uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
Wildlife
Striped Polecat
Ictonyx striatus
The striped polecat (Ictonyx striatus) - also called the African polecat, zoril, zorille, zorilla, Cape polecat, and African skunk - is a member of the family Mustelidae that resembles a skunk (of the family Mephitidae).
Species insights
When to visit
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Best monthsAny month
Records337 records
Curve from 337 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Striped Polecat is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
337 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Striped Polecat
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 190a night
Striped Polecat recorded here
Garden Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 190a night
Striped Polecat recorded here
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 130a night
Striped Polecat recorded here
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 840a night
Striped Polecat recorded here
Lotheni
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 270a night
Striped Polecat recorded here
Spioenkop
Spioenkop Resort
From R 240a night
Striped Polecat recorded here
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 200a night
Striped Polecat recorded here
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 360a night
Striped Polecat recorded here
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 170a night
Striped Polecat recorded here
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 1,070a night
Striped Polecat recorded here
Giant's Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 1,150a night
Striped Polecat recorded here
More stays nearby
Kingfisher Cove Umdloti
Umdloti, Ballito
From R 13,000a night
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 4,280a night
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
From R 1,280a night
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
From R 5,400a night
Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat
Richmond
From R 5,990a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Sungubala Eco Camp
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 1,140a night
Drakensberg Vultures View
Cathkin Park
From R 1,691a night
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Penwarn Farm
Underberg
From R 1,200a night
Berghouse & Cottages
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 1,950a night
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
The Elephant Coast
Next stop
iSimangaliso wetlands, sand forest, and Sodwana reefs
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Striped Polecat
Hosts have recorded the Striped Polecat at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve and Kamberg Nature Reserve.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| Giants Castle | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Ictonyx striatus
Records
337
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Striped Polecat on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Striped Polecat in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Striped Polecat at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve, Kamberg Nature Reserve, Royal Natal National Park and Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Striped Polecat in South Africa?
The Striped Polecat is most recorded in Western Cape (52% of records), Northern Cape (24% of records), Eastern Cape (7% of records), based on 337 iNaturalist observations. 11 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Striped Polecat on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Striped Polecat?
The Striped Polecat is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Giants Castle Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Kamberg Nature Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Royal Natal National Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Striped Polecat?
The Striped Polecat (Ictonyx striatus) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Striped Polecat?
The striped polecat (Ictonyx striatus) - also called the African polecat, zoril, zorille, zorilla, Cape polecat, and African skunk - is a member of the family Mustelidae that resembles a skunk (of the family Mephitidae). The name "zorilla" comes from the word "zorro", which in Spanish means "fox".
