There are so many animals in the Kruger National Park that people dont usually notice the odd balls, the strange looking animals that have their 0wn unique story to tell.
1. The Aardwolf
Unlike its namesake, the Aarwolf isn’t a wolf but rather an estranged member of the hyena family. This small animal is a very solitary creature that lives nocturnally. It has a cream-white coloured fur with vertical black lines that run down along its body. It stands a 50 cm at shoulder height and weighs about 12 kg. The Aardwolf isn’t an animal that eats meat but rather feeds entirely on insects. This animal is very rare because its only active at night and you will never see a group of them moving together as they only come together to mate. You could get lucky at spotting one while on one of Vula Safaris’ Kruger Safaris.
2. The Pangolin
The Pangolin is a very rare and endangered species of Anteater. The Pangolin is completely covered in extremely hardened scales except for the head, stomach and inner legs. The pangolin measures a metre in length and weighs 18kg. The pangolin, as mentioned, is an anteater which means it feeds on both termites and ants by using its long and sticky tongue to sweep the insets up in huge amounts. The Pangolin is very high on the endangered animals list as it is being poached for its scales that is sold for a large variety of reasons, from medical ingredients to specialized meals. This animal is an amazing sight to see while on a Kruger Park Safari but are extremely rare.
3. The Wild Dog
Unlike the other animals in this list, the Wild Dog is a more well-known member of the Kruger National Park. The Wild Dog is a member of the dog family and is a real treat to see when on Kruger Park Safaris. The Wild Dog has a dusty brown coat with a variety of different colours covering it, ranging from brown, white black or white. They are very social animals and have a very well-developed social structure. The Wild Dogs hunt at Sunset or Sunrise and seldom during a full moon. They prefer hunting antelope and favour Impala as their choice of prey.
4. The Bat Eared Fox
The Bat Eared Fox is an interesting looking species of fox that can be found in the more arid areas of the Kruger National Park. The fox has a silvery grey coat, that is very fluffy, a black bushy tail and very large ears. The Bat Eared fox is a rather small animal, standing at 300mm at shoulder height and only weigh about 5 kg. Though the Bat Eared Fox is a nocturnal animal, there have been cases where they have been seen during Kruger Safaris. The males defend the burrows where the young are found while the female goes foraging. These animals have a funny habit of walking with their ears facing the ground, like metal detectors, so they can listen for insects underground
5. African Civet
The African Civet is a very strange looking animal that is rarely seen in the Kruger National Park during Kruger Park Safaris. The Civet has a very dense short coat that is greyish in colour with black spots that run in rows down the body. The Civet is a rather solitary animal that has a very secretive life. It only interacts with other Civets during Mating season but do have a variety of ways to communicate at long distances. The Civet doesn’t like arid areas and prefers living in wooded areas where there are lots of cover against predators.
