The thing is, as you’ll no doubt realize quickly, there are far more animals that are worth getting excited about when on safari. The moniker “big” doesn’t even necessarily need to refer to an animal’s size, either – if it’s a rarity to see an animal in the wild, it’s a big deal to catch a glimpse of it, no matter how big or small it is.

Not only that, you don’t want to inadvertently piss off a hippo just by leaving it off your must-see list, right?

It is in the spirit of making sure all the amazing animals in South Africa get their due that I humbly submit to you a new list – the Big 22.

First, we’ll look at the original Big Five – the classics – and then we’ll look at my 17 additions to the list. What animals would you add to the Big Five list? Let me know in the comments section!

The Big Five: Classic Edition

Lion

photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission
The undisputed king of the jungle, the lion is easy to include on any list of “big” African animals. Seeing a male lion on safari, especially given how close you can often get to them, can be pretty eerie.

African Elephant

photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission
The enormous African elephant is one of the animals game reserve rangers give wide berth – they’re sort of unpredictable, and since they tower over safari vehicles they’re not exactly easily intimdated.

Rhinoceros

photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission
There are two kinds of rhinos you may see on safari – the white rhino and the black rhino. Both qualify for the old-school “Big Five” status, and (sadly) both can be relatively rare sightings these days, thanks to poachers.

Leopard

photo by David Berkowitz
The leopard is typically the most difficult of the “Big Five” to see while on safari, as they’re masters of stealth. They hang out in trees, so to have a better shot at seeing them plan on a winter safari when the trees are bare of leaves.

Cape Buffalo

photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission
The Cape buffalo may look more or less like cows with huge horns, but these guys are more dangerous than you might think. They can be pretty aggressive, and you really don’t want to be on the wrong end of those horns.

The Big 17: 2012 Additions

Great White Shark

photo by bellamy.andrew
Let’s face it, any list of “big deal” animals in South Africa that doesn’t include the great white shark is just plain silly.

Hippopotamus

photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission
Despite being herbivores, hippos kill more people in South Africa than all the other animals – combined. Why? They’re insanely aggressive, and people are lulled by their oafy appearance into thinking they’re just like overgrown pigs.

Giraffe

photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission
When it comes to “big,” you can’t get much bigger than the giraffe – at least in terms of height. These beautiful animals seem to glide above the treeline.

Cheetah

photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission
Cheetahs may look somewhat similar to leopards, but these sleek cats don’t climb trees. They’re known for being sprinters, and are exceptionally graceful.

Leatherback Turtle

photo by David of South Africa Tourism
These prehistoric-looking turtles are more massive than you can imagine – they’re the biggest sea turtles, sometimes growing to more than 7ft long and weighing in at 1500lb.

Zebra

photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission
Seeing a group of zebras together in a bright green field, it’s easy to see why a herd is called a “dazzle.”

Kudu

photo by Bird Brian
The female kudu is reasonably pretty, but it’s the male with its long, curly horns that is the one to be on the lookout for.

Crocodile

photo by David of South Africa Tourism
You might only see the tip of the crocodile’s head as it floats by your tour boat, but don’t fool yourself into thinking there isn’t a large and dangerous reptile attached to that head.

Ostrich

photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission
They may not be the brightest birds on the planet, but they certainly are among the biggest.

Southern Right Whale

photo by rolfkleef
In the same waters where you can go cage-diving with great white sharks, you can also go sea kayaking with southern right whales. The latter are far less apt to bite you.

Hyena

photo by David of South Africa Tourism
Whether you think they’re cute or creepy looking, there’s no denying that you’re likely to get a chill when a couple of hyenas start walking toward your open safari vehicle in the middle of the night.

Baboon

photo by David of South Africa Tourism
The baboons of the Western Cape are acclimated enough to humans that they’ll leap into open cars and steal bags, hunting for food – and they’ve got some sinister teeth. Stay in your cars, folks.

Springbok

photo by coda
The pretty springbok lends its name to a South African cocktail as well as the country’s national rugby team, so it should be a highlight of a safari to see them.

Wildebeest

photo by Mister-E
One popular description of the wildebeest is that it looks like it was put together from the leftover parts of other animals – but there’s something exceptionally cool about seeing those wide-set horns atop a herd of wildebeest heads looking your way in the twilight.

