Servals and caracals are extremely elusive cats, and, over the past year from January 2021 to January 2022, some of our Latest Sightings followers were lucky enough to have tinged these beautiful animals!
The following article is set up to help you know where you can have the best chances to spot servals and caracals in both Kruger National Park and Pilanesberg Game Reserve.
Kruger National Park – 9 caracal sightings and 6 serval sightings
Pilanesberg Game Reserve – 14 caracal sightings and 76 serval sightings
The majority of the serval and caracal sightings reported to Latest Sightings have been in the early morning (05:00 – 11:00) or late afternoon (15:00 – 18:00) when they are most active!
If you like this type of summary, but want a more interactive experience, purchase our informative electronic eGuide and spot more wildlife while on safari!
We take the thousands of wildlife sightings shared by our community in Kruger and Pilanesberg and pin them onto an interactive map to help you plan the best routes in the parks based on hard data! Our eGuide could help you spot caracal and serval and many other animals in the parks.
WATCH
Caracal
Caracals are also known as the ‘rooikat’, with very distinct tufted ears. Their ears are controlled by 20 muscles (humans only have 6). They have short, dense coats that are reddish/brown in colour and white bellies with dramatic red spots. Their powerful hind leg muscles allow them to launch 3m into the air. Caracals prey on dassies, grey rhebok (2x its weight), hares, rodents, monkeys, and birds (especially sandgrouse).
Serval
Servals are the tallest of Africa’s small cats with extremely long legs. Relative to its body size it has the longest legs of any cat! They can be identified by the long black stripes that run from the top of their head, that transitions into spots further down their body. With the ability to jump 2-3m in the air when catching a bird from flight. Servals are extremely efficient at catching rodents in tall grass, with a 48% success rate. Leopards’ hunting success rates are only 38% and lions’ are 25% if the females are involved. However, their diet is broad and ranges from fish, birds, and small mammals.
Hopefully, you now know a bit more in terms of where to drive to spot and find more servals and caracals on your next trip to the Kruger National Park and Pilanesberg Game Reserves.
But, to stay up to date, buy our eGuide! The eGuide will give you access to an interactive map with all the thousands of sightings that have been tinged in the past.