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Hello all
I am a Kruger Park addict!! And as most I love seeing the big cats! I am yet to see Cheetah
However, more than seeing the big cats in Kruger, I wish I could see the small cats!!

Caracal
Serval
African Wild Cat
Genet

And I was thinking we could start a topic to share your sightings of these little kitties in Kruger Many might not have heard of these animals! Personally I have only seen a Genet. Which tried to steal the meat of our braai at Berg En Dal Sorry no pic I have most likely not mentioned all the little kitties! Feel free to add to the list

We saw a serval and AWC on a recent sunset drive from Lower Sabie.

Larger version

Larger version

We also had the amazing sight of a civet crossing over the road in front of us one morning while we were travelling between Punda Maria and Shingwedzi. No photos though, it was too quick.

Great pics saraf That must have been a wonderful sunset drive

We were really lucky to see a servel on our very first visit to KNP. Not a great pic but still loved seeing it. This was on the loop close to Lower Sabie just coming in to sunset.


We also got to see a beautiful sighting of a AWC the same trip. We turned a corner on the S100 one very misty morning at first light and he was standing right in the road - just there for a second, so no time for a photo.

We saw a genet on several occasions while waiting at the gate in Skukuza in the morning. It was always fleeting - but still special.

This little Genet came to visit us at Punda Maria. He thought he would like to join us for our braai.
Of course we didn't let him.




Last night we saw a SERVAL near the restaurant at Skukuza!!
Sadly no picture.

Nice thread

I've seen all of them in KNP

1. Caracal - only once on a night drive - On the S100, about 15 km from Satara.


2. Serval - only once, very early in the morning - On the S30, north-east of Lower Sabie.


3. African Wild Cat - many, many times. We see them almost every trip. Odd trip out is the last trip to Lower Sabie, where we did not see one, but since we saw the serval, it more than made up for the missing AWC . Can't remember all the localities that we saw them, but two recent ones I remember are on the S40, just after Girivana waterhole 10 kms from Satara; and in the Letaba riverbed just outside Letaba Rest camp. Also often see them close to Shingwedzi. They don't pose for in the KNP though. Nicest pics I've got is from KTP, both in trees.


4. Genet - Punda Maria loop (night drive)


5. Civet - Punda Maria loop (night drive), Satara - S100 (night drive), Satara H 1-3 (very early morning on an overcast, rainy day)

Its amazing how these smaller cats are so often overlooked, people don't really get too excited about seeing these awesome creatures in their search for the big cats, which is a shame.

We have been somewhat unlucky with the AWC, with only one sighting (a pair of them) in a small bush in the open area next to the road (H1-4) north of Satara. A great sighting none the less as it was so close.

Serval is something that we have encountered fairly often. The Mlondozi loop has often shown these cats to us, as well as the area around Talamati and along the S36. I have personally never seen them anywhere else other than these two areas.

We have only seen Caracal twice in all the years.Our best sighting was on the H1-1 about 5 km south of Skukuza (I will post some pictures tomorrow ). Our only other sighting was on the H2-2, the old Voortrekker road approx 15km from Afsaal.

Civet should also be aded to this list me thinks?!

So fantastic to hear about these sightings
Seems Punda Maria and Satara are two prime areas for small cats

Right CIVET is now on the list!
Was not actually sure that a civet was from the cat family but now it is on the list

Serval
Caracel
African Wild Cat
Genet
Civet

Civet is most definitely not a cat , but for me it certainly is one of those smaller/as interesting mammals that are often overlooked and deserves a place on a list, maybe not on the small cats list, but certainly on a list with a number of these often overlooked mammals!!!

How could I forgett a caracal??? I have seen it only once during noon close to Skukuza. Maybe 200 m. But it was to quick only saw it for a few seconds. My Family could enjoy it longer. I had prpblems to spot it later on I aw this cat when it start moving but then it was too late.

Civets, Genets and Mongooses are all members of the Family: Viverridae.

Civets and Genets are members of the Viverrinae subfamily.

Mongooses are members of the Herpestinae subfamily.

All under the order Carnivora - predominantly flesh eaters with the smaller species eating insects and the Civet even eating large amounts of fruit.

Should you want to see Civets, it may cost a bit but go on the Metsi-Metsi Trail and you are almost guaranteed.

ON our trip to Kruger in January we saw Caracal running in front of our car, you cannot mistake that rich red brick colour and the tuffs on its ears. It took us 30 years to see one but I promise we did!!! He was just running too fast for me to video him, I have some footage but it is rather bumpy!!!

Regards Mama Faru

We saw this beauty near Malelane, (not anywhere near to Timfenheni.

gmlsmit what a pleasure!!
Looks like it had a lie down next to your car

I hate to do it, but here is one pic of the little beauties again, just in case everyone hasn't seen them before!