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Don't get me wrong, I love the charismatic megafauna (I saw two leopards the other night and about peed my pants from excitement). But, sometimes, it's the little ones about which I get most excited. There are 5 little creatures in particular that I would like to see come this July during my 2-week Kruger tour. I'm well aware they're incredibly difficult to find and scarcely (if ever) seen, either because they're quite rare or quite secretive - but perhaps someone has seen one or two of these and can lend some advice about where to see them? In no particular order, my little five:

1. Serval
2. Caracal
3. Ratel (Honey Badger)
4. Aardvark
5. Pangolin (do these things seriously exist? I've never even heard of someone seeing a wild one, much less seeing one myself!)

I'm doing research in Kenya for the next 4 months and hope to run into a least one or two of these little beasties, but it would be fantastic to meet a couple of them in Kruger, as well!

I've seen only one of your list. The Pangolin , allthough it was not in Kruger. We bumped into one during a walking safari in Hwange NP Zimbabwe back in 1999. They roll up to a ball when they sense danger. So we could come real close (1 meter).



I wish you all the luck with your "little 5"!

I've seen serval in the loops around Pretoriuskop and also around Lower Sabie.

Ratel I've only seen three. One on the S100 and two drinking at pools next to the road near Satara.

so they do exist!

there was a Pangolin seen on Orpen cam recently
go check out the thread.

Hi All
Honey Badger Ive seen often on S110 halfway to Bergndal and H3 near S120 junction and almost every trip in the last 6 years Iv seen them just past Satara on H1-4 between Witpens and Ntomeni. Serval Ive only seen once on the S112 on the way to Renosterkoppies between Skukuza and Afsaal. There were some honeybadgers some years back that used to raid the fridges at orpen dont know if they are still around.
enjoy your trip

Hi Fishing owl,

I can only help you with serval and honey-badger . Have both seen them (serval hunting and 2 honeydagers on 2 occasions) around Satara, so I guess you can include Satara to yout initiary Have seen the serval on the s100, the honey-badgers on the s41 and H1-4 respectively

Nice list you got there, I would LOVE to see the others as- well

Monné

Best bet is a night ride from Lower Sabie towards Duke dam. Also often seen on night rides fom Talamati

Go to Addo instead

Go to Kgalagadi instead

Good Luck!

Forget it!

Anybody seen any of these little guys lately?

Hi Fishing owl. I have seen honey badgers on the H1-2 between the 2 low level bridges.
Serval : I have not seen them for many years in Kruger. Last saw one near P.KOP
Carakul: I have never seen in Kruger
Aardvark and Pangolin: Goodluck

RE: honey badger: Your safest bet is to book a night at Orpen and sit up late or wake up early and wait for the clatter of a dustbin being overturned! Its not shy!

Fishing Owl,

Found Caracal on s100 in the pouring rain.
Talamati also seems to be a favoured spot.

Aardvark / pangolin:
Surely you jest?!?!?!

(Photo by MM, near Orpen)

Have a look at the post about it.

HAHA FishingOwl, like you said it would be very difficult to spot these animals but it is possible!!!

Ive seen 3 of your list in my time going to KNP.

On my last trip only saw the Serval and the HB.
The serval was on a sunset drive from LS on the H-10.
The HB was seen in Tamboti.

good luck and I hope you get to see some of these creatures!!

hey fishing owl

I have seen three of the animals on your list, serval i have seen about four times mostly near satara, ratel i have seen quite a few times especially in orpen camp years ago haven stayed there for a long time and just last year saw a honey badger near punda maria.

caracal i have seen one in kruger many years ago near letaba, actually very close to the camp.

I hope i can find a pangolin one day!!