Warthog

photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission
A face only a mother could love? Perhaps…

African Penguin

photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission
No visit to Cape Town is complete without a stop at Boulders Beach to check out the wild African penguins – also known as “jackass” penguins (for the sound they make, not for performing idiotic stunts for a television show).

Blue Duiker

photo by KCZooFan
Seeing the smallest antelope is a big deal, even if the blue duiker won’t win any prizes for its actual size (which is less than 14″ tall).

What you’re able to see and do in Cape Town really depends on what type of trip you’re taking. If you’re only in South Africa for a short time, say a week or two, you probably won’t have time to do more than hit up the essential stops. But let’s say you’re planning a RTW trip. What if you had more time than just a few days? Would it be worth it to stay in Cape Town for a week or more?

Luckily our sister site over at BootsnAll has been thinking of these questions as well. We have been updating and revamping the RTW travel section of the site, including updating all our city guides. We have a bunch of tips for having an indie travel experience in Cape Town. There’s more to this city than just Table Mountain. Be sure to explore places like the country’s oldest university in the University of Cape Town, and check out the other hiking opportunities around that don’t involve Table Mountain (though that should be a must as well). If you have some time, don’t just see the iconic sites and hit the road, as Cape Town has plenty to offer for the indie traveler.

Photo credit: 1

Everywhere we turned, it seemed, we’d bump into yet another earworm – and as soon as we’d get rid of one, someone would find (and, inevitably, share) another.

Of course, I realized when I got home that I couldn’t keep all these earworms to myself, so I present you with the earworms you might just find – if you’re lucky – in South Africa.

Africa

It’s only natural that Toto’s “Africa” would be running through your head when you’re actually in Africa, and so it was that this song would pop up from time to time.

Understandably, it became more fitting when we were caught in the rain at a soccer game in Durban.

The Twelve Days of Christmas/Africa

Our December visit to South Africa meant that Christmas was on the minds of some of the people in the group, despite the balmy weather.

One of my travel companions, Rachelle Lucas, had found this gem before we even arrived in the country, and she shared it with me on a long drive through ostrich country. For an earworm, it’s mighty clever.

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Honestly, no one on our trip had the Christmas spirit more than Rachelle, who repeated the refrain from this altogether-too-catchy number pretty much throughout our stay in the hippo-centric town of St. Lucia.

It’s maddening, I know. See? Even this hippo’s irrtated.

Baby Monkey

Once we saw vervet monkeys hopping through the trees with tiny babies clinging to their bellies…

…I couldn’t help but retaliate against that kind of hippopotamus warfare with this utterly ridiculous ditty.

Hakuna Matata

On one of our safari drives, we were fortunate to be joined by the head of South Africa Tourism, who, every single time she saw a warthog, said, “Oh, a Pumbaa!”

It was downright adorable. Kind of like the warthogs themselves. (Oh, come on, you can’t tell me you don’t think these guys are cute. So ugly they’re cute? Even the babies? No? Fine…)

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

I dare you to see a fellow like this…

…And not have this song immediately and for hours stuck in your noggin.

Todii (What Shall We Do)

This song was the first on a CD that our Durban guide, Thami, had on repeat for many of our drives around the area. It was stuck in our heads for days, and remains something of a soundtrack for the trip.

all photos by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission, except the photo of the crowd at the soccer game in Durban, which is by Matthew Karsten the Expert Vagabond

The trip I took was sponsored by South Africa Tourism, but these opinions and all the earworms are mine.

Well, you don’t, really. But you can apparently do a pretty good job of showing off the highlights, as is evidenced by this fun video of the #VisitSouthAfrica press trip.

The #VisitSouthAfrica trip was hosted by South African Tourism, and my opinions are entirely my own.

A few days before the trip was to end, I started jotting down notes of all the things we’d seen and done during the previous two weeks. It was (and remains) an impressive list. Staring at that list during a long drive, it began to form a poem. And this is the result.

Here’s the warning – this poem is absolutely chock-full of inside “you had to be there” jokes, things I won’t explain, because that would take forever and (likely) all the fun out of it. I submit this poem to you, then, with a spirit of whimsy, and so you can get even a tiny inkling of the variety of experiences one can have in a mere two weeks in South Africa.

