THE SECRET 7 – AFRICA’S MOST ELUSIVE SPECIES
Tswalu is the best private game reserve in South Africa for exclusive sightings of seven elusive species that are considered highly rare elsewhere in Africa. These elusive animals are the brown hyena, aardvark, pangolin, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, African wild cat, and Cape fox. Pangolins, in particular, have taken on an almost mythical aura in safari circles, due to the rarity of seeing them in the wild.
Sightings of elusive animals are often hard-earned, due to the sheer size of Tswalu – at 118,000 hectares (292,000 acres), it is the largest private game reserve in South Africa. There are over 650 kilometres of dirt roads and sandy tracks to traverse! Within this vast area, many animals have large territories – pangolins and brown hyenas are prime examples. Others find shelter in the foothills and valleys of the Korannaberg, areas that are often inaccessible to our vehicles.
Tswalu, at 118,000 hectares (292,000 acres), is the largest private game reserve in South Africa.
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THE ART OF TRACKING ELUSIVE SPECIES
Tracking elusive , often solitary animals takes time, patience and a sound knowledge of the signs left in the wild, from imprints in the sand to scat. To spend a few minutes in the presence of a pangolin or aardvark is a moment that you will never forget.
The value of an experienced tracker in a sandy environment is immeasurable. Through a combination of technique and intuition, our trackers are skilled at finding and identifying all those telltale signs left in the sand. When it’s deemed safe, getting out of the vehicle to join your tracker and guide while they examine or follow prints is an exciting part of the process.
An aardvark relies on its well-developed sense of smell and an acute sense of hearing for protection from danger.
“Following an animal on foot takes patience and practice,” says Deirdre Opie, Tswalu’s head guide. “You need to give the animal space to move undisturbed. An aardvark can be particularly sensitive to wind direction and noise, so a quiet, slow, downwind approach is best. If we find a pangolin track in the morning it will most likely lead to a burrow. We may return later in the day or evening, depending on the season, and wait until it decides to come out to forage. Some sightings of the elusive seven are ‘meant to be’, the pure luck of being in the right place at the right time”.
“These animals are not called elusive for nothing,” adds Deirdre.“You may wait for a pangolin or aardvark to emerge from its burrow all night. With a pride of lions, you get to know where they like to drink water, which makes their whereabouts slightly more predictable.” Catching sight of an elusive animal is never a given and you need to be prepared to put in the time.
“During a cold snap, when temperatures plummet below zero, nothing comes out! Searching for an elusive animal is very much about managing everyone’s expectations. Nature calls the shots,” says Deirdre.
Tswalu has become synonymous with pangolin research, from Dr Wendy Panaino’s thesis on the thermal biology, diet, and behaviour of Temminck's pangolins to Master’s student Daniel Rossouw’s study of the functional role that pangolins play in the environment.
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CREATURES OF THE NIGHT
The elusive species are all nocturnal. As summer deepens, they become even more nocturnal. Your chances of seeing these animals always increase on night drives. An obvious advantage of choosing a private reserve like Tswalu is being able to stay out after dark to up the likelihood of spotting stealthy animals that operate in the shadows.
LEFT: THE CAPE FOX (VULPAS CHAMA) IS SOUTHERN AFRICA’S ONLY TRUE FOX. RIGHT: THE AARDWOLF HAS EVOLVED TO SURVIVE ENTIRELY ON TERMITES, LICKING THEM OFF THE GROUND BY THE THOUSANDS EVERY NIGHT WITH ITS BROAD, FLAT TONGUE.
Throughout the year, burrows play a critical role in sustaining life below the ochre Kalahari sand. Some burrows are purpose-built, and others are modified or borrowed temporarily by other animals. Burrows provide shelter from the elements, protection from predators, and a place to sleep or raise young. Many of the elusive animals seek refuge underground to escape extreme temperatures. Others take shelter under bushes or trees or in long grass.
In summer, warm daytime temperatures force animals to seek respite in cool burrows for longer and they only tend to come out very late at night to feed. In winter, nighttime temperatures plummet as soon as the sun sets, so the ant-eating trio of the pangolin, aardvark and aardwolf will emerge earlier to forage in the afternoon to ensure they get enough of their food source.
WITH ITS ENORMOUS EARS, A BAT-EARED FOX IS TUNED INTO INSECT ACTIVITY UNDERGROUND, EVEN WHEN RESTING DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY.
Sightings of elusive species are influenced by the time of year, the weather conditions and the time of day. Viewing conditions will change, depending on whether the Kalahari ecosystem is in a dry or wet cycle. Following several consecutive years of above-average rainfall, dense grass cover hardly has time to die back in winter before summer rain triggers fresh, green growth. With dense vegetation, visibility decreases. Unless a bat-eared fox or brown hyena is crossing in front of your vehicle, you won’t see it. Summer’s long grasses make it very easy for a Cape fox or bat-eared fox to disappear into a sea of green without a trace.
Finding one or more of these elusive creatures adds to Tswalu’s allure as an iconic safari destination at any time of the year.
LEFT: BROWN HYENAS TRAVEL UP TO 35 KILOMETRES IN A SINGLE EVENING IN SEARCH OF FOOD, OFTEN SCAVENGED. RIGHT: AFRICAN WILD CATS ARE USUALLY ONLY SEEN AFTER DARK, BUT DURING THE DAY IT PAYS TO SCAN THE BASE OF DENSE VEGETATION FOR A GLIMPSE OF THESE LITTLE CATS.
