To co-inhabit an area with another species for over a decade without even seeing it is testament to how rare Cape clawless otters are at Londolozi.
This is the track-record of former Head Ranger and now Head of Technical Services, Chris Goodman. After being teased over and over by Londolozi staff who had seen one here, Chris eventually had a fleeting glimpse of an otter from Granite Camp deck, but nothing like the experience we recently had while tracking in the Sand River.
The crazy thing is that otters thrive in the thickets and streams of the Sand River that flows right past the five Londolozi camps. We see their tracks all the time. We just never see the animals.
Tracking lions in the exact area where we spotted the Cape clawless otters. This photograph was taken just two weeks before the otter sighting, in exactly the same small stretch of river.
As a small group of rangers, we had set off to try and track a lioness that we suspected might denning small cubs somewhere along the banks of the River near Taylor’s Crossing. Not even five minutes into the tracking expedition, the pack of two wild dogs suddenly chased an impala past our parked vehicle, about 300 metres behind us. All dumfounded as to their sudden reappearance, James Tyrrell rushed back to the Land Rover, taking the opportunity to follow and document them. If only he knew what we were about to stumble across.
A cellphone capture of the pair of otters moving about on a small sandy beach, just ahead of us.
Something caught our eye up ahead in a small gap in some bushes. We paused, well aware of the risk of hippos moving about in the thickets. There was a hippo, but just behind it, were two crocodiles and not one but two otters!
The otters were sliding in and out of a small pool. They would then climb onto the sand where the crocodiles were resting, taunting them by nipping at their tails and running circles around them. It seemed as if they were trying to chase the crocodiles back into the water. We rushed at the opportunity to loop around for a better view, knowing full well that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at Londolozi, especially on foot!
Fortunately, we found a perfect window to view them from about 20 metres away without them even noticing us. The crocodiles slipped into the water as we got the clear view, just before we started filming. The otters can be seen sniffing around in circles on the sand where the crocodiles had been resting, moments before:
Wow! Amazing video. Fantastic sighting.
Pete, You guys hit the jackpot! Just like we are always told when on safari at Londolozi, you never know what will be around the next turn! Where do the otters live? Well done!
Hi Michael and Terri!
Cape Clawless Otters (the ones found at Londolozi) are typically associated with waterbodies including rivers, marshes etc. They have even been seen along the coastline in the waves in South Africa. At Londolozi they are very much confined to the Sand River and its associated thickets. Unless one day we are all surprised by one appearing elsewhere, which wouldn’t surprise me!
Tracking a lioness, 2 wild dogs & impala, a hippo, 2 crocodiles. and 2 otters–all within minutes. What do you do for an encore?
Show James Tyrrell the footage of the sighting he missed while he was with the Wild Dogs… (He didn’t believe us on the radio)
HI where I live in Europe otters are rare animals but recovering. I just love them! They are very smart and joyful. Thanks for the rare images!
WOW! I had no idea there were otters in Londolozi! What a great surprise… we live in California on the Monterey Bay Coastline and we ♥️ Our otters! They are so fun to watch and so playful. It looks like your otters are just as fun! Great sighting!!
Incredible! I cannot believe all of the unique things being seen recently – it’s just mind boggling!! Well done!
I’ve been lucky enough to see them once in the Kruger, this was a really nice sighting though
Oh my goodness me how wonderful & they were so oblivious to you guys being there! Thank you for this special video
I don’t know who was having more fun? You boys or the otters? ..Just delightful!
Another day…..another moment of Londolozi magic!
Otters are so fun to watch, cool stuff!
Amazing!! And you were able to film it!
Rescuing a honey badger and watching otters all within a week – how amazing! What’s next, partying with pangolins?
It has been a ridiculous few weeks. We did actually see a pangolin while taking photos of the stars a few weeks ago (believe it or not). The other incredibly rare sighting was the serval we saw last week. It was captured on film and is now in The Week in Video #18 (around the 11:20 mark).
Thanks Pete, yes I saw that on Sunday, it was a fantastic sighting. I did manage to see a serval at Londo a few years ago, but by the time I got my camera ready it had vanished into the long grass. It was wonderful though even to have that brief glimpse.
Wow, Thank you so much Pete Thorpe The otter sighting must have been amazing!!!!!!!!!
Hi Pete. HUGE excitement, not so! What a wonderful, wonderful sighting! The excitement clearly mirrored on your faces! Quite understandably. When are you going to produce some more photos of the otters?? Wendy M
Hi Wendy,
I suspect it will be a long time before we see otters again with our own eyes. However, it may be an interesting trail camera project to try and capture them moving about unnoticed…
So very cool, and I especially appreciate the boyish fun the guys were having with the sighting and film capture!!
otters are one of the most adorable species. we are familiar with sea otters and they are hard to find. But to find these two not only out in public but nipping at crocodile tails is amazing!! Victoria
Brilliant! What amazing sightings you’ve had, and now playful otters. They’re so much fun to watch- we have them in Monterey bay, California. I could see you all were giddy with delight!
Wow, every day at Londolozi seems to bring new and unexpected behavior of animals nobody has ever witnessed before. Otters chasing crocodiles back into the water! And male leopards carrying baby leopards! And a honey badger trapped in the roots of a tree. What an exciting time you are having!
Unbelievable!!!
brilliant video.thank you