The one thing I’ll tell you ahead of time? “Siyabonga” is a Zulu word meaning, “we thank you.”

Night Safari photograph taken at Phinda Private Game Reserve by Matthew Karsten the Expert Vagabond

SIYABONGA

by Jessica Spiegel, December 2011

Unbelievably, it’s the end of our South Africa tour,
And we’ve so many things to be thankful for.

For African penguins, cute beyond words
For the fine folks at SANCCOB, saving the birds
For Pinotage tastings with a breathtaking view
For Susan & Justin & Le Quartier’s fun food

For puppy toilet paper & a hitchhiker baboon
For hyenas chasing lasers under the moon
For Indian spices & Zulu beer
For a rainy soccer game & vuvuzela cheers

For microlight flights where the guys didn’t die
For a township visit that made me cry
For ostrich kisses & cathedral caves
For bathrobed walks through ocean waves

For hippos & crocodiles floating by
For portable internet & beachside braai
For the hot southern sun, tanning our hides
For Shaheed & Thami, so much more than guides

For midnight drives leading to leatherback eggs
For antelope-y creatures on spindly legs
For G&Ts & biltong snacks on a safari picnic table
For whatever made Derek say a group of bloggers is a “ladle”

For zebras (a dazzle) & giraffes (a journey)
For elephants bathing, for the bacon tree
For hashtag-VisitSouthAfrica & “shut the front door!”
For high tea & sundowners – but wait, there’s more!

For Min‘s knack for shopping & her curiosity
For her wine expertise & love of rooibos tea
For Rachelle‘s unbridled enthusiasm & easy smile
For her giraff-ection & laid-back style

For Matt & his fabulous photography skills
For his tag-along worms who certainly ate their fill
For Derek, proving chivalry isn’t quite dead
And for the fact that the lion looked already well-fed

For David & Kat who wanted us to see
An entire world in this spectacular country
For strangers who soon became good friends
For the bittersweet taste of beginnings & ends

For the past two weeks, you can see in our faces
We are so very thankful to have seen these places
We’re humbled by our experience, & we’re not big carousers
So the only word that fits at this point is “wowzers.”

Thanks to South African Tourism, I’m one of five bloggers who will, over the course of roughly two weeks, experience the best that South Africa has to offer. I’ll be posting photos and video of the trip along the way, so be sure to follow along with @SouthAfricaBlog on Twitter and at the WhyGo South Africa page on Facebook, but here’s a sample of what you can expect to hear more about during my two-week trip.

• Getting up close and personal with African penguins in Cape Town
• Taking in the views from Table Mountain
• Enjoying a meal at Africa’s finest restaurant in South Africa’s Winelands
• Checking out hippos from an evening river cruise in St. Lucia
• Staying at the luxurious Phinda Private Game Reserve’s lodge

I begin my journey (and it’s a long one) from New York to South Africa on December 4th, arriving on the 5th. All five bloggers will have a slightly different experience during the trip, so to stay tuned to what all of us are getting up to – including microlight flights and cage diving with sharks – be sure to follow the #VisitSouthAfrica hashtag on Twitter. And don’t forget to check out Visit South Africa on Facebook.

During a 10 days vacation you can visit quite a lot of places, especially if you have enough budget to fly between the cities. This itinerary starts in Johannesburg, takes you to Kruger, then to Cape Town with its wine regions , Robben Island and Table Mountain. The itinerary ends in Durban, where you can learn about coffee and enjoy a relaxing day before the flight back home.

Itinerary assumptions:

• fly into Johannesburg
• fly out of Durban
• you will stay in hostels, which were booked ahead of time
• rent a car in Johannesburg in order to drive to Kruger National Park and in Cape Town so that you can explore the surrounding areas
• fly from Johannesburg to Cape Town and from Cape Town to Durban

Day 1

Check in the Johannesburg hostel and spend some time in the city. You can get to the Carlton Center and see the view from above.

Consider renting a car and if you have enough time, visit the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. It’s a huge site covering 47,000 hectares. There are guided tours every half hour (the last one leaving at 4 p.m.)

