KnowKi

Key Places for biodiversity

Learn the wildlife of South Africa

South Africa

South Africa is one of E.O. Wilson's Key Places, irreplaceable for life on Earth. 34,948 species have research-grade observations there on iNaturalist, and KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos.

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Āki the kiwi, KnowKi's guide

Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca13,858
  2. Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash11,111
  3. Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris9,307
  4. Southern Fiscal Lanius collaris8,848
  5. Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus8,635
  6. Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus7,686
  7. Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis7,589
  8. Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata7,553
  9. Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus7,489
  10. Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis7,445

Plants

  1. Sweet Thorn Vachellia karroo16,672
  2. Bietou Osteospermum moniliferum14,056
  3. Common Sunshine Conebush Leucadendron salignum11,273
  4. Common Sugarbush Protea repens10,375
  5. Black wattle Acacia mearnsii9,393
  6. Bugweed Solanum mauritianum9,312
  7. King Protea Protea cynaroides8,938
  8. Common lantana Lantana camara8,720
  9. Golden wreath wattle Acacia saligna8,347
  10. Rose-scented geranium Pelargonium capitatum7,638

Mammals

  1. African Savanna Elephant Loxodonta africana11,630
  2. Plains Zebra Equus quagga9,796
  3. Southern Giraffe Giraffa giraffa9,289
  4. Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus8,197
  5. Impala Aepyceros melampus7,935
  6. Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros7,419
  7. Vervet Monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus7,233
  8. Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis6,237
  9. Lion Panthera leo6,173
  10. Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus6,108

Insects

  1. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera12,472
  2. Julia Skimmer Orthetrum julia7,559
  3. Painted Lady Vanessa cardui6,518
  4. Red-veined Dropwing Trithemis arteriosa5,577
  5. Broad Scarlet Crocothemis erythraea4,619
  6. Plain Tiger Butterfly Danaus chrysippus4,615
  7. Citrus Swallowtail Papilio demodocus4,483
  8. Garden Acraea Acraea horta4,328
  9. Common Bluetail Ischnura senegalensis4,104
  10. African Grass Blue Zizeeria knysna4,078

Spiders and kin

  1. Hairy Golden Orb-weaving Spider Trichonephila fenestrata3,738
  2. Common Garden Orbweb Spider Argiope australis2,133
  3. Brown Widow Latrodectus geometricus2,000

Reptiles

  1. Southern Rock Agama Agama atra10,865
  2. Angulate Tortoise Chersina angulata9,788
  3. Common Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus capensis7,744
  4. Cape Dwarf Chameleon Bradypodion pumilum7,462
  5. Leopard Tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis7,178
  6. Tropical House Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia4,118
  7. Puff Adder Bitis arietans4,009
  8. Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus3,797
  9. Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko Afrogecko porphyreus3,676
  10. Southern Tree Agama Acanthocercus atricollis3,507

Amphibians

  1. Western Leopard Toad Sclerophrys pantherina12,144
  2. Painted Reed Frog Hyperolius marmoratus6,710
  3. Cape River Frog Amietia fuscigula6,100
  4. Raucous Toad Sclerophrys capensis5,594
  5. Clicking Stream Frog Strongylopus grayii4,605
  6. African Red Toad Schismaderma carens2,672
  7. Common River Frog Amietia delalandii2,356
  8. Guttural Toad Sclerophrys gutturalis2,178
  9. Grey Foam-nest Tree Frog Chiromantis xerampelina1,902

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

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Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. KnowKi is not affiliated with the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. Free, with no ads, no account and no purchases.