The Big Five and other African wildlife within easy reach of Hermanus.
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Day trips from Hermanus Cape Town....
Take cable car to top of Table Mountain or take a scenic drive to Cape point along spectacular Chapman's Peak. More......
Hermanus within easy reach of the "Big Five" for
overseas visitors.
The Big Five are a group of animals most highly sought after by
safari-goers. The term "Big Five" was originally coined by hunters, as these
five animals offer the best trophies and are the biggest challenge to hunt. They
are without a doubt among the most fearsome animals anywhere and always evoke
excitement when confronted in their natural habitat.
The mighty Elephant, the Lion - King of the Jungle, the sleek Leopard - the most
beautiful of all the cats, the pre-historic Rhino and the devious Cape Buffalo.
While the leopard is the most difficult to see, the rhino is undoubtedly the
rarest.
Elephant - The African Elephant is the largest living land mammal, one of
the most impressive animals on earth. The Elephant's muscular trunk serves as a
nose, hand, extra foot, signaling device and a tool for gathering food,
siphoning water, dusting, digging and a variety of other functions.
Experience the thrill of an Elephant Back Safari. There is no better way
of interacting with the wilderness and wildlife. You will be seated on a
comfortable canvas covered saddle, mounted behind an experienced and
knowledgeable Elephant handler. This adventure offers the unique opportunity to
come very close to the other wild animals.
Rhino - The rhinoceros is a large, primitive looking mammal that in fact
dates from the Miocene era millions of years ago. In recent decades rhinos have
been relentlessly hunted to the point of near extinction. Since 1970 the world
rhino population has declined by 90 percent, with five species remaining in the
world today, all of which are endangered.
Lion - Lions are the second largest members of the feline family in the
world. Lions are tan in colour and have a slightly white under-body, with a tuft
of black hair at the end of their tails. Lions have developed a social system
based on teamwork and a division of labour within the pride. The average pride
consists of about 15 individuals, including five to 10 females with their young
and two or three territorial males that are usually brothers or pride mates.
Buffalo - Buffalo are extremely large, cattle-like animals. To support
the large body, the legs are very heavy. Front hooves are larger than the hind
because of the extra mass they carry in the huge head and thick neck. Both sexes
carry horns, which in the males can grow to 1.5m. The African, or Cape, buffalo
is a member of the "Big Five". Once popular trophies for hunters, these animals
are unpredictable and can be dangerous if cornered or wounded.
Leopard - The most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores, the
leopard is also the shrewdest. It is the strongest climber of the large cats and
capable of killing prey larger than itself. Leopards are mainly nocturnal
animals but are also seen during the day, especially in the early mornings and
late afternoons. Sightings reported of leopard in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve
in the mountains above Hermanus.
But that is only the tip of the iceberg.
The Southern Right Whale. Right here in
Walker Bay - Hermanus
The Great White Shark - most fearsome creature of
the sea. Also in Walker Bay
Hippos, King of the waterhole.
Almost no animal in Africa dares to take on an adult hippopotamus, not
even the crocodile or the lion (but they have been known to attack baby hippos).
These beasts can weigh up to 2 tons (that's over 2000 kilogram!) and can outrun
humans on land..
Hippos are said to kill more humans than any other African mammal.
The Giraffe, biggest ruminant and the tallest mammal. Very long neck with
short, upstanding mane, high shoulders sloping steeply to hindquarters; long
legs nearly equal in length. Male weight from 1100-1932 kg shoulder height
2.7-3.3 m, top of horns up to 5.5 m.
Ostriches, native to Africa, are the largest living bird in the world.
Ostriches are very fast runners and can run as fast as 50 and 80 kilometers per
hour.
Go ostrich riding at one of the ostrich farms near Oudtshoorn, in the Karoo. A
unique experience to be on one of the fastest animals on land.
South Africa has one river-dweller that is, like the Big Five, is a symbol of
Africa - The crocodile still rules some stretches of river and estuary,
lakes and pools, and still exacts an occasional toll in human life.
Visit the Cango Wildlife Ranch’s Valley of Ancients for crocodile cage diving.
Brave visitors are lowered into a heated crocodile pool in a specially
designed cage and come face to face with 4-meter crocodiles - the only
animal that considers man as natural prey. This is an absolute must for
adrenalin junkies and anyone who would like to see what a crocodile looks
like under the water! Crocodile cage diving is a world first.
Beyond the glamorous Big Five, South Africa also offers an amazing diversity of
other animal life: zebras, springbok, cheetahs, wildebeest, kudu, eland,
gemsbok, bontebok, wild dogs (albeit rare),more than 700 species of birds
and countless species of butterflies.
The Eastern Cape, the Western Cape, the Northern Cape, parts of the North West
Province and the Waterberg area of Limpopo province are free of malaria.
You simply have to visit Hermanus and South Africa to enjoy all this.
