Aardvarks in Africa

by Roy Atkins

This was always going to be a trip with a difference – not quite like any other Africa trip we run, with the intention of seeing some of the more unusual animals that we might miss on other trips. The biggest target of them all was Aardvark and our best chance was at a reserve in the south. We wrapped up warm and headed out, pausing here and there to enjoy the animals and birds we found. 

Over the coming days, at this first site and our next, we saw all sorts of interesting animals. Fabulous Springhares, like miniature Kangaroos, bounced past the vehicle regularly and we saw an astonishing number of African Porcupines, that seemed to be surprisingly busy. We also spotted a variety of mongooses, Striped Polecat and so many Aardwolves! In total we think we may have seen over 30 of them!! We saw several Bat-eared Foxes with their huge ears, delightful Meerkats taking their well-known pose and at one rocky site we went in search of Elephant Shrews with great success - they are so cute!  

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‘But what about the Aardvarks?’ I hear you say… well on our second night drive we spotted something up ahead with big floppy ears and a humped back, walking fast, so we sped up to get closer – it was a wonderful Aardvark, going at a surprising speed across the track up ahead. We could see it well in the spotlights, but it never paused, just kept tracking away from us and into the bushes - but we got one!! We hoped for another and worked hard and the local guy said we were unlucky not to get another sighting of one, but one feels a million times better than none and we were thrilled.

During the day we saw lots of interesting birds, including some fabulous bustards. Kori and Ludwig’s Bustards are both very impressive, but we also saw smaller bustard species such as Blue, Northern Black and Karoo Korhaans. We saw Double-striped Courser and a plethora of larks, as this really is lark central! As the trip went on the bird list grew, with some exciting species such as Verreaux’s Eagle, gorgeous Blue Cranes, mousebirds, Purple Roller, Common Scimitarbill and the stunning Crimson-breasted Gonolek. We also saw some beautiful antelopes such as Sable, Rhoan and the gorgeous Gemsbok or Oryx. We went in search of the rare Mountain Zebra with great success and saw Black Wildebeest and both Bontebok and Blesbok, as well as fabulously elegant Giraffes. 

Our final destination, the Kalahari Desert, proved a fabulous ending, with so much to see. We enjoyed unbelievably close views of African Wild Cat several times and also a couple of Small Spotted Genets, delightful Cape Foxes, but even better were two Caracals and black-maned Lions. The highlight for me however, had to be a mother Cheetah with four well grown young, almost adults, walking together and then standing, scanning the terrain - such striking and elegant beasts - like the Greyhound of the cat world. They were just astounding in their beauty!

We hope to run this trip again – most likely in 2028 – it was so different and full of great sightings, so just drop us a line if you are interested.