Meet the Tabby Cat’s African doppelganger
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each guest has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
- Rumi
“Wildcat!” Kupai and I exclaimed in unison. We’d only rolled a few yards down the road from the lodge on our first game drive when we spotted the resident warthog, aka Pumba, snuffling at something on the road. I scrambled for my camera to capture the small grey cat strolling ahead of the curious warthog.
The light was low, I wasn’t ready. I should know better! Be prepared is also the mantra of the wildlife photographer. Going on a game drive is like going on a treasure hunt. You never know when the unexpected will show up so have your camera settings ready!
The African wildcat, felis lybica, is the spitting image of a domestic tabby. As I frantically tried to adjust my camera and focus, the little grey cat turned and melted into the dense undergrowth along the road.
It was over in seconds, leaving us grinning with the rush of adrenaline that comes with the excitement of a first sighting. I was surprised to learn it was a first for Kupai too. I assumed as a Maasai growing up on the Mara, he would have seen it all but no, with wildlife there is always more to discover.
Shy, elusive, and nocturnal, African wildcats live all over the continent. They are about the same size as a large domestic house cat with longer legs and a black ringed tail. Their elongated limbs give them a distinctive walk like a cheetah. When they sit upright their forelegs raise their body in a vertical position. This pose is almost impossible for domestic cats and resembles the characteristic pose of cats in ancient Egyptian art. The African wildcat lives primarily on rodents and small birds, however, it is also a scavenger. Perhaps the proximity of the lodge provided an opportunity to raid the kitchen garbage.
The warthogs on the other hand, were right at home with people. This mother and her piglet lounged about on the lodge’s lawn as if they owned the place. It was wonderful to see them up close, but we were warned not to approach them.
Warthogs have tusks and can do significant damage when provoked. Kupai told me about a hilarious warthog versus tourist story that I’ll share another day.
The big cats are the most iconic and famous cats of the savannah; however, they are not the only felines in Africa. There’s also the smaller cats, the serval, the caracal, and the African wildcat. It was a thrill to see my first wildcat. I’ve had a couple of wonderful encounters with servals, but I have yet to see a caracal. A sleek cat the size of a lynx with a reddish-brown coat, caracals are distinctive with their dramatic face markings and long black ear tufts.
I’m heading back to Kenya in June. I’m looking forward to being back in my happy place on safari. Fingers crossed I might see a caracal. We have a couple of spaces available on this upcoming small group safari. Send me an email if you would like to know more about the trip.
