A sunset came into play on Sibuya Game Reserve, casting silhouettes and shadows across the plains. What first seemed to be an outline of a male impala soon became a breathtakingly striking sighting! An Aardvark! I silently screamed my excitement. Surely it couldn’t be, but my eyes did not deceive me. It was indeed an animal I’ve always wanted to see. I stared in awe yet I couldn’t contain my excitement, reached for my phone to capture the moment and before I snapped the beauty, my eyes fell upon the entire herd of elephants 20 meters beyond the Aardvark… what a bonus! At that moment, I felt completely within the wild’s hands.
Aardvarks are known to be nocturnal creatures, coordinating their activity to when their food is active. Termites and ants form the bulk of their diet and during the winter months, they will forage earlier because their prey moves deeper underground during the coldest night hours. Aardvarks have been recorded to eat 40,000-50,000 termites in a single night. They are specially adapted for this, as their powerful limbs, digging at a rate of one meter every 2-3 minutes, can excavate an entire termite mound in one session. Additionally, their cylindrical tongue, averaging 30 cm, makes easier movement into tunnels to capture their prey.
They play critcal roles within the ecosystem by regulating insect numbers, making them significant animals. Threats from farmers due to excavations in dam walls and to burrows under jackal-proof fences calls for the need to protect this endemic species.
Aardvarks, being shy and nocturnal are rarely seen, so this was a really special experience I will hold with me for a lifetime! To think if a Volunteer on my game drive vehicle hadn’t suggested going down the path we did, we would’ve completely missed it!
Update: Another incredible sighting! On 4 September, JP captured this remarkable video of the elusive aardvark. Spotting one in broad daylight is a rare privilege – having two sightings so close together is nothing short of extraordinary.
