When guests think of a safari in Manyoni Private Game Reserve, they often dream of seeing lions, elephants, rhinos or perhaps the elusive leopard. But once the sun disappears below the Zululand horizon, another remarkable resident quietly emerges, the aardvark.
Despite being found across much of southern Africa, aardvarks are rarely seen due to their strictly nocturnal habits. Spotting one on a night drive is considered a true safari privilege and remains one of the most exciting sightings for experienced wildlife enthusiasts.
A Master of the Night
The aardvark (meaning “earth pig” in Afrikaans) is unlike any other African mammal. With its rabbit-like ears, kangaroo-style tail, powerful claws and long sticky tongue, it almost looks like an animal assembled from several different species.
Its powerful sense of smell allows it to locate termite mounds and ant nests hidden beneath the ground. Using its incredibly strong front claws, the aardvark can dig through hard soil in minutes before using its tongue, reaching up to 30 cm long, to collect thousands of insects in a single feeding session.
An adult aardvark can consume over 50,000 ants and termites in one night.
Nature’s Ecosystem Engineer
The importance of aardvarks extends far beyond controlling insect populations.
Their extensive burrows provide shelter for many other species once abandoned, including warthogs, porcupines, jackals, reptiles and numerous smaller mammals. In this way, aardvarks play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and are often referred to as ecosystem engineers.
Why Are They So Difficult to Find?
Unlike predators that patrol open roads, aardvarks spend much of the night quietly moving through thick bush in search of food. Their excellent hearing alerts them to approaching danger long before they are seen.
Cool evenings following rain often provide some of the best opportunities for sightings, as termite activity increases and aardvarks become more active.
A Special Sighting at Manyoni
Manyoni Private Game Reserve’s diverse habitats and healthy ecosystems provide excellent conditions for this fascinating species. Although sightings remain uncommon, every encounter reminds us that the reserve’s magic isn’t limited to the Big Five.
For many returning safari guests, seeing an aardvark ranks alongside spotting a leopard or pangolin as one of Africa’s greatest wildlife experiences.
At Manyoni, every game drive offers the possibility of discovering something extraordinary—even after dark.