Cape Wildlife​

Wildlife in Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is a city shaped by nature as much as by culture. Framed by Table Mountain and bordered by the Atlantic coastline, it offers a rare mix of urban energy, protected natural spaces and Big 5 wildlife experiences.

Beyond its restaurants, beaches and landmarks, the Mother City gives travellers access to mountain habitats, marine life, birdwatching sites and safari destinations within reach of the city.

 

Where Can You See the Big 5?

For travellers wanting to experience wildlife beyond Cape Town’s mountains, coastlines and marine reserves, Aquila Private Game Reserve offers a Big 5 safari experience within easy reach of the city. Set in the Karoo, just under two hours from Cape Town, Aquila gives guests the opportunity to move from the Mother City’s urban and coastal landscapes into a dedicated private game reserve environment. 

Here, safari becomes a natural extension of a Cape Town itinerary, offering guided game drives, wide open landscapes and the chance to see iconic African wildlife without travelling far from the city.

For visitors looking to add more depth to their Cape Town stay, Aquila connects the city to the wider wilderness of the Western Cape , where mountain, ocean, vineyards and safari landscapes form part of one distinctly South African travel experience.

MEET THE BIG 5

Urban Cape Wildlife

Many cities and towns in South Africa are seamlessly built in harmony with the natural biodiversity of thee region. Parks, botanical gardens, conservancies, nature reserves and game reserves can be found in and around many urban areas. 

  • Caracal or “African Lynx”
  • Chacma Baboon
  • Klipspringer 
  • Cape Clawless Otter
  • African Penguin 
  • Grey Squirrel 
  • King Gull 
  • Egyptian Geese 
  • Agama Lizard

Small Mammals

Small mammals like dassies (hyrax), grey squirrels, banded mongoose and chacma baboons are common sightings in Cape Town. Keep a look out for small wildlife especially when travelling around Table Mountain, Cape Point, Kirstenbosch Gardens, and even the Cape Winelands.

  • Dassie or “Rock Hyrax”
  • Banded Mongoose
  • Meerkat 
  • Cape Porcupine
  • Black-backed Jackal
  • Cape Grey Mongoose 
  • Scrub Hare
  • Vervet monkey

Rare Cape Wildlife Sightings

The Western Cape’s incredible diversity includes some of the world’s most rare and sought-after wildlife sightings — including animals most South Africans will never have the chance to see in the wild.

  • Aardwolf or “earth-wolf”
  • Cape Leopard
  • Cape Buffalo
  • Brown Hyena
  • Aardvark
  • Cape Genet (large-spotted genet)
  • African wild cat
  • Honey Badger
  • Cheetah 

Antelope of the Cape

The Western Cape hosts over 83 species of mammals, and is home to many of Africa’s most iconic game and rare wildlife sightings. Here are a few of the antelope you can see in the Cape.

  • Eland
  • Blesbok 
  • Kudu
  • Springbok 
  • Bontebok 
  • Grey Rhebok
  • Red hartebeest
  • Oryx (gemsbok)

Cape Town Marine Wildlife

Cape Town’s Atlantic coastline is home great white sharks, orca’s, Cape fur seals, African penguins, dolphins, stingrays, sun fish, marlin, and countless fish species.

  • African Penguin 
  • Cape Fur Seal 
  • Southern Right Whale
  • Cape Clawless Otter
  • Great White Sharks
  • Short-tail Stingray
  • Humpback Whale
  • Dusky Dolphin
  • Heaviside’s Dolphin
  • Bottlenose Dolphin

Cape Reptiles and Amphibians

Although Cape Town isn’t known for its diverse reptilian and amphibian population, there are a few unique scaled and cold-blooded creatures that thrive in the region’s coastal, mountainous, and fynbos landscapes.

  • Cape Cobra or “Yellow Cobra”
  • Leopard Tortoise
  • Angulate Tortoise
  • Padloper (world’s smallest tortoise)
  • Cape Legless Skink 
  • African Bull Frog 
  • Cape River Frog
  • Leopard Toad
  • Puff Adder
  • Rinkhals 

Cape Birds

The Cape is home to over 364 native bird species, many of which you can see in and around the city. Here’s a few birds to look out for in Cape Town, South Africa.

  • Cape Eagle Owl
  • Verreaux’s “Black” Eagle 
  • Cape Ostrich
  • Great White Pelican
  • Lesser Flamingo 
  • Kori Bustard 
  • Black-bellied Korhaan 
  • Cape Thrush 
  • Lemon Dove 
  • Blue Crane (South Africa’s national bird)
  • Pale Chanting Goshawk
  • Cape Robin-chat
  • Red-winged Starling

Conserving and Protecting Cape Wildlife

Cape Town is home to one of the world’s most diverse and unique landscapes, including the endemic fynbos biome and vast Karoo landscapes, and conserving and protecting the natural flora and fauna remains at the core of Aquila’s 10 000 hectare cape wildlife conservancy. 

From 1999, Aquila has led various award-winning conservation efforts to restore the cape’s native wildlife, from returning rhinos to the Western Cape wild for the first time in 250 years, to establishing the Cape’s first big five game reserver only 2 hours from the city. Guests at Aquila are invited to experience and see the best of Cape Town’s wildlife on a day trip or overnight South African Big Five safari. 

Wildlife Safari close to Cape Town

Whether you’re hiking Table Mountain, exploring Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, or venturing into Table Mountain National Park, you’re likely to encounter Cape Town’s wildlife. For those craving sightings of Africa’s iconic Big Five, Aquila Private Game Reserve is just a two-hour drive from the city and offers the ultimate safari experience.

Cape Town Day Trip Safaris