Africa Wild

Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus

Afrikaans: Jagluiperd Tswana: Lengau Nama/Damara: !Arub

Where will you find us?
Open areas - riverbeds and on ridge looking down to riverbed

When will you see us?
Mostly day time but can be active during the night, specially in Kgalagadi.

What's on the menu?
Hares, antelope and ostrich

How big do we get?
Shoulder height: ♂ ± 87 cm and ♀ ± 86 cm
Mass: ♂ and ♀ 55 - 59 kg

When will you see our babies?
Gestation period 90 - 95 days; litter 2 - 4

Follow my spoor:
9 cm long and markings from nails visible

by Mel

by Toko

by ExFmem

by Duke

by Michele Nel
Caster with Kill. May 2011.

by nan
The last picture of Caster with her last Young ... with a kill

by Tina
Lisette between Batulama and Montrose September 2013
(c) Lisbeth

(c) Dindingwe


by Peter Betts

Caracal
Felis caracal

Afrikaans: Rooikat Tswana: Thwane Nama/Damara: !Hab, ǀApa ǀhôab

Where will you find us?
Open savannah

When will you see us?
Mostly night time, but can be seen during day time.

What's on the menu?
Rodents to small antelope

How big do we get?
Shoulder height: ♂ ± 44 cm and ♀ ± 42 cm
Mass: ♂ and ♀ 16 kg

When will you see our babies?
Gestation period 75 days; litter 2 kittens

Follow my spoor:
5 - 6 cm long

Photo submitted by Mel



Caracal by Duke

by Michele Nel
A Caracal trying to catch it's supper at Marie se Gat

by nan
try to hide....

by nan
you have big claws

by ExFmem
Oct. 2010 Between KK and Urikaruus

by Tina
around Leeuwdril September 2012

Links: Louis Liebenberg: A Photographic Guide to Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa

African Wild Cat
Felis lybica

Afrikaans: Vaalboskat Tswana: Phage Nama/Damara: !Garo ǀ hôab

Where will you find us?
Thickest - lookout for us in Camel thorn trees

When will you see us?
Day and night time, but mostly shy and nocturnal

What's on the menu?
Rodents, birds, reptiles, insects, hares and wild fruits.

How big do we get?
Shoulder height: ♂ ± 36 cm and ♀ ± 34 cm
Mass: ♂ and ♀ 5 - 6 kg

When will you see our babies?
Gestation period 56 - 60 days.

Follow my spoor:
3 cm long similar to kitty at home.

by Mel

by ExFmem

by Duke

by Lisbeth
Believe it or not, but this is a African wildcat

This one is better by Lisbeth
Nov. 2017 Not far from KTC going south

by Duke

by nan
near Mata Mata - 17.9.2012

by Tina
near Dalkeith September 2012

by Michele Nel
Nossob Riverbed

Links: Louis Liebenberg: A Photographic Guide to Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa

Brown Hyaena
Hyaena brunnea

Afrikaans: Strandjut / Bruin Hiëna Tswana: Tlonkana Nama/Damara: ǂHiras

Where will you find us?
Open savannah, lies up in antbear holes by day

When will you see us?
Night time, shy and nocturnal

What's on the menu?
Mostly carrion

How big do we get?
Shoulder height: ♂ ± 79 cm and ♀ ± 76 cm
Mass: ♂ and ♀ 50 - 60 kg

When will you see our babies?
Gestation period 90 days: 2 -3 pups

Follow my spoor:
8.5 - 10 cm long

by ExFmem

by Mel

by Duke

by Michele Nel
Two brown hyenas having an argument...Kaspersdraai.

by Tina
Grootkolk, September 2012
by Lisbeth
Nov. 2017 - Grootkolk

(c) nan

(c) Dindingwe

© harrys

Links: M. G. L. Mills, Heribert Hofer, IUCN/SSC Hyaena Specialist Group: Hyaenas

Brown Hyaena Spoor

Follow my spoor:
8.5 - 10 cm long

Spotted Hyaena
Crocuta crocuta

Afrikaans: Gevlekte Hiëna Tswana: Phiri Nama/Damara: Gara ǂ Hiras

Where will you find us?
Open savannah.

When will you see us?
During day and night time.

