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Mpumalanga "Eastern Transvaal" redirects here. For the rugby team formerly known as "Eastern Transvaal", see Falcons (rugby team) . For the team formerly called "South Eastern Transvaal" representing Mpumalanga, see Pumas (Currie Cup) . ​ Pilgrim's Rest (Afrikaans : Pelgrimsrus) is a small museum town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa which is protected as a provincial heritage site . It was the second of the Transvaal gold fields , attracting a rush of prospectors in 1873, soon after the MacMac diggings started some 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away. Alluvial panning eventually gave way to deeper ore mining. In the 1970s the town, not greatly changed, became a tourist destination. Here are some things to do and see in Mpumalanga 1 2 3 : Lowveld Botanical Gardens, Nelspruit Chasing waterfalls in Sabie Elephant Museum, Kruger National Park Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit Jock of the Bushveld Trail, Graskop Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve Three Rondavels Viewpoint Bourke’s Luck Potholes Panoramic views of the Blyde Riber Canyon and God’s Window. ​ ​ Pilgrim's Rest (Afrikaans : Pelgrimsrus) is a small museum town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa which is protected as a provincial heritage site . It was the second of the Transvaal gold fields , attracting a rush of prospectors in 1873, soon after the MacMac diggings started some 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away. Alluvial panning eventually gave way to deeper ore mining. In the 1970s the town, not greatly changed, became a tourist destination. History The alluvial gold was discovered by prospector Alec Patterson. He panned Pilgrim's Creek, as it became known, when the nearby MacMac diggings became too crowded. He kept his find a secret, but a gold rush resulted when fellow prospector William Trafford registered his claim with the Gold Commissioner at MacMac. After it was officially declared a gold field in September 1873, the town suddenly grew to 1,500 inhabitants searching for alluvial gold. Mining companies In the 1880s the alluvial gold dwindled and prospectors were attracted to Barberton 's newly discovered gold deposits. Towards the end of the 19th century claims were bought up and underground mining started by the company known as TGME. The better-funded mining companies started mining the deeper gold-bearing ore. By 1895 several small mining companies amalgamated to form the Transvaal Gold Mining Estates (T.G.M.E.). This company was listed on the London Stock Exchange and became the first listed gold mining company in South Africa. As the volumes of gold ore increased, the engineers constructed small, local hydro-electric plants to generate electricity for the electric tramway and the ore crushers at the reduction works, built in 1897.[2] In 1911 the 2,000 kW Belvedere power station (at 24°39′18″S 30°50′12″E ) was completed on the Blyde River , some 30 km to the east. It supplied hydro-electric power to Pilgrim's Rest and adjacent communities up to 1992. Pilgrim's Rest was southern Africa's second town with street electricity, the first being Kimberley , also a mining town.[2] Boer war Pilgrim's Rest was the location of an emergency mint during the Second Boer War . This mint struck the famous and extremely rare Veld Pond . Graveyard At the graveyard, every grave was laid facing in the same direction, except for the traditional Robber’s Grave which is laid at right angles to the rest, not facing the rising sun, and emblazoned simply with a cross and the large type words of "Robbers Grave". One legend attributes it to a robber who was shot when he was caught stealing a tent from another miner, while other legends would have it that he instead stole a wheelbarrow , or that the thief died after being lynched. The most detailed account attributes the grave to a fortune hunter, one Walter Scott, who committed suicide . Scott would have shot his friend Roy Spencer, son of a well-to-do English banker, after they returned drunk from a party. Scott suspected Spencer of stealing his purse of gold. Scott pursued Spencer and shot him near the church, the site of the present graveyard, whereafter Spencer was secretly buried. The sobered-up Scott found his purse in his tent, and committed suicide when he realised what he had done. Scott was then buried in an unmarked grave next to that of his friend, Spencer. Recent times and tourism Mining was closed down in 1971 and the village was sold to the government as a national museum. Transvaal Gold Mining Estates Limited started mining again in 1998. It is currently owned by Theta Gold Mines Limited, an Australian listed company. On May 15, 2004, the old TGME reduction works was added to the UNESCO World Heritage tentative List in the Cultural category but was removed in 2016. The town's original architecture remains largely unchanged since the heyday of the mining era, because the town was declared a National Monument. It became a provincial heritage site in 1986. The village is a cultural heritage site and living museum with a variety of village museums, tours, accommodation, restaurants and shops. Mpumalanga Mpumalanga (/əmˌpuːməˈlɑːŋɡə/ ) is a province of South Africa . The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Nguni languages . Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique . It shares borders with the South African provinces of Limpopo to the north, Gauteng to the west, the Free State to the southwest, and KwaZulu-Natal to the south. The capital is Mbombela .[5] Mpumalanga ZuluiMpumalanga AfrikaansMpumalanga SepediMpumalanga SwazieMpumalanga SetswanaBotlhabatsatsi Southern NdebeleiPumalanga Mpumalanga was formed in 1994, when the area that was the Eastern Transvaal was merged with the former bantustans KaNgwane , KwaNdebele and parts of Lebowa and Gazankulu . Although the contemporary borders of the province were only formed at the end of apartheid , the region and its surroundings have a history that extends back thousands of years. Much of its history, and current significance is as a region of trade ​ History Precolonial Era One of the Lydenburg Heads from around A.D. 500 found in Mpumalanga Archeological sites in the Mpumalanga region indicate settlement by humans and their ancestors dating back 1.7 million years. Rock paintings, engravings and other archeological evidence throughout the province indicate that Mpumalanga has a long history of human habitation by groups of hunter gatherers. Excavations not far from the Mpumalanga border in the Origstad district, show evidence of Middle Stone Age habitation dating back to 40,000 years ago. The Lion Cavern, in Ngwenya on the Eswatini border, shows evidence of people mining iron ore in the Mpumalanga region and surrounding areas from at least 28 000 years ago. Evidence from mine shafts and trade goods shows that there was notable industry in tin, copper, gold, iron, ochre, and bronze. The Lydenburg Heads , from around 500 CE, are Africa's oldest Iron Age artworks south of the equator and were found in Mpumalanga. Evidence from a site near Mbombela shows evidence of agricultural societies from between the 6th to 17th century. Bokoni stone-walled sites on the Mpumalanga highveld are indicative of a large precolonial agropastoral society between ~1500 and 1820 CE.. These societies became centers of trade, with increasingly large and centralised populations This pattern increased as they connected to the Portuguese trading post in Maputo Bay . In this era, groups that would become the Swazi , Pedi , Ndebele , Mapulana and others established themselves in the area that is now Mpumalanga. Climate The Lowveld is subtropical , due to its latitude and proximity to the warm Indian Ocean . The Highveld is comparatively much cooler and drier, due to its elevation of 1700 m to 2300 m above sea level. The Drakensberg escarpment receives the most precipitation , with all other areas being moderately well-watered by mostly-summer thunderstorms . The Highveld often experiences considerable freezing, while the Lowveld is mostly frost-free. Winter rainfall is rare, except for some drizzle on the escarpment . The differences in climate are demonstrated by comparing the capital, Mbombela , which is in the Lowveld, with Belfast , which is an hour away on the Highveld: Mbombela averages: January maximum: 29 °C (min: 19 °C), July maximum: 23 °C (min: 6 °C), annual precipitation: 767 mm Belfast averages: January maximum: 23 °C (min: 12 °C), June maximum: 15 °C (min: 1 °C), annual precipitation: 878 mm With climate change in the province, rainfall is becoming more variable, temperatures and evaporation rates are rising and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. It is predicted that these changes will shift biomes so that most of the province will be savanna ​ Education Colonial era In 1845, as part of the Great Trek , the first Dutch-speaking colonial settlers arrived in what they called the eastern Transvaal. The rest of the 19th century in the region was characterised by colonial encroachment and conflict over land and political control. In 1852, the Boers established the South African Republic . The well established Pedi, Swazi and Zulu kingdoms put up significant resistance against the settlers. The Pedi fought wars with the Boers in 1876 (see Sekhukhune Wars ) and the Zulu fought with British settlers in 1879 (see Anglo-Zulu War ). These interconnected conflicts played a role in shifting the balance of power in southern Africa to colonial control. After 1860, missionaries, especially German missionaries like Alexander Merensky set up mission stations in the region, spreading Christianity and European values. Just as the region had been a center for trade in the precolonial era, in the colonial era, the Eastern Transvaal region became an important thoroughfare for trade between Johannesburg and Delagoa Bay (now Maputo ). Gold mining around areas like Pilgrims Rest and Barberton and farming were the main forms of economic activity. On farms in the Transvaal, under a system known as Inboekstelsel , Boers carried out raids to capture children and forced them into indentured labour. During the South African War , the region was the site of notable battles. Apartheid When the National Party came to power in 1948, their policy of apartheid intensified the segregation that had defined communities in the Transvaal . Under a policy of forced removals, Black South Africans were evicted from areas reserved for white people and moved into homelands, including KaNgwane , KwaNdebele , Lebowa and Gazankulu . As the apartheid regime implemented oppressive policies that defined almost every aspect of life, activists responded with resistance. In 1959, the small town of Bethal on what is now the Mpumalanga highveld was the center of the anti-apartheid consumer potato boycott in response to the working conditions Black South African labourers faced on farms in the area. The region was influenced by dynamics in exile and elsewhere in the country, for instance Black Consciousness , the Sharpeville Massacre and the 1976 Soweto Uprisings . In the 1980s, under intense repression, youth and labour organizations moblized against the government and townships and Bantustans erupted in political unrest and violence. In 1986, an avoidable disaster killed 177 mine workers in Kinross Mine in the region's highveld. The response to the disaster by the National Union of Mineworkers was a key point in the South African labour struggle. By the late 1980s, the intensity of resistance across South Africa (including areas like Mpumalanga, which hadn't previously been seen as key areas of resistance) combined with economic factors and international pressure was strong enough to end apartheid. On 27 April 1994, when South Africa held its first democratic elections , Mpumalanga province was formed. It was originally called the "Eastern Transvaal" province, but the name was later changed to Mpumalanga on 24 August 1995. Geography ​ A view from the mountains of the Barberton Geotrail, where evidence of earliest signs of life (3.2 billion-years-old) was found. The Drakensberg escarpment divides Mpumalanga into a westerly half consisting mainly of high-altitude grassland called the Highveld and an eastern half situated in low-altitude subtropical Lowveld /Bushveld , mostly savanna habitat. The southern half of the Kruger National Park is in the latter region. The Drakensberg exceeds heights of 2000 m in most places, with this central region of Mpumalanga being very mountainous. These regions have alpine grasslands and small pockets of Afromontane forest . The Lowveld is relatively flat with interspersed rocky outcrops. The Lebombo Mountains form a low range in the far east, on the border with Mozambique . Some of the oldest rocks on earth have been found in the Barberton area; these ancient greenstones and metamorphosed granites form the Crocodile River Mountains in the southeast of the province. The Lowveld is underlaid by African Cratonic Basement rocks of ages in excess of 2 billion years. The Highveld is mostly Karoo Sequence sedimentary rock of a younger, Carboniferous to Permian age. Mpumalanga is the only South African province to border two provinces of Mozambique (Gaza Province to the northeast and Maputo Province to the east), as well as all four regions of Eswatini (Lubombo , Hhohho , Manzini , and Shiselweni districts). Ecology Some of the earliest signs of life on Earth have been found in Mpumalanga. In the Makhonjwa mountain range's greenstone belt near Barberton , a fossil layer shows microbial activity that is 3.22 billion years old. This discovery indicates that life emerged on Earth 300 million years earlier than previously thought. Mpumalanga has a high plant and animal diversity. Many species are endemic to the province. Endemic species A partial list of species that are endemic to Mpumalanga Roust Golden Mole (Amblysomus robustus) , a mammal in the golden mole family. Treur River Barb (Enteromius treurensis) , a river fish. Barberton sugarbush (Protea curvata), a protea plant threatened by mining activity. Sim's Spotted Aloe (Aloe simii) an aloe threatened by road construction. Komati Waterberry (Syzygium komatiense) a species of waterberry tree. Thorncroftia lotterii , a flowering plant. Acontias albigularis , a lizard species. Procrica mariepskopa , a moth species. Inkomati Mountain Catfish (Amphilius engelbrechti) Yellow Baberton Grass Aloe (Aloe craibii) Longtom oneye (Monopsis kowynensis) Graskop cliff aloe (Aloe nubigena) Kruger National Park, South Africa's largest conservation area Conservation areas The diverse and special flora and fauna of the province enjoys protection in a range of nature reserves. Barberton Nature Reserve Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park , previously known as Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park. This international game park brings together some of the best and most established wildlife areas in southern Africa. The park is managed as an integrated unit across an unprecedented three international boundaries which includes the Kruger National Park (South Africa), Limpopo National Park (Mozambique ) and Gonarezhou National Park (Zimbabwe ). Lowveld National Botanical Garden in Mbombela Sabi Sand Game Reserve , which is built up of numerous private reserves: Nottens Bush Camp,[31] Idube Safari Lodge , Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge, Djuma Game Reserve, Exeter Game Lodge, Inyati Private Game Reserve, Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, Londolozi Game Reserve, Mala Mala Game Reserve , Savanna Private Game Reserve and Ulusaba Game Lodge. Verloren Vallei near Dullstroom Many species of plants are unique to the different geological formations within Mpumalanga. Some examples of these formations include serpentines of Barberton Mountains, norites of Sekhukhuneland , quartzites of Blyde River Canyon , and the dolomites in the northern plateaus Law and government Law and government Mpumalanga is governed by the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature , a unicameral system of 30 legislators democratically elected though a closed list system. Under the constitution of South Africa, the legislature is intended to create laws, promote public participation and provide oversight. From 1994 to the present, the African National Congress has been the leading party in the Mpumalanga legislature. As of the 2019 elections, the Economic Freedom Fighters , Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus are in opposition in the legislature. Elected every five years, the premier of Mpumalanga is the head of government in the province. Since 2018, Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane has held the office of premier. Municipalities Main article: List of municipalities in Mpumalanga Mpumalanga districts and local municipalities Mpumalanga Province is divided into three district municipalities . The district municipalities are in turn divided into 18 local municipalities : District municipalities Ehlanzeni District Bushbruckridge Mbombela Nkomazi Thaba Chweu Umjindi Gert Sibande District Albert Luthuli Dipaleseng Govan Mbeki Lekwa Mkhondo Msukaligwa Pixley ka Seme Nkangala District Delmas Dr JS Moroka Emalahleni Highlands Steve Tshwete Thembisile ​ Farming Farming Farm in Mpumalanga highveld 68% of land area in the province is used by agriculture. The climatic contrasts between the drier Highveld region, with its cold winters, and the hot, humid Lowveld allow for a variety of agricultural activities. Mpumalanga has been an important supplier of fruit and vegetables for local and international markets for decades. A history of dispossession mean that farming land is largely white owned, although policies of land redistribution era aim to address this. Crops include maize, wheat, sorghum , barley , sunflower seed , soybeans , macadamias , groundnuts, sugar cane, vegetables, coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, citrus , subtropical and deciduous fruit. Natural grazing covers approximately 14% of Mpumalanga. The main products are beef, mutton , wool , poultry and dairy. Farming in the province is driven by both a combination of seasonal , permanent and temporary labourers. Conditions on farms vary widely but seasonal and temporary workers, many of whom are migrant workers from nearby Mozambique , face intense insecurity. Forestry is extensive around Sabie and Graskop . Located near the forests, Ngodwana is the site of one of South Africa's largest paper mills (Sappi ). Mining Extensive mining is done and the minerals found include gold, platinum group metals, silica , chromite , vanadiferous magnetite , argentiferous zinc , antimony , cobalt , copper, iron, manganese , tin , coal, andalusite , chrysotile asbestos , kieselguhr , limestone , magnesite , talc and shale . Gold was first discovered in Mpumalanga province in 1883 by Auguste Roberts in the mountains surrounding what is now Barberton. Gold is still mined in the Barberton area today. Mpumalanga accounts for 83% of South Africa's coal production. 90% of South Africa's coal consumption is used for electricity generation and the synthetic fuel industry. Coal power stations are in proximity to the coal deposits. A coal liquefaction plant in Secunda (Secunda CTL ) is one of the country's two petroleum-from-coal extraction plants, which is operated by the synthetic fuel company Sasol . The high density of coal power stations on the Mpumalanga highveld means that the region has the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution in the world. Attractions Mpumalanga is popular with tourists. Kruger National Park , established in 1898 for the protection of Lowveld wildlife, covering 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi), is a popular destination. The other major tourist attractions include the Sudwala Caves and the Blyde River Canyon . Many activities including the big jump, mountain and quad biking, horse trails, river rafting and big game viewing are endemic to the region. This is "Big Five " territory. Towns in the Lowveld are Barberton , Mbombela , White River , Sabie , Graskop , Hazyview , Malelane , Pilgrim's Rest , Lydenburg and Nkomazi .[42] In 2008, a Haute Cuisine route was formed, trickling from Mbombela down to Hazyview. The Lowveld Gourmet Route covers the four top fine dining restaurants the area has to offer. The restaurants include Summerfields Kitchen, Oliver's Restaurant, Orange and Salt. 2007-2010 Culture ​ Ndebele traditional dress Mpumalanga is home to a diverse range of cultures, including Swazi, Ndebele, Afrikaans, Tsonga, Zulu, Mapulana, Portuguese and Pedi communities. The Ndebele Cultural Village at Botshabelo is a renowned center of cultural heritage, with displays of Ndebele house painting . Ndebele artist Esther Mahalangu gained international acclaim for her artwork rooted in Ndebele traditions and geometric patterns. Prominent South African artist Gerard Sekoto was born in Botshabelo . Many celebrated South African musicians, such as Ray Phiri , Rebecca Malope and Pretty Yende , are from Mpumalanga. Since 2003, Mpumalanga's capital city, Mbombela, has hosted the Afrikaans national arts festival Innibos. The festival features music, comedy, arts, crafts and theatre. BACK TO TOP

HICKING IN SOUTH AFRICA Camping and hiking have been popular outdoor activities in South Africa for many years. The country's diverse landscapes, from mountains to beaches, offer a range of opportunities for adventure seekers. Many national parks and nature reserves provide camping facilities, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of the South African wilderness. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a first-time camper, South Africa has something to offer for everyone. The top 8 hikes in South Africa for stunning views Rhebok Hiking Trail Best summit hike 19-mile (31km) loop, 2 days, challenging ... Otter Trail Best multi-day hike 28 miles (45km), 5 days, moderate ... Blyderivierspoort Hiking Trail Best canyon hike ... Leopard’s Kloof Hiking Trail Best hike for families ... Olifantsbos Shipwreck Trail Best history hike ... Platteklip Gorge Trail Best urban hike ... Rim of Africa Best bucket list hike 403 miles (650km), 61 days, challenging ... ​ Drupkelders Hiking Trail Tripadvisor (61) · Wanderpfad Queen St, Knysna · website routenplaner Kranshoek Hiking Trail Tripadvisor (35) · Wanderpfad Harkerville · Geschlossen · Öffnet morgen um 08:00 website routenplaner Shipwreck Hiking & Canoe Trails Tripadvisor (15) · Wanderpfad Sea Mist Drive, Port Alfred · website routenplaner Wathaba Hiking Trail - Day Tours Tripadvisor (10) · Wanderpfad R541, Machadodorp, Badplaas · Geschlossen · Öffnet morgen um 08:00 website routenplaner Magoebaskloof Hiking Trail Tripadvisor (27) · Wanderpfad R71, Tzaneen ​ Swellendam Hiking Trail Swellendam Hiking Trail Tripadvisor (26) · Wanderpfad Marloth Nature Reserve, Swellendam · Wathaba Hiking Trail - Day Tours Wathaba Hiking Trail - Day Tours Tripadvisor (10) · Wanderpfad R541, Machadodorp, Badplaas · Geschlossen · Öffnet morgen um 08:00 Hennops Hiking Trail & Mtb Hennops Hiking Trail & Mtb Wanderpfad R511, Pretoria · CAMPING IN SOUTH AFRICA Reinheim River Chalets & Caravan Park Bloemfontein Tripadvisor (23) · Campingplatz Off N1, Masselpoort And Glen Turnoff, Bloemfontein · website Reyneke Park Tripadvisor (15) · Campingplatz 5 B Brendar St, Bloemfontein · 24 Stunden geöffnet website Camp Aquila Campingplatz R523, Soutpansberg website CAMPING SOUTH AFRICA Limpopo Province is located in the far northern part of South Africa and shares borders with … North West Province Campsites in North West South Africa. Best Camping in North West on SA … Campsites in KwaZulu Natal Camping Blog. Travel Tips; Contact Us. Resort owners; Home; Locations; … The Six Principles of Safety on the Trail - Hiking in South Africa You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared: With knowledge and gear Become self-reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather and your equipment before you start. By reading our guidebook, you already have taken important steps in preparing for your hiking adventure in South Africa. To leave your plans Tell someone where you are going, the trails you are hiking, when you’ll return and your emergency plans. Don't forget to write down your cell phone number for the person you leave the trail description with. To stay together When you start as a group, hike as a group, end as a group. Pace your hike to the slowest person. Try avoiding hiking by yourself. If in doubt, take a local guide with you. To turn back Weather can change quickly in the raining season. Fatigue and unexpected conditions can also affect your hike. Know your limitations and when to postpone your hike. Be especially cognizant of the danger of weather changes in the mountains. For emergencies Even if you are headed out for just an hour, an injury, severe weather or a wrong turn could become life-threatening. Don’t assume you will be rescued; know how to rescue yourself. To share To share the hiker code with others. Based on http://hikesafe.com We also recommend that you do not pick flowers or other plants, that you don't play loud music, that you do not disturb animals and that you do not litter while on the trail. You can improve the hiking experience of others by collecting some litter as well. Check out this great video which was produced as part of the Hike Safety Project. Although it was developed for hiking in the green mountains of New Hampshire in the US, the lessons learned from the hikers in the video are equally relevant to hikers in South Africa. 11 safety tips for your next South African hike The murder of Ukrainian hiker Ivan Ivanov, 43, on a popular hiking trail in Cape Town has prompted safety concerns for travellers heading for hikes within the country. IOL Travel spoke to Rim of Africa ’s Galeo Saintz on what safety tips travellers should take when going on their next hike. Have the right gear Depending on the type of environment, carry items that are appropriate for the terrain and destination. For example, hikers should invest in quality hiking boots than walking barefoot or using flip flops. Always carry a space blanket and extra water A space blanket is a low-weight, low-bulk blanket made of heat-reflective thin plastic sheeting to help with thermal control. The blanket comes in handy during emergencies. Hikers should always carry extra water in their bags. Always carry a charged cellphone and power bank in your hiking bag Having battery power on your phone is necessary, especially if you are embarking on longer hikes. More on this 3 off the beaten track paths for your next hiking holiday PICS: 7 essentials you need to pack for a hiking holiday Hike in groups Hiking is an enjoyable activity best enjoyed with company. Try to hike with a few people for safety and when in remote regions. It is advisable not to hike alone. Research the route Thanks to the power of online, searching for information about your hiking routes is a click of a button away. Things to consider are the dangers common to the trail, criminal incidents and types of reptiles and animals to watch out for. Carry food and energy snacks Some hikes take longer than expected, and the last thing you want is to be without some food when the hunger pangs strike. Warm clothing in the event of unexpected change in weather A jacket or two comes in handy- especially if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Alert people about the hike details Tell people where you are going and your expected time of arrival. Carry a small stove to make hot water This rule is for longer hikes. It comes in handy for emergencies like boiling water, or reheating meals. Choose hikes according to fitness level While it is tempting to choose a popular hiking trail for the “gram”, one should also take their fitness level into account. Do not attempt challenging hikes if you haven’t hiked before. Be vigilant Capturing every moment of the hike may seem ideal, but one has to make sure that they are vigilant at all times. Is Going on Safari Dangerous? Every safari has an element of danger; that's what makes it exciting. While many of the animals you'll encounter can be dangerous , the four that you really have to watch out for are—elephant, lion, buffalo , and hippo (add crocodiles to that list if you're near water). Most safari operators and guides at the various lodges and game reserves will stress basic precautions you need to take while game viewing. It will also help if you follow basic safari etiquette. If you are on safari in smaller, more remote game parks or encounter wildlife outside of game parks, here are some general rules to follow: If You Are in a Vehicle Always stay in your car. When driving in a game park remain in your vehicle. Only get out at designated "hides" and follow the rules that will be posted. There have been several fatalities that occurred because a hapless tourist has wandered out of their vehicle, camera in hand, to get a closer shot of an elephant or lion. It may sound silly, but it happens. Don't stand up or stick anything out of the car. Many safari vehicles are open-topped, and the wildlife is generally accustomed to these. But, if you stand up or wave something around on the side, some animals will get annoyed and consequently aggressive. You also have to remember that poaching is rife in many areas, and anything that looks like a gun can trigger a very nasty response from a wild animal. Drive slowly and carefully. During the wet season, the grass can get quite high, and it's not always possible to tell when a large buffalo or elephant will decide to step into the middle of the road. Remember, you have to stop if this happens. Buffalos and elephants are not in the least bit afraid or impressed by you or your car. Keep your windows up. If you are in a car with windows, it's better to keep them closed. You could end up being harassed by baboons as you drive through the more popular game parks. They are so habituated to cars they are not afraid to leap upon them and dent the roof. You don't want one inside your vehicle. If You Are on Foot If you are on a walking safari, you will no doubt be briefed on safety by your guides. But, there are times when you'll be walking in Africa and encounter wildlife without a guide. You could run into elephants even in the middle of town. Baboons are also a menace in many places and a lot larger than you think. Here are some basic tips if you encounter wildlife eye to eye: Try and stay downwind from the animal. If the animal catches your scent, it will know you are there, and you have no idea whether this will make it angry or afraid. If an animal you approach looks hostile, make sure you are not in the way of its escape route. Give the animal a clear birth and don't make any noise to aggravate the situation further. Walk away slowly. If you encounter an animal that doesn't like your presence move back slowly and quietly. More Tips Avoid swimming in rivers or lakes unless you are absolutely sure there are no hippos or crocodiles. Hippos are the most dangerous of all the big animals. They feed on the banks of the river, and if they sense danger will charge and attack whatever lies in their path in order to get back to the safety of the water. If you are camping out in the open, always make sure you have something covering you even if it's just a mosquito net. Hyenas like to check out camps for leftover food and are especially attracted to protruding objects, so keep your feet and nose inside that tent or net. Always wear boots and socks when walking around the bush. There are plenty of venomous snakes and scorpions around that could bite you. Don't walk around at night in areas where you know there is wildlife present that can be potentially harmful to you. That includes the beaches and around lakes where hippos graze between tents on a camping safari. Also, be careful in towns. Hyenas wander around freely in the capital city of Lilongwe in Malawi, so always be cautious. Wild Camping in South Africa: Why not to do it, and alternatives We know, you’re an off-the-beaten track kinda person. That’s why you’re here. You’re on of us, and we appreciate that. Sometimes, though, we need to approach adventure with a mindful attitude to keep safe. Read on to find out what we mean… Are you yearning for an adventure that goes beyond overcrowded holiday camp grounds? Maybe dreaming of an off-the-grid escapade that promises raw, untouched nature and a true sense of solitude? Then it’s likely you have heard of wild camping – the kind of camping that takes you far from the designated campsites into the uncharted territories of South Africa’s stunning landscapes. It sounds like a thrilling prospect, doesn’t it? The allure of discovering hidden corners and secluded vistas is irresistible. You might even think it’s the Camp Master dream. But before you barrel off into the countryside, hold on just a moment! While the idea of venturing into the wild may seem enticing, it comes with its own set of challenges, particularly in South Africa. It’s also – and we can’t stress this enough – pretty illegal and dangerous in many parts of our country. In this article, we’re covering why wild camping is risky, and the alternatives you can try that are much safer AND satisfy that urge for a truly backwoods adventure. You can have the best of both worlds, and be sure of your safety while doing it. The Risks of Wild Camping in South Africa Legal Implications Yes, we know, in theory nature is boundless and belongs to nobody.. Here’s the thing, though – most of the land in South Africa is privately owned or protected, which makes it a legal no-no to set up your camp without proper authorization. Trespassing on private property or protected reserves can land you in serious trouble, including fines that might dent your wallet and your plans. You might also disturb delicate protected areas or cause issues in biomes that you didn’t know were delicate. How would you like it if someone came to camp in YOUR front garden unannounced and declared it public property? Safety Concerns Let’s talk about safety. Picture this: you’re in the middle of nowhere, setting up your tent under the vast African sky, when suddenly you hear rustling in the bushes. While the romantic in you might hope it’s just a harmless critter passing by, South Africa’s wilderness is known for its diverse and, at times, dangerous wildlife. Being far from designated camping areas also means being far from immediate help in case of emergencies. If nobody knows where you are, in the event of an accident, nobody will even know something has gone wrong. Not only are you risking your own life, but you’re also wasting the resources and time of those who may be forced to go far out of their way to rescue you because you didn’t listen to your favourite Camp Master team members… Environmental Impact Let’s not forget the impact of pitching a camp where you’re not supposed to on the environment. Unfortunately, the thrill of exploring untamed regions often comes with unintentional consequences. Trampling on delicate flora, leaving behind non-biodegradable waste, and disturbing the natural ecosystem can result in irreversible damage to the very landscapes we set out to admire. You can’t claim to be a nature lover if your actions are risking a habitat’s well-being for a night or two of fun in the bush. The Appeal of Designated Camping Sites So, does that mean you should abandon your remote and free-spirited outdoor dreams altogether? Absolutely not! You’re in the perfect location to have a wild camping adjacent experience that’s safe for you and the environment. South Africa is replete with designated camping sites that offer the perfect balance between adventure and sustainability. These sites ensure that you can still experience the untamed beauty of nature while having access to basic amenities and emergency services, and because there are so many of these sites around our country, you will always be able to find a spot that’s remote and uncrowded if people are what you want to get away from. Plus, they promote responsible tourism, emphasizing the importance of preserving the environment and respecting local communities. And toilets. Don’t forget the toilets. To summarise, here’s why you should be picking a camping spot: Safety: Designated camping sites often have safety measures in place, including game ranges, security patrols, and emergency services in case of any unforeseen incidents. Facilities: These sites typically offer facilities such as toilets, clean water, fire pits, picnic tables, and sometimes even showers, making the camping experience more convenient and comfortable. Legal Compliance: Camping in designated areas ensures that you are adhering to local regulations and laws, minimising the risk of fines or legal complications that may arise from unauthorized wild camping. Environmental Protection: Designated sites are usually chosen and maintained to minimise the impact on the surrounding environment, ensuring that the natural beauty of the area remains preserved for others to enjoy. Let the experts choose where you step. Community Support: By utilizing designated camping sites, you contribute to the local economy and support the maintenance of recreational areas, which benefits the surrounding communities and encourages sustainable tourism practices. Keep it local and lekker! Top Off-the-Grid Wild Camping Alternatives in South Africa Now, let’s talk about some of the most breathtaking, off-the-grid camping spots in South Africa that will satiate your thirst for adventure without compromising on safety. These are as close to wild camping as you can get without any of the disadvantages, and you’ll still feel like you’re answering the call of the wild with a resounding “howzit!” Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (Northern Cape) Immerse yourself in the grandeur of a remote desert landscape where the silence is broken only by the whispers of the wind. The Richtersveld Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape offers designated camping spots that give you the feeling of being marooned in a tranquil oasis of sky and sand. Make sure to equip yourself with Campmaster’s rugged range of canvas tents and coolers to ensure your comfort and safety in this rustic terrain. Tankwa Karoo National Park (Western Cape) For those seeking an otherworldly experience, the Tankwa Karoo National Park in the Western Cape presents an arid wonderland, where the stark beauty of the landscape is matched only by the brilliance of the starry night sky. With its secluded campsites equipped with basic amenities, it provides the perfect blend of adventure and convenience. Don’t forget to carry Campmaster lanterns and portable grills to enhance your camping experience under the cosmic symphony. The Tankwa is protected and pristine, so we highlighly recommend practising the “Leave No Trace” principles on your trip. Find out more about sustainable camping in our blog. Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area (Eastern Cape) If you’re in search of rugged terrains and spectacular biodiversity, look no further than the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area in the Eastern Cape. Seriously, the Eastern Cape is incredibly underrated. Its serene landscapes and diverse flora and fauna promise an immersive camping experience that might make you feel like you’re on another planet. The area offers several campsites catering to varying levels of comfort, ensuring that you can find the perfect spot to pitch your tent and soak in the raw beauty of nature. Be sure to bring along Camp Master all-terrain sleeping mats or If you’d like to be WILDY comfy, one of these nifty air beds: Queen Airbed Combo Single Airbed Double Airbed and Pump Tips for Responsible Camping Before you embark on your next outdoor expedition – in a designated campsite, of course – here are some crucial tips to ensure a responsible and safe camping experience: In this case, asking for forgiveness ISN’T better than asking for permission. Always seek permission before setting foot on private or protected lands. Respect the rules and regulations set forth by the authorities and landowners. Adhere to the “Leave No Trace” principles, which means that you should leave the campsite just as you found it. Dispose of waste properly and minimize your environmental impact. We know a thing or two about sustainable camping here at Camp Master… Be wildlife-aware. Store your food securely, maintain a safe distance from wild animals, and educate yourself about the potential risks associated with the local fauna. There’s nothing wuite as statling ans an unexpected critter, for you AND the critter. Go wild – SAFELY – with Camp Master As you gear up for your next outdoor escapade, remember that responsible and safe camping doesn’t mean sacrificing the thrill of adventure. If anything, addin an element of reassured safety makes it even MORE fun. South Africa’s breathtaking landscapes are waiting to be explored, and with the right preparation and mindset, you can embark on a journey that is both exhilarating and respectful to your environment and the dedicated people who take care of it. So, pack your bags, set your compass, and get ready to create unforgettable memories in the heart of South Africa’s natural wonders. As you head don’t forget to equip yourself with durable, high-quality, and affordable camping gear from Camp Master. You can kit up at a Game, Builders’ Warehouse or Makro near you. Camping Safety Advice to Ignore at your Peril Camping in South Africa is a great way to de-stress and reconnect with nature, but it can be dangerous if you are unprepared and things go wrong. The key to a successful trip is awareness and planning. Camping is a safe activity that is done by millions of people every year who want to escape city life and experience the great outdoors. However life out in the bush can be dangerous and to have a successful camping trip you need to have some basic bush and camping knowledge. One of the best things that you can do is be prepared. Camping safety starts long before you leave. You will need to take many things with you to make your trip comfortable. One of the most important things that you need is to have an understanding of the possible dangers in the area where you will be camping. This includes knowing what dangerous animals, snakes and scorpions you may encounter - learn to identify them and how to avoid them. Remember, most animals are more scared of humans than you are of them and will only attack if they feel threatened or trapped. Do not approach wild animals too closely or attempt to feed them as this is when most incidents happen. Before you leave Take with you a well equipped first aid kit and make sure that it contains the basic as well as anti-histamines, antibiotics, nausea medicine and Imodium. You need to make sure that any medicines in your kit have not passed their expiration date. Make sure that there are at least two family members who know how to use the kit and have knowledge of first aid. Learn to recognise the symptoms of serious injuries so that you know when to get help. Tell some friends or family where you are planning on travelling and when you are due back. When you arrive at the park or reserve you should register with the park administration. You will probably have to pre-book camping spots and check in. The reason for this is if there is an emergency and you do not return someone will come looking for you. When camping, prepare for the unexpected. Make sure that you have a detailed map or GPS maps of the area you will camp in. This will help you find your way if you get lost. Take along a whistle, pocket knife and matches or waterproof fire starter. Take some extra food and water along in case you get stuck for any reason. Check the weather before you leave for your entire trip and pack appropriately. Be sure to pack for both hot and cold weather, but do not over pack - you don't want to be lugging to much stuff along. Re-wear clothing during the trip so you do not have to carry to much luggage. If you are out hiking, take a jacket with you. Keep an eye on the weather as it can change quickly. Once you arrive Leave early on the first day of your trip so that you arrive at your destination with plenty of daylight left to set up your camp. If you have not pre-booked a camping spot and are free to camp where you like choose your site carefully. Make sure there are no stumps or sharp sticks, poisonous plants, ants and other insects close by. Trees - more dangerous than you think It is advisable that you do not camp under a tree. If you want to camp under a tree for shade make sure that the tree has no dead limbs that are likely to fall. Check to make sure that the tree has not been hollowed out by termites, as in the middle of the night you do not want a huge tree branch falling down on top of you. Check that your chosen camping spot is not in the middle of a well used game trail as you do not want the local wildlife blundering over your tent in the middle of the night. Find your water source. Many campsites in South Africa have clean and drinkable water on tap. If you do end up drinking from streams or rivers, make sure that the water is fast flowing. You can purify it with purification tablets with you. There are some camping destinations where you will have to take your own water with you. A camp fire not a bush fire Build your fire in a designated fire pit or well away from your tent. The last thing you want is the wind to pick up sparks and blow them onto your highly flammable tent. Build your fire well away from any dry grass, twigs and nearby bushes - the last thing you want to start is an out of control wild fire. Follow all the park and reserve regulations regarding fires. Last thing at night make sure that the fire is completely out by pouring water over the embers. Never leave a fire unattended. Animal magnetism To avoid attracting animals such as Baboons and Honey Badgers, make sure that you do not leave food lying around. Any rubbish should be placed in bins provided or if there are no bins in the area where you are camping, you should pack the rubbish and take it away with you. 5 of the Best Camping Spots in South Africa Choose a camping holiday and reboot your connection with nature. Find inspiration and peace in surroundings that 'speak' to you. Camping spo...more Nature Reserves Travel Guide Before planning your holiday read these useful Travel Tips & Advice for going on a getaway to South African Nature Reserves....more BACK TO TOP

PANARAMA GALLERY Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria Found right in the heart of Pretoria, locals will tell you that Loftus Versfeld Stadium IS itself the beating heart of Pretoria! Home to the Blue Bulls, a passionate rugby team, with hundreds of thousands of local rugby supporters who regularly bring the stadium alive all dressed in the iconic blue jersy of the Blue Bulls. Outside Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane ​ Art Gallery at Riverbend Croc Farm in Margate Art Gallery at Riverbend Croc Farm Riverbend Art Gallery was opened by the late Dennis Cominos the then mayor of Margate on the 17th August 1984. Riverbend Art Gallery is home to works by many of South Africa’s finest artists including, Dino Paravano, Titta Fasciotti, Rob Wareing, Rob McIntosh, John Smith, Kobus Kotze, Peter Hall, Louis Audie, Richard Rennie, Coral Spenser, Isabel Le Roux, Marc Poisson, Tony De Freitas and many others. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Union Buildings sunset in Tshwane Union Buildings in Pretoria The Union Buildings in Pretoria are home to the form the official seat of the South African government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa, and have always been central to South African history. It is here that Nelson Mandela became the state President in 1994, changing the face of South Africa. The beautiful gardens around the Union Buildings are very well maintained, and offer a lovely garden park to stroll through and relax. http://www.360cities.net/image/unionsunset ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Ou Raadsaal elevated in Tshwane Ou Raadsaal The Ou Raadsaal (old Council Chamber), served as the first parliament of South Africa. The building was designed by Sytze Wopke Wierda in a classical style of Greek and Roman architecture. Originally supposed to be two storeys high, president Paul Kruger insisted a 3rd storey added so that it would not be shorter than the nearby hotel. The Ou Raadsaal building was restored in 1962, when the British Coat of arms over the entrance was replaced by the South African Republic’s coat of arms, a replica of the one originally sculpted by Anton van Wouw. After many years of planning and research, the Raadsaal was once again restored in 1992, in an effort to return it to its former glory. ​ Voortrekker Monument North Roof in Tshwane The great grey colossus of the massive Voortrekker Monument can be seen from all directions as you approach Pretoria. Built in honour of the Voortrekkers (Pioneers), who left the Cape Colony in their thousands between 1835 and 1854. The Voortrekker Monument is the biggest monument in Africa, and is a nature reserve. The Voortrekk Monument's dimentions are 40 meters wide, by 40 meters wide, by 40 meters high. A Cube. The cornerstone was laid by Mrs. J.C. Muller (granddaughter of Andries Pretorius), Mrs. K.F. Ackerman (great granddaugther of Hendrik Potgieter), and Mrs. J.C. Preller (great granddaughter of Piet Retief) on 16 December 1938. Eleven years later the Monument was inaugurated on 16 December 1949. The total cost for the construction of the Monument came to £359,600, of which the state contributed the most.Additional funds were obtained through donations, special stamp sales, commemorative envelopes, souvenirs and publications.This image was taken on the north east side of the roof, 60 meters above the ground. Camera was mounted on a 4.5 meter high pole. Full Virtual Tour of the Voortrekker Monument. ​ Elephants at Hapoor Dam in Addo Elephant Park in South Africa Addo Elephant Park in Port Elizabeth We recently visited the Addo Elephant Park in Port Elizabeth, home to hundreds of African Elephant. We parked the car at Hapoor Dam for about 2 hours, and sat watching these magnificent animals coming down to the dam to drink, cool down, and play! In this 360 degree panoramic photo you can get an idea of how close these elephants were to us, and how big they are. Enjoy! Voortrekker Monument Hall of Heroes in Tshwane The Hall of Heroes is the main central hall of the Voortrekker Monument. It is a high domed hall, 25x25x41 metres, with marble floors and an impressive marble frieze (92 metres long and 2,3 metres high), depicting historical scenes from the Great Trek. Four huge arched windows made from yellow Belgian glass flank the hall and give the impression that the area is a revered place, like a temple. Below the Hall of Heroes is the Cenotaph Hall, and museum. Full Virtual Tour of the Voortrekker Monument. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Chain Ladder on Amphitheatre Hike in the Drakensberg in South Africa The Point Hotel in Mossel Bay We recently had the pleasure of staying at The Point Hotel Mossel Bay for a few nights while photographing a number of Virtual Tours in the Mossel Bay area (more on that over the next few months). This Hotel Virtual Tour of The Point Hotel shows its wonderful location, situated right on the point of the natural bay of Mossel Bay, below the St Blaize lighthouse, and right on the rocks! Looking out your hotel suite, one almost feels like you are on a ship! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Sentinel View of Amphitheatre in the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa http://www.360cities.net/image/sentinel-view-of-amphitheatre-in-the-drakensberg-mountains-south-africa ​ ​ The Union Buildings (Afrikaans: Uniegebou) form the official seat of the South African Government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa. The imposing buildings are located in Pretoria, atop Meintjeskop at the northern end of Arcadia, close to historic Church Square. The large gardens of the Buildings are nestled between Government Avenue, Vermeulen Street East, Church Street, the R104 and Blackwood Street. Fairview Avenue is a closed road through which only officials can enter the Union Buildings. Though not in the centre of Pretoria, the Union Buildings occupy the highest point of Pretoria, and constitute a South African national heritage site. The Buildings are one of the centres of political life in South Africa; "The Buildings" and "Arcadia" have become metonyms for the South African government. It has become an iconic landmark of Pretoria and South Africa in general, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and an emblem of democracy. The Buildings are the location of presidential inaugurations. ​ Architecture The eastern wing of The Union Buildings represents the English population of South Africa These buildings, built from light sandstone , were designed by the architect Sir Herbert Baker in the English monumental style and are 285 m long. They have a semi-circular shape, with the two wings at the sides, this serves to represent the union of a formerly divided people.The clock chimes are identical to those of Big Ben in London. The east and west wings, as well as the twin-domed towers, represent two languages, English and Afrikaans, and the inner court was designed and built to symbolise the Union of South Africa. These buildings are considered by many to be the architect's greatest achievement and a South African architectural masterpiece. The Nelson Mandela statue in Sandton City's Nelson Mandela Square was commissioned originally to stand on the spot where Nelson Mandela gave his inaugural address. The building was sited on a disused quarry, which now makes up the amphitheatre. The matching statues on top of the domed towers are Atlas, holding up the world, sculpted by Abraham Broadbent. The statue on the domed rostrum in the amphitheatre between the wings is Mercury, a mythic Roman messenger and a god of trade, sculpted by George Ness. The closest suburb to the Union Buildings is Arcadia, which means "Playground of Gods". Pretoria has the second largest number of embassies in the world, after Washington, D.C., most of which are located in or near Arcadia. View from the gardens The design of each level differs, and therefore each stone had to be individually cut. The Architectural styles of the building ranges from the lower levels' Edwardian style to the top levels' Cape Dutch design with shutters on the windows. The windows from bottom to top are elongated and become shorter towards the top floor. This is to give the illusion of height. The Union Buildings are the site of presidential inaugurations. The official offices of the president are on the left-hand side of the Union Buildings, and the South African national flag is flown on the left-hand side if the president is in office. The Buildings are divided into three sections; the left offices, amphitheatre, and right offices. All are 95 metres in length. Each offices block contains three inner courtyards providing light and air to the offices. Each block has a basement and three floors above ground. The central curved building behind the colonnade houses the committee rooms, a library and conference rooms while the basement contains the kitchen, dining rooms and lounges. The interior is treated in the Cape Dutch style: carved teak fanlights, heavy doors, dark ceiling beams contrasting with white plaster walls and heavy wood furniture. BACK TO TOP

Our Services KRUGER NATIONAL PARK BIG FIVE OF SOUTH AFRICA South African Endangered Wildlife South Africa Safari Information Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 19,485 square kilometres 7,523 sq mi in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 kilometres 220 mi from north to south and 65 kilometres 40 mi from east to west. The big five are among the most dangerous, yet most popular species for big game hunters to hunt.Safari Club International, an organization dedicated to trophy hunters, offers a trophy for hunting all five species, called the "African Big Five Grand Slam," along with 14 other Grand Slams for other species. South African Endangered Wildlife Our ancestors viewed the Earth as rich and bountiful, which it is. Many people in the past also saw nature as inexhaustibly sustainable, which we now know is the case only if we care for it. It is not difficult to forgive destruction in the past which resulted from ignorance. Today, however, we have access to more information, and it is essential that we re-examine ethically what we have inherited, what we are responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations. Many of the main tourist areas in South Africa are malaria-free, however, the Kruger National Park, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal do pose a malaria risk in the summer months. Health care professionals recommend you take malaria prophylaxis. BACK TO TOP

Safari Tours Wildlife Animal History SPRINGBOK / SPRINGBUCK The springbok (Afrikaans and Dutch: spring = jump; bok = antelope or goat) (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a medium-sized brown and white gazelle that stands about 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 in) high. Springbok males weigh between 33 and 50 kg (73 and 110 lb) and the females between 25 and 40 kg (55 and 88 lb). They can reach running speeds of up to 90 km/h (56 mph),to 96 km/h (60 mph) and can leap 4 m(13 feet) into the air and can long jump of up to 15 m (50 feet). Springbok inhabit the dry inland areas of south and southwestern Africa. Their range extends from the northwestern part of South Africa through the Kalahari desert into Namibia and Botswana. Springbok occur in numbers of up to 2,500,000 in South Africa;it is the most plentiful antelope. They used to be very common, forming some of the largest herds of mammals ever documented, but their numbers have diminished significantly since the 19th century due to hunting and fences from farms blocking their migratory routes. In South Africa springbok inhabit the vast grasslands of the Free State and the open shrublands of the greater and smaller Karoo. They inhabit most of Namibia ; the grasslands of the south, the Kalahari desert to the east,the dry riverbeds of the northern bushveld of the Windhoek region as well as the harsh Namib Desert on the West Coast. In Botswana they mostly live in the Kalahari Desert in the southwestern and central parts of the country. KUDU Greater kudus have a narrow body with long legs, and their coats can range from brown/bluish-grey to reddish-brown. They possess between 4–12 vertical white stripes along their torso. The head tends to be darker in colour than the rest of the body, and exhibits a small white chevron which runs between the eyes. Male greater kudus tend to be much larger than the females, and vocalize much more, utilizing low grunts, clucks, humming, and gasping. The males also have large manes running along their throats, and large horns with two and a half twists, which, were they to be straightened, would reach an average length of 120 cm (47 in), with the record being 187.64 cm (73.87 in). They diverge slightly as they slant back from the head. The horns do not begin to grow until the male is between the age of 6–12 months, twisting once at around 2 years of age, and not reaching the full two and a half twists until they are 6 years old; occasionally they may even have 3 full turns. Males weigh 190–270 kg (420–600 lb), with a maximum of 315 kg (690 lb), and stand about 180 cm (71 in) tall at the shoulder. The body length is 185–245 cm (6.07–8.04 ft). The tail is 30–55 cm (12–22 in) long. The ears of the greater kudu are large and round. Females weigh 120–210 kg (260–460 lb) and on average stand 120 cm (47 in) tall at the shoulder; they are hornless, without a beard or nose markings. ELAND Giant eland are typically between 220–290 cm (7.2–9.5 ft) in length, stand approximately 150 to 175 cm (4.9 to 5.74 ft) at the shoulder, and weigh 440–900 kg (970–2,000 lb). Despite its common name, it is of very similar size to the common eland. The smooth coat is reddish-brown to chestnut, usually darker in males than females, with several well-defined vertical white stripes on the torso. A crest of short black hair extends down the neck to the middle of the back, and is especially prominent on the shoulders. The slender legs are slightly lighter on their inner surfaces, with black and white markings just above the hooves. There are large black spots on the upper forelegs. The bridge of the nose is charcoal black, and there is a thin, indistinct tan-coloured chevron between the eyes. The lips are white, along with several dots along the jaw-line. A pendulous dewlap, larger in males then females, originates from between the jowls and hangs to the upper chest, with a fringe of hair on its edge. The tail is long, and ends with a dark tuft of hair. Both sexes have tightly spiralled horns, which are relatively straight. In males the horns form a wide "V" and can grow to 120 cm (3.9 ft) in length, slightly longer than on females. HYENAS Hyenas or Hyaenas are the animals of the family of suborder feliforms of the Carnivora. It is the fourth smallest biological family in the Carnivora (consisting of four species), and one of the smallest in the mammalia. Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and vital components to most African and some Asian ecosystems. Although phylogenetically close to felines and viverrids, hyenas are behaviourally and morphologically similar to canines in several aspects (see Convergent evolution); both hyenas and canines are non-arboreal, cursorial hunters that catch prey with their teeth rather than claws. Both eat food quickly and may store it, and their calloused feet with large, blunt, non-retractable nails are adapted for running and making sharp turns. However, the hyenas' grooming, scent marking, defecating habits, mating and parental behaviour are consistent with the behaviour of other feliforms.Although long reputed to be cowardly scavengers, hyenas, especially spotted hyenas, kill as much as 95% of the food they eat, and have been known to drive off leopards or lionesses from their kills. Hyenas are primarily nocturnal animals, but may venture from their lairs in the early morning hours. With the exception of the highly social spotted hyena, hyenas are generally not gregarious animals, though they may live in family groups and congregate at kills. Hyenas first arose in Eurasia during the Miocene period from viverrid-like ancestors, and developed into two distinct branches; the lightly built dog-like hyenas and the robust bone-crushing hyenas. Although the dog-like hyenas thrived 15 million years ago (with one taxon having colonised North America), they died out after a change in climate along with the arrival of canids into Eurasia. Of the dog-like hyena lineage, only the insectivorous aardwolf survived, while the bone-crushing hyenas (whose extant members are the spotted, brown and striped hyena) became the undisputed top scavengers of Eurasia and Africa. Hyenas feature prominently in the folklore and mythology of human cultures with which they are sympatric. Hyenas are mostly viewed with fear and contempt, as well as being associated with witchcraft, as their body parts are used as ingredients in traditional medicine. Among the beliefs held by some cultures, hyenas are thought to influence people’s spirits, rob graves, and steal livestock and children BLUE WILDE BEEST The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), also called the common wildebeest or the white-bearded wildebeest, is a large antelope and one of two species of wildebeest. It grows to 115–145 cm shoulder height and attains a body mass of 168–274 kg. They range the open plains, bushveld, and dry woodlands of Southern and East Africa, living for more than twenty years. The male is highly territorial, using scent markings and other devices to protect his domain. The largest population is in the Serengeti, numbering over one million animals. They are a major prey item for lions, hyenas, and crocodiles. It has a beefy muscular front-heavy appearance with a distinctive robust muzzle, it strides with relatively slender legs and moves gracefully and quietly most of the time, belying the reputation for stampeding in herds; however the stampeding characteristic may sometimes be observed. Blue wildebeest are found in open and bush-covered savanna in south and east Africa, thriving in areas that are neither too wet nor too arid. They can be found in places that vary from overgrazed areas with dense bush to open woodland floodplains. Wildebeests prefer the bushveld and grasslands of the southern savanna.The terrestrial biome designations for these preferred habitats are savanna, grassland, open forest and scrub forest. PLAINS ZEBRA The plains zebra (Equus quagga, formerly Equus burchelli), also known as the common zebra or Burchell's zebra, is the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra.It ranges from the south of Ethiopia through East Africa to as far south as Angola and eastern South Africa. The plains zebra remains common in game reserves, but is threatened by human activities such as hunting for its meat and hide, as well as competition with livestock and encroachment by farming on much of its habitat. The Plains zebra and perhaps the mountain zebra belong to the subgenus Hippotigris, but Grévy's zebra is the sole species of subgenus Dolichohippus. The latter resembles an ass, while the former two are more horse-like. All three belong to the genus Equus along with other living equids. Recent phylogenetic evidence suggests that Grévy's zebras (and perhaps also mountain zebras) are with asses and donkeys in a separate lineage from the Plains zebra. In areas where Plains zebras are sympatric with Grévy's zebras, it is not unusual to find them in the same herds and fertile hybrids occur. In captivity, Plains zebras have been crossed with mountain zebras. The hybrid foals lacked a dewlap and resembled the plains zebra apart from their larger ears and their hindquarters pattern. CHEETAH The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large-sized feline (family Felidae) inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. It is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx. The cheetah achieves by far the fastest land speed of any living animal—between 112 and 120 km/h (70 and 75 mph) in short bursts covering distances up to 500 m (1,600 ft), and has the ability to accelerate from 0 to over 100 km/h (62 mph) in three seconds. This cat is also notable for modifications in the species' paws. It is one of the only felids with semi-retractable claws, and with pads that, by their scope, disallow gripping.Thus, cheetahs cannot climb upright trees, although they are generally capable of reaching easily accessible branches. The cheetah has unusually low genetic variability. This is accompanied by a very low sperm count, motility, and deformed flagella.Skin grafts between unrelated cheetahs illustrate the former point in that there is no rejection of the donor skin. It is thought that the species went through a prolonged period of inbreeding following a genetic bottleneck during the last ice age. This suggests that genetic monomorphism did not prevent the cheetah from flourishing across two continents for thousands of years. The cheetah likely evolved in Africa during the Miocene epoch (26 million to 7.5 million years ago), before migrating to Asia. Recent research has placed the last common ancestor of all existing populations as living in Asia 11 million years ago, which may lead to revision and refinement of existing ideas about cheetah evolution. IMPALA Impala range between 75 and 95 cm (30 and 37 in) tall. Average mass for a male impala is 40 to 80 kg (88 to 180 lb), while females weigh about 30 to 50 kg (66 to 110 lb). They are normally reddish-brown in color (hence the Afrikaans name of "Rooibok"), have lighter flanks and white underbellies with a characteristic "M" marking on the rear. Males, referred to as rams, have lyre-shaped horns, which can reach up to 90 centimeters in length. Females, referred to as ewes, have no horns. The black impala, found in very few places in Africa, is an extremely rare type. A recessive gene causes the black colouration in these animals. Impalas are an ecotone species "living in light woodland with little undergrowth and grassland of low to medium height". They have an irregular distribution due to dependence relatively flat lands with good soil drainage and water.While they stay to water in the dry season, they can go weeks without drinking if there is enough green fodder. Impalas are adaptable foragers. They usually switch between grazing and browsing depending on the season. During wet seasons when grasses are freshthey graze. During dry seasons it browses foliage, shoots, forbs and seeds. It may switch between grazing and browsing depending on the habitat. Leopards, cheetahs, lions and wild dogs prey on impala. Impala, as well as other small- to medium-sized African antelopes, have a special dental arrangement on the front lower jaw similar to the toothcomb seen in strepsirrhine primates, which is used during grooming to comb the fur and remove ectoparasites. LIONS The lion (Panthera leo) is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger. Wild lions currently exist in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia with an endangered remnant population in Gir Forest National Park in India, having disappeared from North Africa and Southwest Asia in historic times. Until the late Pleistocene, about 10,000 years ago, the lion was the most widespread large land mammal after humans. They were found in most of Africa, across Eurasia from western Europe to India, and in the Americas from the Yukon to Peru.The lion is a vulnerable species, having seen a possibly irreversible population decline of thirty to fifty percent over the past two decades in its African range. Lion populations are untenable outside designated reserves and national parks. Although the cause of the decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are currently the greatest causes of concern. Within Africa, the West African lion population is particularly endangered. Lions live for ten to fourteen years in the wild, while in captivity they can live longer than twenty years. In the wild, males seldom live longer than ten years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity. They typically inhabit savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest. Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. Lions are apex and keystone predators, although they scavenge as opportunity allows. While lions do not typically hunt humans, some have been known to do so. AFRICAN ELEPHANT The African elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal. Its thickset body rests on stocky legs and it has a concave back.Its large ears enable heat loss. Its upper lip and nose forms a trunk. The trunk acts as a fifth limb, a sound amplifier and an important method of touch. The African elephant's trunk ends in two opposing lips, whereas the Asian elephant trunk ends in a single lip. African elephants are bigger than Asian elephants. Males stand 3.2–4.0 m (10–13 ft) tall at the shoulder and weigh 4,700–6,048 kg (10,000–13,330 lb), while females stand 2.2–2.6 m (7.2–8.5 ft) tall and weigh 2,160–3,232 kg (4,800–7,130 lb). The largest individual recorded stood four metres to the shoulders and weighed ten tonnes Elephants have four molars; each weighs about 5 kg (11 lb) and measures about 30 cm (12 in) long. As the front pair wears down and drops out in pieces, the back pair shifts forward, and two new molars emerge in the back of the mouth. Elephants replace their teeth six times. At about 40 to 60 years of age, the elephant no longer has teeth and will likely die of starvation, a common cause of death. Their tusks are firm teeth; the second set of incisors become the tusks. They are used for digging for roots and stripping the bark off trees for food, for fighting each other during mating season, and for defending themselves against predators. The tusks weigh from 23–45 kg (51–99 lb) and can be from 1.5–2.4 m (5–8 ft) long. Unlike Asian elephants, both male and female African elephants have tusks. They are curved forward and continue to grow throughout the elephant's lifetime. The enamel plates of the molars are fewer in number than in Asian elephants. WHITE RHINOS There are two subspecies of white rhinos; as of 2005, South Africa has the most of the first subspecies, the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). The population of southern white rhinos is about 14,500, making them the most abundant subspecies of rhino in the world. However, the population of the second subspecies, the critically endangered northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), is down to as few as four individuals in the wild, with the possibility of complete extinction in the wild having been noted since June 2008.Six are known to be held in captivity, two of which reside in a zoo in San Diego. There are currently four born in a zoo in the Czech Republic which were transferred to a wildlife refuge in Kenya in December 2009, in an effort to have the animals reproduce and save the subspecies. The rhino receives its name not from its colour, but from the Dutch settlers that gave it the name "whyde", meaning wide referring to the animals square mouth. Confusion in translation then led to the to the name "white" being adopted The white rhino has an immense body and large head, a short neck and broad chest. This rhino can exceed 3,500 kg (7,700 lb), have a head-and-body length of 3.5–4.6 m (11–15 ft) and a shoulder height of 1.8–2 m (5.9–6.6 ft). The record-sized white rhinoceros was about 4,500 kg (10,000 lb). On its snout it has two horns. The front horn is larger than the other horn and averages 90 cm (35 in) in length and can reach 150 cm (59 in). The white rhinoceros also has a prominent muscular hump that supports its relatively large head. The colour of this animal can range from yellowish brown to slate grey. Most of its body hair is found on the ear fringes and tail bristles with the rest distributed rather sparsely over the rest of the body. White rhinos have the distinctive flat broad mouth which is used for grazing. BLACK RHINOS The name black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) was chosen to distinguish this species from the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). This can be confusing, as those two species are not really distinguishable by color. There are four subspecies of black rhino: South-central (Diceros bicornis minor), the most numerous, which once ranged from central Tanzania south through Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to northern and eastern South Africa; South-western (Diceros bicornis bicornis) which are better adapted to the arid and semi-arid savannas of Namibia, southern Angola, western Botswana and western South Africa; East African (Diceros bicornis michaeli), primarily in Tanzania; and West African (Diceros bicornis longipes) which was declared extinct in November 2011. The native Tswanan name Keitloa is used to describe a South African variation of the black rhino in which the posterior horn is equal to or longer than the anterior horn. An adult black rhinoceros stands 150–175 cm (59–69 in) high at the shoulder and is 3.5–3.9 m (11–13 ft) in length. An adult weighs from 850 to 1,600 kg (1,900 to 3,500 lb), exceptionally to 1,800 kg (4,000 lb), with the females being smaller than the males. Two horns on the skull are made of keratin with the larger front horn typically 50 cm long, exceptionally up to 140 cm. Sometimes, a third smaller horn may develop. The black rhino is much smaller than the white rhino, and has a pointed mouth, which they use to grasp leaves and twigs when feeding. During the latter half of the 20th century their numbers were severely reduced from an estimated 70,000 in the late 1960s to only 2,410 in 1995 BLACK BACKED JACKAL The black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas), also known as the silver-backed or red jackal,is a species of jackal which inhabits two areas of the African continent separated by roughly 900 km. One region includes the southern-most tip of the continent, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. The other area is along the eastern coastline, including Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. It is listed by the IUCN as least concern, due to its widespread range and adaptability, although it is still persecuted as a livestock predator and rabies vector. The fossil record indicates the species is the oldest extant member of the genus Canis. Although the most lightly built of jackals, it is the most aggressive, having been observed to singly kill animals many times its own size, and its intrapack relationships are more quarrelsome. Black-backed jackals are small, foxlike canids which measure 38–48 cm in shoulder height and 68-74.5 cm in length. The tail measures 30–38 cm in length. Weight varies according to location; East African jackals weigh 7-13.8 kg (15-30 lb). Male jackals in Zimbabwe weigh 6.8-9.5 kg (15-21 lb), while females weigh 5.4–10 kg (12-22 lb). Their skulls are elongated, with pear-shaped braincases and narrow rostra.The black-backed jackal's skull is similar to that of the side-striped jackal, but is less flat, and has a shorter, broader rostrum. Its sagittal crest and zygomatic arches are also heavier in build. Its carnassials are also larger than those of its more omnivorous cousin. Black-backed jackals are taller and longer than golden jackals, but have smaller heads. HIPPOPOTAMAS The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" (ἱπποπόταμος), is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae (the other is the Pygmy Hippopotamus.) After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest extant artiodactyl. The hippopotamus is semi-aquatic, inhabiting rivers, lakes and mangrove swamps, where territorial bulls preside over a stretch of river and groups of 5 to 30 females and young. During the day they remain cool by staying in the water or mud; reproduction and childbirth both occur in water. They emerge at dusk to graze on grass. While hippopotamuses rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos are not territorial on land. Despite their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, their closest living relatives are cetaceans (whales, porpoises, etc.) from which they diverged about million years ago.The common ancestor of whales and hippos split from other even-toed ungulates around million years ago]The earliest known hippopotamus fossils, belonging to the genus Kenyapotamus in Africa, date to around million years ago. The hippopotamus is recognizable by its barrel-shaped torso, enormous mouth and teeth, nearly hairless body, stubby legs and tremendous size. It is the third largest land mammal by weight (between 1½ and 3 tonnes), behind the white rhinoceros (1½ to 3½ tonnes) and the three species of elephant (3 to 9 tonnes). The hippopotamus is one of the largest quadrupeds (four legged mammals) and despite its stocky shape and short legs, it can easily outrun a human. Hippos have been clocked at 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances. The hippopotamus is one of the most aggressive creatures in the world and is often regarded as one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. There are an estimated 125,000 to 150,000 hippos throughout Sub-Saharan Africa; Zambia (40,000) and Tanzania (20,000–30,000) possess the largest populations CROCODILE A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae (sometimes classified instead as the subfamily Crocodylinae). The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e. the true crocodiles, the alligators and caimans (family Alligatoridae) and the gharials (family Gavialidae), as well as the Crocodylomorpha, which include prehistoric crocodile relatives and ancestors. Member species of the family Crocodylidae are large aquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. Crocodiles tend to congregate in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, wetlands and sometimes in brackish water. They feed mostly on vertebrates - fish, reptiles, and mammals, and sometimes on invertebrates - molluscs and crustaceans, depending on species. They first appeared during the Eocene epoch, about 55 million years ago Size greatly varies between species, from the dwarf crocodile to the saltwater crocodile. Species of Palaeosuchus and Osteolaemus grow to an adult size of just 1 metre (3.3 ft) to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). Larger species can reach over 4.85 metres (15.9 ft) long and weigh well over 1,200 kilograms (2,600 lb). Crocodilians show pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males growing much larger and more rapidly than females.Despite their large adult sizes, crocodiles start their lives at around 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long. The largest species of crocodile is the saltwater crocodile, found in eastern India, northern Australia, throughout South-east Asia, and in the surrounding waters. Two larger certifiable records are both of 6.2 metres (20 ft) crocodiles. The first was shot in the Mary River in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1974 by poachers, and measured by wildlife rangers. The second crocodile was killed in 1983 in the Fly River, Papua New Guinea. In the case of the second crocodile it was actually the skin that was measured by zoologist Jerome Montague, and as skins are known to underestimate the size of the actual animal, it is possible this crocodile was at least another 10 cm longer MEERKAT The meerkat or suricate, Suricata suricatta, is a small mammal belonging to the mongoose family. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan". A meerkat clan often contains about 20 meerkats, but some super-families have 50 or more members. In captivity, meerkats have an average life span of 12–14 years, and about half this in the wild. The meerkat is a small diurnal herpestid (mongoose) weighing on average about 731 grams (1.61 lb) for males and 720 grams (1.6 lb) for females. Its long slender body and limbs give it a body length of 25 to 35 centimetres (9.8 to 14 in) and an added tail length of 17 to 25 centimetres (6.7 to 9.8 in). Its tail is not bushy like all other mongoose species, but is rather long and thin and tapers to a black or reddish colored pointed tip. The meerkat uses its tail to balance when standing upright, as well as for signaling. Its face tapers, coming to a point at the nose, which is brown. The eyes always have black patches around them and it has small black crescent-shaped ears that can close to exclude soil when digging. Like cats, meerkats have binocular vision, a large peripheral range, depth perception, and eyes on the front of their faces. LEOPARD The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its range of distribution has decreased radically because of hunting and loss of habitat. It is now chiefly found in sub-Saharan Africa; there are also fragmented populations in the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China. Because of its declining range and population, it is listed as a "Near Threatened" species on the IUCN Red List. Compared to other members of the Felidae family, the leopard has relatively short legs and a long body with a large skull. It is similar in appearance to the jaguar, but is smaller and more slightly built. Its fur is marked with rosettes similar to those of the jaguar, but the leopard's rosettes are smaller and more densely packed, and do not usually have central spots as the jaguars do. Both leopards and jaguars that are melanistic (completely black or very dark) are known as black panthers. The species' success in the wild is in part due to its opportunistic hunting behavior, its adaptability to habitats, its ability to run at speeds approaching 58 kilometres per hour (36 mph), its unequaled ability to climb trees even when carrying a heavy carcass, and its notorious ability for stealth. The leopard consumes virtually any animal that it can hunt down and catch. Its habitat ranges from rainforest to desert terrains. Baboons are African and Arabian Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Papio, part of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. The five species are some of the largest nonhominoid members of the primate order; only the mandrill and the drill are larger. Previously, the closely related gelada (genus Theropithecus) and the two species (mandrill and drill) of genus Mandrillus were grouped in the same genus, and these Old World monkeys are still often referred to as baboons in everyday speech. They range in size and weight depending on species. The Guinea baboon is 50 cm (20 in) and weighs only 14 kg (30 lb) while the largest chacma baboon can be 120 cm (47 in) and weigh 40 kg (90 lb). monkey is a apes . There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys usually have tails. Tailless monkeys may be called "apes", incorrectly according to modern usage; thus the tailless Barbary macaque is called the "Barbary ape". The New World monkeys are classified within the parvorder of Platyrrhini, whereas the Old World monkeys (superfamily Cercopithecoidea) form part of the parvorder Catarrhini, which also includes the hominoids (apes, including humans). Thus, as Old World monkeys are more closely related to hominoids than they are to New World monkeys, the monkeys are not a unitary (monophyletic) group. Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of apes in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitats of the two species: Common chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes (West and Central Africa) Bonobo, Pan paniscus (forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) Chimpanzees are members of the Hominidae family, along with gorillas, humans, and orangutans. Chimpanzees split from the human branch of the family about four to six million years ago. The two chimpanzee species are the closest living relatives to humans, all being members of the Hominini tribe (along with extinct species of Hominina subtribe). Chimpanzees are the only known members of the Panina subtribe. The two Pan species split only about one million years ago. Lycaon pictus is a canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf.The African wild dog is an endangered species due to habitat loss and predator control killing. It uses very large territories (and so can persist only in large wildlife protected areas), and it is strongly affected by competition with larger carnivores that rely on the same prey base, particularly the lion and the Spotted Hyena. While the adult wild dogs can usually outrun the larger predators, lions often will kill as many wild dogs and cubs at the brooding site as they can but do not eat them. One on one the hyena is much more powerful than the wild dog but a large group of wild dogs can successfully chase off a small number of hyenas because of their teamwork The Warthog or Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P. aethiopicus, but today that scientific name is restricted to the Desert Warthog of northern Kenya, Somalia, and eastern Ethiopia. The common name comes from the four large, wart-like protrusions found on the head of the warthog, which serve as a fat reserve and are used for defense when males fight. Afrikaans-speaking people call the animal "vlakvark", meaning "pig of the plains". The Warthog is medium-sized as a wild suid species. The head-and-body length ranges in size from 0.9 to 1.5 m (3.0 to 4.9 ft) in length and shoulder height is from 63.5 to 85 cm (25.0 to 33 in). Females, at 45 to 75 kg (99 to 170 lb), are typically a bit smaller and lighter than males, at 60 to 150 kg (130 to 330 lb). A warthog is identifiable by the two pairs of tusks protruding from the mouth and curving upwards. The lower pair, which is far shorter than the upper pair, becomes razor sharp by rubbing against the upper pair every time the mouth is opened and closed. The upper canine teeth can grow to 25.5 cm (10.0 in) long, and are of a squashed circle shape in cross section, almost rectangular, being about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) deep and 2.5 cm (0.98 in) wide. A tusk will curve 90 degrees or more from the root, and will not lie flat on a table, as it curves somewhat backwards as it grows. The tusks are used for digging, for combat with other hogs, and in defense against predators the lower set can inflict severe wounds. The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, mbogo or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer), is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear. Owing to its unpredictable nature, which makes it highly dangerous to humans, it has not been domesticated unlike its Asian counterpart the domestic Asian water buffalo. Contrary to popular belief, the African buffalo is not the ancestor of domestic cattle, and is only distantly related to other larger bovines. The African buffalo is a very robust species. Its shoulder height can range from 1 to 1.7 m (3.3 to 5.6 ft) and its head-and-body length can range from 1.7 to 3.4 m (5.6 to 11 ft). Compared with other large bovids, it has a long but stocky body (the body length can exceed the Wild water buffalo, which is rather heavier and taller) and short but thickset legs, resulting in a relatively short standing height. The tail can range from 70 to 110 cm (28 to 43 in) long. Savannah-type buffaloes weigh 500 to 910 kg (1,100 to 2,000 lb), with males normally larger than females, reaching the upper weight range. In comparison, forest-type buffaloes, at 250 to 455 kg (550 to 1,000 lb), are only half that size. Its head is carried low; its top is located below the backline. The front hooves of the buffalo are wider than the rear, which is associated with the need to support the weight of the front part of the body, which is heavier and more powerful than the back. The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. Its species name refers to its camel-like appearance and the patches of color on its fur. Its chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs, its horn-like ossicones and its distinctive coat patterns. It stands 5–6 m (16–20 ft) tall and has an average weight of 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) for males and 830 kg (1,800 lb) for females. It is classified under the family Giraffidae, along with its closest extant relative, the okapi. There are nine subspecies, which are distinguished by their coat patterns.Fully grown giraffes stand 5–6 m (16–20 ft) tall, with males taller than females.The average weight is 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) for an adult male and 830 kg (1,800 lb) for an adult female. Despite its long neck and legs, the giraffe's body is relatively short. Located at both sides of the head, the giraffe's large, bulging eyes give it good all round vision from its great height. Giraffes see in color and their senses of hearing and smell are also sharp.The animal can close its muscular nostrils to protect against sandstorms and ants.The giraffe's prehensile tongue is about 50 cm (20 in) long. It is purplish-black in color, perhaps to protect against sunburn, and is useful for grasping foliage as well as for grooming and cleaning the animal's nose. The upper lip of the giraffe is also prehensile and useful when foraging. The lips, tongue and inside of the mouth are covered in papillae to protect against thorns. Wild Life Videos Wild Life Videos South Africa and Africa South Africa has a large variety of wildlife, including snakes, birds, plains animals, and predators. The country has 299 species of mammals and 858 species of birds. The Cape Buffalo The Cape Buffalo, also known as the African Buffalo,is a powerful animal that has few natural enemies. Their power and size means that they are very much able to defend themselves. They have been known to kill lions, hyena, humans, and other wild predators.Because of this they have taken their place in the African big five, elephants, lions, Cape Buffalo,rhinoceroses, and leopards.The big five are known to be some of the most dangerous and aggressive animals in Africa. Another African name for the Cape Buffalo is Black Death, because of their colour and their aggressive behavior. The African Oryx Gazella also known as Gemsbuck or Gemsbok are African plains animals that travel in groups of 10-45. The Gemsbuck's groups are set up with a dominant male and in most cases a few dominant females. Male's horns are straight and pointed at the tip. Because of this they have been known to impale attacking lions. Females horns can be the same but sometimes they are curved backward. *There are two different varieties of Gemsbok, the southern and the northern. The southern variety have longer horns and the northern have black fringed ears. The Northern Gemsbok are rarely seen in South Africa. A Greater Kudu Bull The Kudu are split into two different groups, Greater Kudu and Lesser Kudu. The Greater Kudu are regularly found in South Africa. Like the Gemsbok, Kudu are African antelope. They are fast and stealthy. They are a brown-grey color with white stripes that go down the center of their body. For those two facts their African name is Grey Ghost. The males have tall spiraling horns, females regularly have no horns. Kudu are peaceful and are normally not dangerous. Leopards Leopards are the most reclusive of the Big Cats.They are opportunistic hunters and will prey upon smaller mammals and rodents when other food sources are unavailable.The diet of leopards consists primarily of ungulates such as Thomson's Gazelles.Leopards have relatively small physical builds in comparison to lions and therefore choose to hunt nocturnally to prevent the possibility of confrontation. In order to protect themselves and preserve their kills,leopards have developed exceptional climbing skills, allowing them to scale trees quickly often with a carcass. Cheetahs have often been confused with leopards on sight and vice versa, but the cheetah's lean profile and eye markings make it easily distinguishable. 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The Northern Cape Northern Cape, province, western South Africa . It is bordered to the north by Namibia and Botswana ; to the east by North West , Free State , and Eastern Cape provinces; to the south and southwest by Western Cape province; and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean . Northern Cape was administratively created out of northern and central Cape of Good Hope province in 1994. Kimberley is the provincial capital. Northern Cape’s eastern half and southwest form part of the Highveld, an arid plateau that gradually rises to the Great Escarpment (more than 6,000 feet [1,900 metres] in elevation) along the province’s southern border. To the northwest is desert, including the sand dunes of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park , a conservation area jointly managed by South Africa and Botswana. The Orange River traverses the province from east to west and provides water for irrigation. The Orange is joined by one of its main tributaries, the Vaal River , near Douglas, in the east. In the west, near the Namibian border, the river plunges in a series of cataracts and rapids at Augrabies Falls , a total drop of more than 600 feet (183 metres). Thornveld is the natural vegetation of the province, and the climate is generally hot and arid. Annual rainfall increases from 4 inches (100 mm) in the west to about 14 inches (350 mm) in the east. Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. About half of the population is of mixed race. Blacks make up about one-third of the population, and whites constitute about one-tenth. Afrikaans is by far the most widely used language, spoken by about two-thirds of the population. Tswana is spoken by about one-fifth of the population. Several other languages are also spoken, including Xhosa and English. More than two-thirds of the population live in urban areas. The major urban centres are Kimberley and Upington. Annual spring wildflower display, Northern Cape province, South Africa. Merino sheep are raised in the south and Karakul sheep in the north, and cattle graze throughout the province. Pig raising and horse breeding are also practiced. Wheat, alfalfa (lucerne), cotton, peanuts (groundnuts), citrus fruit, and grapes are grown under irrigation. There are vineyards in the north. Winter rains in the western part of the province sustain an abundance of wildflowers. Mining is an important industry in Northern Cape. Major copper mines are located in Nababeep, Okiep, and Aggeneys. Diamonds are recovered throughout the province. Many diamonds and other precious stones are mined in the arid region of Namaqualand in the west, along the Atlantic coast. Kimberley, in the east, is well known for its diamond-mining past and is still a centre for mining and cutting diamonds. Northern Cape province produces almost all of the manganese mined in South Africa. Tungsten, zinc, lead, asbestos, iron ore, and limestone are also extracted at various locations. Area 143,973 square miles (372,889 square km). Pop. (2009 est.) 1,147, 600. Kuruman, town, Northern Cape province, South Africa . It is located in the northeastern corner of the province and is distantly southwest of Johannesburg. Originally a missionary station (1821), it later became an area of white settlement (town founded, 1885; incorporated, 1916). The town is chiefly known for a local spring—the Eye of Kuruman—which rises in a cave in this otherwise semidesert thornveld area and supplies at least 4,500,000 gallons (17,000,000 l) daily. Kuruman is also known for its dairy cattle and trade in butter. Pop. (2001) 9,823. Namaqualand Karoo-Namib shrubland Tree aloes and other succulents growing in the Karoo-Namib shrubland in Namaqualand, South Africa. Namaqualand, geographic region , southwestern Africa, extending from near Windhoek , Namibia, southward into Northern Cape province, South Africa, and from the Namib desert eastward to the Kalahari . The area, inhabited by the Nama before the German occupation of the region in the 19th century, is divided by the Orange River into Little Namaqualand in South Africa and Great Namaqualand in Namibia . The region is primarily desert, with annual precipitation averaging between 2 and 8 inches (50 and 200 mm). Namaqualand The South African portion of Namaqualand lies in Northern Cape province. Its chief town is Springbok. From 1908 most of the western part of Namaqualand in Namibia was marked off as Sperrgebiet (German: “Prohibited Area”), which could not be entered without a pass. The Sperrgebiet was extremely rich in diamonds, the mining of which was strictly controlled; parts of the area are still mined. The Sperrgebiet is also known for its unique flora. In 2004 the Namibian government, hoping to increase tourism, announced plans to open some 60 percent of the area and establish it as a national park. The Sperrgebiet National Park formally opened in 2009. Coordinates : 30°S 22°E The Northern Cape (Afrikaans : Noord-Kaap [ˈnuərtkɑːp] ; Tswana : Kapa Bokone; Xhosa : Mntla-Koloni) is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa . It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley . It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park , part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and an international park shared with Botswana . It also includes the Augrabies Falls and the diamond mining regions in Kimberley and Alexander Bay . The Namaqualand region in the west is famous for its Namaqualand daisies . The southern towns of De Aar and Colesberg found within the Great Karoo are major transport nodes between Johannesburg , Cape Town and Gqeberha . Kuruman can be found in the north-east and is known as a mission station. It is also well known for its artesian spring and Eye of Kuruman . The Orange River flows through the province, forming the borders with the Free State in the southeast and with Namibia to the northwest. The river is also used to irrigate the many vineyards in the arid region near Upington . Native speakers of Afrikaans comprise a higher percentage of the population in the Northern Cape than in any other province. The Northern Cape's four official languages are Afrikaans, Tswana , Xhosa , and English . Minorities speak the other official languages of South Africa and a few people speak indigenous languages such as Nama and Khwe . The provincial motto, Sa ǁa ǃaĩsi 'uĩsi ("We go to a better life"), is in the Nǀu language of the Nǁnǂe (ǂKhomani) people. It was given in 1997 by one of the language's last speakers, Ms. Elsie Vaalbooi of Rietfontein , who has since died. It was South Africa's first officially registered motto in a Khoisan language . Subsequently, South Africa's national motto , ǃKe e ǀxarra ǁke, was derived from the extinct ǀXam language . History Main article: History of the Northern Cape The Northern Cape was one of three provinces made out of the Cape Province in 1994, the others being Western Cape to the south and Eastern Cape to the southeast. Politically, it had been dominated since 1994 by the African National Congress (ANC).[6] Ethnic issues are important in the politics of the Northern Cape. For example, it is the site of the Orania settlement, whose leaders have called for a Volkstaat for the Afrikaner people in the province. The Northern Cape is also the home of over 1,000 San who emigrated from Namibia following the independence of the country; they had served as trackers and scouts for the South African Defence Force during the South African Border War , and feared reprisals from their former foes. They were awarded a settlement in Platfontein in 1999 by the Mandela government. The precolonial history of the Northern Cape is reflected in a rich, mainly Stone Age, archaeological heritage . Cave sites include Wonderwerk Cave near Kuruman, which has a uniquely long sequence stretching from the turn of the twentieth century at the surface to more than 1 million (and possibly nearly 2 million) years in its basal layer (where stone tools , occurring in very low density, may be Oldowan ). Many sites across the province, mostly in open air locales or in sediments alongside rivers or pans, document Earlier, Middle and Later Stone Age habitation. From Later Stone Age times, mainly, there is a wealth of rock art sites – most of which are in the form of rock engravings such as at Wildebeest Kuil and many sites in the area known as ǀXam -ka !kau , in the Karoo. They occur on hilltops, slopes, rock outcrops and occasionally (as in the case of Driekops Eiland near Kimberley), in a river bed. In the north eastern part of the province there are sites attributable to the Iron Age such as Dithakong . Environmental factors have meant that the spread of Iron Age farming westwards (from the 17th century – but dating from the early first millennium AD in the eastern part of South Africa) was constrained mainly to the area east of the Langeberg Mountains, but with evidence of influence as far as the Upington area in the eighteenth century. From that period the archaeological record also reflects the development of a complex colonial frontier when precolonial social formations were considerably disrupted and there is an increasing 'fabric heavy' imprint of built structures, ash-heaps, and so on. The copper mines of Namaqualand and the diamond rush to the Kimberley area resulted in industrial archaeological landscapes in those areas which herald the modern era in South African history. Government Main article: Government of the Northern Cape The provincial government consists of a premier, an executive council of ten ministers, and a legislature. The provincial assembly and premier are elected for five-year terms, or until the next national election. Political parties are awarded assembly seats based on the percentage of votes each party receives in the province during the national elections. The assembly elects a premier, who then appoints the members of the executive council. The premier of the Northern Cape as of 2019 is Zamani Saul of the African National Congress. Political history The politics of the Northern Cape are dominated by the African National Congress (ANC), but their position has not been as strong as in the other provinces. Initially, no party had an absolute majority. In 1994 the ANC's Manne Dipico became the first Premier of the Northern Cape after Ethne Papenfus, the sole elected representative of the Democratic Party (DP), voted with the ANC. In return, she was elected speaker of the legislature. The ANC increased its voter share in later elections and has remained firmly in charge of the province after 1999. Dipuo Peters replaced Dipico as Premier in 2004. The official opposition in the Northern Cape after the 2004 elections was the Democratic Alliance , receiving 11% of the vote in the provincial ballot. The opposition's hopes of unseating the ANC has not had any success, even with the Congress of the People (COPE), a splinter party from the ANC, helping to split the vote in the election of 22 April 2009 . Hazel Jenkins became Premier following the election, and COPE became the official opposition. Jenkins was later replaced by Sylvia Lucas in 2013. The 2014 election saw the ANC returned to power once again with an increased mandate, while DA once again became the official opposition, after the collapse of COPE. The newly formed Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) also entered the legislature for the first time. Sylvia Lucas was re-elected to her first full term. In the 2019 election, the Northern Cape was considered competitive. The opposition DA planned on taking over the province. The ANC returned as the majority party but the party's support had dropped. The DA was once again the official opposition with an increased seat total. The EFF made gains, while the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) won a seat in the legislature for the first time since 2004. Geography See also: List of cities and towns in the Northern Cape A waterfall situated a few kilometres north of Nieuwoudtville on the road to Loeriesfontein , in the Northern Cape (Namaqualand region). The Northern Cape is South Africa's largest province, and distances between towns are enormous due to its sparse population. Its size is just shy of the size of the American state of Montana and slightly larger than that of Germany. The province is dominated by the Karoo Basin and consists mostly of sedimentary rocks and some dolerite intrusions. The south and south-east of the province is high-lying, 1,200–1,900 metres (3,900–6,200 ft), in the Roggeveld and Nuweveld districts. The west coast is dominated by the Namaqualand region, famous for its spring flowers. This area is hilly to mountainous and consists of granites and metamorphic rocks . The central areas are generally flat with interspersed salt pans. Kimberlite intrusions punctuate the Karoo rocks, giving the province its most precious natural resource, diamonds . The north is primarily Kalahari Desert, characterised by parallel red sand dunes and acacia tree dry savanna.