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Your chances of seeing Black backed Jackal in Kruger National Park
Seen on most drives. Most visitors see Black backed Jackal within a day or two in Kruger National Park.
When to see Black backed Jackal in Kruger National Park
Black backed Jackal are most active late afternoon into dusk (17:00 to 20:00) and at night (19:00 to 05:00). Much of their activity falls outside gate hours, so the first drive after the gates open and the last hour before they close give you the best chance.
This is Black backed Jackal's general behavior. Once enough sightings are logged in Kruger National Park, this page also shows when they're actually seen here.
Where to look for Black backed Jackal in Kruger National Park: best roads
Drive
S36 Nhlanguleni Road, H1-1 Napi Road and S114 Old Main Road run through open grassland and mixed bushveld: good country for Black backed Jackal.
- S36 Nhlanguleni Road71.4 km · open grassland and mixed bushveld
- H1-1 Napi Road55.7 km · mixed bushveld and open grassland
- S114 Old Main Road50.2 km · mixed bushveld and open grassland
Picked from habitat, not from sightings. opspoor shows where Black backed Jackal have actually been seen recently.
About the Black backed Jackal
The black-backed jackal is a medium-sized African canid recognised by the contrasting dark saddle of fur across its back, reddish-brown flanks and bushy tail. It is highly adaptable and occurs in savanna, grassland, woodland, semi-arid habitats and areas close to human activity. It is an opportunistic omnivore and predator, feeding on small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fruit and carrion. Black-backed jackals are generally solitary or found in pairs, although family groups may form around breeding territories.
How to identify the Black backed Jackal
Slender jackal with a reddish-brown to grey-brown coat, distinctive black saddle across the back, white underparts and a bushy black-tipped tail. The ears are large and pointed.
Other species to look for in Kruger National Park
Other parks where you can see Black backed Jackal
Easiest first.
Heading to Kruger National Park? opspoor shows where Black backed Jackal have been logged recently and lets you log your own, even with no signal.