Days 2- 4

Kruger National Park

You can drive from Johannesburg to Kruger in about 7 hours. Of course, you’ll be making stops along the way, so you’ll probably reach the park in about 9 hours or so. Alternatively, you can fly into Nelspruit (Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport) as airfare is cheapest and the flight time is less than an hour.

Once you get here, check in (campsites are the cheapest option) and decide what you’ll do during the next two days.

You can bike, hike, walk or drive. There are seven wilderness trails in the park so it’s definitely worth it to try at least one of them. Guided tours are also available (make sure to book one in advance though).

>>read more about Getting from Johannesburg to Kruger

Days 5 – 8

Drive (or fly) back to Johannesburg. Catch a flight to Cape Town on the same day. Check in at the hostel.

On Day 6, go to Victoria and Albert Waterfront. Have breakfast, explore the area and do some shopping. Then take the ferry to Robben Island. You’ll tour the island and the prison (make sure to book in advance). Get back to V&A Waterfront for lunch and then go to the top of Table Mountain (weather permitting). You can either take the cable car or hike.

On Day 7, rent a car and take a wine route. Both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek areas are very good choices. You can stop for lunch at one of the restaurants along the way. Get back to Cape Town and enjoy an afternoon at the beach.

On Day 8, you should drive to Boulders Beach and greet the penguins. Then go all the way to Cape Point (Africa’s southern point).

>>read more about 3 Days in Cape Town

Day 9 – 10

Fly from Cape Town to Durban. If you fly during summer (December 2011), it would set you back about US$160 (on South African Airlines). The flight time is 2 hours.

There are quite a lot of things to do in Durban . On Day 9 you can check out Victoria Street Market and get some gifts for the family and friends back home or take a walk on the promenade.

Should you have enough time, visit the Old Fort or the For Victoria.

On Day 10, make sure to visit the Assagay Coffee Farm and then spend some time in the Botanical Gardens.

>>read more about Getting from Cape Town to Durban

Photo credits : Kruger National Park , Table Mountain , Durban market

Itinerary assumptions:

• you will be flying in and out of Cape Town
• you have booked the hostel ahead of time
• during your stay, rent a car so that you won’t have to relay on the public transport schedules or to book guided tours

With that being said, it’s quite impossible to capture even a small part of the city and its surrounding areas during a 3-day vacation. Still, we’ve put together an itinerary which can serve as a guide for planning such a short stay here.

Day One

Base yourself either near the Waterfront or in Long Street, which is known as a backpacker’s heaven. After you checked-in , make sure to also rent a car.

Boulders Beach

Then star with a trip around Cape Peninsula. If you have enough time on your hands, follow the False Bay and stop in several places. Otherwise, drive to the Boulders Beach, stop for a while to socialize with the penguins and then continue all the way to Cape Point.
Should you plan your visit in spring, you’ll be able to spot whales at False Bay.

If you prefer to visit the city on your first day, catch the open-top double decker Cape Town CitySightseeing Bus. There are 17 stops to choose from.

Day Two

Table Mountain

If the weather is not good, then it’s not possible to get to the top of the mountain, so this part of the itinerary really depends on luck.
Either walk up the mountain or take the cable car. Allow for time at the top for exploring the area.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

If the weather proves to not be in your favor, then visit the Botanical Garden, the first one in the world to be established (1913) to protect the flora. There are several walking trails within the garden and you can stop for a picnic as well.

Wine Tasting in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek

Before you leave, make sure to pick up a wine route map from the tourist office. Both areas have excellent wine routes, which are well signposted. There are plenty of places to grab some food. Be prepared for quite a bit of driving, though.

For dinner, try at least one of the local foods. Ask for restaurant recommendation at the hostel.

Day Three

V&A Waterfront

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront has become the most visited destination in South Africa. It’s a busy harbor set in the middle of an entertainment area, filled with restaurants, shops and pubs.
Get here for breakfast, maybe do some shopping before taking the ferry to Robben Island.

Robben Island

Visiting the sights on the island will probably take about half a day. The trip includes a tour around the island and a tour of the prison. Make sure to book it in advance.
There aren’t places to eat on the island, so either pack something or get back to the V&A Waterfront and have lunch.

Now it’s time to get to the hostel and travel to the airport for the flight back home.

