Even mongooses love sunbathing
When you think of an African safari you can’t help but think of the heat. Out here in the South African Lowveld, however, winter mornings and evenings can be bitterly chilly.
On one such morning, just as the sun was rising and the air was warming up, my guests and I noticed movement on a tall dead tree. Naturally, we stopped to have a good look with our binoculars.
It was a band of dwarf mongooses scrambling up and down the tree, searching for the best spot in the sun. These adorable little creatures had just emerged from their cosy den in an old termite mound at the base of the tree, and their antics in the bare branches above were their way of warming up after a freezing night for a day of hunting for insects, eggs, and lizards.
These beady-eyed, sociable creatures are cute and entertaining at the best of times, but on this morning as we sat curled up in the vehicle much as they were in the tree, we couldn’t tear ourselves away from their cuddling, grooming, and tumbling play.
Smiling, we left this little band of sun worshippers to their sun-loving ways.
Written by: Mark Burns
Kapama Karula
There are many interesting creatures of the mongoose-size, who are funny and learning to look at, and that is certainly why a whole film-serie was made with the suricats. The unique with your picture is that these ground-lovers are found in a tree. Of course they can climb, but they are not usually found in trees – rather in dens.
We had a massive group of mongooses (geese?) crossing the road ahead of our vehicle once. So much fun to watch! A few would scurry across, stop, then stand up as if to signal, “next group, c’mon!” This went on for several minutes and it was hilarious. Freeze, scurry, pause, scamper and repeat until all crossed. Like we could see them, just like a cartoon. I would love to have seen them in a tree.
Absolutely FANTASTIC !!! I love to receive Kapama´s News.I visited Kapama in 2013, it was one of my best adventure.
Regards from Brazil !!! Angela & Arnaldo