Serval
wildlife of Namibia
Introduction: This beautiful member of the cat family is similar in size to a medium dog. It inhabits thick bush and tall grass around streams, for both camouflage, safety and refreshment purposes. Prominent features include long legs and neck, small head, large upright ears, and a relatively short tail. Its beautiful appearance belies it's adept and cunning hunting skills. The photographic opportunity of a lifetime awaits if you can capture serval (Felis serval) catching birds in mid-flight as it leaps into the air. They are mainly nocturnal creatures, sometimes spotted in the early morning or late afternoon.
Distribution: Servals are common, but confined to the wetter, north-eastern areas of Namibia. They do not occur in forest, desert or semi-desert.
Colouring: Servals have a dirty yellow coat, dotted with large black spots, which form lines along the length of the body.
Diet: Servals favour ground birds, hares, frogs, fish and rodents.
Breeding: Litters are normally born towards the end of the winter (May to September) and litter down in either a hole or on the surface of the ground in either thick clumps of high grass in open grassland, in underbush or in the stands of mealies.
Size: Males stand some 60cm high at the shoulder and are 110cm in length including the tail. They normally weigh around 11kg, but can be up to 18kg. The female of the species is proportionally smaller all round.
Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge
Just outside the town of Katima Mulilo lies this small river front lodge. The accommodation is rustic, the food awesome and the situation idyllic - resulting in some of the best value for money accommodation in Namibia
Chobe Savanna Lodge
Overlooking the vast Chobe floodplain's from its situation in the east Caprivi this lodge has a lot to offer visitors
Ichingo Chobe River Lodge
One of the best lodges in this area has accommodation in both traditional land based units as well as on two houseboats.
Impalila Island Lodge
This is the only place in the world where four countries meet. A wonderful Chobe destination with eight luxury chalets.
Mahangu Safari Lodge
Situated close to the Mahangu Park in west Caprivi - this is an excellent stop-over between Namibia, Maun (in Botswana) and the Victoria Falls
Mazambala Island Lodge
Situated on an island in the Kwando river around 4km from the trans-Caprivi highway
Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge
Brand new lodge in east Caprivi - ideal for exploring the wetlands of the Mamili National Park
Ntwala Island Lodge
situated on three small islands this is an ultra-luxurious Chobe destination, with four suites, each with plunge pool and private guiding
Susuwe Island Lodge
in the Bwabwata National Park this is a perfect land and water camp with six luxury suites, each with private plunge pool
Zovu Elephant Lodge
In the far eastern Caprivi this lodge offers lots of water based activities on both the Chobe & Zambezi Rivers
