South Africa is blessed with a wide variety of wildlife, and has numerous Game Reserves and National Parks where these majestic animals can freely roam. As is the case with most animal species (humans included) babies are often far cuter (and misbehave far more) than their adult counterparts. We’ve rounded up three of the cutest baby animals in South Africa, and where you can see them. Please note, it’s advisable to phone ahead, as youngsters do grow up quickly.
Within Oudtshoorn, you can have a magical experience at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge – feeding and walking with baby elephants! These gentle and playful creatures have a long lasting memory, so be very careful around them and their parents. The feeding times are every half hour from 08:00 – 16:00, and if you’re a featherweight, you can even sit on their knees! At the game lodge you can ride the adult elephants while on an elephant back safari or take a walk around the waterhole with the slightly tamer adults. Don’t forget to take plenty of photographs for posterity. Click to book this accommodation.
2. Boulders Beach, Simons Town
There is a thriving colony of endangered African Penguins at Boulders beach, which is monitored and controlled by SANParks. During the moulting and breeding season this area is closed off to visitors and locals, to ensure that the penguins are not disturbed – as this can cause undue stress and result in death. In May you can sometimes catch a fluffy baby chick or two and around January you will be amazed at the sight of penguin juveniles and their proud parents, which you can photograph from a safe distance on the boardwalks. A bonus treat is when you swim at the surrounding beaches the adult penguins occasionally join visitors for a dip, and only sometimes take a small nip.
If you’ve ever wanted to pet, stroke, and interact with baby cheetahs and tigers, the Cango Wildlife Ranch should definitely be top of your list. Here, from time to time, they have a new cub join the growing feline family, and visitors will be allowed to interact and pet them. Age restrictions are in place, such as only children aged 10 years and up can interact. Once the cubs have reached a certain age, only children aged 16 and older can interact for safety reasons. Other wildlife you can interact with while there include adult Cheetahs who are almost all hand reared, as well as tigers, lemurs and a variety of reptiles. Crocodile Cage diving is also offered for those who aren’t faint of heart. Find accommodation near this wildlife ranch.
Of course, in the greater National Parks, such as the Kruger Park and Marloth Park, you also stand the chance to spot cute, cuddly, wildlife, though like with the above mentioned places, nothing can be guaranteed. Everything depends on the adult animals mating, and the females successfully delivering healthy litters.
Let us know what the cutest baby animal you’ve ever seen is, and feel free to include links to those pictures.
Main image credited to Mara 1 (Flickr)
