South Africa counts more than 100 snake species. Most of
these reptiles can be seen in the Midrand Snake Park.
There are more than 900 bird species. One of them, a national symbol, is the
blue crane bird which are carefully monitored by scientists on their journeys
over the world. There are today only 21.000 blue cranes left in the wild but the
most endangered bird is the blue swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea), living in the Mpumalanga
Province.
Kruger National Park
National Parks are spread out over the entire country.
Kruger National Park is one of the largest and best known
reserve in the world. This national park has a surface of 20.000 km². This
unique peace of nature is about half of the surface from the Netherlands (40.800 km²).
Kruger National Park celebrated in 1998 to March 1999 its 100 birthday.
The first butterfly reserve
The first butterfly reserve opened in1984 (Ruimsig, Gauteng
Province). This reserve is preventing the extinction of the Copper butterfly (Aloeides dentatis). 'Butterfly World'
in Klapmuts (Stellenbosch) opened its doors in 1996. There are about 800
butterfly species in South Africa. The rare bretton-blue butterfly was at its
extinction point in August 1996 but thanks to the minister of tourism, a project
was stopped and gave the butterfly another chance to survive. The bretton-blue
is on the red list from the IUCN.
Spiders and forests
South Africa counts 5000 spider species. The Umgeni Valley Spider Reserve,
in Kwazulu-Natal is established to protect the rare Bolas Spider (Cladomelea akermanni).
There are not many forests in South Africa. The only large
forests are in the George - Knysna and Tsitsikamma region. Over there we have
the rare tree species such as yellowwood (Podocarpus spp.), ironwood (Olea capensis)
lemonwood (Xymalos
monospora) and many fern species. The best known bird in the region is the
famous
Knysna Loerie.
Eco-tourism
The fastest growing sector in South Africa is without any
doubt the tourism industry and eco-tourism.
This kind of tourism is a marriage between all economical
sectors in collaboration with the government and scientists. It is an ecological
politic where all stakeholders will have to work together to conserve our
beautiful planet for the next generations to come. Environment, air, water, soil
and organisms are closely monitored.
Marine Life
270 from a total of 325 fish species live in South African
waters. The most famous are the white shark and the Southern Right Whale, both
endangered and protected species.
The plants in the Cape
The plant kingdom in the Cape is representing 1 of the 6
floral belts on our planets. It is the smallest from the six (0.06%) on our blue
planet. This means that there is a very high plant species concentration within
a small area. There are estimated 8500 different plant species wherefrom 1400
grow on Table Mountain! These plants form together the so called 'Fynbosch'. The
best place to see the fauna kingdom is the Kirstenbosch National Botanical
Gardens near Cape Town.
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