Check out these indie travel tips for Cape Town.

Photo credits : Boulders Beach , Table Mountain cable car , Robben Island

South Africans love the braais (barbeques) but there’s much more to the cuisine than just grilled meat. The traditional African cuisine is focused on maize meal porridge, meat and sauce.

Braaivleis

This is meat roasted over an open wood or charcoal fire.
The act of barbequing is called braai.
On the braai, you can toss any meat, as well as vegetables. Seafood is also cooked on the braai.

Mealie

This is corn, usually served on-the-cob. It is used in making bread or pap.

Pap

This is a porridge made with corn meal.
Slappap is often eaten as a breakfast porridge.
Stywepap is often used as a replacement for rice or other starches.
Krummelpap resembles couscous and is often served with roasted meat, covered in tomato sauce.

Sosaties

This is marinated , cubed meat , which is skewered and barbecued shish-kebab style. It is usually made of lamb.

Potjiekos

It is a meat and vegetable stew, slowly cooked in an iron pot over coals.

Biltong and Droewor

It is seasoned meat (biltong) and sausage (droewor) that has been dried. It can be made of beef, game or ostrich meat.

Boerewors

It is a spicy farmers sausage, made with beef and pork. It is almost always cooked on the braai.
Boerewors Rolls are hot dog buns with the spicy sausage, garnished with onion and tomato.

Bredie

This is a stew made with meat and vegetables.
Tomato Bredie is the best known version of this dish.
Waterblommetjiebredie is a mutton and water lily stew.

Bunny chows

It is a half loaf of bread, with the inside replaced by beef or lamb curry. You must try this dish when traveling to KwaZulu Natal.

Morogo

It is wild spinach, served sometimes with potatoes and pap.

Bobotie

It is a meat loaf seasoned with spices (ginger, marjoram and lemon rind) and curry, topped with custard. It is usually made with beef or lamb. Traditionally, it also incorporates dried fruit (raisins or sultanas). It is served with yellow rice.
The recipe is likely to have originated from the Dutch East India Company colonies in Batavia, having an Indonesian origin.

Masonja

These are fried Mopanie warms.

Melktert

It is a milk-based dessert. It has a sweet pastry crust containing a cream made from milk, sugar, flour and eggs. It contains more milk than the traditional European custard. It has Dutch origins.

Hoenerpastei

This is chicken pie.

Koeksisters

This is a deep fried sticky dessert, with a Cape Malay origin. It’s basically a syrup-coated doughnut, in a twisted shape. They are best eaten cold.

Frikkadels

These are the South African meat balls.

Photo credits: Braaivleis , Sosaties , Potjiekos , Boerewors , Bunny chows , Bobotie , Melktert , Koeksisters

Weather

August is the first month of Spring in South Africa. The change to the new season is absolutely spectacular in the Cape provinces. Small , colorful spring plans and flowers cover the land.

Some temperatures:

Cape Town avg high 17C , avg low 8C
Durban avg high 22C ; avg low 14C
Johannesburg avg high 18C ; avg low 7C
Pretoria avg high 21C ; avg low 9C

>>read more about Weather in South Africa

Facilities

August is part of the shoulder season in South Africa. It’s probably the best time of the year to visit South Africa. The flights and hotels are easy to find and affordable. Hostels are also good choices, particularly if you travel on a low budget.

Things to do

August is also a good choice if you want to practice diving or surfing. If you want to see the nature come back to life after winter, then August is definitely the time to visit South Africa.

Put on your hiking shoes, as spring is amazing for hiking. It’s not as hot as during summer and there aren’t thunderstorms either. Just nice, warm weather to enjoy the outdoors. Choose one (or more) of the nature reserves and plan your activities in nature.

You can hike to the top of Table Mountain or check out the view from the Lion’s Head.

>>read more about Things to do in Cape Town

Or you can check out one of the many trails located in or close to Durban . They range from mild and easily accessible to challenging.

If you missed the wine festival in July, don’t worry as there’s one in August, as well. It takes place in Magaliesbergand and takes places every year. Or if you love to eat meat, head to the Hantam Vleisfees in Calvinia. The festival celebrates everything that has to do with sheep and meat. During the 3 days you can attend concerts and a street party.

Photo credit