The Main Cat Predators
 Lion (Panthera leo)- Favoured prey
- Wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, porcupines and warthogs
- Hunting techniques
- Hunt collectively and individually; one animal sets up the charge and drives the prey towards other members of the pride, which then pull off the ambush; lions are also effective scavengers.
- Habitat
- Woodland and open savanna.
- Where best to see them in Kruger
- Central Kruger around Satara, also around Skukuza, Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge
 Leopard (Panthera pardus)- Favoured prey
- Impala, bushbuck, reedbuck, waterbuck, monkeys, jackals, francolins, snakes and insects.
- Hunting techniques
- Hunts mostly at night although leopards will seize anu opportunity for a kill; solitary hunter; drags its prey into trees.
- Habitat
- Riverine forest and rocky outcrops.
- Where best to see them in Kruger
- Riverine forest throughout the Park; highest populations are along the Sabie River, also sometimes on rocky outcrops.
 Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)- Favoured prey
- Impala, kudu, waterbuck and reedbuck.
- Hunting techniques
- Stalks its prey to within a short distance, and then charges at it, using its advantage of speed; eats quickly because it cannot guard carcass against scavengers.
- Habitat
- Open grassland, savanna.
- Where best to see them in Kruger
- Mostly open savanna woodland in central Kruger, also common around Lower Sabie and Crocodile River in the south
Other Feline Predators
 Caracal (Felis caracal)- Characteristics
- Reddish-brown, robust cats with distinctive long tufts of dark hair on their pointed ears; eyes are bright yellow; mostly solitary animals hunting at night.
- Food
- Preys on small animals, particularly rodents and dassies, hares, small antelope, occasionally birds and lizards.
- Where best to see them in Kruger
- Variety of habitats but prefers open savanna where there are rocky outcrops.
 African Wild Cat (Felis lybica)- Characteristics
- Similar in appearance to domestic cat but more robust; shy, nocturnal animals.
- Food
- The young of small antelope, rodents, hares, birds, small reptiles, insects.
- Where best to see them in Kruger
- Dense bush and long grass throughout Kruger.
 African Civet (Viverra civetta)- Characteristics
- Cat-like animal with shaggy coat with a distinctive black band across face and throat; base colour varies from white to grey. They are solitary and nocturnal, lying in thick grass during the day.
- Food
- Wide variety of foods including carrion, rodents, reptiles, birds, insects, millipedes, eggs and wild fruit and berries; food choice is determined by availability and changes with the seasons.
- Where best to see them in Kruger
- Found in mixed woodlands in drier areas of Kruger; best chance of seeing them is on a night drive.
 Serval (Felis serval)- Characteristics
- An elegant, slender, tawny, yellow-spotted cat with long legs, small head and large ears; nocturnal; by day lies in tall grass or reeds.
- Food
- Mainly mice and rats and, to a much lesser degree, birds, reptiles and insects.
- Where best to see them in Kruger
- Thick riverine bush along most of Kruger’s rivers..
 Small-spotted Genet (Genetta genetta)- Large-spotted Genet (Genetta tigrina)
- Characteristics
- Both species of genet are found in the area; both are nocturnal hunters and agile tree climbers; the species are very similar in every respect; the most obvious distinguishing feature is that the tip of the tail of the small-spotted genet is white, while that of the large-spotted genet is usually black; contrary to popular belief, these are not cats.
- Food
- Both species have a very similar diet consisting predominantly of insects, rodents, birds and spiders but including reptiles, amphibians, millipedes and wild fruits; in proximity to human habitation they are a real threat to poultry.
- Where best to see them in Kruger
- Both species are found mostly in southern Kruger – night drives are the best opportunity for seeing them.
Illustration: Chip Snaddon |
