Drakensberg guide

Fauna | Wildlife

Fauna of the lower slopes
Mountain grassland and river valleys support antelope such as eland, mountain reedbuck and grey rhebok. Wildlife varies with habitat and altitude. The famous recovery of the southern white rhino is associated with other KwaZulu-Natal reserves, particularly Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, rather than this mountain park.

Antelope found in the Drakensberg include:
- Eland (Taurotragus oryx)
- Reedbuck (Redunca arundinum)
- Mountain Reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula)
- Grey Rhebok (Pelea capreolus)
- Oribi (Ourebia ourebi)
Frogs occur in a range of grassland and wetland habitats in the wider region. Examples include:
- Long-toed Tree Frog (Leptopelis xenodactylus), associated with wetlands in the southern KwaZulu-Natal highlands.
- Plaintive Rain Frog (Breviceps verrucosus), which occurs along the eastern escarpment and in adjacent habitats. Older sources sometimes list Breviceps maculatus separately; it is now treated as the same species.
Fauna of the high peaks
The Drakensberg supports a rich birdlife, including mountain specialists. UNESCO highlights the park’s importance for both Cape and bearded vultures.

Notable bird species found in the Drakensberg are:
- Mountain Pipit (Anthus hoeschi)
- Bush Blackcap (Sylvia nigricapillus)
- Buff-streaked Chat (Campicoloides bifasciatus)
- Rudd's Lark (Heteromirafra ruddi)
- Drakensberg Rockjumper (Chaetops aurantius)
- Drakensberg Siskin (Crithagra symonsi)
- Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) or Lammergeier
- Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)
- Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)
Mammals include:
- Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus)
- Eland (Taurotragus oryx)
- Mountain Reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula)
River frogs of the Maloti-Drakensberg include:
- Phofung River Frog (Amietia hymenopus).
- Maluti River Frog (Amietia vertebralis).
- Delalande’s River Frog (Amietia delalandii), which includes the frog previously listed as Amietia dracomontana.
Fish found in the region’s rivers and streams include the native Maluti redfin and introduced trout:
- Maluti Redfin (Pseudobarbus quathlambae), a native fish of the Lesotho highlands and adjacent South Africa. A South African population was rediscovered in research published in 2017. Introduced fish, including trout, threaten its survival.
- Brown Trout
- Rainbow Trout