A once-in-11-years sighting

Very few visitors to Africa will ever see a pangolin. In fact, many guides that have spent decades in the bush have not seen the elusive, largely nocturnal animals – to see one is an extreme privilege. Imvelo Safari Lodges guide Tyron Hurst recounts below one of the most rare and exciting days he has had on safari!

“What seemed to start out like any other safari turned into one that I will never forget. When our guests arrived at Nehimba, everyone quickly got ready for a short walk before sunset. Now with walking safaris, nothing is ever guaranteed – but the anticipation and closeness to nature is what makes it so thrilling. Within 15 minutes of starting the walk, I stopped the group as I heard a rustle nearby. I saw the grass slowly separating as something small and low was walking through it. I thought it was going to be a leopard tortoise as they are common in Hwange. I asked the group to keep quiet and still while I went to investigate. I have been working in the African bush for 11 years; and spent countless hours walking and driving across Zimbabwe and its various national parks, so I was amazed when I saw a small animal with distinctive horny scales. An animal I had been waiting to see for 11 years was walking in front of me – it was a pangolin! I turned to the group with what must have been a look of joy and excitement on my face. “Folks you are not going to believe this; I have just found a pangolin.” Most of the group thought I said ‘penguin,’ so I got some puzzled looks initially. Most people have not heard of a pangolin, also called a ‘scaly anteater,’ but when I began to explain how rare this find was and that I might never see one in the wild again in my lifetime, the group started remembering reading posts on social media about them. I explained why poaching and trafficking of pangolins is a major problem, and that it is considered vulnerable as a species. Meanwhile, the subject of all this interest, our pangolin, had rolled into a ball, presenting only its horny armour to the outside world. So we then left the little guy – or girl – to continue on his or her way. Still shocked from the find, everyone had a sip of water, while I told them that there was nothing I could show them on the rest of the walk which would top what we had just seen, but we would be celebrating with a real ‘sundowner’ drink as soon as we could.”

Pangolin sightings are very rare, but Nehimba Lodge remains a great northern Hwange destination for walking and seeing unusual and spectacular wildlife including leopard and roan antelope.

Thanks to Tyron Hurst for the pictures and recount of this wonderful sighting!