[citation needed ] Northern Cape has a shoreline in the west on the South Atlantic Ocean. It borders the following areas of Namibia and Botswana: ǁKaras Region , Namibia – northwest Hardap Region, Namibia – far northwest Kgalagadi District, Botswana – north Domestically, it borders the following provinces: North West – northeast Free State – east Eastern Cape – southeast Western Cape – south and southwest Rivers The major river system is the Orange (or Gariep ) River Basin, draining the interior of South Africa westwards into the Atlantic Ocean. (The political philosopher Neville Alexander has used the idea of the 'Garieb' as a metaphor for nationhood in South Africa, a flowing together, in preference to the rainbow metaphor where the diverse colours remain distinct).[14] The principal tributary of the Orange is the Vaal River , which flows through part of the Northern Cape from the vicinity of Warrenton . The Vaal, in turn, has tributaries within the province: the Harts River and the Riet River , which has its own major tributary, the Modder River . Above the Orange-Vaal confluence, the Seekoei River drains part of the northeastern Karoo into the Orange River above the Vanderkloof Dam . Next downstream from the Orange-Vaal confluence is the Brak River , which flows nonperennially from the south and is in turn fed by the Ongers River , rising in the vicinities of Hanover and Richmond respectively. Along the Orange River near the town of Kakamas , the Hartebeest River drains the central Karoo . Above Kenhardt the Hartebeest is known as the Sak River , which has its source on the northern side of the escarpment, southeast of Williston . Further downstream from Kakamas, below the Augrabies Falls , and seldom actually flowing into the Orange River, is the Molopo River , which comes down from the Kalahari in the north. With its tributary, the Nossob River , it defines part of the international boundary between South Africa and Botswana . Further tributaries of the Molopo River include the Kuruman River , fed by the Moshaweng River and Kgokgole River , and the Matlhwaring River . Flowing west into the Atlantic, in Namaqualand , is the Buffels River and, further south, the Groen River . [citation needed ] Climate Windmills in Namaqualand, Northern Cape Mostly arid to semiarid, few areas in the province receive more than 400 mm (16 in) of rainfall per annum and the average annual rainfall over the province is 202 mm (8.0 in).[15] Rainfall generally increases from west to east from a minimum average of 20 mm (0.79 in) to a maximum of 540 mm (21 in) per year. The west experiences most rainfall in winter, while the east receives most of its moisture from late summer thunderstorms. Many areas experience extreme heat, with the hottest temperatures in South Africa measured along the Namibian border. Summers maximums are generally 30 °C (86 °F) or higher, sometimes higher than 40 °C (104 °F). Winters are usually frosty and clear, with southern areas sometimes becoming bitterly cold, such as Sutherland , which often receives snow and temperatures occasionally drop below the −10 °C (14 °F) mark. Kimberley averages: January maximum: 33 °C (91 °F) (min: 18 °C (64 °F)), June maximum: 18 °C (64 °F) (min: 3 °C (37 °F)), annual precipitation: 414 mm (16.3 in) Springbok averages: January maximum: 30 °C (86 °F) (min: 15 °C (59 °F)), July maximum: 17 °C (63 °F) (min: 7 °C (45 °F)), annual precipitation: 195 mm (7.7 in) Sutherland averages: January maximum: 27 °C (81 °F) (min: 9 °C (48 °F)), July maximum: 13 °C (55 °F) (min: −3 °C (27 °F)), annual precipitation: 237 mm (9.3 in) Municipalities Main article: List of municipalities in the Northern Cape Northern Cape districts and local municipalities Sign along R354 welcoming motorists into the Northern Cape from the Western Cape . The sign is in Afrikaans (top left), English (bottom left), Tswana (top right), and Xhosa (bottom right) The Northern Cape Province is divided into five district municipalities . The district municipalities are in turn divided into 27 local municipalities : District municipalities Frances Baard District Sol Plaatje Dikgatlong Magareng Phokwane John Taolo Gaetsewe District Moshaweng Ga-Segonyana Gamagara Namakwa District Richtersveld Nama Khoi Kamiesberg Hantam Karoo Hoogland Khâi-Ma Pixley ka Seme District Ubuntu Umsobomvu Emthanjeni Kareeberg Renosterberg Thembelihle Siyathemba Siyancuma ZF Mgcawu District (formerly Siyanda) Kai !Garib Dawid Kruiper !Kheis Tsantsabane Kgatelopele Cities and towns Main article: List of cities and towns in the Northern Cape Springbok viewed from the old cemetery Population 50,000+ Kimberley Upington Population 10,000+ Douglas Barkly West Colesberg De Aar Jan Kempdorp Kathu Kuruman Postmasburg Prieska Springbok Victoria West Warrenton Population < 10,000 Orania Carnarvon Garies Griekwastad Groblershoop Hartswater Keimoes Kakamas Pofadder Port Nolloth Strydenburg Sutherland Vanderkloof Economy See also: Economy of the Northern Cape As reported by the Northern Cape Provincial Government, unemployment still remains a big issue in the province. Unemployment was reported to be at 24.9% during Q4, 2013. Unemployment also declined from 119,000 in Q4, 2012 to 109,000 in Q4, 2013. The Northern Cape is also home to the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), which is located 75 km North-West of Carnarvon . The economy of the Northern Cape relies heavily on two sectors, mining and agriculture, which employ 57% (Tertiary Sector) of all employees in the province.[citation needed ] See also: Northern Cape wine Most famous for the diamond mines around Kimberley , it also has mining activities for Manganese and iron ore. The Northern Cape also has a substantial agricultural area around the Orange River , including most of South Africa's sultana vineyards. Some Wine of Origin areas have been demarcated. The Orange River also attracts visitors who enjoy rafting tours around Vioolsdrif . Extensive sheep raising is the basis of the economy in the southern Karoo areas of the province. BACK TO TOP

South African Rugby Teams To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. South African rugby union teams Rugby union in South Africa is centrally administered by the South African Rugby Union , which consists of fourteen provincial unions – the Blue Bulls Rugby Union, the Boland Rugby Union, the Border Rugby Football Union, the Eastern Province Rugby Union, the Free State Rugby Union, the Golden Lions Rugby Union, the Griffons Rugby Union, the Griqualand West Rugby Union, the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union, the Leopards Rugby Union, the Mpumalanga Rugby Union, the South Western Districts Rugby Football Union, the Valke Rugby Union and the Western Province Rugby Football Union. Each of these unions administers a senior professional rugby team that participates in the domestic Currie Cup and Rugby Challenge (previously Vodacom Cup ) competitions. In addition, these unions are responsible for amateur club rugby in their region. Clubs participate in provincial leagues organised by the unions; university sides also participate in the annual Varsity Cup competition, while non-university sides participate in the annual Gold Cup . ​ 20 best Springbok rugby players ever: where are they today? Wednesday, December 07, 2022 at 8:42 PM by Priscillah Mueni Cyprine Apindi Did you know the Springboks was founded in July 1891? Over the years, there have been many Springbok rugby players. These elite sportsmen play for the South Africa National Rugby Union Team. They are known for playing in green and gold jerseys and white shorts. Read more: Rugby Rugby is one of the most popular sports in South Africa. The national team, the Springboks, have achieved great success, including winning the Rugby World Cup three times. The Springboks are known for their physical and aggressive style of play, and they have a passionate fan base all over the world. Rugby is played by people of all ages and abilities in South Africa. There are many different levels of competition, from schoolboy rugby to professional rugby. The Currie Cup is the premier domestic rugby competition in South Africa, and the Super Rugby competition is a regional competition that features teams from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Rugby is more than just a sport in South Africa. It is a part of the culture and the national identity. The Springboks are a symbol of national pride, and their victories on the field are celebrated by the entire country. Provincial Rugby Teams Blue Bulls Eastern Province Free State Cheetahs Golden Lions Griquas Leopards Sharks Stormers Western Province https://briefly.co.za/37259-list-20-springbok-rugby-players-ever.html ​ https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/matches ​ Blue Bulls The Blue Bulls (known for sponsorship reasons as the Vodacom Blue Bulls) is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament and the United Rugby Championship . They are governed by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and are based at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Gauteng province. In 1997 the Northern Transvaal team, representing the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union (NTRU), was renamed, officially taking on their then nickname the Blue Bulls. The NTRU itself became the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and the United Rugby Championship team operated by the union was renamed simply the Bulls . When Vodacom became the team's major sponsor their name was added. Previously the side was sponsored by ExxonMobil and known as the Mobil Blue Bulls. Their main colour is blue and their emblem a bull's head and horns. ​ Blue Bulls ​ Full nameBlue Bulls UnionBlue Bulls Rugby Union Founded1938; 86 years ago LocationPretoria , South Africa RegionPretoria , Gauteng Province Limpopo Province Ground(s)Loftus Versfeld (Capacity: 51,762) Coach(es)Jake White Captain(s)Marcell Coetzee League(s)Currie Cup 2023 Semi-finalist 4th on log 1st kit 2nd kit 3rd kit Official website bullsrugby.co.za Current season The Blue Bulls (known for sponsorship reasons as the Vodacom Blue Bulls) is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament and the United Rugby Championship . They are governed by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and are based at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Gauteng province. In 1997 the Northern Transvaal team, representing the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union (NTRU), was renamed, officially taking on their then nickname the Blue Bulls. The NTRU itself became the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and the United Rugby Championship team operated by the union was renamed simply the Bulls . When Vodacom became the team's major sponsor their name was added. Previously the side was sponsored by ExxonMobil and known as the Mobil Blue Bulls. Their main colour is blue and their emblem a bull's head and horns. History Northern Transvaal The team as it is known today has its beginnings in 1938 when the then Northern Transvaal Rugby Union broke away from the Transvaal Rugby Football Union to gain status as an independent rugby union. The new team was named Northern Transvaal and donned light blue jerseys with a red Barberton Daisy emblem. However, in their very first match, they played in the red and gold hooped jerseys of the Pretoria Combined team that often "locked horns" with teams touring South Africa (red and gold being the colors of Pretoria). Eight years passed before they first lifted the Currie Cup in 1946, when they defeated the Western Province 11–9 at home at Loftus Versfeld thanks to two dropped goals (one off his left foot) by Springbok flyhalf Hansie Brewis ; the score was 8–9 to Province (a drop goal counted 4 points in those days). With time running out Brewis, the first true Northerns legend, received the ball in his own twenty-two. With an enormous kick, he tried to get the ball rolling out in the north-eastern corner, but the ball kept rolling and the Western Province full-back, Con de Kock, carelessly waited for it to roll out. When the ball jumped back in field, De Kock noticed Johnny Lourens storming down at full pace and, realising the danger, kicked hastily at the ball but missed it completely. Lourens scooped it up to score the winning try. Six members of the 1946 team later became Springboks: Hannes Brewis, Fonnie du Toit, Jorrie Jordaan, Flip Geel, Fiks van der Merwe, Louis Strydom and Daan Retief . Retief initially played on the wing, but later became a Springbok loose forward. It was a great pity that the Springboks did not play sooner after World War II as many players could have achieved national colours had they been given the opportunity.[citation needed ] They included centres, Hannes de Villiers and Attie Botha, as well as the lock Doerie van Deventer. Northern Transvaal next appeared in the Currie Cup final in the 1954 season against Western Province but this time Western Province ran out winners; after being up 11–0 at half time they eventually won the game 11–8. The match was played at Newlands . In 1956 they played Natal at Kingsmead, the well-known cricket ground in Durban in the final. King's Park rugby stadium had not been built yet. The wind was almost gale force and during this exciting struggle the two fly-halves, Thys van Zyl (Northern Tvl) and the later Springbok Keith Oxlee , kicked a lot. Five minutes before the final whistle flanker, Schalk van Dyk scored a try that allowed Northern Transvaal to win the match 9–8. 1968 saw the start of a golden era for Northern Transvaal rugby. Under the coaching of Buurman van Zyl they played Transvaal in the final, defeating them 16–3 at Loftus Versveld. Many players went on to become Springboks.[1] They were Willem Stapelberg, Alan Menter, Piet Uys , Mof Myburgh , Polla Fourie, Johan Spies, Frik du Preez and Thys Lourens. They defeated Western Province 28–13 in the subsequent season's final. This was the match in which South Africa's player of the century, Frik du Preez, dropped, scored and placed, according to his good friend and teammate, Springbok front ranker, Mof Myburgh. They faced Griqualand West in the 1970 final, with Griqualand West winning 11-9 thanks to two tries from winger Buddy Swarts. Buurman van Zyl described this as the single most disappointing occasion in his 14 seasons at Northerns. The 1971 team did not lose a single game and was most unlucky to play to a draw against Transvaal in the final, 14-all at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The controversy which surrounded Transvaal's equalising points - a try by prop Theo Sauerman - once again emphasized the necessity of objective referees for Currie Cup finals. Chris Luther kicked a huge penalty that put the game beyond question in injury time and the fans started to run onto the field. The referee ordered them off and indicated that there was still time left. From the restart, Transvaal got possession and after some good support play scored a try. Jannie van Deventer kicked the conversion and Transvaal got a hand on the Cup. This final marked the end of an era for Frik du Preez who announced his retirement from the game. In 1973 they defeated the Orange Free State 30–22 in the final. This was followed by the 17–15 win over Transvaal in 1974 in a match in which Northerns centre John Knox had a particularly strong game. This match also started a very successful coach and captain combination. Thys Lourens, playing in his fifth final was captain of the side this day. He was to captain Northerns in a further 3 finals and in total play 8 finals - none of them ever on a losing side. A record to this very day. In 1975 Northerns travelled to Bloemfontein to play against Free State. 2 hours before kick-off an extraordinary rainstorm flooded the field and the players, despite playing in sunshine for most of the match, were unrecognizable within the first ten minutes after the start. The match was closely contested with the conditions playing a strong equalising hand. In the dying seconds of the game with the score level at 6-all, Northerns centre Christo Wagenaar put in a chip kick that was collected brilliantly by right winger Pierre Spies (father of current Springbok and Bulls eight-man, also Pierre) who scored in the corner. Keith Thorresson added the two extra points to a try that was to become legendary and Northern ran out 12-6 winners. Northern Transvaal defeated the Orange Free State in the 1977 (27-12) and 1978 (13-9) finals as well. 1977 saw the emergence of a young 19-year-old that was to become one of the games greats - Naas Botha. The 1978 final was one that was donned the Free State backs against the Bulls forwards. Northerns ran out victors by scoring two fantastic tries by the backs, one of them by Naas Botha. They were runners-up with Western Province in 1979 after two fantastic drop goals by Naas Botha late in the second half. They won the 1980 final against Province in one of the most one-sided finals of all-time scoring five tries to nil and winning by 30 points, a record! In 1981 they defeated Free State 23–6 at Loftus in what was marked an unsatisfactory final. Returning from New Zealand, Northerns fielded all 10 their Springboks except Theuns Stoffberg. Free State did not field their 4 Springboks hoping that Northerns would not do the same and improve their chances of getting a rare victory. Although not in the same line as 1980, the match was still very one-sided. This marked the end of an era for Northerns, since their highly respected coach, Buurman van Zyl, died early in 1982. Another shock was the loss of Springbok flyhalf Naas Botha to America where he tried out American Football . South African rugby was to see a domination by Western Province for the following 5 seasons. Despite not being able to achieve any success during this time (except for a Lion Cup final victory over Free State in 1985), they still managed to reach the final on 3 occasions being runners-up to Western Province in the 1982, 1983 and 1985 finals. 1983 also saw the first time they lost a final on home ground. 1987 saw the return of the Cup to Pretoria. Under the coaching of John Williams and captaincy of Naas Botha (returning at the end of 1984 after his stint in America) they defeated Transvaal in the final with a legendary performance by the captain, who scored all 24 points with 4 penalties and 4 drop goals. In the 1988 final they defied all odds by beating Western Province and drew with Province again in 1989 at Newlands. This was the one finals victory that has always eluded the team and to this day The Bulls have never managed to win a final at Newlands against their greatest rivals. They were runners-up to the Sharks in the 1990 final at Loftus but won the cup back in 1991 by defeating Transvaal. Northerns, Province and Free State ended tied second after Transvaal on the 1991 Currie Cup log. Due to points difference, Province and Northerns had to slug it out in a first semi-final on a Tuesday afternoon and managed to do so by winning 34–21. On the Saturday they had to play Free State in the second semi-final and after trailing at one stage 11–0 in the first half and with about 20 minutes to go by 20–9, they managed to turn around the match and run out victors 27-23 - fullback (and old Grey College learner) Gerbrand Grobler being the hero with 6 penalties and a conversion! The following Saturday Northern easily won the final 27–15. They also managed to win the Lion Cup (for a second time) with a record victory of 62–6 over The Sharks. The rest of the 1990s was a dismal period for Northerns. They lost a lot of players to Transvaal, most notably Uli Schmidt - a legend in his own right and son of former Springbok and Northerns flanker Louis Schmidt (often called the first Blue Bull). Other players included Gavin Johnson, Rudolf Straeuli , Theo van Rensburg , Heinrich Rodgers , Johan Roux , Gerbrand Grobler and Hannes Strydom . The biggest upset came when two Northern Transvaal stalwarts for many years, Ray Mordt and Kitch Christie accepted offers from Transvaal boss Louis Luyt to coach. Christie, after being asked to leave by the Northerns administration halfway through the 1990 season, moulded the players into a great unit and achieved success in 1993 and 1994 at Currie Cup level before becoming Springbok coach to win the World Cup in 1995. Most of the players who followed him would represent his Transvaal side before doing duty at a national level. Without doubt one of the darkest periods in Northern Transvaal's history! Lion Cup Northern Transvaal participated in the Lion Cup between 1983 and 1994. The Lion Cup was a domestic rugby union knock-out competition held in South Africa. Northern Transvaal tasted success in the competition on three occasions, winning the competition in 1985 , 1990 and 1991 . They also finished as runners-up three times in 1987 , 1988 and 1989 . Northern Transvaal claimed the Lion Cup 62–6 against Natal in 1991 which is one of the biggest victories ever in a final . Currie Cup / Central Series The Northern Transvaal rugby team participated in the Currie Cup / Central Series from 1986 to 1994. The competition saw the top Currie Cup teams play the Currie Cup Central A teams, with the Currie Cup team with the best playing record awarded the Percy Frames Trophy. Northern Transvaal was the most successful team, claiming six consecutive titles between 1987 and 1992.[citation needed ] Super 10 Prior to the professional Super Rugby competition, Northern Transvaal competed in the Super 10 , which was a tournament featuring ten teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Tonga and Western Samoa, which ran from 1993 to 1995. The top three teams from the previous Currie Cup season qualified for each of the Super 10 tournaments. Northern Transvaal competed in the 1993 season, where they were grouped in Pool B alongside Transvaal, New South Wales, North Harbour and Waikato. Transvaal finished at the top of the pool, with Northern Transvaal finishing third, behind New South Wales. Northern Transvaal did not qualify for the 1994 or 1995 Super 10 seasons. Northern Transvaal played four fixtures in the 1993 Super 10: Northern Transvaal 22–42 Transvaal Northern Transvaal 45–20 New South Wales Waratahs Northern Transvaal 28–18 Waikato Northern Transvaal 14–29 North Harbour Name Change: Northern Transvaal became Blue Bulls Logo of Northern Transvaal prior to 1997, still used on the jersey The team had been known informally as the Blue Bulls since the 1940s and from 8 June 1963 in a newspaper cartoon by Victor Ivanoff had been portrayed as such.[2] Their name officially changed to the Blue Bulls at the end of 1997 season and in 1998 after 6 years of not reaching the final and some very heavy defeats at Currie Cup level, the Bulls, captained by another legend, Joost van der Westhuizen , managed to reach the final for a record 24th time after the come-back of the century in the semi-final against a star-studded Sharks outfit. The Bulls' triumph was nothing short of remarkable. After André Joubert 's second try early in the second half, which stretched the Sharks' lead from 10–3 to 17–3, even their coach, Eugene van Wyk, believed that they had no chance. But whatever Bulls captain Van der Westhuizen told his team while Gavin Lawless was setting up for the conversion of Joubert's second try, it made them realise that it was now or never. Suddenly, they started playing with new life and new direction. Franco Smith scored a couple of penalties and then prop Piet Boer dived over for a try. The last 12 minutes with the score on 17-all, were dramatic. First, flanker Nicky van der Walt put the Bulls ahead with a magnificent try following Van der Westhuizen's brilliant opportunistic play and great ball skills. And the last nail went into the Sharks coffin when the Bulls were awarded a penalty try for an early tackle by André Joubert on Grant Esterhuizen in the in-goal area. The following Saturday they defeated Western Province 24–20 at Loftus. With only a few minutes left on the clock, Province must have thought they won it when their Springbok-winger Chester Williams went over in the corner, but referee André Watson ruled the pass from Robbie Fleck forward. The 1998 side was not a side with great names except maybe for Joost van der Westhuizen and Ruben Kruger (who missed the final with injury), but most certainly the one that has showed the most character and guts in the history of the union. As Kruger described it after the final: "The team's success could be ascribed to the fact that the Light Blue jersey made every player's heart beat faster." 2002 was the start of the Heyneke Meyer and Anton Leonard era. They defeated the Golden Lions 31–7 at Ellis Park thanks mainly to heroics by a 19-year-old Derick Hougaard who scored a try, 2 drop goals and 5 penalties for a record 26 points. The following season they defeated the Sharks 40–19 in the final with most of the team doing duty at the 2003 World Cup. The Blue Bulls then won the 2004 final, defeating the Cheetahs by 42–33. This match saw one of the finest individual tries scored in a final. Ettiene Botha received the ball just inside the Free State half and skipped and dummied his way past a legion of defenders - epitomising the great Mannetjies Roux against the Lions of 1962 - to score a brilliant try next to the posts. A player that surely would have achieved higher honours, he died in a motor car accident the following year. Free State eventually won the Cup (the first time since 1976) in the following final by beating the Bulls in their own backyard. This was only the third time ever that the Bulls had lost a final at fortress Loftus (1983 and 1990 being the other years). The Blue Bulls shared the 2006 Currie Cup with the Free State Cheetahs with the score remaining locked at 28-all after twenty minutes of extra time. Northern Transvaal competed in all the years of Super 12 competition but were never very successful. In 1996 they managed to reach the semi-final but suffered a heavy defeat to the Auckland Blues by 48–11. From 1997 to 2002 The Bulls did not reach the final on a single occasion, at times ending last in the competition. 2003 saw them ending fifth and 2004 to 2006 saw them reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1996, but every time away from home. In 2007 they reached the final for the first time and also became the first South African team to win the Super Rugby competition by beating fellow South Africans, The Sharks, in a humdinger final in Durban. Down by 13–19, they kept the ball alive after the final hooter, taking it through various phases which eventually led to a try by Springbok winger Bryan Habana . Derick Hougaard added the conversion and The Bulls won by 20–19. The Blue Bulls have a positive winning record against all the South African domestic sides including their arch rivals, Western Province. Rivalries Through the years the rivalry between the Blue Bulls and Western Province has become legendary, and a clash between these two sides is one of the Currie Cup's biggest rivalries.[3] The first time that the two sides met in an actual Currie Cup final was in 1946, which was also Northern Transvaal's first final contest. The match was played at Northern Transvaal's home ground at Loftus Versfeld, and saw the Western Province go down 11 to 9. After meeting in numerous other finals following 1946, it would not be until the 1982 season, when the Western Province would defeat Northern Transvaal in a Currie Cup final. In the 1980s the two sides met in six Currie Cup finals, with the Western Province winning three of them and one being drawn. One of the most recent Currie Cup seasons when both sides made it to the final was the 1998 season: The Blue Bulls beat the Western Province by four points, 24 to 20, at Loftus Versfeld. In recent years, the great rivalry between the Blue Bulls and Western Province has faded. It has been many years since the decades that these two teams dominated the Currie Cup competition and new rivalries have come to the foreground. Many Blue Bull fans actually agree that the rivalry has shifted towards Free State, especially after both teams qualified for the Currie Cup final for the third consecutive year in 2006. Statistics have shown that Loftus Versfeld currently experiences more incidents of bad behaviour during Bulls home games against Free State and the Sharks, than during any other games in the season, including those against Western Province.