What's on the menu?
Carrion and antelope as large as Gemsbok

How big do we get?
Shoulder height: ♂ ± 76 cm and ♀ ± 78 cm
Mass: ♂ and ♀ 50 - 85 kg

When will you see our babies?
Gestation period 105 days: 2 -3 pups

Follow my spoor:
9 - 11 cm long

by Toko

by Mel

by Duke

by nan
a bit South of Urikaruus - 24.9.2012

by ExFmem
Oct. 2009 North of Urikaruus

by Tina
Lijersdraai, October 2013
by Lisbeth
Nov. 2017 - Grootkolk

(c) Dindingwe

© harrys


Links: M. G. L. Mills, Heribert Hofer, IUCN/SSC Hyaena Specialist Group: Hyaenas

Black-backed Jackal
Canis mesomelas

Afrikaans: Rooijakkals Tswana: Phokojwe Nama/Damara: ǀ Girib, ǀ gireb

Where will you find us?
Open savannah.

When will you see us?
Mainly nocturnal, but often spotted during day time.

What's on the menu?
Carrion, rodents, reptiles, birds, insects, eggs, fruit and hares. Will prey on young / injured antelope.

How big do we get?
Shoulder height: ♂ ± 39 cm and ♀ ± 37 cm
Mass: ♂ and ♀ up to 13 kg

When will you see our babies?
Gestation period 60 days: up to 6 pups

Follow my spoor:
5 cm long

by Toko

Photo by Lisbeth


by Mel

by ExFmem

by ExFmem
Jackal mom on moving day

(c) Dindingwe

by Tina
Craig Lockhart October 2013

by Michele Nel
Nossob Riverbed, Jan 2016


Links: Clive Walker: Signs of the Wild

Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis

Afrikaans: Ratel Tswana: Matswani / Matshwane Nama/Damara: ǀ Harebab, ǀ Hareseb

Where will you find us?
Open areas. Often seen together with black-backed jackals and southern pale chanting goshawk

When will you see us?
Mostly nocturnal, but can be seen during day time during the colder months.

What's on the menu?
Honey, birds, reptiles, eggs, ground nesting birds, insects, reptiles, larvae of dung beetle, scorpions and wild fruits.

How big do we get?
Shoulder height: ♂ ± 27 cm and ♀ ± 26 cm
Length: 80 cm
Mass: ♂ and ♀ 9 - 12 kg

When will you see our babies?
Gestation period 180 days

Follow my spoor:
Forefoot long and broad, 5,5 long, hind foot shorter, nail marks extended from the sole.

by nan
23.3.2013

by ExFmem

by Duke

by Toko

by Tina
by Lisbeth
Nov. 2017 Somewhere between Craigh Lockhart and Kamqua
by Mel
Close to Leeuwdril, April 2018

Cape Fox
Vulpes chama

Afrikaans: Silvervos Tswana: Lesie Nama/Damara: !Khamab

Where will you find us?
Open savannah. Lives in burrows, but will also lie under dense scrub

When will you see us?
Mainly nocturnal, but often spotted during day time.

What's on the menu?
Small mammals such as rodents, birds, insects, eggs of ground birds.

How big do we get?
Shoulder height: ♂ ± 33 cm and ♀ ± 32 cm
Mass: ♂ and ♀ 3,6 - 4,5 kg

When will you see our babies?
Gestation period 56 days: 3 - 5 pups

Follow my spoor:
5 cm long

by ExFmem

by Mel

by Duke

by nan
12.9.2009 - Auob river south

by Tina
near Urikaruus September 2012

by Lisbeth
Nov. 2017 - Urikaruus


© harrys

Links: Clive Walker: Signs of the Wild

Bat-eared Fox
Otocyon megalotis

Afrikaans: Bakoorvos Tswana: Thlose Nama/Damara: ‖Āb

Where will you find us?
Open grassy areas Lives in burrows.

When will you see us?
Both nocturnal and diurnal.

What's on the menu?
Termites, small rodents, ground nesting birds, insects, small reptiles, larvae and fruits.

How big do we get?
Shoulder height: ♂ ± 29 cm and ♀ ± 30 cm
Mass: ♂ and ♀ 2,5 - 4 kg

When will you see our babies?
Gestation period 60 - 70 days

Follow my spoor:
3,5 - 4 cm long

by Mel

by ExFmem

by Duke

by nan
20.1.2012 - Auob river, around Urikaruus

by Tina
Nossob September 2012
By Lisbeth
Nov. 2017 Between TR e Kij Kij

(c) Dindingwe


Video by Toko:


Links: Clive Walker: Signs of the Wild