The last month or so here in the bush has been particularly interesting. As we move further into the dry season, the vegetation has begun to thin noticeably, giving us opportunities to spot some of our more elusive residents. My previous blog focused on the side-striped jackal, and it seemed fitting that my next post should continue along the theme of the bush’s more secretive creatures.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been fortunate enough to encounter a couple of members of the “Secret Seven“- a group of animals many guides can go months, or even years, without seeing. These sightings have been some of the highlights of my recent time in the field, and I thought they would be worth sharing!

Serval

Without a doubt, one of the most incredible sightings I’ve ever had was that of a serval mother accompanied by two sub-adult offspring.

We were driving through the deep south of the reserve searching for the white zebra foal that had been attracting so much attention recently, when the bush decided to hand us an unexpected gift. It all started with a brief flash of spotted movement crossing the road ahead of us. My immediate thought was, “What on earth is a leopard cub doing out here in the open grasslands?”

The reason for my confusion was simple: servals are so rarely seen that they are often not the first animal that comes to mind when you catch only a fleeting glimpse. We carefully followed the movement off-road, and to my amazement, not one but three servals emerged from the grass, bounding through the vegetation with their characteristic high leaps.

One of my biggest regrets is that I wasn’t able to capture any footage. The servals were constantly moving, and the terrain I was driving through was incredibly rocky and uneven, so my focus was entirely on keeping up with them and making the most of the sighting while it lasted.

Servals are small members of the wild cat family and are generally solitary animals, which made seeing three together even more special. They are primarily nocturnal but can occasionally be seen hunting during the cooler hours of dawn and dusk. Their diet consists mainly of rodents, birds, and other small prey, and they are renowned for their remarkable hunting ability and athleticism.

After the sighting, I did a bit of reading and learned that serval cubs typically become independent at around a year old. Young males are usually driven away to establish their own territories, while females may remain with their mother for a little longer. Looking back, this likely explains the family group we encountered.

Civet

Another memorable sighting came very recently when we found an unusually relaxed civet moving about during the early evening.

Civets belong to the Viverridae family, which also includes genets. Although they are not necessarily rare animals, they are highly nocturnal and generally very skittish, making quality sightings relatively uncommon. This individual seemed completely at ease, spending several minutes foraging for food while paying very little attention to our vehicle.

One of the most fascinating things about civets is their adaptability when it comes to diet. They are accomplished omnivores and are one of the few animals capable of feeding on toxic prey such as millipedes.

While civets themselves can be difficult to find, evidence of their presence is often easier to spot. Civets make use of communal dung sites known as civetries, which function in a similar way to rhino middens by helping mark territory and communicate with other individuals. A tell-tale sign that you’ve found a civetry is the abundance of discarded millipede shells scattered amongst the droppings.

African Wildcat

The African wildcat is another member of the Secret Seven that I’ve been lucky enough to encounter several times recently, with three sightings in the last month alone.

This species is particularly interesting because it is one of the wild ancestors of the domestic cat. Despite their familiar appearance, however, African wildcats have never truly been domesticated and remain highly efficient wild predators.

At first glance, they can easily be mistaken for an ordinary tabby cat. Looking more closely, though, reveals subtle differences. They tend to have longer legs, a more upright posture, and distinctive reddish colouring on the backs of their ears. Their tails are also thicker, with prominent dark rings and a black tip.

Watching them move through the bush is always a reminder of just how perfectly adapted they are to their environment. Alert and cautious, they spend much of their time hunting rodents, birds, reptiles, and insects, playing an important role in maintaining balance within the ecosystem.

One of my favourite things about being out here in the bush is that you never know what you might find, and while it is always epic to encounter one of the big five, it is truly special being lucky enough to encounter some of the lesser known creatures!