The caracal is a medium-sized cat with a very long tail and usually lives in and around woodlands and savannah. It generally hunts at night, but is occasionally seen during the day in cooler weather.
So it was a surprise to us to hear from Jarrod, the manager at Kicheche Camp in the Masai Mara Kenya, of a caracal and cub having been spotted during the day.
Jarrod’s report:
Hearing a report from guests that a caracal and cub had been spotted at Bishop’s Lugga, I cancelled my plans for the afternoon, jumped in a vehicle and drove to the spot where the sighting was made. Bishop’s Lugga is only ten minutes from camp but the journey seemed much longer as I contemplated the possibility of seeing a cat I had never before encountered.
The anticipation was in reality short-lived as I spotted both mum and cub immediately upon arrival. The cub is probably no more than two months old and immediately dived for cover and effortlessly disappeared in the tall grass.
Her mother however seemed more than happy to stay in view, and given precious minutes to study her, I can say without question she is the most striking cat I have ever seen. With perfectly angled features and exquisite facial markings she had the appearance and manner of a giant Siamese cat as she sashayed through the short-grass. Her sharp, almond eyes shone like freshly minted gold sovereigns and allied with her large, distinctive black tipped ears made her hyper sensitive to the slightest movement around her. She may not posses the superior strength of the leopard or the blistering pace of the cheetah but in appearance the caracal is the embodiment of feline grace and beauty.
As the mother moved into the safety of some croton I spotted the tips of the cub’s ears twitching nervously just above the the tall grass where she was hiding. Chastised by mum for her sloppy camouflage, the pair slinked into the heart of the bush and out of sight.
