De Hoop Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
4 places
Wildlife
Yellow Mongoose
Cynictis penicillata
The yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata), sometimes referred to as the red meerkat, is a member of the mongoose family averaging about 1 lb (1/2 kg) in weight and about 20 in (500 mm) in length.
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
Recorded in Western Cape~275 records
Curve from 1,962 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Eastern Cape and beyond
Provinces where Yellow Mongoose is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,963 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Yellow Mongoose
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
The Whale Trail (De Hoop)
De Hoop Nature Reserve
From R 6,460a night
Yellow Mongoose recorded here
Karoo Rest Camp
Karoo National Park
From R 437a night
Yellow Mongoose recorded here
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Yellow Mongoose recorded here
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Yellow Mongoose recorded here
Lekkerwater
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Yellow Mongoose recorded here
More stays nearby
Whale Coast Ocean Villa
Voëlklip, Hermanus
From R 2,235a night
Schoone Oordt Country House
Swellendam
From R 4,355a night
Bitou River Lodge
Wittedrift, Plettenberg Bay
From R 2,250a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town
From R 2,800a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Price on request
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town
From R 9,900a night
Plumbago Cottage - Stanford Country Cottages
Stanford
From R 2,850a night
La Clé Lodge & Villas
Franschhoek
Price on request
Lauradale
Stellenbosch
From R 1,465a night
Moonshine on Whiskey Creek
The Crags, Plettenberg Bay
From R 1,950a night
Coot Club
Stanford
Price on request
Franschhoek Country House & Villas
Franschhoek
From R 6,195a night
Assendelft Lodge
Prince Albert
From R 1,200a night
Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa
Somerset West
Price on request
Thabile Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 1,400a night
Klein Waterval Riverside Lodge
Franschhoek
From R 3,425a night
Tintswalo at Boulders
Simon's Town, Cape Town
Price on request
Devonport House
Constantia, Cape Town
From R 3,500a night
The Whale Coast
Next stop
Southern right whales, sea cliffs, and Hermanus's harbour town
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Yellow Mongoose
Hosts have recorded the Yellow Mongoose at stays in or beside De Hoop Nature Reserve and Karoo National Park.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Hoop | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing |
| Karoo | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here |
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
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Cynictis penicillata
Records
1,963
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Yellow Mongoose on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Yellow Mongoose in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Yellow Mongoose at stays in or beside De Hoop Nature Reserve and Karoo National Park. 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 Yellow Mongoose in South Africa?
The Yellow Mongoose is most recorded in Eastern Cape (28% of records), Northern Cape (22% of records), Gauteng (19% of records), based on 1,963 iNaturalist observations. 5 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Yellow Mongoose on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Yellow Mongoose?
The Yellow Mongoose 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. De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Karoo National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Yellow Mongoose?
The Yellow Mongoose (Cynictis penicillata) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Yellow Mongoose?
The yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata), sometimes referred to as the red meerkat, is a member of the mongoose family averaging about 1 lb (1/2 kg) in weight and about 20 in (500 mm) in length. It lives in open country, from semi-desert scrubland to grasslands in Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.