Get close enough to the Speckled Tortoise and you’ll see its distinguishing features: forefeet with five toes and a striking orange-brown shell peppered with black speckles. However, approaching them is no small feat. These reclusive reptiles are known for their shyness, and you’ll have to set your alarm early to catch a glimpse of them during their most active hours.

Native to South Africa, the Speckled Tortoise proudly holds the title of the world's tiniest tortoise. In the rocky outcrops, they feed on small succulents that grow between the rocks, and these nooks double up as perfect hideaways from predators. The delicate trails they make through the underbrush has earned the Speckled Tortoise the affectionate nickname ‘padloper’, originally meaning “path-walker” in Afrikaans.