[4] The team has one of the largest support bases, averaging over 38,000 to Super rugby games and 26,000 in the Currie Cup competition. Most of the Bulls support is concentrated in Pretoria and the Limpopo Province, however the Bulls also have significant support in Johannesburg, Mpumulanga Province, the North West Province and in Aliwal North. Notable players Through the years Northern Transvaal/Blue Bulls have produced many great players that captured the imagination of the rugby public. Lucas Strachan was a brilliant Springbok flanker and one of members of the legendary 1937 Springboks that won a series in New Zealand. He was the first of the truly great Springbok rugby players produced by the Blue Bulls. And after his playing days, he achieved fame as both coach and selector. He will also be remembered for his enthusiastic team talks and witty speeches. Northern honoured him by naming the club rugby trophy in Pretoria after him - teams compete for the Lucas Strachan Shield. Hannes Brewis was one of the best South African fly-halves of all time and played in 10 tests between 1949 and 1953 and never on the losing side. Brewis who was renowned for his speed and deadly drop goals, was a great playmaker that graced the Light Blue side when they won the Currie Cup in 1946. In his playing career, he was regarded as probably the best fly-half in world rugby, and together with Fonnie du Toit, he formed the legendary halfback pair both at national and international level. Tom van Vollenhoven the brush-cut wing who appeared on the scene in 1955, was the kind of player who captured the imagination every time he touched the ball. His try for the Light Blues against the Junior Springboks in 1955, when he beat one player after another in spectacular a zigzag run of almost 80 metres, is still lauded as the try of all tries. This got him into the Springbok side against the 1955 British Lions of Robin Thomson and in the second test scored a hat trick of tries. He would probably have been one of the greatest heroes if he had not gone off to play professional rugby league in England so early in his career. Louis Schmidt played only two tests as Springbok flank, but for the Light Blues this man with the monster moustache, was a true hero who also made his mark as captain. Schmidt, who ran out in 63 games for the Northern Transvaal in the fifties and sixties, is generally regarded "the first Blue Bull". Controversy surrounded his omission from the side after a heavy tackle on Province winger Jannie Engelbrecht resulting in a broken collarbone for the Springbok winger. Schmidt was dropped and never played for the Bulls again. Frik du Preez is probably the greatest Northerns hero of all heroes. The Springbok lock and flank was not only a dazzling player on the field, but was equally popular off the field. Together with his close friend, Mof Myburgh, both played a total of 109 matches for the Northern Transvaal. Du Preez and Myburgh were inseparable, and Myburgh also proved to be a hero of note. Despite being rather short for a lock, Du Preez's line-out work was practically unequalled and his powerful sprints struck fear in the hearts of his opposition, while he also kicked for posts for the Springboks and Northern Transvaal and put away some magnificent drop goals. How popular he was, even outside Pretoria, is apparent from the fact that he was carried, shoulder high, off the field after his last game at Newlands in Cape Town in a match that Northerns won by 25–14. Frik retired at the end of the 1971 season. Du Preez was nominated by the magazine SA Rugby as the South African player of the century, and was the first South African to be honoured, along with Dr Danie Craven, in the International Hall of Fame in Auckland, New Zealand. Thys Lourens represented Northern Transvaal in 168 games of which 84 he captained. He played in 8 Currie Cup finals (4 as captain) and was never on a losing side. He was a very resourceful captain and player and highly respected on and off the field. The partnership he established with Brigadier Buurman van Zyl, was the foundation on which the Blue Bulls built their dominance of the Currie Cup scene in the 1970s. Naas Botha was, without doubt, the most controversial Northerns hero ever, because no-one was ever neutral about him. People either loved him or loved to hate him. Just like his predecessor, Hannes Brewis, Botha was a genius at fly-half and the great points machine. Amongst all true Northerns supporters, he was one of the greatest heroes of all time, however outside Northern Transvaal he was hated, because the supporters of other teams feared him. Botha's popularity was mainly due to his excellence with the boot. He was the greatest match winner SA rugby has ever seen and has a record that speaks for itself. Botha was fetched by Buurman van Zyl from the Tukkies under-20 team, and included him as a 19-year-old in the most successful side of the 1970s. It was also Oom Buurman who chose him as captain of the Blue Bulls in 1980 over many other more senior players like Daan du Plessis, Jan Oberholzster and Louis Moolman. His great claim to fame came on the 1981 tour to New Zealand where he had the local public in canter. He was an absolute genius and his insight into and knowledge of the game and its rules, and his ability to motivate players, made him the ideal player-captain. Botha would probably have rewritten the record books far more often had it not been for apartheid, which robbed him of the opportunity to play regular test rugby. He was both a brilliant kicker and a true strategist. He received the SA Rugby Player of the Year award a record 4 times (1979, 1981, 1985 and 1987). Uli Schmidt , son of Louis Schmidt, was the prince of hookers and a genius of a player. A medical doctor by profession he was a favourite amongst all Bulls supporters, even when leaving Northerns for arch-enemies Transvaal at the beginning of the 1993 season. Thanks to his fiery performance and expertise he played many times for his province and country and was desperately unlucky to miss out on the 1995 World Cup year due to a neck injury. If he had been able to play test rugby on a regular basis especially during the late 1980s, he would probably have been regarded as one of the world's greatest hookers. Legendary All Black lock, Colin Meads, in fact described Schmidt as the world's best hooker. Johan Heunis was a true gentleman and probably the best full-back the union had ever produced. Except for the scrum-half, he played and gave outstanding performances in all the backline positions. In 1989, Heunis was nominated as SA Player of the Year. Naas Botha described Heunis as a; " ... ideal team mate in any crisis situation." He was rock solid on defence, very secure under the high-ball and fantastic with ball in hand. In 1992, a young scrumhalf by the name of Joost van der Westhuizen partnered Naas Botha as the Bulls' halfback combination. Everyone knew he would become something very special, and with time he did. He is one of only a handful of players that have won a World Cup winners medal (1995), and Tri-Nations winners medal (1998) and a Currie Cup winners medals (1998 and 2002). He captained his side in both the Currie Cup finals he played and was later also awarded the captaincy of the Springboks in the 1999 World Cup. It was not just on the field where Northern Transvaal have there heroes. Off the field heroes are as important as the on-the-field ones. Professor Fritz Eloff and Brigadier Buurman van Zyl will be remembered as the greatest of all Blue Bulls heroes off the field. Eloff was the chairman of the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union for 26 years, and one of the most acclaimed and respected rugby personalities in South Africa. He was also Deputy Chairman of the South African Rugby Board for 15 years, member of the International Rugby Board for 27 years as well as chairman for a term, and co-chairman of the SA Rugby Football Union (SARFU). During his time at the helm Northern Tranvaal played in 18 finals, winning 11 and drawing 3 times. Brig. van Zyl remains not only the most successful coach the Blue Bulls have produced to date, but also the most successful Currie Cup coach of all time. He started coaching the Bulls in 1968 and for the following 14 seasons (except 1972 when poor health forced him to take a temporary leave from coaching) he coached Northerns to 12 finals winning 9 times sharing it twice. He lost only once in a final. Springbok and Northern Transvaal lock and later coach, John Williams said, "For him, it was about fitness, motivation and discipline. In his days as coach, Northern Transvaal won many of their matches in the dying minutes of the game." Williams in his own right a legend was privileged to be able "to drink from the full rugby cup", first as a player and thereafter as coach and administrator. He doesn't know whether his remarkable hat trick is a first for Blue Bull rugby, but he is proud of the fact that, as player, he was on the winning side in Currie Cup rugby three times from 1973 to 1975 and was the Bulls coach when they won the Cup in 1987 and 1988 and shared it with Western Province in 1989. He was part of the Blue Bulls' administration when the team won the cup in 1998. Another Bulls coaching legend is Heyneke Meyer . Meyer has coached his side to victories in the 2002, 2003 and 2004 finals, and drew in the 2006 final. He became the first South African coach to achieve success at Super Rugby level when the Bulls beat the Sharks in 2007. Meyer coached the Springboks from 2012 to December 2015. Home Stadium Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, which was first used for sports in 1906, and rugby in 1908, when the site was known as the Eastern Sports Ground. The stadium was later renamed after Mr Robert Loftus Owen Versfeld , the founder of organised sports in Pretoria, and dedicated many years of his life to rugby union. Due to the Bulls exemplary record when playing at home, the stadium is often referred to as "Fortress Loftus" by South Africans. The stadium at its current configuration has a 52,000 all-seater capacity, and is shared with the Bulls .[5] The stadium is expected to receive minor upgrades in the near future as it will be hosting matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup . It will not be the first time this has happened and since 1948 there have been continuous improvements on the stadium: 1972 - Upper Eastern Pavilion 1974 - Lower Southern Pavilion 1977 - Main Pavilion 1984 - Northern Pavilion 1989 - South just as it is today 1995 - East just as it is today The Blue Bulls represent the Limpopo province in the Currie Cup, the northernmost province in South Africa , as well as part of the Gauteng province, drawing all their players from these two areas. In age group and Women's rugby Limpopo is represented by a sub union called the Limpopo Blue Bulls . During the 1920s the Pretoria Sub-union had not foreseen the growing need for fields, but in the first part of that decade, the Sub-union, in co-operation with the Municipality, systematically put their existing rugby fields under kikuyu. University and Boys' High followed their example in 1923, so that there were seven grass fields available in that year. The Railway Institute field at Berea Park was similarly grassed in 1924. At the end of 1928 there were ten grass fields in Pretoria. The Pretoria Sub-union also wished to improve the facilities at the Eastern Sports Ground. In 1923 the City Council commenced the building of a concrete stand which could accommodate 2 000 spectators. At the end of 1928, mainly as a result of the All Blacks tour, the Sub-union could show a record financial gain and used the profits to erect the changing-rooms and toilets they had waited for, for so long. 20 best Springbok rugby players ever: where are they today. Did you know the Springboks was founded in July 1891? Over the years, there have been many Springbok rugby players. These elite sportsmen play for the South Africa National Rugby Union Team. They are known for playing in green and gold jerseys and white shorts. Best Springbok rugby players ever Photo: canva.com (modified by author) Source: UGC Springbok rugby players have a native antelope, the springbok, as their emblem. They are known for their agility, speed, muscular strength, and power, just like the springbok. Best Springbok rugby players ever Below is a list of the best Springbok rugby players' names and photos. They have made indelible marks in the sports scene in South Africa. 20. Cobus Reinach Springbok rugby players Cobus Reinach holding a trophy and a rugby ball. Photo: @cobus.reinach (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Jacobus Meyer Reinach Date of birth: 7th February 1990 Age: 32 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Bloemfontein Cobus Reinach followed in his father's footsteps. His dad, Jaco, is also on the list of Springbok rugby players who propelled the team to greater heights. Jaco won four caps on the wing for the Springboks in 1986. Read also Mpilwenhle Mokopu's biography: age, idols, P.O.B, occupation, social media Reinach made his South Africa debut against Australia in September 2014. In 2019, he made history after scoring the fastest hat trick from the start of a match. 19. Eben Etzebeth Springbok rugby players Eben Etebeth holding a trophy and posing for a picture with his dog. Photo: @ebenetzebeth4 (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Eben Etzebeth Date of birth: 29th October 1991 Age: 31 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Cape Town Eben Etzebeth has a towering 6' 7" stature and normally plays number four lock, but can switch to a flanker. He started his career in the Western Province youth setup and is currently signed with French Top 14 side Toulon. In 2017, Etzebeth was named the new captain of the Springboks. In the 2019 World Cup, he helped South Africa get its famous win over England. 18. Franco Mostert Full name: Franco John Mostert Date of birth: 27th November 1990 Age: 32 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Welkom Read also Who is Kwezi Ndlovu? Age, boyfriend, height, pictures, profiles, net worth Growing up, Franco Mostert dreamed of becoming a golfer. He started his age-grade rugby career for the Blue Bulls and later for the Tuks at the University of Pretoria. His older brother, Jean-Pierre, is an athlete who played flanker for the Pumas and Falcons until 2017. In June 2016, Franco Mostert made his international debut for South Africa in a match against Ireland. He played for South Africa in the 2019 World Cup. 17. Trevor Nyakane Full name: Trevor Ntando Nyakane Date of birth: 4th May 1989 Age: 33 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Bushbuckridge Trevor Nyakane is an alumnus of Hoërskool Ben Vorster and is the first-ever Springbok from this high school. His late dad briefly played representative football. Nyakane signed with the Bulls in 2015 and has been playing with the team since then. He was selected for the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad but had to go home after tearing his right calf in the opening pool match. Besides rugby, he is a businessman and entrepreneur. Read also Cebolenkosi Mthembu’s biography: Age, family, career, qualifications, net worth 16. Tendai Mtawarira Springbok rugby players Tendai Mtawarira at Karl Lagerfeld Store in Sandton City, South Africa. Photo: @Oupa Bopape/Gallo Images via Getty Images Source: Getty Images Full name: Tendai Mtawarira Date of birth: 1st August 1985 Age: 37 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Harare Tendai Mtawarira is arguably the greatest South African prop of all time. He has been in over 150 games for the Sharks in Super Rugby. At Springboks, he is known as the beast. In 2019, he played a crucial role in the final of the Rugby World Cup, which the Springboks won. 15. Faf de Klerk list of springbok rugby players Faf de Klerk pictured in rugby uniform. Photo: @fafster09 (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Francois "Faf" de Klerk Date of birth: 19th October 1991 Age: 31 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Mbombela Faf de Klerk is a household name in the South African sports scene. He is a strong and powerful scrum half. Klerk started his career in high school. He was scouted by the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions at the youth level. He was first picked to represent South Africa in 2016 and has been an integral part of the team. Read also Who is Mbalenhle Mavimbela? Age, family, pregnancy, TV roles, profiles, net worth 14. Bongi Mbonambi Full name: Mbongeni Theo 'Bongi' Mbonambi Date of birth: 7th January 1991 Age: 31 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Bethlehem Did you know Bongi Mbonambi was once told he was too small to play rugby? He beat the odds to become one of South Africa's best rugby players of all time. Mbonambi comes from a sporty family. His dad is a boxer and baseball player, while his mother played tennis. In 2016, Mbonambi made his international debut against Ireland. 13. Duane Vermeulen Springbok rugby players Duane Vermeulen posing for pictures in black, grey, and white outfits. Photo: @customs08 (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Daniel Johannes "Duane" Vermeulen Date of birth: 3rd July 1986 Age: 36 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Mbombela Duane Vermeulen plays as a number-eight forward. In 2021, he was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame for his impressive work. The major teams he has played for include the Blue Bulls, Barbarians, Bulls, Emerging Springboks, Cheetahs, Stormers, Western Province, and Toulon. In the 2020/21 season, he was named SA Rugby Player of the Year. Read also List of Standard Bank branch codes in 2024: All universal codes 12. Damian de Allende Full name: Damian de Allende Date of birth: 25th November 1991 Age: 31 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Cape Town Damian de Allende is arguably one of the best defensive centres globally. He first featured at the professional level for Western Province and made his international debut for South Africa in 2014. He made his first try for the Springboks in 2015. After winning the 2019 World Cup, he signed for the Panasonic Wild Knights on a short-term basis. 11. Malcolm Marx Springbok rugby players Malcolm Marx holding a trophy and at the gym. Photo: @malcolm_marx (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Malcolm Justin Marx Date of birth: 13th July 1994 Age: 28 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Germiston Malcolm Marx is one of the Springbok rugby players in 2022. He was a member of the South African squad at the 2014 Junior World Cup in New Zealand. In September 2016, Marx made his international debut for the Springboks against New Zealand. In his career, he has been voted SA Rugby Player of the Year and SA Rugby Young Player of the Year. Read also Esme Creed-Miles: age, boyfriend, height, movies, TV shows, interview, worth 10. Pieter-Steph du Toit Full name: Pieter Stephanus du Toit Date of birth: 20th August 1992 Age: 30 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Cape Town Pieter-Steph du Toit can play in both the second and back rows. He comes from a sporty family and one of his siblings, Johan, is a back-row or lock for the Stormers. In November 2013, Du Toit made his senior Springbok debut against Wales. He tore his ACL in 2014 and had a transplant before the 2019 World Cup. 9. Siya Kolisi list of springbok rugby players Siya Kolisi looks on during the South Africa Springboks training session held at The Lensbury in Teddington, England. Photo: @David Rogers/Getty Images Source: Getty Images Full name: Siyamthanda Kolisi Date of birth: 16th June 1991 Age: 31 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Zwide, Eastern Cape Province In 2020, the Rugby World magazine named Siya Kolisi the rugby’s most influential person. Kolisi is the national team’s first black captain. The athlete started playing rugby at seven, following in the footsteps of his family members. His professional career began in 2011 at Western Province. Besides rugby, he runs the Kolisi Foundation that assists children from underprivileged backgrounds. Read also Joe Cole (actor): age, family, movies and TV shows, height, profile, net worth 8. Lood de Jager list of springbok rugby players Lood de Jager posing for pictures against a brown door and inside a room. Photo: @loodejager (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Lodewyk de Jager Date of birth: 17th December 1992 Age: 30 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Alberton Lood de Jager is a brilliant defender with a towering height of 6' 9". He joined the English club Sale Sharks in 2019 and is also part of the South African national team. In 2019, he played in the World Cup final. However, he was forced to exit from the game after dislocating his shoulder in the 22nd minute. 7. Sbu Nkosi list of springbok rugby players Sbu Nkosi holding a trophy and standing in front of a red car. Photo: @sbu_nkosi14 (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: S'busiso Romeo Nkosi Date of birth: 21st January 1996 Age: 26 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Barberton Sbu Nkosi plays as a winger. He is a professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team and the Bulls in United Rugby Championship. He has previously played for the Pumas, Golden Lions, Sharks, UKZN Impi, and South Africa Under-20. He was part of South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Read also Izabela Vidovic: age, family, movies and TV shows, profiles, net worth 6. Francois Louw springbok rugby players in 2022 Francois Louw at the 14th Annual Feather Awards at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo: @Oupa Bopape/Gallo Images Source: Getty Images Full name: Francois Louw Date of birth: 15th June 1985 Age: 37 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Cape Town Francois Louw is a former player who retired in 2019. He made his professional rugby debut in 2006 for the Western Province. He later played for the Stormers. He then joined the English Premiership giants Bath and was signed with the team until his retirement. He made 76 appearances during his career at Springboks. 5. Willie le Roux Full name: Willem Jacobus le Roux Date of birth: 18th August 1989 Age: 33 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Stellenbosch Did you know Willie le Roux was part of the 2019 World Cup-winning squad? He made his International debut against Italy in June 2013. In 2013, he was named the South African Players’ Association Player of the Year. The following year, he was nominated for the World Player of the Year award, but Brodie Retallick bagged the title. Read also Tendai Ndoro: age, twin, family, health, current team, stats, salary, net worth 4. Jesse Kriel Full name: Jesse André Kriel Date of birth: 15th February 1994 Age: 28 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Cape Town Jesse Kriel is the Springboks centre. He previously played for the Bulls, Lions, Stormers, and South Africa U20. He made his Springbok debut right before the 2015 World Cup. He participated in the opening game at the 2019 World Cup but had to leave due to a hamstring injury. 3. Frans Steyn how much do springbok rugby players earn Francois Steyn plays a shot during an offbeat session golf day for the Springboks South Africa national rugby squad at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water. Photo: @Tertius Pickard/Gallo Images Source: Getty Images Full name: François Philippus Lodewyk Steyn Date of birth: 14th May 1987 Age: 35 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Aliwal North Frans Steyn has earned a good reputation because of his long-range goal-kicking ability. He started his professional career in 2007 at the Sharks. In 2019, Steyn made history as the second South African to win the Rugby World Cup twice. He is also the youngest player to win a Rugby World Cup. Read also Mulatto's net worth, age, real name, parents, ethnicity, songs, profiles 2. Elton Jantjies Full name: Elton Thomas Jantjies Date of birth: 1st August 1990 Age: 32 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Graaff-Reinet Elton Jantjies is a veteran member of the Lions. He has played for South Africa since 2012. His younger brother, Tony Jantjies, is also a professional rugby player. At 21, he played in the Currie Cup final and won the Man of the Match award. His body has dozens of tattoos that tell his life story. 1. Handré Pollard Springbok rugby players Handré Pollard of Leicester Tigers poses during the EPCR 2022/2023 Season Launch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Beaconsfield, England. Photo: @David Rogers/Getty Images Source: Getty Images Full name: Handré Pollard Date of birth: 11th March 1994 Age: 28 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Somerset West Handré Pollard is arguably the best Springbok rugby player ever. He is respected for kicking South Africa to Rugby World Cup glory in 2019. Pollard can kick, pass, run and tackle, which is quite impressive. He played in three Junior World Championships, where he honed his skills. Read also Rick Ross' net worth, age, real name, height, albums, mansion, profiles Who is the best rugby player in South Africa in 2022? Handré Pollard is arguably the best South African rugby player as of 2022. Besides playing for the national team, he is signed with Leicester Tigers in England. How much do Springbok rugby players earn? The amount a player earns varies depending on the terms of the contract they signed. More experienced athletes typically earn more than those with less experience. Who is the best rugby player in Springbok? The best Springboks player as of 2022 is Handré Pollard. The athlete also plays for the Leicester Tigers. Who is the youngest Springbok player in 2022? The youngest player in the 2022/23 season is Canan Moodie. Moodie is 20 years old as of 2022. Springbok rugby players have placed South Africa on the map, especially after winning the 2019 World Cup. The team is made of members of different ages and strengths. Read more: https://briefly.co.za/37259-list-20-springbok-rugby-players-ever.html RWC 2023 Spotlight: South Africa South Africa are one of only two teams, alongside New Zealand, to have won Rugby World Cup on three occasions. The Springboks missed the first two tournaments due to their exclusion from international sport, but have more than made up for it since. As hosts in 1995, they united the country with victory against the All Blacks and then went on to lift the Webb Ellis Cup again, in 2007 and 2019, with England the beaten team on both occasions. RWC debut: 25 May, 1995 v Australia at Newlands, Cape Town RWC appearances: Played 43 – Won 36 Drawn 0 Lost 7 – Points for 1,512 Points against 552 – Win ratio 84 per cent Most RWC appearances: Schalk Burger, 20 Most RWC tries: Bryana Habana, 15 Best finish: Champions 1995, 2007, 2019 Qualification for RWC 2023: RWC 2019 champions Most memorable match: For sheer drama, the 1995 final against New Zealand eclipses either of the Springboks’ finals against England. With the scores locked at 9-9 at full-time and 12-12 in extra-time, the destiny of the Webb Ellis Cup was still undecided until Joel Stransky received the ball from Joost van der Westhuizen and drop kicked himself and the Springboks into history. Iconic moment: While the sight of Nelson Mandela presenting the Webb Ellis Cup to Francois Pienaar in the Springbok captain’s number six jersey in 1995 will forever remain the iconic image of Rugby World Cup, Siya Kolisi leading the Springboks to victory in 2019 as the team’s first black captain is right up there, too. Low point: Ten places and just over 13 points separated the sides in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings when South Africa and Japan met on day two of RWC 2015. Japan had not won a RWC match since 1991, while South Africa were world champions in both 1995 and 2007. Nobody gave the Brave Blossoms a prayer. But the formbook went out the window as the Springboks succumbed to the biggest shock in the tournament’s history, losing 34-32 to a late try from Karne Hesketh. Iconic player: Chester Williams. Now sadly deceased, Williams became only the third non-white player to play for the Springboks in 1993. Two years later, he was the reluctant poster boy of Rugby World Cup 1995. Injury delayed his involvement at RWC 1995 until the quarter-finals but he made an instant impression with four tries against Samoa and then went on to play a pivotal role in the semi-final and final. Record-breaker: Anyone who shares a record with Jonah Lomu must be good, very good, and Bryan Habana definitely falls into that category. The lightning-quick winger equalled Lomu’s record of most tournament tries when he completely his hat-trick in a 64-0 win against USA at RWC 2015 to take his overall tally to 15. Did you know? Jannie de Beer’s ‘nap-hand’ of drop goals against England in the 1999 quarter-finals is a record for a single Rugby World Cup match. Quote: “I dropped down to my knees just to say a quick prayer and before I realised it, everybody was around me. All the tension of the six weeks, everything that led to the final just came to the fore, it was very, very emotional. I was incredibly proud of the team, proud of that moment and very much proud to be a Springbok rugby player.” – Francois Pienaar, after the Springboks won the RWC 1995 final. Western Province (rugby union) ​ Full nameWestern Province UnionWestern Province Rugby Football Union Nickname(s)Province, Die Streeptruie and WP Emblem(s)Disa uniflora or Red Disa Founded1883 LocationCape Town , South Africa RegionWestern Cape , South Africa Ground(s)Cape Town Stadium (Capacity: 55,000) Coach(es)John Dobson Captain(s)Ernst van Rhyn League(s)Currie Cup 2022 Finals: DNQ 6th on log Team kit 2nd kit Official website www.wprugby.com Current season Western Province (known for sponsorship reasons as DHL Western Province) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Newlands , Cape Town , that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments. Founded in 1883, the team has won multiple titles, a record of 34 Currie Cup titles including the inaugural competition, the Vodacom Cup, the Absa Nite Series, and the Lion Cup. The club is nicknamed Die Streeptruie ("The Striped Jerseys" in Afrikaans) in reference to their legendary blue and white hooped jerseys. These Striped Jerseys were the colours of Malmesbury Rugby Football Club, established in 1881. They are also known simply as "Province" by all South African rugby lovers, while Afrikaans -speaking supporters also refer to the team by its abbreviation, W.P. (pronounced: "vee pee" ["ee" as in "beer"]). Western Province were the 2012 Vodacom Cup Champions, having defeated the Griquas in 2012 by 20 points to 18. They also are the 2014 Currie cup champions, having defeated the Lions 19–16 in the final. Western Province is the only South African Team besides the Blue Bulls to have appeared in every final of every competition in South African rugby: the Vodacom Cup, the Lion Cup, the Absa Nite Series, the Currie Cup the Super Rugby Competitions and the United Rugby Championship (as the DHL Stormers ). Another accomplishment of Western Province, which no South African team has ever been able to match, is the double victories over the All Blacks the first being (10–3) played on 15 August 1928 and again (12–11) on 16 July 1976, while several countries have never been able to beat the All Black team, Province managed this feat. In 2010 province again did a remarkable victory over all of New Zealand's five super unions, this was the first and only time such an accomplishment has been achieved. Province has also beaten the Wallabies 17–6 in a thrilling encounter in 1963. Province has also drawn to other countries including England in 1984 with a score of 15 all, however province has beaten the British and Irish Lions numerous times, including three times in 1903 and won another match in 1924, the match then had been regarded as "test" status. The only two teams to have beaten overseas countries as well as combination teams (Lions) are yet again the Blue Bulls and Western Province. Province was unstoppable by any other opposition in the 1980s except for Northern Transvaal. Among the ten Currie Cup trophies in the 1980s 5 went to Province 4 went to Northern Transvaal and 1 was shared, this shows the dominance between the two teams and the constant intense rivalry between the unions. Since 1983 Western Province has been sponsored by Adidas , in 2013 this will mark the 30th Anniversary of the sponsorship and the 130th anniversary of the team itself. In 1983 Province launched their centenary jersey of which 50 only ever came into existence, but this is not the rarest province top, the rarest being a complete maroon kit of which only 15 were ever made, this team played under the WP Presidents XV. The maroon jersey along with the centenary jersey as well as the original Stormers orange tops are the three most sought after Province and or Stormers tops. Team sponsor DHL has officially renewed their sponsorship with Western Province until 2016, following an emphatic 2012 season. Boland falls within the Western Province and combines with Boland Cavaliers to compete as the DHL Stormers in the United Rugby Championship competition. ​ Stormers UnionSouth African Rugby Union Founded1883 (Western Province Rugby Union) 1997 (Stormers franchise) LocationCape Town , South Africa RegionCape Town Cape Winelands or Boland West Coast Ground(s)Cape Town Stadium (Capacity: 55,000) Coach(es)John Dobson Captain(s)Salmaan Moerat Neethling Fouche League(s)United Rugby Championship 2022–23 Runners-up 1st South African Shield (3rd overall) 1st kit 2nd kit Official website thestormers.com/home/ The Stormers (known for sponsorship reasons as the DHL Stormers) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Cape Town in the Western Cape that competes in the United Rugby Championship , a trans-hemispheric competition that also involves sides from Ireland , Italy , Scotland and Wales . They competed in the Super Rugby competition until 2020. They are centred on the Western Province Currie Cup side, but also draw players from the Boland Cavaliers (covering the Cape Winelands and West Coast districts, with home matches in Wellington ). Through 2005, they also drew players from the SWD Eagles (George ), which meant that they drew players from all three unions in the Western Cape Province . However, the general realignment of franchise areas resulting from the expansion of the competition resulted in the Eagles being moved to the area of the Southern Spears (later succeeded by the Southern Kings ). Before 1998, South Africa did not use a franchise system for the Super 12, instead sending the top four unions from its domestic competition, the Currie Cup, into the Super 12. In 1996, the Stormers qualified and competed in the Super 12 as Western Province. In 1997, they did not qualify, the 4th South African team being the Orange Free State (now the Free State Cheetahs at Currie Cup level; the region would later be represented in Super 12 by the Cats (now known as the Lions) and in Super 14 by the Cheetahs ). The Stormers played their first ever final, against the Bulls in front of 36,000 fans in Johannesburg,[1] in 2010 after beating the Waratahs in the semi-final stage but ultimately lost to the Bulls. In the two previous years in which they reached the semi-finals, 1999 and 2004, they were eliminated by the Highlanders and Crusaders . They made consecutive home semifinals in 2011 and 2012, but lost both at Newlands to the Crusaders and the Sharks respectively. In 2015 they won the South African conference for a third time, before losing their home quarterfinal against the Brumbies. In 2021–22, the Stormers, with their other South African Super Rugby colleagues the Bulls , the Sharks and the Lions , left Super Rugby to join the newly renamed United Rugby Championship with teams from Ireland, Scotland, Italy and Wales. Their first season in the URC was a success, winning the South African shield as the top team in their national conference, followed by the overall URC title with a win against the Bulls in the 2022 final . On 2 June 2022 it was confirmed that the four South African URC franchises, and the former Pro 14 franchise, the Cheetahs would be entering the European Professional Club Rugby competitions for the first time in 2022-23, with the Stormers in the first tier European Rugby Champions Sharks (rugby union) The Sharks (known as the Hollywoodbets Sharks as they are their title sponsor) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal . They compete internationally in the United Rugby Championship and EPCR Challenge Cup , having competed in the Super Rugby competition until 2020. They are centred on the Sharks union, also based in Durban and drawing players from all of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape . The team plays its home matches at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban . In 1993–1995 South Africa was represented in the Super 10 by their three top unions (top three teams from the previous years Currie Cup). Natal (as they were called then) qualified in 1993 and 1994. Natal were runners-up in 1994 after having lost to Queensland 21–10 in the final. In 1996 and 1997 South Africa was represented in the Super 12 by their four top unions rather than franchises, and Natal qualified and competed both years. They have never won the Super Rugby competition, but have reached the final four times, as Natal in 1996 and as the Sharks in 2001, 2007 and 2012. The side sports many Springbok players, including Ox Nche , Makazole Mapimpi , Lukhanyo Am , Eben Etzebeth and Bongi Mbonambi . They have also featured many international stars including France international Frédéric Michalak and former Australian International Ben Tapuai . ​ Cheetahs (rugby union) ​ Unionouth African Rugby Union Emblem(s)Cheetah Founded1895 (Orange Free State Rugby Union ) 2005 (Cheetahs franchise) LocationBloemfontein , Free State , South Africa RegionFree State Northern Cape Ground(s)Free State Stadium (Capacity: 46,000) Coach(es)Izak van der Westhuizen Captain(s)Victor Sekekete League(s)European Rugby Challenge Cup 2022−2023 (Round of 16) Team kit 2nd kit Official website www.fscheetahs.co.za The Cheetahs (known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs), is a South African professional rugby union team based at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein . They have played Super Rugby between 2006 and 2017, then the Pro14 (now United Rugby Championship ) from 2017 to 2020, and currently the EPCR Challenge Cup since 2022. The franchise area encompasses the western half of the Free State province, the same as that of provincial Currie Cup side the Free State Cheetahs . Between 2006 and 2015 , the Griffons from the eastern half of the Free State province and Griquas from the Northern Cape province were Cheetahs franchise partners, but this ended prior to the 2016 Super Rugby season .[1] The Cheetahs was one of the two new franchises that entered the expanded Super 14 competition in 2006, the other being Australia's Western Force . The Central Union was awarded the fifth South African franchise over the SEC franchise in April 2005. In its first season the Cheetahs did surprisingly well, finishing tenth in the final standings, out of 14 sides. Prior to being accepted into the 2006 Super 14 season, the Cheetahs were represented as a part of the Cats . In addition, before the South African Rugby Union entered regionalised franchises into the competition, the Free State Cheetahs side competed in the 1997 Super 12 season . BACK TO TOP

