Mongooses
Kruger Park Wildlife

© Banded Mongoose © Nigel Dennis

There are eight species of mongoose found in Kruger National Park, the most common being the dwarf, banded and slender mongooses. Kruger scientists estimating that for every 100 square kilometres there are 668 mongooses.

They use termite mounds for shelter and feed mostly on insects. The rarest mongoose in Kruger is Selous's mongoose, which is found only in the Shingwedzi area in the north.


Slender MongooseSlender Mongoose (Galerella sanguinea)

Characteristics

Most common mongoose in Victoria Falls area; lives singly or in pairs, very long tail with conspicuous black tip.

Food

Rodents, snakes and reptiles, birds' eggs, insects and sometimes wild fruit.

Where best to see them in Kruger

Variety of habitats throughout Kruger.

Banded MongooseBanded Mongoose (Mungos mungo)

Characteristics

Very social, noisy, brown-grey animals that live in packs of about 20 individuals; very active during the day, disappearing quickly when alarmed.

Food

Mostly insects but also rodents, reptiles, birds, eggs, fruit and berries.

Where best to see them in Kruger

Open dry savanna of eastern Kruger.

Dwarf MongooseDwarf Mongoose (Helogale parvula)

Characteristics

Smallest of the African mongooses; very social, diurnal animals living in groups of between 8 and 20 individuals; very curious nature; seeks refuge in hollow logs or holes in termitaria.

Food

Mostly insects but also birds, eggs, millipedes, scorpions, small reptiles and wild fruits.

Where best to see them in Kruger

Dry savanna and mixed woodlands.


Illustration: Chip Snaddon

Banded Mongoose

Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo) males are only heavier than females during the immature stages. In adulthood both sexes are similar in size a...more

Dwarf Mongoose

The Common Dwarf Mongoose (Helogale parvula) is the smallest of the mongoose family, and both males and females weigh only 350-400 gr. Total...more

Slender Mongoose

Slender Mongoose (Galerella sanguinea), also known as the Black-tipped Mongoose or the Black-tailed Mongoose. Slender Mongoose females attai...more

Small Grey Mongoose

Small Grey Mongoose. Males are larger than females at 500 - 1000 gr. Total body length varies from 550 mm to 690 mm. Tail length between 200...more

Suricate

The Afrikaans name Meerkat refers to either the Yellow Mongoose or the Suricate, and is a derivate of a Dutch terms denoting a diet of ants....more

Water Mongoose

With an overall length of 800 to 1000 mm, this is a large and robust mongoose. It has a mass of between 2.5 to 4.2 kg. Their tails are 300-4...more

White-Tailed Mongoose

White-tailed Mongoose [Ichneumia albicauda] No size difference exists between the sexes, which are physically similar in appearance. Body l...more

Yellow Mongoose

Yellow Mongoose. Total length is 400-600 mm, with a tail length of 180-250 mm. Mass is about 450-900 g. Has a triangular shaped face with a ...more
Kruger National Park - South African Safari