Animals of the Kruger National Park
Everything in nature is linked
Unique Kruger Animals
African Civet
A nocturnal meat eating animal that lives in isolation. It eats tiny frogs, birds and insects. Its gland and secretions were once used to make perfume.
African fish eagle
This majestic bird is able to get hold of fish from below and eat its prey on the ground. One is able to spot it from its white under feathers.
The Big Five
Black Rhinoceros
Its hooked lip is used for looking for food. The black Rhino is often found in the bush. The calf follows its parent. It is smaller and less aggressive than the white rhino.
White Rhinoceros
Its lips are adapted for grazing. The young calf always walks in front of its parent
Leopard
A loner animal that spends his days hiding, and seeks food at night.
Buffalo
Buffalo like the Savannah because of its long grasses. They live and eat in groups of up to 500 and are known for there hot tempers.
Lion
Lions are communal animals and live by hierarchy. Lionesses hunt and males feast first.
Elephant
Elephants live in units lead by a head female. Mature bulls wander alone. They are generally peaceful animals but when alarmed are aggressive.
Other members of the cat family
African wild cat
Similar to the domestic cat except in behavior and expressions. It lives in solitude.
Caracal
This animal is hardly ever seen and keeps to himself. They like the open plains of the Savannah as well as rocky terrains. The caracal is an agile animal and an effective climber.
Cheetah
Cheetahs love open spaces to hunt in. They are fast animals who reach up to seeps of 112km/h. By nature they live alone but often form small groups.
Serval
Seen at the break of morning, the Serval is found in the Savannah and pounce its prey with a unique leaping jump.
Common mammals
Giraffe
Their long curling tongue ansd agile upper lips are protected by thorny papillae. The giraffe only has seven vertebrae and have special neck valves.
Wild Dog
Cooperative animals they hunt in group of up to 40. Their hunting tactics are of first exhausting their prey. The back is governed by a breeding pair.
Chacma Baboon
They make their homes near rocky hills and lush trees. They are omnivores and stick together to protect one another.
Hippopotamus
They spend all day in water and at night feed on short grass. They live in clans of 15.
Porcupine
Africa’s biggest rodent. It feasts at night. The spine hair raises and vibrates which scare off predators.
Plains Zebra
Plains Zebra.
Warthog
They have bad eyesight and could come close to guests. When disturbed they run away with their tails head erect.
Vervet Monkey
This communal omnivore enjoys spending time in trees near rivers and makes the trees their homes. They use their eyebrows as distressed signals.
Black-Backed Jackal
This great hunter kills anything- antelope, birds, insects and fish. It is also a scavenger. Pairs stay together for life.
Spotted Hyena
They are communal animals who live in clans headed by a female. They are night animals and are known to be scavenges. One can hear there screeches at night.
Blue Wildebeest
Also known as Gnu, which is the sound they make when threatened. Often loners, they graze in shade under trees in the hope of mating.
Small Spotted Genet
Mostly loners, their diets consist of reptiles, small birds and fruit. They are agile animals that spend most of their time in trees. They are distinguished by their white tipped tails.
Common mammals
Impala
These animals stay in groups till up to 100. When threatened they “blow” or “snort”. Mating season is from April till May.
Common Reedbuck
They enjoy tall grass near watering holes. They are also able to swim. They have a high pitched alarm whistle.
Nyala
This beautiful animal is often seen in the thick bushes in small herds. Females and males are different in size and color. Males are distinguished by their horns and white line between their eyes.
Steenbok
This animal is known by its big ears and brick red coat. It’s a loner except when breeding.
Bushbuck
They have stripes along the sides but are distinguished by their white spots on their franks.
Waterbuck
Known by their lyre shaped horns and white ring around the rump. They feel safe in water and live in small herds.
Klipspringer
They live within small family groups. They are extremely territorial and live on rocky landscapes. They obtain liquids from juicy plants and therefore are not dependent on water.
Kudu
They are usually seen in small groups in the high areas of the Savannah They eat leaves, shoots and seed pods. When threatened they hide or freeze. Male kudus are recognizable by their curly horns.
Common Duiker
They prefer dense surroundings as it offers protection and shelter. They eat leaves, fruit, flowers and seeds.
Birds
Cape Glossy Starling
This species mingle around and are well behaved in camps. They are entertaining birds.
Crested Barbet
The thick chest and colorful array distinguish this bird. It sounds like an alarm clock. They use their beaks to dig holes.
White Fronted Bee Eater
They sit in small groups waiting for insects to pass, and then hawk them in mid air. They make their homes near river banks.
Green Woodhoopoe
They are noisy birds and are found in groups of 2-16, with one breeding pair per group. When calling move back and forth.
Lilac Breasted Roller
Their colors are magnificent and it often perches on a bush or flies down to eat insects. The courtship is a display of colors.
Black Collard Barbet
A noisy bird especially when mating. Its diet consists of fruits and insects.
African Hoopoe
Their main diet is caterpillars and worms. It flies as though its wings can’t support its body weight.
Helmeted Guinea Fowl
They gather in large groups. Their diet consists of seeds and insects.
Giant Kingfisher
They perch over water looking for fish, crabs and frogs. They live in tunnels burrowed into riverbanks.
Hamerkop
This bird walks in the shallow waters searching for frogs and tadpoles.
Scarlet chested sunbird
They are often seen close to flowering trees. They eat necter and insects.
Grey Heron
They stand in shallow waters waiting for fish to pass to eat with their sharp beaks. They nest together.
Saddle billed stork
This is a shy bird and walks slowly in shallow waters looking for food like fish, crabs and frogs.
African Darter
They are able to dive deep and are often seen standing on rocks drying their wings.
African Jacana
They walk on floating plants and their diets consist of insects and snails. The male looks after the eggs whilst the female looks for a new mating partner.
