SANParks.org Forums

Hey guys

So there is something bothering me, in the last couple years, i've noticed that the number of Jackal sightings in the Kruger have decreased, well i have certainly haven'd seen many jackals in the last couple years. I'm talking about the Southern section of the park.

Has anyone else noticed this or is it just my luck running out? Wondering what you guys think

In general I do not see many around the south, but saw a side striped hunting guinea fowl just outside skukuza last month.

Can't say I've seen many in the southern areas of the park but around the Orpen area their numbers seem to be good.
I have in recent weeks seen a few in the early mornings.

Yeah, but a couple years ago i would see a couple each trip but now i dont think ive seen any in the last few trips and if so, its only one

My experience is that there are more jackal sightings in recent years.

We mostly visit KNP in early winter and mostly the central areas but
being Natalian, we have to drive up through the Southern part where
we have noticed all game becoming more difficult to spot due to taller
grass and bush thickening. [ Thanks to higher rainfall due to climate
change.]

So it stands to reason that spotting small
game such as jackal will become more difficult.

I see side-striped regularly.

Maybe its just my luck then, thought i'd just ask the forum what they thought

Hey timbo

I saw them more than once a day around the central regions of the park in June
H7, Rabaleis road, S127, H1-4

I have seen fewer jackal my last couple trips as well, although I think it may have to do with the fact that they have been up north. Usually see plenty in satara/orpen area and the H10

Black Backed I have seen them on the open grassland areas.
Perhaps it is the jackal sticking to the terrain type?

I have seen side striped on the causaway road near Shing

We seem to go in stages when we see BBJ's, in fact I had just commented on how long it had been since we had last seen them, when 2 years ago we counted 7 in the distance between just before Letaba and the Phalaborwa gate.

In Feb this year, we saw a remarkable 7 together just before Orpen!
caused a traffic jam of note I can tell you with jackals, cars and buses all over the place.

We saw quite a few this May up North but they seemed very skittish and every one of them without fail dashed off into the long grass before we could even get a pic, quite strange?