Tailor-made safaris and travel to Southern Africa
THE BIOMES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
INCLUDING COMMON SPECIES AND EXAMPLES OF NATIONAL PARKS
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Tailor-made safaris and travel to Southern Africa |
THE BIOMES OF SOUTHERN AFRICAINCLUDING COMMON SPECIES AND EXAMPLES OF NATIONAL PARKS |
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Mixed Woodland Type of savanna characterised by relatively short trees, including Acacia and broad-leaved species. Also referred to as bushveld. Generally occurring at altitudes below 1 500 m, it includes much of the lowveld. Wide diversity of species, but few are restricted to this biome. |
Elephant, Lion,
Leopard, Kudu, Nyala, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Lilac Breasted Roller (Kruger,
Gonarezhou, Ndumo, Mkuze, Pilanesberg) |
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Dry
Woodland Dominated by Mopane trees and shrubs and is typical of low-lying areas and river valleys below 1 000 m. Baobab trees are often common in this type of savanna. Soils are usually clay based and seasonal pans are a feature. Wide diversity of species, but few are restricted to this biome. |
Elephant, Lion,
Black Rhino, Spotted Hyaena, Wild Dog, Buffalo, Hippo, Bateleur (Chobe, Moremi,
Hwange, Etosha, Mana Pools, Liwonde) |
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Moist Woodland Also known as Miombo, this savanna type is dominated by Brachystegia and Julbernardia trees which often form a closed canopy. Occurs above 1 000 m. Does not support great numbers of large mammals, but several species of birds are restricted to this biome. |
Sable, Roan, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Miombo Rock Thrush,
Spotted Creeper (Chizarira, Matobo, Chimanimanti, Kaudom,
Luangwa) |
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Kalahari Savanna Very open terrain dominated by grassland with scattered trees and shrubs. Very deep sands underlie the vegetation. Occurs below 1 000 m and receives less than 400 mm rain per annum. Fossil dunes, dry river valleys and salt pans. No surface water. Hyphaene palms in the north. |
Gemsbok,
Springbok, Eland, Cheetah, Lion, Brown Hyaena, Suricate, Ostrich (Central
Kalahari, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Makgadikgadi, Nxai
Pan) |
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Highveld Grassland Flat or hilly areas largely devoid of trees except along water courses. Dominant vegetation type at altitudes above 1500 m. Cold dry winters render this biome particularly prone to fire and frost which prohibit the growth of most trees. |
Black Wildebeest, White Rhino, Blesbok,
Steenbok, Aardwolf, Cape Griffon, Blue Crane (Malalotja, Suikerbosrand,
Wakkerstroom) |
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Karoo Shrubland Semi-desert, mostly below 1 000 m in the dry west. Dominated by shrubs, grasses and succulents. Rugged in parts, with canyons and valleys. Few perennial rivers. Many species are restricted to this zone. Includes Kaokoland, Damaraland, Richtersveld and Namaqualand. |
Springbok, Black
Rhino, Bateared Fox, Ground Squirrel, Ludwig's Bustard (Kaokoveld,
Damaraland, Augrabies, Richtersveld) |
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Namib Desert Occurs along the western seaboard north of the Orange River, below 400 m. Exceptionally arid climate (less than 100 mm per annum) creates a true desert with giant sand dunes and succulent flora. Many species are restricted to this biome including the living fossil plant Welwitschia. |
Gemsbok, Blackbacked Jackal, Brown Hyaena,
Springbok, Cape Fur Seal, Ruppell's Korhaan (Namib-Naukluft, Skeleton
Coast) |
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Afro-Montane Grassland and heath above 1 500 m and up to 3 000 m. Mostly along the crest of the Drakensberg. Rugged countryside with erratic but generally high rainfall. Several species are restricted to this biome in southern Africa, but also occur in the Rift Valley and Ethiopian Highlands |
Eland, Klipspringer, Bearded Vulture, Ground Woodpecker
(Giant's Castle, Golden Gate, Royal Natal, Mulanje,
Nyika) |
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Forest Dominated by large evergreen trees, forests contain few mammals but many birds. Coastal and lowland forests occur along the eastern seaboard, while montane forest occurs in pockets about 1 200 m. High rainfall is a feature. Only small fragments of true closed-canopy forest remain. |
Blue Duiker,
Samango Monkey, Narina Trogon, Green Twinspot (Tstitsikama, Dwesa,
Maputaland) |
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Fynbos Restricted to the south-western Cape, and one of the world's six floral kingdoms. Generally hilly or mountainous country, dominate d by proteas, heaths, restios and bulbous plants. Receives rainfall in winter only. A great number of species are restricted to this zone. |
Cape Grysbok,
Bontebok, Cape Sugarbird, Protea Seedeater, Geometric Tortoise (Cape Point,
Table Mountain, Cedarberg) |
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[ Introducing Southern Africa ] Call on 27-11-463-7889 or email us at info@liyatshwa.com Credits: The concept of the Eco-Map is borrowed from Wilderness Safaris |