Key Species

KwaZulu-Natal supports an extraordinary richness of fauna and flora across its diverse landscapes. The province's protected areas harbour over 650 bird species, including 49 of South Africa's 62 Red Data bird species. Iconic mammals such as elephants, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, and buffalo roam parks like Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, while critically endangered species like Pickersgill's reed frog depend on the province's wetlands for survival.

From the nesting beaches of loggerhead and leatherback turtles along the iSimangaliso coast to the montane forests sheltering the Samango monkey and Cape Parrot, KZN's species diversity is unmatched. The province also boasts over 750 tree species — eleven times more than all of Europe — and supports endemic flora including the Lebombo cycad and the Hilton daisy.