| Wildlife up close | | | | Africa. Of course, the beautiful lions are the highlight |
| Would you like to cuddle a lion cub? Or perhaps you'd | | | | of the park, which has over 80 of these impressive |
| love to stare into the eyes of massive Nile crocodile? | | | | cats, including rare white lions. There are also |
| South Africa's diverse and amazing wildlife is one of | | | | cheetah, wild dog, hyena and blacked backed jackal |
| the main reasons to visit the country, and you don't | | | | as well as a wide variety of antelope. You can climb |
| only have to only see these beautiful animals from | | | | the park's giraffe feeding platform which puts you at |
| behind a car window on a game drive: animal | | | | eye level with the resident tame giraffe. Or for a |
| experiences across the country allow you to see a | | | | really special animal experience, you can cuddle an |
| variety of fascinating creatures up close. There are | | | | adorable lion cub. |
| unique opportunities to have a close encounter with | | | | Animals in Ostrich Country |
| animals all over the country and these range from | | | | Commercial ostrich farming started during the late |
| ostrich rides to lion parks. | | | | 1880's in South Africa and this was also the start of |
| These experiences allow visitors to meet the animals | | | | the ostrich industry worldwide. The fashion demand in |
| while holding them, interacting with them or even | | | | Europe for ostrich feathers inspired the growth of |
| feeding them. In depth talks and information sessions | | | | the industry, with the Oudtshoorn district quickly |
| are often held on the behaviour, habitat and | | | | being established as the Ostrich capital of the world. |
| conservation of these incredible animals. | | | | Ostriches are still farmed in great numbers in |
| If you want to go a step beyond merely interacting | | | | Outshoorn and the surrounding areas, and there are |
| with these animals, many of these facilities are also | | | | many farms where you can interact with this large, |
| conservation and breeding projects that are always in | | | | flightless bird. |
| need of support. Adopting an endangered animal is | | | | Ostrich farms provide comprehensive information |
| one of the best ways to ensure your legacy is left | | | | about ostriches and the ostrich industry, and also |
| behind at the end of your trip. | | | | include opportunities to feed the big peculiar-looking |
| Animal Encounters around Johannesburg | | | | birds, sit on them, or even ride them, if you dare. |
| Johannesburg is the urban centre of South African | | | | One farm will even let you hug and kiss their friendly |
| business and industry: a large, busy metropolis. But | | | | female ostrich - which gives a new meaning to 'a |
| surprisingly, there are several locations in and around | | | | peck on the cheek'! Ostriches are truly fascinating |
| the city where you can experience wonderful animal | | | | birds, and riding an ostrich is an experience that you |
| life at close range. | | | | definitely won't forget. |
| You wouldn't necessarily expect a bird garden inside | | | | The Oudtshoorn district also offers brilliant animal |
| an opulent casino and entertainment complex, but the | | | | encounters apart from the ostriches. If you'd like to |
| Montecasino Bird Gardens is a hidden gem of | | | | meet a cheetah and assist in the fight against the |
| Johannesburg. The gardens are home to a collection | | | | extinction of endangered species, head to the Cango |
| of over 142 species of birds, as well as the largest | | | | Wildlife Ranch. It's the biggest cheetah contact |
| and most diverse private collection of African cycads | | | | centre worldwide and offers visitors the rare |
| in the world. Visitors can experience the colourful, | | | | opportunity of interacting with the ranch's |
| exotic and unusual birds in unrestrained flight during a | | | | hand-reared cheetahs, and playing with Bengal tiger |
| spectacular and educational presentation. | | | | cubs. The really daring can even wrap themselves in |
| For another amazing experience of the ornithological | | | | a python or go cage-diving with Nile crocodiles. |
| variety, visit the South African National Bird of Prey | | | | For an unparalleled animal experience, visit the |
| Centre, which is a registered non profit organisation | | | | Meerkat Magic Conservation Project in Oudtshoorn, |
| dedicated to the conservation of raptors from all | | | | where you can walk with meerkats in the wild. These |
| over the world. The centre emphasises the crucial | | | | shy little creatures are normally very difficult to spot |
| role that birds of prey play in the food chain, and | | | | and study, but the Meerkat Man, a nature |
| visitors can learn about these significant birds, while | | | | conservationist who has been studying meerkats for |
| helping with the conservation of the threatened | | | | more than 10 years, will lead you to their desert |
| species. Flying displays are held, in which various birds, | | | | burrows, where you can closely observe these |
| ranging from tiny owls to massive eagles, are flown | | | | appealing animals. You will also be assisting to fund |
| so that visitors can understand more about their | | | | wild meerkat habitat conservation. |
| habits and unique characteristics. | | | | Whether you're hugging an ostrich, or quietly |
| To get personal with the king of the jungle, head to | | | | observing a meerkat, you'll definitely be touched by |
| the Lion Park near Fourways, within easy reach of | | | | an encounter with South Africa's animals. These |
| Johannesburg and Pretoria. The park offers fantastic | | | | special animal experiences will leave you in awe of |
| up close views and interactions with a variety of | | | | the country's magnificent wildlife. |
| predators and large herbivores indigenous to South | | | | |