Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
41 places
Wildlife
Aardwolf
Proteles cristatus
The aardwolf is an insectivorous mammal, native to East and Southern Africa.
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
Records449 records
Curve from 449 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
Northern Cape and beyond
Provinces where Aardwolf is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
449 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Aardwolf
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Aardwolf recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Aardwolf recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Marataba Mountain Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Aardwolf recorded here
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 180a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Gamkaberg Campsite
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 230a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Aardwolf recorded here
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 1,990a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Stable Rooms
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 320a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Marataba Safari Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Aardwolf recorded here
Ou Kraal
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,600a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Xami Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,520a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Aardwolf recorded here
Fossil Ridge Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,320a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Sweetthorn Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,320a night
Aardwolf recorded here
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Aardwolf recorded here
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Aardwolf
Hosts have recorded the Aardwolf at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and Cederberg Wilderness Area.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kruger | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg | 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.
Where to base yourself
Limpopo
Kruger · Marakele
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Western Cape
Cederberg Wilderness Area · Gamkaberg · Agulhas
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
KwaZulu-NatalBig FiveStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Northern Cape
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld · Mokala · Augrabies Falls
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern Cape
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
Proteles cristatus
Records
449
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Aardwolf on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Aardwolf in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Aardwolf at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Addo Elephant National Park and Marakele National Park and other reserves. 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 Aardwolf in South Africa?
The Aardwolf is most recorded in Northern Cape (43% of records), Eastern Cape (18% of records), Western Cape (14% of records), based on 449 iNaturalist observations. 101 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Aardwolf on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Aardwolf?
The Aardwolf 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. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Gamkaberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Aardwolf?
The Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Aardwolf?
The aardwolf is an insectivorous mammal, native to East and Southern Africa. Its name means "earth-wolf" in Afrikaans and Dutch. It is also called "maanhaar-jackal" (Afrikaans for "mane-jackal"), "termite-eating hyena" and "civet hyena", based on its habit of secreting substances from its anal gland, a characteristic shared with the African civet. The aardwolf is in the same family as the hyena.