Some of the main habitats of Southern Africa, with reference to the birds and animals that live in them.
Grassland Habitat
South Africa's ever-shrinking grassland habitats support a varied and highly interesting avifauna component, including a high proportion of endemic species. Grasslands are maintained by a combination of relatively high summer rainfall, regular fires and very cold winters. Grassland topography varies considerably, ranging from flat plains to more rugged mountainous terrain.
The high-altitude grasslands (1500 - 200+ metres a.s.l) extend from the Eastern Cape up along the inner rim of the escarpment to the Olifants River region in Limpopo Province. Inland, to the west, they extend as far as the western Free State and then gradually dry out to become arid savannah and karoo. The highest altitudes occur in the Drakensberg and Maluti Mountains (3000 meters +), where a sub-alpine habitat occurs from 1850 metres and higher. Three bird species are restricted to this habitat, namely Drakensberg Rockjumper, Mountain Pipit and Drakensberg Siskin. 
Open, medium-altitude grasslands are made up of sweet, sour and mixed grassland types. Many birds show a clear preference for sour grasslands (including several which are endemic to South Africa) such as Southern Bald Ibis, Red-winged Francolin, Black-winged Lapwing, Rudd's and Botha's Larks, Blue Swallow (endangered as a direct result of grassland habitat loss), Buff-streaked Chat, Pale-crowned Cisticola and Yellow-breasted Pipit. Melodious Lark and South African Cliff Swallow are among the species that prefer the sweet and mixed grasslands. Blue Crane, Barrows and Blue Korhaans are other sought-after grassland species. Within the grasslands the hill slopes are usually strewn with rocks and Protea tree species and pockets of Evergreen Forest grow in the gullies, providing additional bird habitats.
Grassland mammals include blesbok, grey rhebok, common and mountain reedbuck and oribi.
Forest Habitat
 South Africa has various types of forest habitats and all support a varied species-component. From the evergreen forests with their closed canopies, resplendent with mosses, ferns and orchids, to the highly unique sand forests of Zululand, forests in South Africa offer some of the most challenging yet highly rewarding birding experiences.
Sand forests occur on old sand dunes and are characterised by low canopy height and dense, scrubby understory. Specials to be found in the sand forests of northern KwaZulu-Natal include African Broadbill, Woodward's Batis, Eastern Nicator, Crested Guineafowl, Neergard's Sunbird and Pink-throated Twinspot. This already localised habitat is severely threatened, especially outside the protected areas.
Apart from sand forest, there are three other distinct forest types in South Africa.
Afro-montane forest is typically found at high altitudes in the interior of the country and especially along the eastern escarpment. In the south it is found on the temperate coastal plain, with the remnant patches known as the Knysna and Tsitsikamma Forests. Endemic afro-montane forest birds include Knysna Woodpecker, Bush Blackcap, Chorister Robin-Chat, Knysna Warbler, Forest Canary, Forest Buzzard and Knysna Turaco.
Coastal / Lowland forests are more tropical in nature and generally extend southwards down the eastern seaboard from southern Mozambique to the Eastern Cape Province. These two different forest types (afro-montane and coastal / lowland) are different enough to have some species of birds that occur in one or the other but not both. Special lowland / coastal forest species include Green Malkoha, Spotted Ground-Thrush and Grey Sunbird.
Riverine forest is found in much of the non-arid regions of Southern Africa and is associated with the wetter conditions along watercourses, and particularly the major east-flowing rivers. Riverine forests typically support a rich diversity of woodland species, but several that are associated with the wetter forests can also be found in this riparian habitat.
Other species that can be seen in South African forests include Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, African Crowned Eagle, Wood Owl, White-starred Robin, Lemon Dove, Cape Parrot (critically endangered), Orange Ground Thrush, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike, Emerald Cuckoo and Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher.
Mammals are scarce in forests, but include Samango monkey, suni (a small forest antelope), red duiker, and blue duiker (South Africa's smallest antelope).
Woodland and Savanna Habitat
 These are probably the richest bird and wildlife habitats in South Africa. The open habitat, abundance of birds and their relatively bold nature makes it a superb birding region. Often refereed to colloquially as ‘bushveld', these habitats are found below 1500 metres a.s.l and are made up of scattered trees and bushes, usually lower than 10 metres in height, with substantial areas of grass in between. Thorn trees are prevalent, especially those of the Acacia genus. It can vary between more woodland and grassland savannah, with the underlying geology largely determining the tree and bush cover (coarse granitic soils tend towards woodland while fine basaltic soils tend towards grassland). Savannah can be further divided into thornveld (dominated by Acacia trees) and broad-leaved savannah (with Brachyste gia and Terminalia tree species).
 The savannah holds particularly high numbers and diversity of raptors, with no fewer than five resident vulture species and seven large eagles (excluding the Palearctic and Intra-African migrants). Other birds are abundant, with some notables including the brilliant Lilac-breasted Roller, White-fronted Bee-eater, Southern White-crowned Shrike, Southern Yellow-billed, Red-billed and Grey Hornbills, White-crested and Retz's Helmet-Shrikes, assorted woodpeckers and barbets, starlings (including the unique African ‘glossy' starlings), weavers and sunbirds. Terrestrial birds are well represented, and include the Khori Bustard, Southern Ground Hornbill, Common Ostrich, Double-banded Sand-Grouse, various coursers and francolins.
 
Wetland Habitats
 Wetlands consist of marshes, inundated floodplains, swamps, seasonal and ephemeral pans. All provide habitats for incredible bird life and are some of the most globally important-habitats.
Pans are generally shallow depressions that are filled with water during the wet season and ultimately dry out as the seasons change. Their seasonal nature and filling / drying out routine and shallow, warm waters mean sudden nutrient blooms and high productivity. This attracts water-associated birds of all descriptions, including ducks, herons, spoonbills, storks, pelicans, cormorants, darters, ibises, plovers, snipes, sand-pipers and other waders. The vegetated margins also attract many species, such as weavers, warblers, kingfishers and skulking reed-dwellers such as little and dwarf bitterns. 
Floodplains occur on many lowland rivers, such as the Pongola River in Zululand. When inundated they provide refuge and feeding areas for countless young fish from the main channels and also attract the above-mentioned water birds.
Marshes and upland wetlands are less seasonal in nature and also support a wonderful array of birdlife, including the rare Wattled and Grey-crowned Cranes, African Rail, Greater Bittern, Marsh Owl, White-winged and Red-chested Flufftails.
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