Frolicking Otter

When you speak to most rangers they will tell you that they have at least one animal that has eluded them in their guiding career. For me, it has definitely been the Cape clawless otter!! I have seen fresh signs of this elusive creature, been minutes behind a feeding male, and still no luck in seeing it. This all changed for me one afternoon drive, when Patrick our tracker, shouted OTTER!!!! Well, I nearly threw poor Patrick off the vehicle when I braked and reversed so hard! There it was, frolicking up and down a weir over the sand river, completely oblivious to us and without a care in the world! Now, to see two in two days is even rarer, and the next morning while we were having morning coffee, we witnessed another spectacle. Another otter decided it would show itself off and promptly decided to give us a show on the big granite rocks in front of Leadwood camp. Dashing here, swimming there, and generally having a good time. It was truly magnificent with the first rays of the morning sun glistening off its beautiful coat! What a way to start the day, and an awesome first sighting of this rarely seen animal for us.

Posted: Exeter Lodges by Chris Renshaw, Date: 19 April 2008