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AFRICAN CIVET
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family: Viverridae
Subfamily:Viverrinae
Genus:Civettictis
Species:C. civetta
The African Civet is a member of the viverridae family native to Africa.Its coarse coat varies but is usually an ornate pattern of black and white contrasting bands and blotches, with a white face mask and black eye patches (like that of a raccoon) and a pale muzzle. Like all civets it has perianal glands that produce a fluid known as civetone (used in the perfume industry), which it spreads on markers in its territory to claim its range. The African Civet is an omnivorous generalist, taking both small vertebrates, invertebrates, eggs, carrion, and vegetable matter. It is capable of taking on poisonous invertebrates (such as the millipedes most other species avoid) and snakes, and tackling large prey items such as mongooses and hares. It forages by itself, and is a mostly solitary animal that avoids the presence of others of its species.

(Wikipedia and Kingdom field guide of mammals)

We have seen one crossing the road near Satara. Unfortunately no pics.
He was very shy and it was raining too.

Was on a sunset drive in Satara on Saturday night. Did the S100 & only thing of note that we saw was a civet.

My 1st ever , unforgettable !

Pics not too good bcoz of light.

Great pics WH

Punda Maria Hide over looking the little dam Saw two civet there, aswel as Genet and Buffalo one night.

Seen civet on various night drives, and one came and ate some chicken heads and feet that some guy was throwing over the fence at Satara while I was looking for Barred Owlet-----Unfortunate that he was breaking the rules, but still an unforgettable experience watching a civet sitting in the open for an hour or so, less then 5 metres away, until it was later chased away by a Spottie!

There is a pair of civets active most nights below below the verandah at the Lowwer Sabie Shop I saw them 4 nights in a row while staying there in September mostly about 21h00.

You really had a lot of good sightings up in Kruger Well DOne!

thanks... I note... for next time

Never seen one, but definately going

I went on a night ride from Biyamiti one night and my dad, Jerry Hattrick, chose to stay behind to do a braai. When I got back and told him of the ride, and I then asked him if he had seen anything. He told me there was nothing except this b&*&%y cat that was snooping around the braai, but he chased it off. I told him there were no domestic cats in Kruger, and asked him to describe it. He had chased off a civet!

Lovely pics ...I believe I saw one at Oliphants but the photo I got is so dark...point and shoot camera ,very early morning and I don't know how to doctor the picture but here it is perhaps one of you clever people can sort it out..

Edit by DQ:


And while I'm editing anyway, here a 'little' doctored version:

Dotty, Great sighting regardless of the dark photo

This one visited us every night at safari tent #2 at Punda, 24th - 26th Oct

Lovely photo, Freda.

Tent number 2

Very nice photo there Freda!! A beautiful creature that Civet is!!!

Some of the best sightings are INSIDE the camps - great shot Freda, did you see the story about JH above?

Serval in Mopani.