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The Transkei region of the Eastern Cape has received little attention from mammalian ecologists. This paper describes the presence and absence of mammalian species in Fremont, Pondoland and south coast indigenous forests using variable width transects and explores the causes of observed differences. The region maintains a rich and diverse mammalian fauna, although differences between forest types exist. Ungulates (bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus; common duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia; and blue duiker, Cephalophus monticola)and fossorially-foraging (bushpigs, porcupines and moles/molerats) species are relatively more abundant in south coast forests than in Afromontane or Pondoland forest types. This may be explained by the management practices of these nature reserves compared to state forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]