudu

A type of large antelope, male Kudus will fight each other with their long, spiral horns. Kudu is a popular dish served at many South African restaurants.

African Elephant

It’s the largest land-based animal in the world. Males can weigh over 10,000 pounds. African elephants will sometimes knock over trees to release aggression.

Leatherback Turtle

That’s me, Matthew Karsten, taking a photo with a leatherback turtle, the largest turtle in the world. They can grow up to 6-7 feet long, and lay over 100 eggs on the beach usually at night.

Samango Monkey

I found this monkey watching us eating a picnic lunch along the beach at Cape Vidal. You have to watch out for them, or they'll run away with your food.

Black Rhinoceros

This particular type of rhinoceros is very rare. There are only 2000 to 3000 left in the world. They are poached for their horns, commonly used in Chinese medicine and in Middle-Eastern art.

African Lion

Males lions frequently fight with each other for hunting territory, which is how this guy lost an eye. When they’re not hunting, lions will sleep over 20 hours a day.

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South African Safari

Related To:

Shop This Look

Cheetah

Hippopotamus

Warthog

Giraffe

Chacma Baboon

Zebra

Agama Lizard

African Penguin

Spotted Hyena

Kudu

African Elephant

Leatherback Turtle

Samango Monkey

Black Rhinoceros

African Lion