When you think of South Africa, which animals immediately come to mind? If you’re like most people then it’s probably one of the famous ‘Big Five’: the lion, the rhino, the leopard, the buffalo and the biggest of all – the elephant. However beautiful they are, none of these animals could really be described as ‘cute’. But on a holiday walking South Africa you may come across a few other animals, although not so high-profile, who could definitely be described as cute – if not cuddly!

The Penguins of Boulders Beach

If you’re looking for quantity as well as quality in the on the scale of cuteness then a visit to Boulders Beach must be high on your agenda. Walking South Africa’s beautiful beaches is a visual treat at any time but, when you arrive at Boulders Beach at Simon’s Town and see hundreds of these delightful penguins waddling around the sand and frolicking in the sea, it takes the scenery to a whole different level. Known as the “Jackass Penguin”, for their distinctive braying noise reminiscent of a donkey, despite their prolific numbers at Boulders Beach these little fellows are, in fact, critically endangered. Found in only 27 other locations worldwide, the Simon’s Town colony is unique in that the penguins themselves chose to inhabit an urban beach already populated by humans. They are so used to human contact that they happily mingle with the tourists as they go swimming and walking. South Africa can surely lay claim to, if not the cutest, then the friendliest penguins in the world.

Meerkats

Made into global superstars thanks to a series of clever advertising campaigns, the meerkat is definitely a contender for the cute challenge. They can be found in various regions of the country and, while walking South Africa’s savannah lands in the Oudtshoorn region, you can get up close and personal with the meerkats on professional “Walking with meerkats” excursions. Their official name is the ‘suricate’ but they are commonly known as the meerkat; a South African Dutch word meaning ‘lake cat’. Part of the mongoose family, the meerkats are very social animals, living in groups made up of several family units. So it follows that where there’s one, there’s many, many more and the numbers only serve to heighten the effect when observed in their natural habitat. Cute? You bet!

Leopard Tortoise

No, not a misprint and definitely not related to its Big Five namesake. The Leopard Tortoise is the tough-guy of the bunch. With his beautifully decorated leopard-skin shell, his home certainly stands out as one of the ‘posher’ houses on the street! Being the fourth largest species of turtle in the world they need quite a lot of food to keep up their strength and, being herbivorous, means they inhabit the grassland areas in an extensive region around Central South Africa. Walking South Africa’s savannah lands you may be lucky enough to come across a well-camouflaged Leopard Tortoise feeding, or simply lazing in the sun. The jury’s out as to whether this fellow can be described as cute or not, but he is certainly has one of the most unusually decorated homes.

Author Bio: Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. They offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in more than 90 different countries. Whilst walking South Africa with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Walking South Africa