Battle of Blood River The Battle of Blood River 16 December 1838) was fought on the bank of the Ncome River , in what is today KwaZulu-Natal , South Africa between 464 Voortrekkers ("Pioneers"), led by Andries Pretorius , and an estimated 25,000 to 30,000[2] Zulu . Estimations of casualties amounted to over 3,000 of King Dingane 's soldiers dead, including two Zulu princes competing with Prince Mpande for the Zulu throne. Three Voortrekker commando members were lightly wounded, including Pretorius. The year 1838 was the most difficult period for the Voortrekkers from when they left the Cape Colony, till the end of the Great Trek. They faced many difficulties and much bloodshed before they found freedom and a safe homeland in their Republic of Natalia. This was only achieved after defeating the Zulu Kingdom, at the Battle of Blood River, which took place on Sunday 16 December 1838. This battle would not have taken place if the Zulu King had honoured the agreement that he had made with the Voortrekkers to live together peacefully. The Zulu king knew that they outnumbered the Voortrekkers and decided to overthrow them and that led to the Battle of Blood river. In January 1840 Prince Mpande finally defeated King Dingane in the Battle of Maqongqe and was subsequently crowned as new king of the Zulu by his alliance partner Andries Pretorius. After these two battles, Dingane's prime minister and commander in the Battle of Blood River, General Ndlela , was strangled to death by Dingane for high treason. General Ndlela had been the personal protector of Prince Mpande, who after the Battles of Blood River and Maqongqe, became king and founder of the Zulu. ​ Background The trekkers—called Voortrekkers after 1880[4] —had to defend themselves after the betrayal murder of chief Trekker leader Piet Retief and his entire entourage, and ten days later the Weenen/Bloukrans massacre where "not a soul was spared. Dingane had agreed that, if Retief could recover approximately 700 head of cattle stolen from the Zulus by the Tlokwa , he would let them have land upon which to establish farms. On 6 February 1838, two days after the signing of a negotiated land settlement deal between Retief and Dingane at UmGungundlovu , written by Jan Gerritze Bantjes (1817–1887) which included Trekker access to Port Natal , which the British also had interest in, Dingane invited Retief and his party into his royal residence for a beer-drinking farewell. The accompanying request for the surrender of Trekker muskets at the entrance was taken as normal protocol when appearing before the king. While the Trekkers were being entertained by Dingane's dancing warriors/soldiers, Dingane suddenly accused the visiting party of witchcraft and ordered his men: "Bulalani abathakathi" (Kill the sorcerers...). Dingane's soldiers bludgeoned Retief's party to death. Immediately after the UmGungundlovu massacre, Dingane sent out his impis (regiments) to attack several Trekker encampments at night time, killing an estimated 500 men, women, children, and servants, most notably at Blaukraans . Help arrived from farmers in the Cape Colony, and the Trekkers in Natal subsequently requested the pro-independence Andries Pretorius to leave the Cape Colony, in order to defend the Voortrekkers who had settled in Natal. After the Battle of Blood River, the Dingane-Retief treaty written by Jan Gerritze Bantjes was found on Retief's bodily remains,[9] providing a driving force for an overt alliance against Dingane between Prince Mpande and Pretorius.Pretorius. War strategies of the generals On 26 November 1838, Andries Pretorius (1798–1853) was appointed as Commander of 64 wagons and 464+ heavily armed Boer combatants directed against Dingane at UmGungundlovu with Jan Gerritze Bantjes (1817–1882) as his war secretary. By December 1838, Prince Mpande and 17,000 followers had already fled from Dingane, who was seeking to assassinate Mpande.[10] In support of Prince Mpande as Dingane's replacement, Pretorius' strategy was to target Dingane only. To allow Prince Mpande to oust King Dingane through military might, Pretorius had first to weaken Dingane's personal military power base in UmGungundlovu. Dingane's royal residence at UmGungundlovu was naturally protected against attack by hilly and rocky terrain all around, as well as an access route via Italeni passing through a narrow gorge called a defile . Earlier on 9 April 1838, a Trekker horse commando without ox wagons, thereafter called the "Flight Commando", had unsuccessfully attempted to penetrate the UmGungundlovu defense at nearby Italeni valley, resulting in the loss of several Trekker lives. Trekker leader Hendrik Potgieter had abandoned all hope of engaging Dingane in UmGungundlovu after losing the battle of Italeni, and subsequently had migrated with his group out of Natal. To approach UmGungundlovu via the Italeni defile with ox wagons would force the wagons into an open column, instead of an enclosed laager as successfully employed defensively at Veglaer on 12 August 1838. The military commander during Dingane's attack on Veglaer was Ndlela kaSompisi . The highly experienced general Ndlela had served under Shaka , and was also prime minister and chief advisor under Dingane. Ndlela with his 10,000 troops had retreated from Veglaer, after three days and nights of fruitless attempts to penetrate the enclosed Trekker wagon laager. General Ndlela personally protected Prince Mpande from Dingane's repeated assassination plans. King Dingane desired to have his half brother Mpande, the only prince with children, eliminated as a threat to his throne.[10] Prince Mpande was married to Msukilethe, a daughter of general Ndlela. General Ndlela, like Pretorius the promoter of Prince Mpande, was responsible for Dingane's UmGungundlovu defense during the Trekkers' second attack attempt under Pretorius in December 1838. Given general Ndlela's previous defense and attack experience at Italeni and Veglaer during April 1838 and August 1838 respectively, Ndlela's tactical options were limited. Proven UmGungundlovu defense tactics were to attack Trekker commandos in the rocky and hilly terrain on the narrowing access route at Italeni, thereby neutralising the advantages mounted riflemen had over spear-carrying foot soldiers.[11] Ndlela had to let Pretorius come close to UmGungundlovu at Italeni and lure the Trekkers into attack. Ndlela was not to attack the Trekkers when they were in a defensive wagon laager position, especially not during the day. The problem for Pretorius was that he had somehow to find a way to make Dingane's soldiers attack him in a defensive laager position at a place of his choice, far away from UmGungundlovu and Italeni. On 6 December 1838, 10 days before the Battle of Blood River, Pretorius and his commando including Alexander Biggar as translator had a meeting with friendly Zulu chiefs at Danskraal , so named for the Zulu dancing that took place in the Zulu kraal that the Trekker commando visited. With the intelligence received at Danskraal, Pretorius became confident enough to propose a vow to God, which demanded the celebration, by the commando and their posterity, of the coming victory over Dingane. The covenant included that a church would be built in honour of God, should the commando be successful and reach UmGungundlovu alive in order to diminish the power of Dingane. Building a church in Trekker emigrant context was symbol for establishing a settled state. After the meeting with friendly Zulu chiefs at Danskraal, Pretorius let the commando relax and do their washing for a few days at Wasbank till 9 December 1838. From Wasbank they slowly and daily moved closer to the site of the Battle of Blood River, practising laager defence tactics every evening for a week long. Then, by halting his advance towards UmGungundlovu on 15 December 1838, 40 km before reaching the defile at Italeni, Pretorius had eliminated the Italeni terrain trap. Location and preparation ​ On Saturday, 15 December 1838, after the Trekker wagons crossed the Buffalo River 10 km SW of the actual battle site and still 80 kilometres (50 mi) from their target UmGungundlovu, an advance scouting party including Pretorius got news of a large Zulu force in rugged terrain to the east trying to lure the Boers into a trap as had been the case in April the same year with fatal consequences. While Cilliers wanted to ride out and attack, Pretorius declined the opportunity to engage Dingane's soldiers away from their base as had been the trap at Italeni valley. Instead, Pretorius decided on a fortified laager on the terrain of his own choosing in the hope that general Ndlela would attack Pretorius on his terms rather than the other way around. As the site for the defensive wagon laager, Pretorius chose a defensible position close to a vertical 8m descent into a deep hippo pool in the Ncombe River providing excellent protection on two sides. The wide-open area to the front of the laager provided absolutely no cover for an attacking force. The battle was set with the laager protected on two flanks. As usual, the ox-wagons were drawn into the typical protective enclosure or laager. Movable wooden barriers and ladders which could be quickly opened for cavalry were fastened between the wagon wheels to prevent intruders, with two smoothbore, short barrel artillery pieces positioned at the corners. Andries Pretorius had brought a 6-pound naval carronade with him from the Cape, mounted on a gun carriage improvised from a wagon axle, and named Grietjie. The other ordnance piece is unknown in the original, but the reproduction depicts a 4-pound smoothbore cannon by then obsolete in most European armies. Both were used to fire devastating grapeshot . As evening approached, a thick mist settled over the wagon site above which the sky was clear. According to Afrikaner traditions, the Zulu were afraid to attack at the night due to superstitions and the eerie glow of lamps which the Boers hung on sjamboks [whip-stocks] around the laager. Whether or not there is any truth in this, historian S.P. Mackenzie has speculated that the Zulu held back until what they perceived as the necessary numbers had arrived. Some of the Zulus only arrived near sunrise by following the tracks of the wagons. Due to some recent heavy rains the Ncombe River was swollen making crossing the river difficult. During the night of 15 December, six Zulu regiments, an estimated 20,000 (or more) Zulu soldiers led by Dambuza (Nzobo), crossed the Ncome River and started massing around the encampment, while the elite forces of senior general Ndlela did not cross the river, thereby splitting the army in two. Battle On 16 December, dawn broke on a clear day, revealing that "all of Zululand sat there", according to one Trekker eyewitness. General Ndlela and his crack troops, the Black and White Shields, remained on the other side of the river, observing Dambuza's men at the laager from a safe position across the hippo pool. According to the South African Department of Art and Culture: In ceremonies that lasted about three days, izinyanga zempi, specialist war doctors, prepared izinteleze medicines which made warriors invincible in the face of their opponents. This could partly help explain why Dambuza's forces were sitting on the ground close to the wagon laager when the Trekkers first saw them. An artist's impression of the Battle of Blood River. Dambuza's regiments repeatedly stormed the laager but could not break through. The attackers were hindered by a change introduced during Shaka's rule that replaced most of the longer throwing spears with short stabbing spears. In close combat the stabbing spear provided obvious advantages over its longer cousin. A Zulu eyewitness said that their first charge was mown down like grass by the Boer muskets. As Bantjes wrote in his jous like being newly born for us - the sky was clear, the weather fine and bright. We hardly saw the twilight of the break of day or the guards, who were still at their posts and could just make out the distant Zulus approaching. All the patrols were called back into the laager by firing alarm signals from the cannons. The enemy came forward at full speed and suddenly they had encircled the area around the laager. As it got lighter, so we could see them approaching over their predecessors who had already been shot back. Their rapid approach (though terrifying to witness due to their great numbers) was an impressive sight. The Zulus came in regiments, each captain with his men behind (as the patrols had seen them coming the day before) until they had surrounded us. I could not count them, but I was told that a captive Zulu gave the number at thirty-six regiments, each regiment calculated to be "nine hundred to a thousand men" strong. The battle now began and the cannons unleashed from each gate, such that the battle was fierce and noisy, even the discharging of small arms fire from our marksmen on all sides was like thunder. After more than two hours of fierce battle, the Commander in Chief gave orders that the gates be opened and mounted men sent to fight the enemy in fast attacks, as the enemy near constantly stormed the laager time and again, and he feared the ammunition would soon run out. With the power of their firearms and with their ox wagons in a laager formation and some effective tactics, the Boers fought off the Zulu. Buckshot was used to maximise casualties. Mackenzie claims that 200 indigenous servants looked after the horses and cattle and helped load muskets, but no definite proof or witness of servants helping to reload is available. Writing in the popular Afrikaans magazine Die Huisgenoot , a Dr. D.J. Kotze said that this group consisted of fifty-nine "non-white helpers and followers" instead of the commonly stated two hundred. After two hours and four waves of attack, with the intermittent lulls providing crucial reloading and resting opportunities for the Trekkers, Pretorius ordered a group of horsemen to leave the encampment and engage the Zulu in order to induce the disintegration of their formations. The Zulu withstood the charge for some time, but rapid losses led them to scatter. The Trekkers pursued their fleeing enemies and hunted them down for three hours. Cilliers noted later that "we left the Kafirs lying on the ground as thick almost as pumpkins upon the field that has borne a plentiful crop. Bantjes recorded that about 3,000 dead Zulu had been counted, and three Trekkers were wounded. During the chase, Pretorius was wounded in his left hand by an assegaai (Zulu spear). Of the 3,000 dead Zulu soldiers, two were princes, leaving Ndlela's favourite Prince Mpande as frontrunner in the subsequent battle for the Zulu crown. Four days after the Battle of Blood River, the Trekker commando arrived at King Dingane's great kraal UmGungundlovu (near present-day Eshowe ), only to find it deserted and in ashes. The bones of Retief and his men were found and buried, where a memorial stands today. Up to this day 16 December is a public holiday in South Africa; before 1994 it was known as "the Day of the Vow ", "the Day of the Covenant" and "Dingaan's Day"; but today it is "the Day of Reconciliation ". Aftermath The conflict between Dingane and the Trekkers continued for one more year after the Battle of Blood River. The idea of a decisive victory may have been planted in Pretorius' mind by a Zulu prisoner, who said that most of Dingane's warriors had either been killed or fled. The same prisoner led some of the Trekker party into a trap at the White Umfolozi River , eleven days after the battle at Ncome River. This time the Zulu were victorious. Only when Dingane's brother, Mpande , openly joined the Trekker side with his sizeable army, was Dingane finally defeated in January 1840. Following the Battle of Maqongqe in January 1840, the forces of Mpande did not wait for Pretorius' cavalry to arrive, and they attacked the remaining regiments of Dingane, who were again under the command of General Ndlela. Ndlela strayed from normal fighting tactics against Mpande, sending in his regiments to fight one at a time, instead of together in ox horn formation. Maquongqe Dingane had to flee Natal completely, but before he did so, he had Ndlela slowly strangled by cow hide for high treason, on the grounds that he had fought for Mpande, with the same disastrous result for Dingane as at Ncome-Blood River. Dambusa, Dingane's other general, had already been executed by Mpande and Pretorius when he fell into their hands before the battle. Pretorius approved and attended the crowning of Zulu King Mpande in Pietermaritzburg . They agreed on the Tugela River as the border between Zululand and the Republic of Natalia . Legacy ​ From the Day of the Vow, Afrikaners consider the site and the commemoration of the day as sacred. Historian S.P. Mackenzie doubts the reported number of Zulu deaths. He compares Zulu casualties at Ncome to battles at Italeni , Isandlwana , and Rorke's Drift . Mackenzie acknowledges that the casualty count was not impossible. Yet, in a similar victory on 15 October 1836 by Trekkers under Hendrik Potgieter over some 9,000 Matabele , the latter suffered only 350 casualties. In 1879, 600 British soldiers with breech-loading rifles caused 2,000 Zulu casualties, perhaps 1,000 killed over three hours before being overrun. Ncome/Blood River monument Laager at the Blood River Memorial A church, called "the Church of the Vow ", was built in the Natal town of Pietermaritzburg in 1841, where Pretorius settled on the farm "Welverdient" (English: "Well-earned"), a gift from the Trekkers. A monument was erected on the site of the battle in 1947, consisting of an ox wagon executed in granite by the sculptor Coert Steynberg . In 1971 a laager of 64 ox wagons cast in bronze (by Unifront Foundry in Edenvale – Fanie de Klerk and Jack Cowlard) was erected, and unveiled on 16 December 1972. A stone representation at the Voortrekker Monument of the Laager formed at the Battle of Blood River The Ncome monument on the east side of the river commemorates the fallen Zulu warriors. While the Blood River Memorial is associated with Afrikaner nationalism, the Ncome monument was intended as a symbol of reconciliation—but has become connected with Zulu nationalism. At 16 December 1998 inauguration of the most recent version of the monument, the Zulu politician and then Minister of Home Affairs , Mangosuthu Buthelezi , apologised to the Afrikaner nation for the death of Piet Retief and the subsequent suffering. At the same time Buthelezi also noted the suffering of the Zulus during Apartheid . He stressed that South Africans needed to consider the day as "a new covenant which binds us to the shared commitment of building a new country. Today two complexes mark the battle site: the Ncome Monument and Museum Complex east of the Ncome River, and the Blood River Monument and Museum Complex to the west. Ndlela monument South Africa's ex-president, Jacob Zuma , attended the official inauguration of the Ndlela monument in Eshowe, Kwazulu-Natal. President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2019 speech On the Day of Reconciliation 2019, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described the Voortrekkers as invaders and the Zulu army as "Freedom Fighters Dirk Hermann, managing director of the trade union Solidarity , criticised this historical claim as inaccurate and as a "criminalisation of Afrikaner history", and emphasised the reconciliatory message of politician Mangosuthu Buthelezi . Day of the Vow The Day of the Vow (Afrikaans : Geloftedag) is a religious public holiday in South Africa . It is an important day for Afrikaners , originating from the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838, before which about 400 Voortrekkers made a promise to God that if he rescued them out of the hands of the approximately 20,000 Zulu warriors they were facing, they would honour that day as a sabbath day in remembrance of what God did for them. Initially called Dingane's Day or Dingaan's Day (Afrikaans : Dingaansdag), 16 December was made an annual national holiday in 1910, before being renamed Day of the Vow in 1982. In 1994, after the end of Apartheid , it was officially replaced by the Day of Reconciliation , an annual holiday also on 16 December. However, many descendants still celebrate it as promised in the vow. The day of the Vow traces its origin as an annual religious holiday to The Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838. The besieged Voortrekkers took a public vow (or covenant) together before the battle, led by Sarel Cilliers . In return for God's help in obtaining victory, they promised to build a house and forever honour this day as a sabbath day of God. They vowed that they and their descendants would keep the day as a holy Sabbath. During the battle, a group of about 470 Voortrekkers defeated a force of about 20,000 Zulu. Three Voortrekkers were wounded, and some 3,000 Zulu warriors died in the battle. Two of the earlier names given to the day stem from this prayer. Officially known as the Day of the Vow, the commemoration was renamed from the Day of the Covenant in 1982. Afrikaners colloquially refer to it as Dingaansdag (Dingane 's Day), a reference to the Zulu ruler of the defeated attackers. No verbatim record of the vow exists. The version often considered to be the original vow is in fact W.E.G. Louw's ca. 1962 translation into Afrikaans of G.B.A. Gerdener's reconstruction of the vow in his 1919 biography of Sarel Cilliers (Bailey 2003:25). The wording of the Vow is: Afrikaans : Hier staan ons voor die Heilige God van Hemel en aarde om ʼn gelofte aan Hom te doen, dat, as Hy ons sal beskerm en ons vyand in ons hand sal gee, ons die dag en datum elke jaar as ʼn dankdag soos ʼn Sabbat sal deurbring; en dat ons ʼn huis tot Sy eer sal oprig waar dit Hom behaag, en dat ons ook aan ons kinders sal sê dat hulle met ons daarin moet deel tot nagedagtenis ook vir die opkomende geslagte. Want die eer van Sy naam sal verheerlik word deur die roem en die eer van oorwinning aan Hom te gee. English: We stand here before the Holy God of heaven and earth, to make a vow to Him that, if He will protect us and give our enemy into our hand, we shall keep this day and date every year as a day of thanksgiving like a sabbath, and that we shall build a house to His honour wherever it should please Him, and that we will also tell our children that they should share in that with us in memory for future generations. For the honour of His name will be glorified by giving Him the fame and honour for the victory. The official version of the event is that a public vow was taken - The Covenant Vow on Sunday, 09th.Dec.1838 - It was at this Wasbank laager where Pretorius, Landman and Cilliers formulated "The Vow" and recorded by Jan Gerritze Bantjes (pages 54–55 of his journal - location of Wasbank, S28° 18' 38.82 E30° 8' 38.55). The original Bantjes words from the journal read as follows; "Sunday morning before service began, the Commander in Chief (Pretorius) asked those who would lead the service to come together and requested them to speak with the congregation so that they should be zealous in spirit, and in truth, pray to God for His help and assistance in the coming strike against the enemy, and tell them that Pretorius wanted to make a Vow towards the Almighty (if all agreed to this) that "if the Lord might give us victory, we hereby promise to found a house (church) as a memorial of his Great Name at a place (Pietermaritzburg) where it shall please Him", and that they also implore the help and assistance of God in accomplishing this vow and that they write down this Day of Victory in a book and disclose this event to our last posterities in order that this will forever be celebrated in the honour of God." This bound future descendants of the Afrikaner to commemorate the day as a religious holiday (sabbath) in the case of victory over the Zulus by promising to build a church in God's honour. By July 1839 nothing had yet been done at Pietermaritzburg regarding their pledge to build a church, and it was Jan Gerritze Bantjes himself who motivated everyone to keep that promise. In 1841 with capital accumulated by Bantjes at the Volksraad, the Church of the Vow at Pietermaritzburg was eventually built - the biggest donor being the widow, Mrs. H.J.van Niekerk in Sept.1839. As the original vow was never recorded in verbatim form, descriptions come only from the Bantjes Journal written of Jan Gerritze Bantjes with a dispatch written by Andries Pretorius to the Volksraad on 23 December 1838; and the recollections of Sarel Cilliers in 1871. A participant in the battle, Dewald Pretorius also wrote his recollections in 1862, interpreting the vow as including the building of churches and schools (Bailey 2003:31). Jan G. Bantjes (1817–1887), Clerk of the Volksraad and Pretorius' secretary-general, indicates that the initial promise was to build a House in return for victory. He notes that Pretorius called everyone together in his tent, (the senior officers) and asked them to pray for God's help. Bantjes writes in his journal that Pretorius told the assembly that he wanted to make a vow, "if everyone would agree" (Bailey 2003:24). Bantjes does not say whether everyone did agree. Perhaps the fractious nature of the Boers dictated that the raiding party held their own prayers in the tents of various leading men (Mackenzie 1997:73). Pretorius is also quoted as wanting to have a book written to make known what God had done to even "our last descendants" Pretorius in his 1838 dispatch mentions a vow (Afrikaans gelofte) in connection with the building of a church, but not that it would be binding for future generations. we here have decided among ourselves...to make known the day of our victory...among the whole of our generation, and that we want to devote it to God, and to celebrate [it] with thanksgiving, just as we...promised [beloofd] in public prayer — Andries Pretorius, Contrary to Pretorius, and in agreement with Bantjes, Cilliers in 1870 recalled a promise (Afrikaans : belofte), not a vow, to commemorate the day and to tell the story to future generations. Accordingly, they would remember: the day and date, every year as a commemoration and a day of thanksgiving, as though a Sabbath...and that we will also tell it to our children, that they should share in it with us, for the remembrance of our future generations — Sarel Cilliers, Cilliers writes that those who objected were given the option to leave. At least two persons declined to participate in the vow. Scholars disagree about whether the accompanying English settlers and servants complied (Bailey 2003). This seems to confirm that the promise was binding only on those present at the actual battle. Mackenzie (1997) claims that Cilliers may be recalling what he said to men who met in his tent. Up to the 1970s, the received version of events was seldom questioned, but since then scholars have questioned almost every aspect. They debate whether a vow was even taken and, if so, what its wording was. Some argue that the vow occurred on the day of the battle, others point to 7 or 9 December. Whether Andries Pretorius or Sarel Cilliers led the assembly has been debated; and even whether there was an assembly. The location at which the vow was taken has also produced diverging opinions, with some rejecting the Ncome River site for (Bailey 2003). But despite some doubts, the Vow or Promise took place on the 9th Dec 1838 close to the Wasbank River as it states in Jan Bantjes 's journal and certainly not at the site of The Battle of Blood River, 16th Dec 1838. ​ ​ Commemorations Church of the Vow, Pietermaritzburg Disagreements exist about the extent to which the date was commemorated before the 1860s. Some historians maintained that little happened between 1838 and 1910. Historian S.P. Mackenzie argues that the day was not commemorated before the 1880s. Initial observations may have been limited to those associated with the battle at Ncome River and their descendants. While Sarel Cilliers upheld the day, Andries Pretorius did not (Ehlers 2003). In Natal Informal commemorations may have been held in the homes of former Voortrekkers in Pietermaritzburg in Natal. Voortrekker pastor Rev. Erasmus Smit [af ; nl ] announced the "7th annual" anniversary of the day in 1844 in De Natalier newspaper, for instance. Bailey mentions a meeting at the site of the battle in 1862 (Bailey 2003:29,32). In 1864, the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in Natal decreed that all its congregations should observe the date as a day of thanksgiving. The decision was spurred by the efforts of two Dutch clergymen working in Pietermaritsburg during the 1860s, D.P.M. Huet [af ] and F. Lion Cachet [af ; nl ]. Large meetings were held in the church in Pietermaritzburg in 1864 and 1865 (Bailey 2003:33). In 1866, the first large scale meeting took place at the traditional battle site, led by Cachet. Zulus who gathered to watch proceedings assisted the participants in gathering stones for a commemorative cairn. In his speech Cachet called for the evangelisation of black heathen. He relayed a message received from the Zulu monarch Cetshwayo . In his reply to Cetshwayo, Cachet hoped for harmony between the Zulu and white Natalians. Trekker survivors recalled events, an institution which in the 1867 observation at the site included a Zulu (Bailey 2003:35). Huet was of the same opinion as Delward Pretorius. He declared at a church inauguration in Greytown on 16 December 1866 that its construction was also part of fulfilling the vow (Bailey 2003:35). In the Transvaal Die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek declared 16 December a public holiday in 1865, to be commemorated by public religious services. However, until 1877, the general public there did not utilise the holiday as they did in Natal. Cricket matches and hunts were organised, some businesses remained open, and newspapers were sold. The name Dingane's Day appeared for the first time in the media, in an 1875 edition of De Volksstem. That newspaper wondered whether the lack of support for the holiday signalled a weakening sense of nationalism (Bailey 2003:37,38). After the Transvaal was annexed by the British in 1877, the new government refrained from state functions (like Supreme Court sittings) on the date (Bailey 2003:41). The desire by the Transvaal to retrieve its independence prompted the emergence of Afrikaner nationalism and the revival of 16 December in that territory. Transvaal burgers held meetings around the date to discuss responses to the annexation. In 1879 the first such a meeting convened at Wonderfontein on the West Rand. Burgers disregarded Sir G.J. Wolseley, the governor of Transvaal, who prohibited the meeting on 16 December. The following year they held a similar combination of discussions and the celebration of Dingane's Day at Paardekraal (Bailey 2003:43). Paul Kruger , president of the Transvaal Republic, believed that failure to observe the date led to the loss of independence and to the first Anglo-Boer war as a divine punishment. Before initiating hostilities with the British, a ceremony was held at Paardekraal on 16 December 1880 in which 5,000 burghers [citizens] piled a cairn of stones that symbolised past and future victories (over the Zulu and the British). After the success of its military campaign against the British, the Transvaal state organised a Dingane's Day festival every five years. At the first of these in 1881, an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people listened to speeches by Kruger and others (Gilliomee 1989). At the third such festival in 1891, Kruger emphasised the need for the festival to be religious in nature (Ehlers 2003). In the Free State The Free State government in 1894 declared 16 December a holiday (Bailey 2003). National commemorations The Union state in 1910 officially declared Dingane's Day as a national public holiday. In 1938, D.F. Malan , leader of the National Party , reiterated at the site that its soil was "sacred." He said that the Blood River battle established "South Africa as a civilized Christian country" and "the responsible authority of the white race". Malan compared the battle to the urban labour situation in which whites had to prevail (Ehlers 2003). In 1952, the ruling National Party passed the Public Holidays Act (Act 5 of 1952), in which section 2 declared the day to be a religious public holiday. Accordingly, certain activities were prohibited, such as organised sports contests, theatre shows, and so on (Ehlers 2003). Pegging a claim on this day was also forbidden under section 48(4)(a) of the Mining Rights (Act 20 of 1967; repealed by the Minerals Act (Act 50 of 1991).[1] The name was changed to the Day of the Vow in order to be less offensive, and to emphasise the vow rather than the Zulu antagonist (Ehlers 2003). In 1961, the African National Congress chose 16 December to initiate a series of sabotages, signalling its decision to embark on an armed struggle against the regime through its military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe . In 1983, the South African government vetoed the decision by the acting government of Namibia to discontinue observing the holiday. In response, the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance resigned its 41 seats in Namibia's 50-seat National Assembly. Act 5 of 1952 was repealed in 1994 by Act No. 36 of 1994, which changed the name of the public holiday to the Day of Reconciliation. Debates over the Holiday Scholars like historian Leonard Thompson have said that the events of the battle were woven into a new myth that justified racial oppression on the basis of racial superiority and divine providence. Accordingly, the victory over Dingaan was reinterpreted as a sign that God confirmed the rule of whites over black Africans, justifying the Boer project of acquiring land and eventually ascending to power in South Africa. In post-apartheid South Africa the holiday is often criticised as a racist holiday, which celebrates the success of Boer expansion over the black natives. By comparison with the large number of Afrikaners who participated in the annual celebrations of the Voortrekker victory, some did take exception. In 1971, for instance, Pro Veritate, the journal of the anti-apartheid organisation the Christian Institute of Southern Africa , devoted a special edition to the matter. Historian Anton Ehlers traces how political and economic factors changed the themes emphasised during celebrations of the Day of the Vow. During the 1940s and 1950s Afrikaner unity was emphasised over against black Africans. This theme acquired broader meaning in the 1960s and 1970s, when isolated "white" South Africa was positioned against the decolonisation of Africa . The economic and political crises of the 1970s and 1980s forced white Afrikaners to rethink the apartheid system. Afrikaner and other intellectuals began to critically evaluate the historical basis for the celebration. The need to include English and "moderate" black groups in reforms prompted a de-emphasis on "the ethnic exclusivity and divine mission of Afrikaners" (Ehlers 2003). ​ ​ BACK TO TOP

