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I can't seem to find any pics at the mo but i agree Maroela area is renowned for the BBJ.

I have also had success on many occassions near Olifants. There is a small unmarked depression which has formed just as you get onto the S93 sand road (coming from Olifants on tar road turning right) where the road forks to go either onto the S93 or the S44. Have been going to the same place for years just before gate closing time as the area looks beautiful in the final rays of sunlight. There's often no water in the depressions (infact only seen water there once) but I have seen BBJ's there on at least 3 occassions for no particular reason... probably a den! Have also seen hyenas there on two occassions in early morning and late evening!

As for side-striped jackal, I have only seen two in Kruger... one at Matjulu waterhole near Berg-en-dal -s110- (Brief sighting) and a great sighting of one in the open at Malopenyana waterhole on the H1-6 between Letaba and Mopani!

P.S. Orpen often has a resident BBJ patrolling the fence and we saw him/her on one occassion inside the camp near the oasis cottage !

I'm staying there Hope I see it!

Please let me know if im the only one who battles to come across BBJs!

As a kid, every day was almost guaranteed to produce at least one sighting.

My last 3 trips (different times of the year, different camps) have yielded none

Even when we stay at Orpen or Tambotie (notorious for frequent sightings), we have no luck.

Strange... (or just incredibly bad luck!)

You're not the only one. In three trips to KNP I've only seen two... But then again in KTP you see one every kilometer. I think SANParks uses them as mobile markers...

Couple of years back we saw a herd of Eland in KGNP [pre-KTP], about 30 strong. It was mid winter and what sometimes happened was that herds came in from deep Botswana [where at that point they didn't often see cars] anyway we think we saw one of these herds. As we approached the whole herd jump over the road in a single bound from a standing position. What was so funny was that there was a BBJ on the other side, he crouched as low as possible as 120 hooves with a total weight of ±19 000kg landed on every side of him. while it was totally awesome, it was actually quite funny.

I'm sure the BBJ didn't find it so funny.

I have to agree with DuQues. In Kruger I don't often see them, but KTP is vrot (rotten) with them. :-)

- Craig

I usually see two to three BBJ on a trip lasting for 7 days.
I find the S90 and S41 are usually productive for sightings of these interesting predators/scavengers.

Our our last trip the only place we saw them was on the tar section leading to the Pafuri Border Post.

Had a pair run across the gravel track just by Dukes Waterhole in Novermber this year. Will post photos once I have them all sorted out

Mike Goss

Have also seen hardly any... Last time we saw one was on the H7 to Orpen.

One of the most intelligent animals on the planet

This taken at Mashikiri Windmill on the way to Pafuri end September.

It would be interesting to know if anyone has seen them further North?!

Taken on the Red Rocks loop July this year.

Nice one Yolande...

I must admit I have been very fortunate with BBJ sightings over the last year especially in the Satara area.

Dotdan, we've also seen more this last year that ever before. But they hardly ever stand still long enough for a pic