SANParks.org Forums

Hi,
Most times it was early , before sunrise. Listen out for the jackals as they will make a noise if a leopard is in the area.

Hi Forumites!

Any updates on the 'residents' of KTP? We are due to take a trip soon and therefore eager for any info!

Thanx.

Resident Cape Cobra at Melkvlei. Next to picknic spot. Gave us a nasty fright in December 2008.

Some folks think that the Flying Dutchman is a ship, my SO knows better after seeing me jump onto the picknic table.

WOW! You made a giant jump into the future, right?

Thanx for the update 'Flying Dutchman'! We will keep a careful lookout for the cobra when we are there.

christelsabine wrote "WOW! You made a giant jump into the future, right?"

Eish - typing error . Should have read "December 2007". Sounds like a case of "Back to the future"

Hi! I was wondering if anyone could update this thread (again!) - I will be in SA & KTP for the first time next month (bursting with excitement!) ... at KK, MM and Urikaruus. Especially interested to know where I can find meerkats/suricates actually ... are they easily seen? I also read somewhere about visiting genets in either KK or Urikaruus or both, anyone encountered them recently?

Thanks!!

I can hear your excitement - FANTASTIC ....

You can have a look at these resent trip reports for information.


1. http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopi ... highlight=

2. http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopi ... highlight=

3. http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopi ... highlight=

4. http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopi ... highlight=

5. http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopi ... highlight=

6. http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopi ... highlight=

Enjoy

Meerkats are hard to come by
Seen a family near Kamfersboom
And the Cape Cobra is still around Dikbaardskolk
Together with the slender mongoose

Meerkats near Munro & Auchterlonie in the riverbed, in Jan and in May this year - whenever you see ground squirrels, look carefully for meerkats , they are often see in the same vicinity. Very often active in the heat of the day. I read that they do leave for the dunes in winter.

The resident genet at Urikaruus camp is still there (May) and is not frightened of humans, sit quietly in the kitchen with the 'door' open, and it will visiti - pack all food away at night !!! Not sure if they are active in winter?

Apparently there is a meerkat den in Twee Rivieren near the day visitors area. That was a couple years ago - not sure if it's still active.

Thanks for all the helpful replies!! I really do hope we get to see the meerkats ... I promised to find them to my SO (who I am dragging for the first time in Africa!!) - but then I also told him that it is highly unlikely to encounter any snakes (he hates them) maybe I will try to avoid Dikbaardskolk then :-)

Something tells me I might have some spectacular snake sightings considering I shall be travelling with someone that doesn't like them.

Hi everybody. New to this site but not new to camping/parks/outdoor life.
Btdt for some 30 years.
Am asking help to identify a beautiful animal I recently saw at Richtersberg.
Unfortunately no pictures as it was late at night.
The animal was "long" and catlike with a thick coat of hair. Had a small but beautiful face with large eyes and biggish ears, more rounded than pointed. The body was covered in long thick hair and in the fire light it looked like wide brown stripes running across, not down the body. Same stripes on the thick rather long bushy tail.
Came up to the fire and sniffed around. Didnt see us sitting stock still but eventually smelled us, had a good look at my face from 2 meters away and then ran off.
Its not a mongoose, neither a pole cat nor a wild cat.
Maybe a civet?
Any help and pictures of course will be much appreciated.
Thx.

Hi Damdan,

It might have been a civet, they are very curious creatures. Thye've stolen a piece of meat of our table when we hiked the Otter Hiking Trail 2 years ago, so they become "used" to people and are not as afraid as normal.

It also may have been a Genet, but they are more spotty.

Was it looking something like this?Not the best pic but still a pic!