Limpopo "Northern Transvaal" redirects here. For the rugby union team, see Blue Bulls . For the cricket team previously called Northern Transvaal, see Northerns (cricket team) . Limpopo (/lɪmˈpoʊpoʊ/ ) is the northernmost province of South Africa . It is named after the Limpopo River , which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane , while the provincial legislature is situated in Lebowakgomo . The province is made up of three former homelands of Lebowa , Gazankulu and Venda and part of the former Transvaal province. The Limpopo province was established as one of nine provinces after the 1994 South African general election . The province's name was first "Northern Transvaal", later changed to "Northern Province" on 28 June 1995, with two other provinces. The name was later changed again in 2002 to the Limpopo Province. Limpopo is made up of three main ethnic groups: the Pedi , the Tsonga and the Venda . Traditional leaders and chiefs still form a strong backbone of the province's political landscape. Established in terms of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders Act, Act 5 of 2005, the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders' main function is to advise the government and the legislature on matters related to custom, tradition, and culture, including developmental initiatives that affect rural communities. On 18 August 2017, Kgosi Malesela Dikgale was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders. Geography Sundown over one of the mountain ranges found in Limpopo. Limpopo Province shares international borders with districts and provinces of three countries: Botswana 's Central and Kgatleng districts to the west and northwest respectively, Zimbabwe 's Matabeleland South and Masvingo provinces to the north and northeast respectively, and Mozambique 's Gaza Province to the east. Limpopo is the link between South Africa and countries further afield in sub-Saharan Africa . On its southern edge, from east to west, it shares borders with the South African provinces of Mpumalanga , Gauteng , and North West . Its border with Gauteng includes that province's Johannesburg -Pretoria axis, the most industrialised metropolis on the continent. The province is central to regional, national, and international developing markets. Limpopo contains much of the Waterberg Biosphere , a massif of approximately 15,000 km2 (5,800 sq mi) which is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve . Law and government Main article: Politics of Limpopo The current Premier of Limpopo Province is Stanley Mathabatha , representing the African National Congress . Municipalities Main article: List of municipalities in Limpopo Limpopo districts and local municipalities Limpopo Province is divided into five district municipalities . The district municipalities are in turn divided into 25 local municipalities : District municipalities Capricorn District Blouberg Lepele-Nkumpi Molemole Polokwane Mopani District Ba-Phalaborwa Greater Giyani Greater Letaba Greater Tzaneen Maruleng Sekhukhune District Elias Motsoaledi Ephraim Mogale Fetakgomo Tubatse Makhuduthamaga Vhembe District Makhado Musina Collins Chabane Thulamela Waterberg District Bela-Bela Lephalale Modimolle–Mookgophong Mogalakwena Thabazimbi Economy Man and his donkeys collecting wood in a rural area Limpopo has a total population of 6.015 Million with 1.641million Households., The province has a high Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.710, which is the third highest in South Africa. Agriculture The bushveld is beef cattle country, where extensive ranching operations are often supplemented by controlled hunting. About 80% of South Africa's game hunting industry is in Limpopo. Sunflowers , cotton , maize and peanuts are cultivated in the Bela-Bela and Modimolle areas. Modimolle is also known for its table grapes . An embryotic wine industry is growing in Limpopo. Tropical fruit, such as bananas , litchis , pineapples , mangoes and pawpaws , as well as a variety of nuts , are grown in the Tzaneen and Louis Trichardt areas. Tzaneen is also at the centre of extensive citrus , tea , and coffee plantations and a major forestry industry. Most of the farmers and households lack a water supply. Therefore, they drill their boreholes on their premises. Housing Most Limpopo residents live in rural areas; this has led to a new phenomenon of rural development, where the residents have invested in building lavish homes on their tribal land. Limpopo rural houses have been profiled by TV channels, lifestyle vloggers, social media influencers, and Africa's biggest facts brand, Africa Facts Zone. According to 96.2% of Limpopo live in formal housing, above the national average of 84.0%. This makes Limpopo the province with the highest percentage of people living in formal housing in South Africa. Mining Ajoite in quartz , from the Messina mine, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Scale at bottom is one inch, with a rule at one cm. Limpopo's rich mineral deposits include the platinum group metals, iron ore, chromium, high- and middle-grade coking coal , diamonds, antimony , phosphate , and copper, as well as mineral reserves like gold, emeralds, scheelite , magnetite , vermiculite , silicon , and mica . Commodities such as black granite , corundum , and feldspar are also found. Mining contributes to over a fifth of the provincial economy. Limpopo has the largest platinum deposit in South Africa. The Waterberg Coalfield , the eastern extension of Botswana 's Mmamabula coalfields, is estimated to contain 40% of South Africa's coal reserves. Tourism The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism has targeted the province as a preferred eco-tourism destination. Its Environment and Tourism Programme encompasses tourism, protected areas, and community environment development to achieve sustainable economic growth. While Limpopo is one of South Africa's poorest provinces, it is rich in wildlife, which gives it an advantage in attracting tourists. Both the private and public sectors are investing in tourism development. Near Modjadjiskloof , at Sunland Baobab farms, there is a large Baobab tree which has been fashioned into a relatively spacious pub. Transportation and communications The province has excellent road, rail, and air links. The N1 route from Johannesburg , which extends the length of the province, is the busiest overland route in Africa in terms of cross-border trade in raw materials and beneficiated goods. The port of Durban , South Africa's busiest, is served directly by the province, as are the ports of Richards Bay and Maputo . Polokwane International Airport is situated just north of Polokwane . Limpopo province contains approximately 56 airports and airstrips. Education The Department of Education is responsible for effecting quality education and training for all. The Department has to coordinate all professional development and support. Policies, systems, and procedures had to be developed. Educational institutions As of December 2020, 12.9% of the Limpopo population had attained some post-school qualifications. The following higher education institutions are found in Limpopo: University of Limpopo (Polokwane , Mankweng ) University of Venda (Thohoyandou ) Tshwane University of Technology (Polokwane Campus) Capricorn College for TVET (Seshego ) Capricorn College for TVET (Polokwane) Lephalale TVET College (Lephalale)[ Letaba TVET College (Tzaneen)[ Mopani South East TVET College (Phalaborwa) Sekhukhune TVET College (Motetema) Vhembe TVET College (Venda) Waterberg TVET College (Mokopane) Giyani Campus Of Nursing College Limpopo Province College of Nursing (Giyani Campus) Sports Association football : Polokwane was one of South Africa's host cities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup , with matches being played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium . Football clubs in the province include Real Rovers, Silver Stars, Black Leopards, Polokwane City, Baroka, Ria Stars, and Dynamos. Rugby union : Limpopo has no provincial rugby team of its own; it is represented in the domestic Currie Cup by the Pretoria -based Blue Bulls . The Blue Bulls also operate a Super Rugby franchise, known simply as the Bulls . Limpopo nonetheless produces its share of top players. Most notably, the two most-capped forwards in the history of the country's national team , John Smit and Victor Matfield , are both natives of Polokwane. Basketball : The province is home to Limpopo Pride , a professional team that plays in South Africa's top basketball division, the Basketball National League . Demographics The population of Limpopo consists of several ethnic groups distinguished by culture, language, and race. 97.3% of the population is Black , 2.4% is White , 0.2% is Coloured , and 0.1% is Indian /Asian . The province has the smallest percentage and second smallest total number of White South Africans in the country. However, there are several localities with a White majority, notably Hoedspruit and Modimolle . It also has the highest Black percentage out of all the provinces. The Northern Sotho people comprise the largest percentage of the population, 52% of the province. The Tsonga people comprise about 24.0% of the province; the Tsonga also comprise about 11.5% of Mpumalanga province since the southern part of their homeland, Gazankulu , was cut off from Limpopo and allocated to Mpumalanga. The Venda make up about 16.7%. Afrikaners make up the majority of Limpopo's White population, about 95,000 people; English -speaking Whites number just over 20,000. Vhembe district has the smallest share of White people in Limpopo, about 5,000 total. In contrast, the Waterberg district has the largest share of Whites, with more than 60,000 Whites residing there. Coloureds and Asians /Indians make up a tiny percentage of the province's total population. HIV / AIDS At 18.5% (2007), Limpopo has a relatively high incidence of HIV compared to other South African provinces. Cases rose from 14.5% to 21.5% between 2001 and 2005, with a slight fall between 2005 and 2007. However, as at 2019, the Limpopo province HIV stats sat at (13.2%) which is one of the lowest in comparison with other provinces in South Africa. BACK TO TOP

Stop Poachers Stop Wildlife Poachers in South Africa: South Africa is home to of the most diverse on the planet. From majestic lions and elephants to playful meerkats and penguins, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you're a nature lover or just looking for a unique adventure, a trip to South Africa is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Click Here IRF works with local partner, Stop Rhino Poaching (SRP), to protect and grow the population of black and white rhinos through monitoring, anti-poaching efforts, and community involvement. South Africa accounts for about half of the total black rhino population on the African continent and is also home to the world’s largest population of white rhinos. Currently, 2,056 black rhinos and 12,968 white rhinos are estimated to remain for a total of more than 15,000. Poaching remains the largest threat to South Africa’s rhinos. In the first half of 2023, 231 rhino deaths were attributed to poaching. This is an 11% decrease from the first half of 2022, but there is still at least one rhino killed every single day in South Africa. Due to its large population of rhinos, expansive size (making it challenging to protect), a shared border with Mozambique and being surrounded by poor, heavily populated local communities, the Kruger National Park has been targeted by poachers since the current poaching crisis began in 2008. More recently though, poaching syndicates have increasingly shifted to other state, provincial and private reserves, especially in the KwaZulu-Natal province where the majority of rhinos have been killed this year. This could be because of the significant population declines reported for black and white rhinos in Kruger last year. Fewer rhinos makes poaching more difficult. That, combined with ongoing anti-poaching efforts and wide-scale dehorning in the Greater Kruger area, has led poachers to shift to hunting in other regions. View More Poaching of wildlife Since 2007, poaching of wildlife and in particular the poaching of White Rhinos, Black Rhinos and African Elephants, has been at the forefront of the conservation battle in southern Africa. The combination of increasing demand for rhino horn and ivory as well as high black market prices in Asian markets (especially Vietnam and China) has fuelled increase in poaching (Ferreira et al. 2014). South Africa has by far the largest population of rhinos in the world and is an incredibly important country for rhino conservation. From 2007–2014 South Africa experienced an exponential rise in rhino poaching — a growth of over 9,000%! Rhino horn has been used in traditional Asian medicine as a perceived cure for everything from cancer to hangovers, however the recent spike in demand has been driven by an increasing desire for rhino horn as a status symbol in Vietnam. Global education campaigns by WildAid in both China and Vietnam have been used in an attempt to educate those purchasing rhino horn and reduce demand. However the illegal trade in rhino horn continues to persist. In South Africa, around a quarter of the total population of rhino are found on private land. The owners of these reserves and game farms are increasingly hiring specialized companies that focus on the protection of wildlife and the apprehension of poachers Most illegal activity occurs in the Kruger National Park (KNP), which is 19,485 km2 (almost 2 million hectares) in size and lies on South Africa’s north-eastern border with Mozambique (Ferreira et al. 2014). The Kruger National Park consistently suffered heavy poaching loses, and so in the last few years the South African government and international donors have channelled ever more funding and resources into securing the Park. © Kirstin Scholtz The Kruger National Park is divided into three zones in terms of rhino concentration: The far north has the smallest population, which makes up approximately 26% of the total, south of the Olifants River. The majority of the rhino population is concentrated in the southern part of the Park. Sadly, since elephant poaching has started to escalate in the northern part of the Park, in addition to the rhino crisis in the southern part, the rangers are facing a huge challenge as response times to poaching incidents are critical. Poaching methods Snares The snares are mainly made of wire and tied to branches. A loop of the wire is positioned in such a way that if the animal walks on the game path, it will get its head caught in the loop, which tightens as it is pulled. The poacher sets snares at different levels and sizes depending on the animal’s size and species which he wishes to catch. However, when the snare is old or has fallen to the ground, it remains in the game path and can snare anything from a small steenbok to an animal as large as a giraffe. Predators such as lions, hyenas and leopards also get caught in snares. Poaching with dogs This form of poaching is a successful method, and very difficult to monitor. Those very experienced poachers tend to make use of the full moon to infiltrate farms whilst hunting with dogs. The poachers’ dogs are very well trained, moving silently and obediently through the bush. Poachers often walk with two sticks, tapping them in various ways to give orders to the dogs. The game caught is mainly warthogs. The poachers often build fires in the entrance to the warthog holes to smoke the animals out and then the dogs are trained to bring the warthog to the ground. During winter, the dogs are also used to chase bigger game (such as kudu, wildebeest, zebra) until exhaustion sets in. The game is weaker during this time because of the poor nutrient quality of the grass. Military style poaching of rhinos/elephants In recent decades, the poaching of rhinos and elephants has been executed with almost military style precision. Poachers are armed and dangerous and animals are usually killed with a gun or rifle, the horn or ivory is cut off, and it is rare that any other body parts are taken. Although the majority of poaching occurs during the night, there are also incidents happening during the day. Despite specific tendencies regarding poaching, such as that it sometimes happens more frequently during weekends and during the full moon, poachers adapt when there are operations during full moon and then focus their poaching activities during dark moon phases. Poachers adapt easily to changing circumstances. Skulls of poached rhinos Current rhino poaching figures (Department of Environmental Affairs 2017) In 2016, figures show a dip in poaching in South Africa for the second year in a row, indicating that increased protection efforts are paying off. Although it is encouraging to see South Africa’s poaching levels fall, the losses are still extremely high. A rise in incidents outside Kruger National Park also points to the growing sophistication of poaching gangs that are gaining a wider geographical coverage and, it would seem, expanding their operations across borders. Rhino poaching was declared a National Priority Crime in 2014 and the issue continues to receive the highest level of attention from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), the country’s law-enforcement authorities, and the prosecution service (Department of Environmental Affairs 2017). A total of 414 alleged poachers have been arrested in South Africa since 1 January 2016 — of which 177 were in the KNP and 237 for the rest of the country. A total of 94 firearms have been seized inside the KNP between 1 January and 31 August 2016 (Department of Environmental Affairs 2017). Between January and the end of August 2016, a total number of 458 poached rhino carcasses were found in the KNP, compared to 557 in the same period in 2015. This represents a 17.8% decline in the number of rhino carcasses. Poaching rates, i.e. the number of carcasses as a percentage of the number of live rhinos estimated the previous September for each year, reduced by 15.5% compared between the same periods in 2015 (9.6% poaching rate) and 2016 (7.9% poaching rate). These figures come amidst a 27.87 % increase in the number of illegal incursions into the KNP — a staggering 2115 illegal incursions for the first eight months of 2016. Nationally, 702 rhino were poached since the beginning of 2016 whereas between January and July 2015, a total of 796 rhinos were poached. There may be indications however that the success of anti-poaching efforts in the KNP has led to poaching syndicates shifting operations to other provinces. In the period under review, the number of rhino poached has increased in a number of other provinces in comparison to the same period in 2015, such as KwaZulu-Natal, Free State Province and the Northern Cape Province. However, despite these increases there is still a downward trend in the number of rhino poached. It is also of concern that we have begun experiencing an increase in elephant poaching, despite the vigorous and determined efforts by game rangers, the police and soldiers on the ground. Since January 2016, 36 elephants have been poached in the KNP. The combined efforts of DEA, law-enforcement and the conservation agencies — with the support of international partners and donors, are slowly but steadily making a dent in the rhino poaching numbers. Figure 1 Rhino poaching figures for 2007–2016 (Department of Environmental Affairs 2017) Local communities must be involved in the fight against poaching It has become clear throughout Africa and the rest of the world that in order for conservation efforts to succeed local communities living in or near protected areas must and should be involved in conservation management decisions. Local communities must benefit from conservation. There is a passive involvement from the communities who are staying or operating in the surrounding areas of the Kruger, since they will often not report poachers to the authorities. The reason for this is that the money that is derived from poaching plays a vital role in the poor communities. The fact that the KNP does not really add value to the communities also plays a big role in their passivity — having a vast piece of land which is used for nature conservation neither benefits nor makes sense to them. A Committee of Inquiry (CoI) as appointed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs presented a report on rhino poaching at the 2016 CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) COP17 conference The CoI agreed there was an urgent need to improve both socio-economic conditions of rural communities neighbouring protected areas and their relationships with agencies managing protected areas, to develop a conducive environment for strong mutual partnerships around natural resource management and beneficiation. The CoI suggested the following minimum requirements to effectively address community empowerment: Functional municipalities around key protected areas to provide water, waste, sanitation, energy, roads, transport, education and health services through joint engagement by communities and conservation agencies with all relevant government departments; A Champion to be appointed to oversee Community Empowerment, in a permanent position with multi-departmental influence and funding, to develop and implement a Community Empowerment plan addressing these requirements which acknowledges past errors associated with protected area policies; Increased access to education and capacity building opportunities in these communities, specifically through a targeted Mentorship Programme to provide qualifications and develop advanced skills in conservation and protected area management for community members and entry into protected area management opportunities; In order to create real opportunities for local communities in the conservation and wildlife management space, and thus ensuring that they are less vulnerable to exploitation by poachers, the following steps need to be taken (and in some cases already are) (Department of Environmental Affairs 2013): Develop a reward or incentives system that supports the development of small businesses in communities to discourage them from becoming involved in poaching Capacity building within communities Identify and implement suitable community wildlife management projects Raise funding for the implementation of community-based programmes; Identify and support legitimate Rhino awareness campaigns Anti-poaching methods There is probably no single piece of technology that will be a game changer, but every item forms part of the solution. Rangers on the ground are still the most effective anti-poaching method, but what about the following: Rangers training at the South African Wildlife College Is rhino dehorning effective? Rhino dehorning has been used historically as a tool to reduce the threat of poaching in parts of southern Africa, and continues to be employed on a large-scale in Zimbabwe. Dehorning is contentious due to uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of the method at reducing poaching, and due to potential veterinary impacts and adverse effects on the behavioural ecology of rhinos. Historical and current use of dehorning (Endangered Wildlife Trust 2012) Rhino dehorning was first practiced in Namibia, in Damaraland and part of Etosha National Park, and was undertaken in the country from 1989 until 1995. In South Africa, dehorning appears to be practiced to an increasing extent in the private sector, and has been undertaken in provincial parks in Mpumalanga Province and in Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve in Gauteng. Dehorning is not undertaken in the South African National Parks (SANParks, which includes Kruger) or in any other provincial reserves in South Africa. The positives of dehorning (Endangered Wildlife Trust 2012) In Mpumalanga, tentative insights from the dehorning programme in the provincial parks suggest that dehorning has caused a reduction in poaching losses. Mpumalanga has 1,071 rhinos (excluding those in Kruger) of which 347 have been dehorned. Mpumalanga province started dehorning in August 2010, though several private owners started well before then. In 2009, 2010 and 2011 (up to the end of August) 6, 17 and 10 rhinos were poached respectively, of which one was dehorned. In the Hoedspruit area, following the widespread dehorning of rhinos in mid- 2011, information was received by private landowners that a poaching group had decided to focus efforts on other areas where rhinos still retained their horns. However, rhino owners in that area acknowledge that it is too early to assess the efficacy of the dehorning programme. Most (71.7%) experts felt that dehorning can be an effective means of dissuading poachers from targeting a particular reserve, but 52.6% felt that once a poacher was in a reserve, he would be no less likely to shoot a dehorned rhino if such an animal was encountered, than a horned individual. The negatives of dehorning (Endangered Wildlife Trust 2012) In Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, dehorning of White Rhinos in the early 1990s failed to protect them (as the majority of horned and dehorned rhinos were killed by poachers) due to a complete lapse in security for a period of six months 12–18 months after the rhinos were dehorned. In South Africa, at least five incidents have been recorded of dehorned rhinos being killed by poachers since 2008. In one incident, a horned rhino was wounded by poachers, and then dehorned by management and placed in a boma, where poachers returned to kill the animal despite clearly being able to see that the animal was dehorned (F. Coetzee, pers. comm.). These experiences clearly highlight that dehorning in the absence of intensive security is likely to be ineffective, and stresses that horn stumps are still valuable to poachers. Dehorning partially transfers the risk of horn possession from rhinos to the land manager, and creates administrative burdens and costs through the time and effort needed to acquire permits, transport and storage of horns. The permitting system for possessing, transporting and storing horn is considered by private rhino owners to be onerous and to impose security risks by providing a conduit for leakage of information on the whereabouts of horns or on planned transportation of horns. © Shannon Wild The effectiveness of remotely piloted aircraft systems in the fight against poaching A study by Mulero-Pazmany et al. (2014) assessed the use of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) to monitor for poaching activities. They performed 20 flights with 3 types of cameras: visual photo, HD video and thermal video, to test the ability of the systems to detect (a) rhinos, (b) people acting as poachers and © to do fence surveillance. The targets were better detected at the lowest altitudes, but to operate the plane safely and in a discreet way, altitudes between 100 and 180 m were the most convenient. Open areas facilitated target detection, while forest habitats complicated it. Detectability using visual cameras was higher at morning and midday, but the thermal camera provided the best images in the morning and at night. Considering not only the technical capabilities of the systems but also the poachers’ modus operandi and the current control methods, Mulero-Pazmany et al. (2014) proposed RPAS usage as a tool for surveillance of sensitive areas, for supporting field anti-poaching operations, as a deterrent tool for poachers and as a complementary method for rhino ecology research. Low cost RPAS can be useful for rhino stakeholders for field control procedures. There are, however, important practical limitations that should be considered for their successful and realistic integration in the anti-poaching battle. Anti-poaching Units The game rangers and anti-poaching units that patrol the Greater Kruger area spend most of their time out in the field, in harm’s way and away from home and their families. Their families do not always know when they will get to see them again. The rangers’ stress levels are high and, as one can imagine, it is not always easy for their families. Anti-poaching units in the Hoedspruit area The Black Mambas The Black Mambas are all-women anti-poaching unit. They are all young women from local communities, and they patrol inside the Greater Kruger national park unarmed. Billed as the first all-female unit of its kind in the world, they are not just challenging poachers, but the status quo. The Black Mamba anti-poaching unit is a great example of utilising people from the local communities, getting them involved in conservation, providing them with employment, and upliftment. The Black Mamba anti-poaching unit was founded in 2013 by Transfrontier Africa and created to protect the Olifants West Region of Balule Nature Reserve and has since expanded to cover the entire Balule area, 400km². The private reserve’s scientists and managers have had to become warriors, employing teams of game guards to protect not only the rhinos but lions, giraffes, and many other species targeted by poaching syndicates. The Mambas are the reserve’s eyes and ears on the ground. The anti-poaching statistics for the area suggest the Black Mamba approach works. During the last 10 months of 2014 and the start of 2015 the Balule Nature Reserve had not lost a single rhino, while a neighbouring reserve lost 23. Snare poaching has also by dropped 90%. ProTrack Anti-Poaching Unit Protrack Anti-Poaching Unit was established in 1992 as one of the first private anti-poaching units in South Africa. They provide anti-poaching training and recruitment in the Hoedspruit area. They also provide specialist rural security services to farms and nature reserves. Rhino Revolution Rhino Revolution was started by the concerned citizens of Hoedspruit, including conservationists and private nature reserve owners, who came together to try and reduce the escalating poaching crisis in this critically important rhino conservation area. They started as a community based action group, under the auspices of founder Trevor Jordan. Rhino Revolution is now an internationally recognised Non-Profit Organization. Rhino Revolution supports rhino conservation through rigorous anti-poaching activities, conservation awareness programmes and the provision of a world class rhino orphanage (situated within the Blue Canyon Conservancy, with electric fencing, lighting, intruder alarm systems and watch towers with 24 hour armed guards.). Rhino Revolution’s anti-poaching efforts: Rhino Revolution has provided night vision equipment for Hoedspruit Farm Watch, provided a new anti-poaching vehicle for the Blue Canyon Anti-Poaching Unit together with radios, weapons and ammunition and, installed solar power at the Essem Scout Camp. Rhino Revolution also funds dehorning of rhino. Rhino Revolution uses retired racehorses for anti-poaching patrols, as the mounted guards can reach areas inaccessible to vehicles, quickly and silently, and efficiently look out for any signs of criminal intent from the elevated field of vision that horseback patrols offer. Key factors in rhino security The following components are essential for effective anti-poaching security for rhinos (Endangered Wildlife Trust 2012): Undertake a thorough threat analysis of property: Evaluate all possible threats (e.g. know the most likely entry and exit points, know the locations of rhinos [see field monitoring below]). Prepare response plans for as many eventualities as possible. Secure the property: Electrified fencing that is monitored and maintained. Control entry points onto property with guarded boom gates. Field protection: Rangers must be well trained in weapons, anti-poaching tactics and drills. Rangers must be well equipped, with: assault rifles (AK47 or equivalent) Handheld radios, spare batteries Backpacks, water bottles, rations Maps, GPS devices, binoculars Rangers must be authorised and empowered to aggressively respond to and engage poachers when necessary and have indemnity against legal proceedings in the same way that police do. Rangers should be adequately paid and rewarded to maintain motivation (and avoid collusion with poachers). But, the reward system must be sustainable. Ranger density should be: minimum of 1 ranger for every 20 km2 but under conditions of high poaching threat: 1 ranger for every 10 km2 is recommended. In large reserves: concentrate Rangers where rhinos occur. In large reserves (>200 km2) there should be a mobile anti-poaching reaction unit with rapid deployment capabilities — set up in picket camps situated in peripheral high risk areas. There should be routine patrols around fences and buffer zones for the early detection of poacher incursions, as well as at sites where poachers will focus attention (e.g. water points, vantage points good for surveillance). Field monitoring: auxiliary staff well trained in tracking and identifying rhinos (to allow rapid detection of poaching) should be deployed. Monitoring of rhinos should proceed with the use of standardised field recording booklets and a density of at least 1 ranger per 20 rhinos Rhinos should be ear-notched to facilitate individual identification and to provide accurate and unbiased population estimates of population performance Africa is home to the world's most wildlife. It’s a grim and all too common sight for rangers at some of Africa’s nature reserves: the bullet-riddled carcass of an elephant, its tusks removed by poachers. African elephant populations have fallen by about 30% since 2006 . Poaching has driven the decline. Some reserves, like Garamba in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Selous in Tanzania, have lost hundreds of elephants to poachers over the last decade. But others, like Etosha National Park in Namibia, have been targeted far less. What might explain this difference? That’s what we set out to explore in our new paper . We investigated why poaching rates vary so widely across Africa and what this might reveal about what drives, motivates and facilitates poaching. To do this, we used a statistical model to relate poaching levels from 64 African sites to various socio-economic factors. These included a country’s quality of governance and the level of human development in the area surrounding a park. Our findings suggest that poaching rates are lower where there is strong national governance and where local levels of human development – especially wealth and health – are relatively high. Strong site-level law enforcement and reduced global ivory prices also keep poaching levels down. ​ Understanding these dynamics is crucial. The illegal wildlife trade is one of the highest value illicit trade sectors globally , worth several billion dollars each year. It poses a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystems, which are the bedrock of human well-being . And elephants are more than just a culturally significant icon. They are “ecosystem engineers ” that can boost forest carbon stocks and diversify habitats through their feeding. Their presence in national parks and reserves also has economic benefits, bringing in valuable tourism revenues . The deaths of both poachers and rangers in the continent’s violent biodiversity “war” also underscores our findings: when elephants lose, we all lose. Data collection We developed a statistical model using 19 years of data on 10,286 poached elephants at 64 sites in 30 African countries. These data were collected, mostly by wildlife rangers, as part of the global programme for Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) , administered by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Rangers are the real champions of this research, working under difficult conditions to protect elephants and other biodiversity. Photo: Tim Kuiper. We then linked the poaching data to key socio-economic data related to areas around the parks, individual countries and global markets. Poaching of high-value species like elephants and rhinos is driven primarily by sophisticated criminal syndicates . So we used criminology theory and evidence from the scientific literature to generate hypotheses about factors that might drive, facilitate or motivate the decisions of these syndicates and the local hunters they recruited. We then identified datasets representing these factors, such as the Uppsala Armed Conflict Dataset and the Global Data Lab’s Subnational Human Development index . Elephant Poachers Take Aim at South Africa’s Famed Refuge Recent elephant killings in Kruger National Park raise fears that South Africa is now in the crosshairs of the illegal ivory trade. ​ After years of being regarded as an unassailable haven for wildlife, South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park has been hit by elephant poaching. In May 2014, the first killing of an elephant for its tusks in ten years was reported in the park. By mid-October 2015, 19 Kruger elephants had been killed for ivory. Twelve of those were killed in September and October alone. This prompted several prominent conservationists to warn that South Africa’s parks are at high risk of being targeted for ivory in the near future. “South Africa can expect elephant poaching to increase dramatically in the Kruger Park,” said wildlife filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dereck Joubert. Has the elephant poaching epidemic that has plagued other African countries in recent years now overtaken South Africa? South Africa can expect elephant poaching to increase dramatically in the Kruger Park. Dereck Joubert, conservationist Since 2008, Kruger has been a target for rhino poachers, who mainly come from across the border in Mozambique. Some 800 rhinos were killed in South Africa for their horns between January and September of this year, bringing the total to 4,635 rhinos killed since 2007. That’s nearly a fifth of the continent-wide population. Kruger had some 17,000 elephants in 2014, according to Sam Ferreira, the park’s large mammal ecologist. Most of the elephants killed this year have been in the northern Pafuri area, bordering Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Elephant populations in both countries have experienced heavy casualties of late. Mozambique has lost half its elephants during the past five years, according to recent data from the ongoing Great Elephant Census , an observation study funded by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's investment company, Vulcan Inc., to count more than 90 percent of the world's elephants. