Samara is proud to be home of many Aardvark and is one of very
few places in South Africa where you are pretty much guaranteed
to spot the elusive Aardvark, Samara will whisk you off just
after dark or after dinner and include Aardvark viewing together
with your evening game drives or a dedicated Aardvark safari
is also on offer.
Aardvarks are nocturnal, usually waiting until dark before they
emerge from their burrows. Their night-time travels average
one to three miles but can range up to 18 miles a night.
Scientific Name: Orycteropus afer
Size: 24 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 88 to 143 pounds
Lifespan: 23 years in captivity
Habitat: Dry savanna to rain forest
Diet: Omnivorous
Gestation: 7 months
Predators: Humans, lions, hyenas, leopards,
pythons
The name aardvark comes from a word meaning "earth pig."
Although the aardvark, endemic to Africa, shares some similarities
with the South American anteater, the two are not related. The
last survivor of a group of primitive ungulates, the aardvark
could more accurately be called a near-ungulate that has developed
powerful claws.
The aardvark has a short neck connected to a massive, almost
hairless body with a strongly arched back. The legs are short,
the hind legs longer than the front ones. The head is elongated,
with a long, narrow snout and nostrils that can be sealed. The
long, tubular ears are normally held upright but can be folded
and closed. The short but muscular tail is cone-shaped and tapers
to a point. The thick claws on the forefeet are well adapted
for digging.
