Specialty Game Hunting Safaris: The Slender Mongoose

The slender mongoose (Herpestes sanguineus) is a small mammal found in much of sub-Saharan Africa.  The slender mongoose is known under many names, including black-tipped mongoose, black-tailed mongoose, and the common slender mongoose. This specialty game hunting trophy is listed with a status of “least concern” by the IUCN.

They enjoy inhabiting savannas and semi-arid plains but are often found at the side of roads or near human settlements, where they are seen as pests because they target chickens and their eggs.

The slender mongoose spends most of its time alone or lives in pairs, often sharing burrows with members of related species. Although not specifically territorial, the slender mongoose does have a home range that it stays within and marks its territory with scent-marking.

There are two peak breeding periods within the year, the shorter rainy season (October-November) and the longer rainy season (February-April). Both sexes have multiple mates, and with a gestation period of 57-65 days, females can birth 2-4 pups twice a year.

These mongooses are diurnal, retreating to their burrows at night while foraging for food during daylight hours. They are omnivores, feeding on a variety of foods, including carrion, ants, termites, locusts, frogs, snakes, beetles, nuts, fruits, and seeds. They are the most adept of all the mongooses at tree climbing, leading to a treasure of birds and bird eggs to feed upon. In turn, they are preyed on by birds of prey such as eagles and hawks, as well as snakes and jackals.