Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, known for its rich biodiversity and conservation efforts, has recently become a hotspot for sightings of the elusive aardwolf. During a recent visit, I was fortunate enough to encounter one of these shy, nocturnal creatures in the early afternoon—a rare and thrilling highlight.
As we made our way across the Kwandwe landscape, we spoke in the vehicle about the animals we had seen and wished to see. An aardwolf was a unanimous bucket-list sighting that almost all of our group had yet to see. A few minutes later, a blur crossed the path of the game vehicle. Our guide, Nick, and our experienced tracker, Sibo, excitedly told us that we had just seen our first aardwolf. We had not only just seen one but we had seen it in the day, which we had come to learn was a rare occurrence.
You might be wondering, what exactly is an aardwolf and why is this such a special sighting?
What Does an Aardwolf Look Like?
The aardwolf, or Proteles cristata, is distinguishable by its pale brown to yellowish coat adorned with vertical stripes. It sports a shaggy mane running along its neck and back, a bushy tail with a broad black tip, and a doglike head with a naked black muzzle. Its upright, pointed ears, often black on the back, complete its unique appearance.
Aardwolf vs. Hyena: Similarities and Differences
While aardwolves share some features with hyenas, such as shaggy manes, sloping backs, and bushy tails, they are significantly smaller and have five toes on their forefeet (hyenas have four). Unlike the scavenging hyenas, aardwolves have a specialized diet, feeding mainly on termites.
Aardwolf Diet
The Aardwolf are termite specialists, with a diet predominantly consisting of snouted harvester termites. Their jaws and teeth are not designed for handling meat larger than a rat, but their wide palate and sticky tongue allow them to consume up to 300,000 termites each night. They supplement their diet with African harvester termites during winter months when food is scarce, sometimes experiencing weight loss of up to 25%. Remarkably, aardwolves are not dependent on water.
Breeding Habits and Life History
Aardwolves are monogamous animals, mating in winter from June to July. After a gestation period of 3-3.5 months, the female gives birth to 2-4 cubs between October and January. Cubs stay near the den for the first three months and are weaned by 4-5 months, becoming independent by 12 months. They reach sexual maturity at nine months and are fully grown by 22 months, with a life expectancy of up to 13 years.
…Back to the action
Nick slowed the vehicle and we saw the aardwolf dart into an abandoned termite mound. We cut the engine and waited to see if it would peek its head out. Slowly but surely, we saw two perfect little ears peep over the entrance to the mound, but it seemed the aardwolf wasn’t making a move anytime soon. Nick drove a distance away, and after inspecting the perimeter, we safely got out of the vehicle and followed closely behind him. We found a safe spot to silently sit and wait to see if the aardwolf would feel safe enough to wander out of its hiding place in the distance. We had all but given up, but as we made our way back to the vehicle, we saw it pop out of the hole and happily trot across the landscape. Jumping back into the vehicle, we headed out for the remainder of our afternoon drive with big smiles, knowing we had just seen a truly elusive and shy animal out in the open on a crisp winter’s day.
This is what makes winter a truly special time at Kwandwe. It is the chance to see animals that might be more shy in the warmer months and come out to explore in the cooler weather. Kwandwe offers more than just the Big Five; it provides a sanctuary for rare and fascinating species like the aardwolf.
Get a chance to see these unique creatures up close by contacting our reservations team
Photos by Ryan Hillier (Guide at Kwandwe)