Planning a trip to Rietvlei Nature Reserve? Download opspoor to see recent sightings in the park and log your own.
When to see Caracal in Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Caracal are most active 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 Caracal's general behavior. Once enough sightings are logged in Rietvlei Nature Reserve, this page also shows when they're actually seen here.
About the Caracal
The caracal is a medium-sized African wild cat recognised by its reddish-brown coat, black-tipped ears with long tufts and relatively short tail. It is highly adaptable and occurs in savanna, grassland, woodland, scrub and semi-arid habitats. Caracals are primarily nocturnal hunters and feed on rodents, birds, reptiles and small to medium-sized mammals. They are powerful and agile predators capable of making spectacular vertical leaps to catch birds in flight.
How to identify the Caracal
Medium-sized wild cat with a compact muscular body, long legs, short tail and distinctive black ear tufts. Coat ranges from sandy or reddish-brown to grey, often with faint spots or markings and a pale underside.
Other species to look for in Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Other parks where you can see Caracal
Easiest first.
Heading to Rietvlei Nature Reserve? opspoor shows where Caracal have been logged recently and lets you log your own, even with no signal.