About the Author

Chris Taylor

Ranger

Chris was born and raised in the Kwa-Zulu/Natal Midlands where his family inspired his early passion for the natural world. Exploring Southern Africa as he grew up, this passion was allowed to develop and his curiosity to expand. After high school, Chris spent ...

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24 Comments

on Camera Trap Chronicles #3- The Elusive Aardvark

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Great work on the camera trap Chris, even if you didn’t get your prize shot. We did get a fairly good view of it, but I’m sure you wanted more. The baboons were fun to see so all was not lost, and unfortunately for Pat, a good sighting of the bloody pink pouch – ouch!!

Thanks Denise. Yes, its very difficult to get a winner photo of an aardvark but I’ll take what I can get!

Very nice to see an Aardvark! Do you have any striped polecats around?

Hi Gawie. No, we don’t get polecats around here.

Master Tracker

Still awaiting the caracal …

That would be an incredible sighting around these parts, Ian! They have been seen in the past but not for a few years now.

Great pictures of the elusive aardvark, Chris. On my many safaris I have seen aardvarks only 3 times. Once we were so lucky to watch one for about 20 minutes eagerly digging for prey. On my last safari we were preparing for our drive in the car park one early morning, still nearly dark and one came ambling along the road towards our car. As soon as he realized us, he turned round and ran away. Not to be found any more.

Thanks Chris! It’s really interesting to see how some of the wildlife behaves when we are NOT watching!

You’re so right, Michael and Terri. That’s my favourite aspect of the camera trap. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a a great sighting buts its interesting to see where the animals are moving and what they are doing when we aren’t around.

Chris, thanks for the photos. It is always interesting what a camera trap at night can capture even the unexpected. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

Thanks William. Stay tuned for more to come…

Exciting sight Chris! Hopefully you will be able to see more of this secretive animal. Did you manage to see what sex it is?

Yes, we’ll keep an eye on the same burrow over the coming weeks but they do tend to change homes from time to time. I didn’t manage to see the gender; its quite difficult to tell from photo as there isn’t any obvious way to tell without getting a really close look.

We were fortinate to spend some time at Tswalu Kalahari, where the focus is on consrvation and research. We were able to see many aardvarks and pangolins as well as an incredible encounter with habituated meerkats.

Yes, I’ve heard that Tswalu is a great place to see some of the rarities such as pangolin and aardvark. You’re lucky to have spent time with all three of those species!

Oh do keep at it! So exciting – next on my wish list now that I’ve seen a pangolin! Just a glimpse isn’t enough, is it?! Thanks for the try!

I would so love to see an Aardvark! Imagine I have now seen like 3 Pangolins but no Aadvark. I thought easily the Pangolin would have been more elusive.

Both the pangolins and aardvark are very rare to see so you can count yourself lucky for seeing three pangolins. Aardvark tend to be more strictly nocturnal around here though so they’re tougher to find.

Chris that was wonderful to see the aardvark, it is not often that you get the opportunity to see one of them. Poor Patrick wearing his pink pouch, hope he will soon pass it on to somebody else.

A very rare sight indeed! I’m sure Patrick will pass it on soon. With the summer rains now arriving, people tend to get stuck a lot more.

Nice work Chris and team! These camera trap posts are so interesting!

Thanks Paul. We’ll keep them coming…

I am aardvark lucky – or something! Saw two different ones on my SA trip last month, and one last year (unfortunately, not at Londo, though). I have conceded that the aardvark is one of my totem animals!

But did see an African Wild Cat at Londolozi last month – those, I believe, are also very rare!

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