Caracal or Serval Sighting
 

Hi, I am new to posting on the Forum but have spent many happy hours reading and viewing your trips.

I am fascinated by all of the cat species and have never seen the above in the wild. I would really like to maximise my chance of seeing one of the above cats in late February 2008.

I have driven myself almost mad searching via the net and trying to determine the best place to go. Funds are limited and therefore so is time (and I know I need to book asap)but any recommendations would be great.

I have narrowed the choice down to 6N in the Kwando concession in Botswana with perhaps an ext. to the Tuli block or possibly 6N in the Porini camps in Kenya. Both offer night drives and some history.

I am lucky to have been on Safari previously to Kenya , Tanzania and Namibia and Botswana albeit with large groups on budget trips at times.

Thanks for reading and I appreciate any replies

I have seen caracal once at Lagoon, we had a Leopard on one side of the vehicle and the caracal on the other of course this was at night. Serval sightings are more regular at Kwando, but none in daylight.
In over 200 days on Safari, I have seen Caracal on four occasions and Serval on around 20, you will need good luck. My best sightings were in the Mara this year both in daylight, you can see my pictures at www.sniktawkwild.com.

Once again good luck!

I don't know if the places you mention offer reliable sightings, but you might enjoy these serval pics from earlier this year in Tanzania ... the first 3 servals we saw checked us out and ducked down and disappeared but this one near Ndutu calmed down and gave us a great show ... still lQQking for my first caracal ...

http://www.hiltonphotography.net/afr...nia/serval.htm

http://www.hiltonphotography.net/afr...a/ndutu-12.htm

Bill

<b>My best sightings were in the Mara this year both in daylight</b>

Wow, those kitten pics are cute! Great shots.

Bill

Planning a trip around Caracals? good luck .....

My only Caracal in 8 trips to Africa was this past june. Very early in the morning about 10 mins after we left Lebala to go spend two days at Lagoon.

Serval sightings are pretty good. I have seen servals day and night at Lebala.

But...Bear in mind, by February depending on the rains between now and then, the grasses will be taller.

For the big cats for February, isn't Southern Serengeti a great option? Why Kenya?

PS: Have been chatting with Bill on another thread RE cheetahs at Ndutu between jan-march.

Bill H

Your serval pictures are great, I bet they were more difficult to take than kittens playing near their den.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35091562

Since you asked about Kenya ......

sniktawk, if it wasn't for the mouse I'd gladly trade mine for your kittens :)

Servals are more common than caracals. My only brief caracal sighting at night was in Selinda in Botswana. Hills27 saw a family (if I recall correctly) at Phinda in South Africa.

Other places I've seen serval:
Duba Plains, Botswana.
Maasai Mara, Kenya--2 in one day and each were photographable
South Luangwa, Zambia--1 at night
Kafue, Zambia-3 daylight sightings in 4 days

Well over a hundred game drives

1 Caracal sighting - at night for a couple of minutes between Lebala and Lagoon.

4 Serval sightings - 3 at Mala Mala

I've been on six safaris, so dozens of drives, and have only seen one caracal (at Savuti Camp). I've seen several serval, including at Savuti, the Masai Mara, Ngorongoro and Kruger.

Thank you all for the replies and the amazing photos. I had discounted Tanzania, for 2 reasons and chosen Kenya for the Mara as my wife is reluctant to return as we had our first Safari here and to be honest does not feel that any revisit could live up to that first one.

I also think a &quot;caracal safari&quot; is a bit extreme but I would love to see all of the cat species (who wouldn't I suppose?) and these two are high up on my list, so I want to choose the best locations to give me the best chance . I have been lucky with other cats in Africa; Asia and South America and want to give these a go.

In summary it would seem that the Kwando Concession offers the best chance and many of the sightings were indeed here or in the Mara.

Thanks again I appreciate your time in replying, I will now try and put the trip together.

Any of the cat species any place anywhere are good. To ever pin your hopes on a caracal is setting yourself up for disappointment.

That reminded me of a Mombo guide who told the tale of being out with a family and seeing a leopard, then serval, cheetah, African wildcat, and the elusive caracal, all in one day. To complete their cat game viewing they were going for the lion. Never did find one that day.

Have seen serval at night in Laikipia (Kenya). Haven't seen caracal yet.

This is the sort of posting I like, firstly we have a good question from someone who is clearly interested in animals, secondly we have useful responses, encompassing all of what we should be saying. Even I have not been able to say anything negative about WS.

<b>Even I have not been able to say anything negative about WS.</b>

I was beginning to think you were just another Forum Grouch, but after seeing your photos for the first time I think you are holding out on us, those photos are really good :)

caracal - Selinda at night.

serval - Sth Luangwa near Tafika camp &amp; the old Nsolo camp

Geoff.

eight safaris in Africa and have seen a caracal in Vumbura in Botswana---never seen the Serval but Zambia souded like a good chance...South Luangwa...it's all chance...had never seen Roan antelope or honey badgers till Kings Pool...

A few serval cats; no caracal yet.