Kalahari Trails has recorded over 46 species. Many of these species will never be seen if you are not walking or doing night drives in the wild. Kalahari Trails offer some unique experiences to get up and close and personal with these species like no other place in the Kalahari. You never know what you might come across. This is what makes this place so special and exciting. Nature Lovers and Photographers love this place as a result.

 

 

---

MAMMALS PRESENT AT KALAHARI TRAILS AS OF SEPTEMBER 1997

(46 SPECIES) 

Insectivora (Hedgehogs-shrews Elephant-shrews)

• Lesser Red Musk Shrew (Crocidura hirta deserti)
• Cape hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis)
• Desert Elephant shrew (Elephatulus intufi)

Chiroptera (Bats)

• Egyptian free-tailed bat (Tadarida aegyptica)
• Cape Serotine bat (Epitisecus capensis)
• Greater (or Egyptian) Slit-nosed bat (Nycteris thebaica)

Pholidonta (Pangolins)

• Cape Pangolin (Manis temmincki) spoor 2000, sighted June 2004, spoor 12.11.05, spoor 18.7.2007, resight 11.6.2008

Lagomorpha (Hares)

• Cape Hare (Lepus capensis)
• Scrub Hare (Lepus saxatilis)

Rodentia (Rodents)

• Damara Molerat (Cryptomys damarensis)
• Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)
• Springhare (Pedetes capensis)
• Ground squirrel (Xerus inaurus)
• Brant’s Whistling rat (Parotomys brantsii)
• Tree rat (Thallomys paedulcus)
• Striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio)
• Desert pygmy Mouse (Mus indutus)
• Grey climbing mouse (Dendromus melanotis)
• Bushveldt Gerbil (Tatera leucogaster)
• Pygmy or Hairy-footed gerbil (Gerbillurus paeba)
• Short-tailed gerbil (Desmodillus auricularis)
• Highveldt gerbil (Tatera brantsii)
• Red veld rat (Aethomys chrysophilus)

Hyaenidae (Hyenas)

• Aardwolf (Proteles cristata)
• Dec. 2000, confirmed March & April 2003, regularly afterwards, resight 29.6.13
• Brown Hyena (Hyaena brunnea) From Nov. 2003- Jan 2004
• Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) 24.5.2011

Felidae (Cats)

• African Wildcat (Felis lybica)
• Caracal (Felis caracal)
• Black-footed or Small spotted cat (Felis nigripes) 1st sighting Nov. 2002, confirmed 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2014

Canidae (Dogs)

• Bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis)
• Black-backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas)
• Cape fox (Vulpes chacma)

Mustelidae (Polecats and Weasels)

• Striped polecat (Ictonyx striatus)
• Honey badger (Ratel) (Mellivora capensis) 1st sighting Oct. 2002, confirmed Jan.- July 2004, spoor resight 9.5.2011, 1.17.2014, 3.2014

Viverridae (Genets and mongooses)

• Small-spotted genet (Genetta genetta)
• Suricate (Suricata suricatta)
• Yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata)
• Slender mongoose (Galerella sanguineus) – red form

Tubulidentata (Aardvark)

• Aardvark (Antbear) (Orycteropus afer)

Hyracoidea (Hyrax)

• Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis)

Artiodactyla: Bovidea (Antelopes)

• Red Hartebeest (Alcephalus busephalus caama)
• Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)
• Gemsbok (Oryx gazella)
• Grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia)
• Steenbok (Raphicercus campestris)
• Blue Wildebeest (Gnu) (Connochaetus taurinus)

Primates

• Vervet Monkey (Circopithecus pygerythrus) as of Jan. 2013