Dear Seolo Family,
One of our regular visitors to Rhino Post Safari Lodge and Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris is the Small Spotted Genet. Genets are common nocturnal visitors to campsites and lodges in the African bush, moving silently through even dense vegetation as they hunt for insects, rodents, and other prey attracted by lights and food scraps.
They become quite accustomed to people and some individuals are regular visitors to camps, stealthily walking along balustrades and verandas, sometimes standing motionless, watching intently, as they assess potential threats or prey, before moving off again.
Genets stalking through the bush at night are often noticed when game vehicle headlights and spotlights, although skilled guides never shine a powerful beam directly at an animal lest it damage their eyes, are reflected by the genet’s eyes, making them easily noticeable.
The Small spotted genet is similar in appearance to the Large spotted genet, and they are easily confused by observers, but the former has a white tip to its tail, is grey and white in appearance, and has black spots, whereas the latter has larger rust-coloured spots and a black tip to its tail.
