A lion resting beneath an acacia tree or an elephant herd crossing the plains can bring an entire safari vehicle to a halt. Yet some of the Serengeti’s most rewarding encounters involve animals that are smaller, quieter and considerably more difficult to find.
Caracals moving through tall grass, nocturnal African civets and tiny pearl-spotted owlets all form part of the ecosystem supporting the Serengeti’s famous predators and migrating herds. Finding them requires patience, knowledgeable guides and a willingness to look beyond the traditional safari checklist.
Wild Wakati Camp, operated by Enduata Camps in the central Serengeti’s remote Togoro Plains, is encouraging guests to take this slower approach to wildlife watching.
Why Safari Should Extend Beyond the Big Five
The term “Big Five” originally referred to the five African animals considered most dangerous to hunt on foot: lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and African buffalo. The expression remains deeply embedded in safari tourism, despite the transition from hunting to wildlife photography.
Concentrating exclusively on these animals can mean overlooking much of what makes the Serengeti ecologically significant. The protected landscape supports hundreds of bird species, numerous reptiles, small carnivores, insects and grazing animals, all connected through a complex food web.
Smaller species can also reveal aspects of the environment that a quick drive between major sightings may miss. A tortoise sheltering in a rocky kopje, birds mobbing a hidden owl or tracks left by a nocturnal civet can provide insight into how wildlife survives in different corners of the landscape.
Caracal: The Serengeti’s Elusive Small Cat
With its reddish-brown coat, long legs and sharply pointed black ear tufts, the caracal is one of Africa’s most distinctive smaller cats. Adults generally weigh between 25 and 40 pounds, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
Caracals are solitary, highly capable hunters. Their sandy coloring provides effective camouflage in dry grassland and scrub, while their powerful hind legs allow them to leap into the air when pursuing birds. They also hunt rodents, hares and other small animals.
Sightings can be brief. Caracals generally avoid open areas when safari vehicles and larger predators are active, making early morning, late afternoon and quieter sections of the plains the best places to look.
Guests should not expect to see one on every safari. Spotting the movement of its ears above the grass may be the only indication that a caracal is nearby.
African Civet: A Nocturnal Visitor
Despite sometimes being called a civet cat, the African civet is not a cat. It belongs to the viverrid family and has a striking coat marked with black spots, bands and patches.
African civets are primarily nocturnal and spend much of the day resting in dense vegetation. Their preference for moving after sunset helps explain why many safari travelers never encounter one.
The animals are omnivorous, feeding on insects, fruit, eggs, small vertebrates and carrion. Their varied diet also gives them a role in seed dispersal.
Where night drives are permitted, a guide may locate a civet by catching its reflective eyes in a spotlight. Tracks, droppings and scent-marking sites can provide evidence of its presence even when the animal remains hidden.
Travelers should check whether night drives are available in the area they are visiting, as regulations vary within and around Serengeti National Park.
Pancake Tortoise: Built for the Kopjes
The pancake tortoise is adapted to an entirely different part of the Serengeti landscape. Rather than relying on the heavy, domed shell associated with many tortoises, this East African species has a low, comparatively flexible shell.
Its flattened body allows it to squeeze into narrow gaps in rocky outcrops, known locally as kopjes. When threatened, the tortoise retreats deeply into a crevice, where it can brace itself against the rock.
The species is native to parts of Tanzania and Kenya and is classified as critically endangered. Habitat loss and collection for the illegal pet trade have contributed to its decline.
A pancake tortoise should be considered a rare and fortunate sighting rather than a predictable part of a game drive. Visitors can improve their chances by paying attention around suitable rocky habitat and asking guides about signs of reptile activity. Any sighting should take place without handling or disturbing the animal.
Pearl-Spotted Owlet: A Small Bird with a Big Presence
Measuring approximately 17 to 21 centimeters, the pearl-spotted owlet is among Africa’s smallest owls. Its compact size, barred feathers and small false “eyes” on the back of its head can help distinguish it from larger nocturnal species.
Unlike many owls, pearl-spotted owlets are frequently active during daylight, although much of their hunting still occurs at night. They feed on insects, small birds, rodents, bats and reptiles.
One of the best ways to locate an owlet is to watch the behavior of other birds. Small songbirds may gather around and noisily mob a resting owl, drawing attention to a predator that would otherwise be difficult to see.
The South African National Biodiversity Institute notes that the species can be seen during the day, giving patient safari-goers a better opportunity to observe it than many other owls.
African Harrier-Hawk: An Unusual Specialist
The African harrier-hawk, also known as the gymnogene, is a gray bird of prey with broad wings, a long tail and bare facial skin that can change in intensity.
Its most remarkable feature is its unusually flexible legs. These allow the bird to reach into tree cavities, cracks and nests in search of chicks, eggs, reptiles and small mammals. An individual may be seen clambering around a tree trunk while probing holes that other raptors cannot access.
Rather than scanning only the open sky, travelers should watch birds moving methodically through trees and rocky areas. The harrier-hawk’s deliberate climbing behavior can be easier to identify than its silhouette from a distance.
How to Notice More Wildlife on Safari
Seeing lesser-known animals often depends more on observation than luck. A few changes in approach can make a significant difference:
- Tell the guide that birds, reptiles and smaller mammals are priorities.
- Spend time beside rocky kopjes, woodland edges and water sources rather than continuously driving.
- Listen for alarm calls and changes in bird behavior.
- Learn to recognize tracks, droppings and other signs of animal activity.
- Carry binoculars suitable for both birds and distant mammals.
- Avoid pressuring a guide to race between high-profile sightings.
- Consider a longer stay, which creates more opportunities to observe different habitats and times of day.
No ethical safari operator can guarantee a particular wildlife encounter. Weather, vegetation, seasonal movement and simple chance all influence what appears.
Staying at Wild Wakati Camp
Wild Wakati Camp is an off-grid tented property on the eastern side of the central Serengeti. Its location in the Togoro Plains places guests away from some of the park’s busiest areas and near a corridor used seasonally by migrating wildebeest, zebras and gazelles.
The camp has ten canvas accommodations, including guest tents for couples and adjoining family suites. Each includes a large bed and an en suite bathroom with double sinks, a flushing toilet and a safari-style bucket shower.
Guided game drives are the primary wildlife experience, with guides helping guests interpret animal behavior and identify species that may otherwise go unnoticed. A children’s program introduces younger travelers to tracks, insects, animal calls and basic bush skills.
As with any Serengeti camp, wildlife viewing changes throughout the year. Travelers should ask about expected conditions, transfer arrangements, seasonal migration patterns and the activities available during their intended travel dates.
The Serengeti’s celebrated lions, elephants and buffalo will always command attention. But a safari becomes far richer when travelers begin noticing what is happening beneath the grass, between the rocks and in the branches overhead. Sometimes the animal remembered most clearly is the one nobody expected to find.
