Hunting Aardwolf in africa

A Forager, the Elusive Aardwolf is Nocturnal and Shy, Proving to be a Challenge for Hunters

The aardwolf (Proteles cristata) is a termite-eating, solitary forager who lives in the shrublands of eastern and southern Africa. Aardwolves enjoy a habitat of open lands covered with stunted trees and shrubs. It is a nocturnal animal, resting in burrows during the day and emerging at night to forage, where hunters on their game hunting safari will hunt them under spotlights.

The aardwolf is an insectivorous species of hyena, native to East and Southern Africa. Its name means “earth-wolf” in the local South African language Afrikaans. The primary food source of the aardwolf is termites and ants. The aardwolf consumes 200,000 – 300,000 termites per night.

The aardwolf doesn’t dig for termites but rather simply laps them up with its long, sticky tongue and chews them with its peg-like molars. Maggots and other invertebrates with soft bodies are also occasionally consumed.

Aardwolves are monogamous but generally solitary animals, only coming together to mate and rear young. They are sometimes seen in pairs or small groups.

The aardwolf’s predators include lions, leopards, poisonous snakes, and spotted hyenas that will kill both the cubs and adults. Aardwolf cubs are targeted by black-backed jackals as easy prey.

AT A GLANCE

Name:
Proteles Cristata

Weight:
15-22 pounds with larger specimen reaching 33 pounds

Shoulder Height:
16-20 inches

Range:
Eastern and Southern Africa

Mating Season:
June-July

Life span:
15 years

Hunting Aardwolf

The Aardwolf is an Elusive Wolf That is a Trophy to Any Hunter

Size and Appearance 

The aardwolf, whose name in Afrikaans means “earth wolf,” is yellowish with vertical black stripes and a bushy black-tipped tail. It stands less than 16-20 inches tall at the shoulder and varies in length from 22-31 inches. This, however, does exclude its bushy tail that measures around 8-12 inches on its own. An adult aardwolf weighs 15-22 pounds, with larger specimens weighing up to 33 pounds. The aardwolf resembles a very thin striped hyena, but with a slenderer muzzle and black vertical stripes on a coat of yellowish fur. The animal has a long, distinct mane down the midline of the neck and back and also has one or two diagonal stripes down the fore- and hindquarters, along with several stripes on its legs.

Challenges & Rewards

Where hunting in Africa, there are times, depending on the target, the game could be sitting right there in the open plains waiting for you, while with others, like the aardwolf, you need to work hard to catch a glimpse of the shy fellow, never mind get within range to hunt him! But, once you have the aardwolf in your sights, you will realize how fortunate you are to be on a hunting adventure in Africa, ready to take home a magnificent trophy of one of Africa’s specialty animals.

Hunting Methods

When hunting in South Africa for aardwolf, your hunting safari will take place at night, as they are nocturnal. Even then, these animals are highly elusive, but there have been high success rates in both the Eastern Cape and Free State provinces in South Africa. Spotlights are used on the hunting safari. Aardwolves are protected, and hunting legislation differs from area to area. Permits are available to hunt them, with prior approval. They are elusive, shy, and secretive, which makes the challenge of locating and harvesting the aardwolf even more of a hunting adventure!

MASTERING SHOT PLACEMENT FOR SPECIALITY ANIMALS

Available aardwolf hunts

Embark on your hunting journey with confidence, guided by Game Hunting Safaris – where every adventure is a story waiting to be written, and every hunt is an experience like no other.

Hunting Aardwolf in africa

A Forager, the Elusive Aardwolf is Nocturnal and Shy, Proving to be a Challenge for Hunters

AT A GLANCE

Hunting Aardwolf

Size and Appearance

Challenges & Rewards

Hunting Methods

Rifles and Requirements

MASTERING SHOT PLACEMENT FOR SPECIALITY ANIMALS

Available aardwolf hunts

Book Your Hunt

List Your Hunts

Embark on your hunting journey with confidence, guided by Game Hunting Safaris – where every adventure is a story waiting to be written, and every hunt is an experience like no other.

Custom Hunt

Embark on your hunting journey with confidence, guided by Game Hunting Safaris – where every adventure is a story waiting to be written, and every hunt is an experience like no other.

Hunting Aardwolf in africa

A Forager, the Elusive Aardwolf is Nocturnal and Shy, Proving to be a Challenge for Hunters

AT A GLANCE

Hunting Aardwolf

Size and Appearance

Challenges & Rewards

Hunting Methods

Rifles and Requirements

MASTERING SHOT PLACEMENT FOR SPECIALITY ANIMALS

Available aardwolf hunts

Book Your Hunt

List Your Hunts

Embark on your hunting journey with confidence, guided by Game Hunting Safaris – where every adventure is a story waiting to be written, and every hunt is an experience like no other.

Custom Hunt

Embark on your hunting journey with confidence, guided by Game Hunting Safaris – where every adventure is a story waiting to be written, and every hunt is an experience like no other.

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Size and Appearance 