Tribes Travel, 12 The Business Centre, Earl Soham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 7SA, UK

South Africa

Wildlife

Viewing wildlife in their natural habitat can be one of the most incredible travel experiences any of us can have. Whether you have always longed to see an elephant or want a chance to see the endangered Mountain Gorilla, we can help you get closer to your dream. This is a list of some of the animals and birds which travellers are more commonly looking for. Here you will find our suggestions as to where you might find them.

If you have a passion to see wildlife not on the list, by all means let us know and we''d be glad to advise you.

Cheetah
Cheetahs have short, coarse tan-coloured coats with small black spots, and distinctive black marks running like tears from their eyes to their mouths. They are unique in that their claws are only slightly retractable - giving them extra grip at high speed. And, unlike the other big cats, cheetahs have no roar - instead they yelp, purr and chirrup.
Dolphins
Common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins are playful, gregarious animals, with common dolphins appearing to 'love' boats, and bottlenose most happily tolerating humans swimming amongst them. Dolphins are actually small, toothed whales.
Elephants
The largest land mammal in the world, the male African elephant can be up to four metres tall - as high as a double-decker bus - and weigh over six tonnes. The average Asian male elephant is shorter than a male African elephant, up to three metres high and five tones in weight.
Hippos
Hippos live in family groups led by a dominant male, who will fight to protect his mating territory. They are the third heaviest land animal in the world, yet in spite of its massive bulk, a hippo is remarkably agile in water - and surprisingly fast on land!
Lions
The lion is the only social cat, and it is the largest African carnivore. There is also a rare sub-species, the Asiatic lion, of which there are only around 300 now left in India's Gir Forest.
Monkeys
There are over 300 monkey species in the world, living in Africa, South and Central America and Asia. Although they vary hugely in size and colour, all are 'higher primates', with a larger brain than many other animals.
Penguins
With their upright stance, distinctive black and white colouring and agility in the water, penguins are entertaining and enchanting to watch and - in warmer waters - to swim amongst.
Rhino
The rhino is the world's second largest land mammal by mass, smaller only than the African elephant, and can be traced back some 50 million years. This docile herbivore grazes peacefully on the African savannah (black and white rhino) and along waterways in the National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of India and Nepal (greater one-horned rhino).
Sharks and Whale Sharks
There are over 400 different species of sharks, 100 of which can be found in the waters off the coast of South Africa. Whale sharks are actually the world's largest living fish, growing up to 13m long and up to 13 tonnes in weight and reputedly living up to 100 years. These huge beasts are harmless filter feeders that migrate round warm waters.
Whales
For many, the sight of a single whale, or group of whales, is a moving, unforgettable experience. These giant creatures, which live entirely in the water but need to come to the surface to breathe, are quite simply awe-inspiring. The blue whale is the heaviest and longest animal on Earth.
Wild Dogs
African Wild Dogs are also called painted dogs because of their markings, which are unique to each dog. Although once found widely across most of Africa, African Wild Dogs have been persecuted to the edge of extinction. It is believed that less than 4,000 now exist in the wild. The India Wild Dog, also known as Dholes, are even more endangered.

Your reviews

Read what our clients think of the places they've been with Tribes. Here are the most recent reviews.

Click on a review to see it in full.

South Africa
Naomi | Nov 2011
Excellent service, even though it was not a regular package. Every aspect of the service from Tribes through to staff on our holiday was brilliant
South Africa
P.Rooke | Aug 2011
Well done Tribes!
South Africa
Bob Mudd | Jul 2011
We had a wonderful holiday but then with penguins, great white sharks, sea-lions, bontenbok, southern right whales, balck rhino, elephants, lions and ...
South Africa
bev costello | Apr 2011
Tracy arranged a trip which fitted really well with what we were looking for. We were keen to spend time with a local project and what was organised m...
South Africa
JaneD | Feb 2011
We had a lovely trip only marred by ill-health at the end.