The heat is outrageous!…Great trail cam photos at Khaya Umdani of resident genet…

One of the many things we love about living in Marloth Park is that we never know what surprises may await us when we look through the photos and videos captured on our trail camera. While we are fortunate to see plenty of wildlife during the day, some of the most interesting visitors arrive after dark, when many of the animals that share this remarkable habitat become active. Last night was no exception, when we spotted a genet on our trail cam.What a delightful little creature! Although we have seen genets on occasion, they are not nearly as common during our daytime wildlife viewing as the larger animals that visit us regularly. Seeing one captured so clearly on the trail cam gives us another chance to observe an animal whose lifestyle differs greatly from that of many of our daytime visitors.

Genets are small, slender, cat-like mammals, although they are not actually cats. They belong to the family Viverridae, which also includes civets. Their beautiful coats are generally greyish or tan, decorated with distinctive dark spots along their bodies and dark rings around their long, bushy tails. Their tails are almost as long as their bodies and help them maintain balance as they move through trees and along narrow branches.

One of their most striking features is their pointed face, large ears, and bright, alert eyes. They have short legs, retractable claws, and an exceptionally flexible body that allows them to move through their surroundings with remarkable agility. Looking at one, it’s easy to understand why they are such accomplished climbers.

Genets are primarily nocturnal, meaning they hunt and explore most at night. During daylight hours, they typically rest in sheltered locations, including hollow trees, thick vegetation, rock crevices, and other protected spaces. Once darkness falls, they emerge to hunt and explore their territories.

Their diet is quite varied. Genets are opportunistic hunters and will eat whatever suitable food is available. Their menu includes insects, spiders, scorpions, small rodents, lizards, frogs, birds, and eggs. They may also occasionally eat fruit. Their excellent climbing skills allow them to investigate trees and other elevated locations in search of an easy meal. They are particularly good at catching small prey, using their sharp teeth and quick reflexes.

Unlike some social animals we see here in the bush, genets are generally solitary. Adults usually forage alone, maintaining individual territories that may overlap with other genets’. They communicate through scent markings and various vocalizations, particularly during mating periods. They are generally quiet animals, so we may never hear one moving around at night.

Their ability to squeeze into small spaces and climb almost anything makes them fascinating little visitors. They can travel along branches, fences, and other narrow surfaces with surprising confidence. Those long tails are especially useful when navigating the sometimes precarious routes they take through the bush.

Genets are also quite elusive, which is one reason our trail camera is such a valuable addition to our wildlife viewing. We can capture images of animals that might otherwise pass through our garden without us ever knowing they were there. While we sleep, an entirely different world of wildlife activity unfolds around us.

I often think about how much happens here after we retreat indoors for the night. We may have spent the afternoon watching kudus, zebras, wildebeests, and nyalas wandering through our garden, but once the sun goes down, the smaller nocturnal residents take over. Bushbabies, genets, civets, and other nighttime creatures continue their activities while we are tucked comfortably into bed.

Of course, we never know exactly what might show up next on the trail cam. That’s part of the fun of living here. Every morning brings the possibility of discovering something new, even when we haven’t seen a single animal during the previous evening.

Last night’s genet was a lovely reminder that Marloth Park is full of fascinating creatures, both large and small. We feel incredibly fortunate to share this special place with so much wildlife and now with our family members Colleen and Parulette. Even after all these years of traveling and living in different parts of the world, these little surprises in the bush never get old!

Louise mentioned that this little genet has been a frequent visitor at the Khaya Umdani house, where Louise and her guests have interacted with it many times over the years. Apparently, it has become comfortable enough around people to accept offerings of mince and fruit. How delightful! It must be such a pleasure to have this beautiful little creature visit regularly, especially knowing how elusive genets can be. Since they are primarily nocturnal, we don’t often get to see them during our usual daytime wildlife viewing. What a treat to capture this special nighttime visitor on our trail cam!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, November 6, 2016:

There won’t be a ten-year-ago photo here today while we are still at the Khaya Umdani until Sunday.