Night noise

[Richprins]

Ratels!


I can only guess...

[Peter Betts]

If it sounds like an Impala then its a leopard ...same sound ..or it could be an Impala ..Either one sounds the same ..sawing wood sound of the leopard and the rutting grate of an Impala ram ..Indistinguishable to the untrained ear

[Peter Betts]

Ratels make a mewing sound and normally they are silent but they are very noisy walkers thudding around at night

[ubhejane]

If it sounds like an Impala then its a leopard ...same sound ..or it could be an Impala ..Either one sounds the same ..sawing wood sound of the leopard and the rutting grate of an Impala ram ..Indistinguishable to the untrained ear

Thanks Peter Betts. It wasn't a sawing wood sound. It sounded like a very short, sharp explosion of air. It could have been an impala warning I suppose but it didn't really sound like an impala. Short and very sharp.

[Peter Betts]

An Impala warning is similar to all other antelope warning snorts

[Sprocky]

Possibly a Puff Adder.

[ubhejane]

OK thanks Peter and Sprocky. I think the mystery may have been solved - an antelope (think a puff-adder is more of a hiss than this) - or may remain unsolved until I hear it again and can record it . . . .

[Bushcraft]

Definitely not a ratel

Possibly an impala or a nyala alarm call for a hyena as there's plenty of all 3 in camp

There are many bushpig that cruise around camp at night but they have a "deep low growl" as an alarm call.

It could be a zebra alarm call as they hang around in the tented section at night - google and see if it sounds the same

[Peter Betts]