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is reeling from a spate of macabre elephant poisonings by cyanide. According to a recent genetic study , most of the poached ivory has been coming from Tanzania, northern Mozambique, and central Africa. With elephants becoming scarcer in these countries, the poaching scourge has nowhere to go but south. South African authorities have anticipated that elephant poaching was going to “hit us like an avalanche as early as January next year,” Hector Magome, of conservation services at South African National Parks (SANparks), told Business Day last year. “Given what is going on in the rest of Africa, it is inevitable that South Africa’s elephants will eventually be targeted.” Poachers shot this rhino in Kruger in November 2013. More than 4,600 rhinos have been killed in South Africa for their horns since 2007, and only about 25,000 of the animals are left in the wild in Africa. Photograph by Alet Pretorius, Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Making matters worse is the fact that the ivory trade “appears to be professionalising fast, with heavy involvement of police, border guard and political criminal networks,” according to a report published last year by the animal advocacy group Born Free USA. “Given the ease of rhino poaching in South Africa,” the report says, “fears of serious, professionalised ivory poaching in the Kruger Park are well founded.” Referring to the elephant poaching epidemic elsewhere in the continent, William Mabasa, a Kruger spokesman, said, “We cannot allow this destabilization of our keystone species to continue further.” Heads in the Sand? Not everyone agrees that elephant poaching is going to be a serious problem for Kruger, but if the rhino situation is any indicator, things need to be monitored closely. Mabasa says he’s “confident that the dedication and efforts which our rangers and partners in the security sector have displayed towards the fight against rhino will prevail over this latest problem.” Zimbabwe is reeling from macabre elephant poisonings by cyanide. South Africa’s environment minister Edna Molewa hasn’t expressed much concern about elephant poaching. Last year, she said, “We did an ivory once-off sale, and elephant poaching has not been a problem since.” The sale occurred in July 2008, when China and Japan were given permission by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the international organization that regulates the wildlife trade, to buy 108 tons of ivory from four southern African countries. In those countries—Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa—elephant populations were regarded as relatively healthy and well managed. Contrary to the minister’s views, it is widely held that the sale has fueled the current poaching crisis. A 2008 report by the Environmental Investigation Agency, a nonprofit headquartered in London, showed that demand for ivory increased every year after an earlier experimental sale, in 1999, to Japan—and that it spiked after the 2008 sale. At the 2008 sale, China and Japan paid an average of $71 per pound ($157 per kilo) from the southern African states. Since then, the price of ivory China sells from its legal stockpile has increased almost tenfold, to $681 per pound ($1,500 per kilo). Michelle Henley, principal researcher for Elephants Alive, a research group that has collected data on Kruger’s elephant populations for more than two decades, said that until now poachers have targeted the “higher value of rhino horn compared to ivory, which seems to have lulled many into a false sense of security.” She said her research team had predicted that “it would be only a matter of time before poachers would turn to elephants for ivory.” Slide Title This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content. BACK TO TOP

The true measure of a society's greatness is in how it preserves and protects its wildlife, for a nation that cares for its natural treasures ensures a future where all life can thrive. S O U T H A F R I C A and Africa A W o r l d i n O n e C o u n t r y Serengeti National Park, Tanzania MalaMala Game Reserve, South Africa Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya Queen Elizabeth National Park Katavi National Park Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe Okavango Delta, Botswana South Luangwa National Park, Zambia Kruger National Park Laikipia Plateau Ruaha National Park Northern Damaraland Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania The Sabi Sands Game Reserve Etosha National Park Hluhluwe Game Reserve Central Kalahari Game Reserve Nyerere National Park Serengeti National Park, Tanzania Coming in at number one is Serengeti National Park, in northern Tanzania. The Serengeti shares a border with Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve (which we will chat about more when you reach the number 10 spot on this list). Serengeti’s sprawling grasslands make for those classic safari views with flat-topped acacia trees and grazing herds of zebra and antelope. These grazing herds attract large numbers of predators, and the open plains make for a fantastic destination to watch lions and cheetahs in action. The Serengeti is also home to the annual Great Migration, in which over one million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of other ungulates make their over-600-mile circular trek. The animals travel from their breeding grounds in the south to fresh pastures in the north, all the while with predators hot on their heels. The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events in the world. As an exciting and special bonus, black rhinos were reintroduced into the Serengeti, some in 2010 and more in 2019, and earlier this year, a black rhino calf was born to one of the reintroduced females — the first black rhino birth in the park for decades. Nomad Tanzania has the beautiful Serengeti Safari Camp which is the perfect location to catch the wildebeest migration. Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe Mana Pools National Park is one of the most picturesque safaris in Africa. It’s known for its huge elephant population. This safari is also a great destination for adventurous people who want to spot leopards, wild dogs, and lions. One of the best appeals of this park is you can stay in unfenced campsites located in the middle of the wilderness. If you want to stay in this type of accommodation, choose one located near the Zambezi river for the ultimate experience. If you’re up for something unique, go on a canoeing safari. Mana Pools is one of the few parks in Africa where you can explore without a guide, although this is not ideal for beginners. If you’re up for game drives and bush walks, this is an amazing safari. The thin vegetation of this park makes it one of the best destinations for walking safaris because it offers incredible visibility. For those who want to try self-drive tours, a 4×4 is recommended. What’s great about 4×4 tours is that even the drive is exhilarating! Next on our list, we have Mana Pools National Park in the far north of Zimbabwe. The Zambezi River’s wide waters form the boundary between Zimbabwe and Zambia. On the southern Zimbabwean side is Mana Pools National Park, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site and a park known for fantastic wildlife visibility beside the river and flood plains. (On the northern bank is Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park, which we will focus on when we reach number 5 in our countdown). Mana is the Shona (local language) word for four, and within the park, the river channels have created four large pools, giving the park its name. These pools are surrounded by forests of mahogany, wild fig, ebony, and winter thorns. In the dry season, the shady glades beneath these trees are filled with wildlife — herds of impala, eland, elephant, zebra, buffalo, waterbuck, and kudu. These animals provide a plentiful supply of prey for both predators and scavengers. There are several sizable prides of lion as well as leopards and hyenas. Mana Pools is also a stronghold for wild dogs. Mana Pools National Park is the perfect place for walking and canoeing safaris. David Attenborough’s wildlife series for the BBC, “Dynasties ,” filmed the episode about wild dogs in the park. I have spent hours watching these same wild dogs and I can promise you the park is the perfect place to go to spot this endangered African animal. African Bush Camps have three fantastic lodges in Mana Pools, each in a different park area. MalaMala Game Reserve, South Africa MalaMala is the oldest and one of the largest private Big Five game reserves in South Africa. It covers 37 000 acres, shares a 12-mile unfenced boundary with the world-renowned Kruger National Park, and is sandwiched in a prime position between the Kruger and the Sabi Sands Reserve, giving it great access to abundant wildlife. In the local language, Xitsonga, the name Malamala means Kudu, and the area got its name from the abundance of these majestic, spiral-horned antelope within the game reserve. The reserve is also home to the Big Five and is famous for luxury photographic safaris. MalaMala is the place to start your search for accommodation within the reserve. ​ As one of the best safaris in Africa, Mala Mala Game Reserve is one of the best places to see lions in their natural habitat. Mala Mala borders the Kruger National Park, the largest game reserve in South Africa. The big five thrive in this private luxury game reserve, together with cheetahs, giraffes, and wild dogs. During the dry season, particularly during May, this is the ultimate spot to see a variety of animals, including: Wildebeests Hippos Hyenas Cheetahs Giraffes Zebras Cape wild dogs This park is also considered a top destination for photographers. The terrain is different from the Kruger, as it’s flat, making it perfect for game drives. You can spot the lions during the day while they rest in their dens or at night when they go to the watering holes. Another reason why Mala Mala Game Reserve is one of the best safaris in Africa is that you can also do bushwalks. Here, you will enjoy seeing the wild dogs and cheetahs up close. Night safaris are also safe and popular at this world-class park. Okavango Delta, Botswana The Okavango Delta covers permanent marshlands, as well as seasonally flooded plains. The delta is a series of connected rivers and lakes, home to diverse wildlife, including: Cheetahs Crocodiles Lions Black and white rhinoceros It’s one of the major interior delta systems that don’t flow into the ocean, and its wetland system is almost unbroken. The Okavango Delta is also an excellent destination if you want to do bird sightings. You might get lucky and see some rare birds. If you’re into photography, this safari will blow your mind away with its beauty. The Okavango Delta is a vast inland river delta in northern Botswana. The area is known for its sprawling grassy plains, which flood seasonally, becoming a lush animal habitat. The delta supports an astonishing variety of wildlife. The best time to visit is during the annual flood, when many of the animals are confined to islands created by the floodwaters, making them easier to spot. Highlights include great herds of elephant and antelope, hippos, crocodiles, lions, and cheetah. Many of the birds spotted here are endemic. The most exciting way to explore the area is by traditional dugout canoe (mokoro), which I first did in my early twenties, navigating past hippos, elephants, and crocodiles, and spending several nights camping on tiny islands. About 40 percent of the Okavango Delta is in the Moremi Game Reserve, on the eastern edge of the Delta, and we will focus on that when we reach number 6. Very much the center of Botswana’s safari industry, the Okavango Delta features some of Africa’s premier camps. A good place to start your accommodation search is with Wilderness Safaris who has several beautiful luxury lodges in the Okavango Delta. Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia If you follow the Zambezi River about 300 miles downstream of the Victoria Falls, opposite Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools, you will find the pristine wilderness of Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park. An area of abundant wildlife, from herds of elephants to soaring fish eagles and everything in between. A hunting ground for lions, leopards, and wild dogs. A timeless valley of giant towering winter thorns where wildlife finds sanctuary in the dappled shade. The area’s beauty lies in its wildness and the spectacular opportunities to get up close to the game that wanders in and out of the Zambezi’s channels. The river is home to hippos and crocodiles and is the perfect place for sunset boat trips, trawling for the coveted tiger fish, and one of my favorite activities, canoeing safaris. I have traveled the length of the Lower Zambezi National Park by both road and river, and can highly recommend this beautiful park. Anabezi has three fantastic lodges along this stretch of the river and is a great place to start planning your trip. ​ Another Zambian park you should add to your list is the Lower Zambezi National. It’s one of the best safaris in Africa today, as it has recovered from poaching , although its rhino population was erased. The Lower Zambezi is home to various animals and birds, including the big five and several other species. There are also many bird species that you can find here, including: Blacksmith Lapwings Southern ground hornbills African jacanas Keep in mind that you won’t find any campsites in the area, just mid-range and luxury lodges, as well as tented camps. Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana If you’re looking for an incredible game reserve in Botswana, then the Moremi Game Reserve is the best destination for you. This safari is part of the Okavango Delta, known as the world’s 1000th UNESCO World Heritage Site . This game reserve is renowned for four of the big five, and you’ll probably see plenty of them during your safari. It also houses more than 400 bird species. Game viewing is also popular here. The best time to visit this game reserve is during the dry season, from June to September. You can also explore the wilderness on a mokoro canoe safari or a walking safari. As you gaze upon the floodplains and baobab trees, you’ll feel the grandeur of nature. Coming in at number six, Moremi Game Reserve is a protected wildlife area in Botswana. It lies on the Okavango Delta’s eastern side and was named after Chief Moremi of the BaTawana tribe. Moremi was designated as a game reserve, rather than a national park, when it was created, which meant that the BaSarwa or Bushmen who lived there were allowed to remain in the reserve. Among other animals, the reserve is home to cheetah, white and black rhinoceros (rarely seen), wild dogs, lions, and over 500 bird species. This ecosystem is amongst the richest in Africa. Island Safari Lodge is an ideal jumping-off point for a trip into Moremi, and they also offer fantastic mobile safaris into the reserve, which I have done with my family and thoroughly enjoyed. Let this small but diverse area blow you away with its wildlife. South Luangwa National Park, Zambia South Luangwa National Park is one of the ultimate destinations in Zambia if you want to witness the wildlife, which includes endemic species such as Thornicroft’s giraffe and Crawshay’s zebra. There are also lions, leopards, and elephants in the area. The park houses tons of beautiful tented camps, lodges, and other accommodations, which can get busy during peak season. If you want to see this park, be sure to plan and book in advance. This park is famous for its walking safaris led by expert guides. The best time to visit is from July to October during the dry season. This period is when animals come out from the high-temperature bush areas to look for water in the rivers. In eastern Zambia, South Luangwa National Park plays host to huge concentrations of wildlife, including elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe, hippo — over 450 species of bird and 60 species of mammal! South Luangwa is also arguably the best place in Africa to see leopards. South Luangwa is known for incredible walking safaris that give you the chance to get up close to the park’s wildlife. There is something incredibly special about a safari on foot — no noise from vehicles, just the crunch of dry grass underfoot. Your senses are heightened; you see and hear things that you have never noticed before. You become conscious of how loud your breath sounds in your ears as you try hard to walk silently through the bush. For an expertly guided walking safari in South Luangwa, you can’t go wrong with Surefoot Safaris . Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania The Ngorongoro Crater formed when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself two or three million years ago, creating a crater 2,000 feet deep and a 64,000-acre floor. The Ngorongoro Crater is home to an exceptional concentration of fauna; it is estimated that over 25,000 large animals live here (I’m not including birds, insects, or reptiles in this count!), including huge herds of wildebeests and zebras. There is also no shortage of predators, with the crater being home to lion, hyena, cheetah, jackal, caracals, bat-eared foxes, and more. A definite highlight is the healthy population of black rhino and some of the largest tusker elephants on the continent. The lake at the center of the crater hosts huge flocks of rose-colored flamingos, while Maasai tribespeople still live within the conservation area. Given its size, the Ngorongoro Crater really only needs a day or two of your travel time, and is best as part of a larger East African itinerary, perhaps combining the wildlife wonders of the Crater w with the migration spectacle of the Serengeti or the laid-back beaches of Zanzibar. I often take a day trip to Ngorongoro as a break at the end of a Kilimanjaro climb. As a taste of luxury, perhaps try Ngorongoro Crater Lodge for a special visit to this fantastic place. The Sabi Sands Game Reserve Sabi Sand Game Reserve is located near the southern Kruger and is a cluster of private reserves. This wide-open savannah is a big attraction for game drives and walks. The big five are among the most common animals you’ll see in the reserve. Sabi Sand Game Reserve is also a top spot for those who want to experience close encounters with: White rhinos Lions Cheetahs Moreover, this reserve is popular because of its amazing night drive experiences, where you’ll see nocturnal animals, such as: Civets Aardvarks Bushbabies The game reserve is also known for its outstanding birdlife. If you like bird watching, you’ll be in for a treat here. It’s recommended to visit this destination during the winter or low season, from May to September. The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a 160,000-acre reserve pioneered by local landowners in the 1950s and shares a 31-mile-long unfenced border with the world-renowned Kruger National Park. Known for delivering excellent Big Five game viewing, with some extraordinary close encounters and prolific sightings, particularly of the elusive leopard, this area is considered one of the best safari areas in South Africa. Sabi Sands offers a variety of accommodation options to suit everyone and every budget. As there are several lodges to choose from in the game reserve, visit Sabi Sands to start planning your trip. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya The Masai forest is one of the most popular safari destinations in Africa. Located in the Great Rift Valley, this expansive wilderness hosts the Big Five, as well as a large population of cheetahs and wild dogs. The game drives are amazing here because the area is known for its high density of animal population. There are plenty of safari lodges in this national reserve, and people usually book months or even years in advance. If you want to see a few of the big five in their natural habitat, then the Masai Mara national reserve is worth considering. Aside from animals, you’ll also love its majestic rolling hills, acacia woodlands, and grasslands. Make sure to visit between August and October if you want to witness the wildebeest migration as they cross to Kenya from Tanzania. Last but not least, and located in the extreme southwest of Kenya, on the border with Tanzania, is the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Covering over 580 square miles, this quintessential safari destination is home to the Big Five and is famous for its thriving big cat populations. Special Maasai Mara experiences include hot air balloon safaris, visits to local Maasai villages, and of course, the Great Migration, which is when the Mara is a pit stop for almost two million wildebeest, zebra, and antelope crossing from Tanzania across the mighty Mara River on their death-defying, 1,800-mile circular journey. In fact, these herds are so big they can be observed from space. The Maasai Mara is a photographer’s paradise, with year-round game viewing, incredible big cat sightings, and large concentrations of elephant, buffalo, and giraffe. Governors’ Camp was the first permanent tented camp in the Masai Mara, and it occupies some of the best wildlife viewing locations in the reserve. There is nothing quite like the thrill of an African safari. The stillness of the early morning, before the heat of the sun covers the land. The sound of wild creatures calling in the night. The sense of adventure that comes from being surrounded by untamed wilderness. Above all, it’s the excitement of being in the bush, never quite knowing what new sights, sounds, and experiences the day will bring. I’ve given you a tiny taste of 10 of the most popular safari destinations on the continent. Choose one of these for your next African adventure and you won’t be disappointed. Kruger National Park If this is your first-time safari, you don’t want to miss the chance to see wildlife in their natural habitat, which is precisely what you’ll find in the Kruger National Park . At over 7,500 square miles, this park is roughly the size of a small country! Known as one of the world’s greatest game-viewing areas, the Kruger National Park offers a truly unique experience. The big five thrive in this national park, but there are plenty of other animals to see, including: Cheetahs Hippos Nile crocodiles The rare black rhino The best time to visit this park is from June to September. Etosha National Park Namibia may not be on the top list for most travelers in Africa, but once you’ve visited the Etosha National Park, you’ll change your mind. It was proclaimed a national park in 1907 . It’s named after the Ovambo word that means “the place where no plants grow,” an ode to the Etosha Pan, which is a part of a lake that has dried out. It’s so large that you can see it from space! One of the best activities for safari-goers in this national park is to stake out in a spring-fed waterhole and wait for animals to arrive. The Etosha National Park boasts a beautiful panorama of the dolomite hills and the arid savannas. This park is also renowned for the big five and its rhino conservation, both for the reintroduced white rhino and the indigenous black rhinoceros. At Etosha National Park, you’ll also see cheetahs, caracals, jackals, and hyenas. Laikipia Plateau If you’re the adventurous type, you’ll love the Laikipia Plateau. The Laikipia Plateau is an expansive plain home to plenty of wildlife, including: Grevy’s zebras Wild dogs Giraffes Black rhinos The best way to explore this expansive piece of land is by riding on a camel, which is a fun way to see the vast plains. You can also explore the park by riding a horse or during guided walking safaris. During the dry season, there’s plenty of water that fills watering holes for animals to come and drink. This attraction makes this safari particularly interesting for photography enthusiasts who want to capture the animals in their natural habitat. Hluhluwe Game Reserve The Hluhluwe Game Reserve is located in South Africa, and it’s one of the oldest reserves in the area. The Hluhluwe Game Reserve is a good safari destination to take in the natural beauty of the flora and fauna. The game reserve is best known for its amazing plants and wildlife. It is home to the “Big Five,” and dozens of other mammals, reptiles, and birds. A highlight of this safari is the Hluhluwe River, which is a popular spot for game viewing. There are plenty of animals in this 96,000-hectare reserve, and you can also visit the nearby Mkhuze Game Reserve. For adventurers, make sure to ride 4x4s along its dusty roads. The park also offers boat safaris. Queen Elizabeth National Park The Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in Uganda. It’s one of the most diverse parks in the country and is located near the famous Murchison Falls . The park is known for encompassing different landscapes, which are all home to various species of wildlife. These landscapes include: Mountains Swamps Crater lakes Tropical forests Open savannahs Wetlands The park is home to elephants, buffalos, giant forest hogs, and the African skimmer, which is a unique bird with a lengthy wingspan. The park also has boat cruises for those who want to see crocodiles and hippos. If you want to see chimpanzees, you can take a hike in the park’s rainforest. Ruaha National Park This Tanzanian park was proclaimed a national park in 1964 . This off-the-beaten-track destination takes its name from the Hehe word for “river,” which serves as its lifeline. This park is home to: Impalas Waterbucks Gazelles You may even see lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals looking for prey. This safari is a great option to see large predators because it is home to ten percent of Africa’s lions. It’s also home to many bird species, such as: The crested Barbet The pale-billed Hornbill The Dickinson’s kestrel The racket-tailed roller All of these incredible features make this park one to add to the travel bucket list. Central Kalahari Game Reserve Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the most popular game reserves in Botswana. It was established in 1961 as a home for the Bushman tribes. It covers an area of 52,800 square kilometers, which is over ten percent of the country’s area. This expansive space of land makes it the second-largest game reserve globally. This game reserve is a great option for those who want to see the big five. You’ll probably see a few wild dogs as well. The reserve is also home to an amazing variety of bird species. Nyerere National Park The Nyerere National Park, formerly called Selous Game Reserve, is found in Tanzania. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 thanks to its diverse wildlife, including: The African bush elephant African Lion Hippopotamus East African wild dog The black rhino There is no permanent human habitation in the park, and all human entry is controlled by the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism’s wildlife division. When you visit this park, you can expect to see crocodiles and hippos during your boat safari. There are also many species of birds here for avid birdwatchers, so bring your binoculars! Katavi National Park If seeing large herds of buffalo ranks high on your list, the Katavi National Park is a must-visit. This huge park is located in northern Tanzania, and the park is known for its large population of buffalo. Katavi National Park is one of Tanzania’s largest national parks, and despite being a safari mecca for those who want to see wildlife, it doesn’t get as much traffic as other safaris. Because of this, the park authorities grant guests freedom, especially those who crave adventure. You can even go on a walking safari with an armed ranger, as well as try self-drive tours. Northern Damaraland This part of Africa is remote and mostly uninhabited by humans. Northern Damaraland is home to lions, Hartmann’s mountain zebras, black rhinos, and awe-striking rare desert-adapted elephants. This variety of animals makes it one of the top safari choices in Africa for people who are craving a unique experience they won’t forget. Despite the remoteness of northern Damaraland, you can still find safari lodges that will suit your needs that are perfect for experienced travelers. If you visit this safari, make sure not to miss the famous rock art at Twyfelfontein, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Things to Consider ​ To ensure your experience in the best safari in Africa is top-notch, there are a few things you need to bear in mind. First, you must consider the animals you want to see, especially if you want to see the famous “Big Five.” You should consider the time of year you want to visit. If you don’t like crowds and want a relaxing safari, you should consider going during the off-season. Keep in mind that the weather may not be as good during those times of the year. It’s also a good idea to get professional tour guides, who will ensure you get the most out of the safari. Most safaris offer professional guides, but it’s a smart move to double-check before you book. Don’t forget to bring a camera and binoculars so you can snap great pictures and observe wildlife from a distance. Most importantly, bring plenty of water and snacks, as well as some comfortable clothes. Other things you should not forget to pack include: Sunscreen Flashlight Insect repellent Prescription medications Extra batteries for your camera Comfortable closed shoes Sunglasses Hat If you’re traveling during winter, you should throw a windbreaker in your suitcase. Frequently Asked Questions THP Creative/Shutterstock Here are some of the most commonly asked questions by travelers who want to experience the best safaris in Africa: Which African country has the best safari? There are a lot of safaris in Africa that offer a unique experience. The best safari in Africa is usually based on the animal you want to see. However, many people think that Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa have the best safaris on the continent. What safari is best for families? Many families enjoy traveling to the Kruger National Park, but most safaris are very family-friendly. Whether you want to go for a family vacation or want a romantic getaway, safaris offer a wide variety of activities for everyone. Which is the best month to go on an African safari? It depends on what you are looking for during your getaway. Different safaris could offer different experiences. Generally, the dry season is recommended. The dry season is from June to October and is perfect if you want to see animals looking for water sources. What is the average cost of an African safari trip? It depends on what your budget is. Many safaris offer per person pricing of $150 to $1,500 per day. Mid-range safaris usually fall between $250 to $350. Is Kenya or Tanzania better for safari? Kenya is a more popular and affordable safari destination, although both countries offer a great safari experience. However, there are a lot of luxury safaris in Tanzania if you prefer a vacation that feels more glamorous. BACK TO TOP