Randilen · Tanzania · Field guide
Life, in all
its wild detail.
A field guide to the mammals on Randilen’s supplied species list—from the unmistakable silhouettes of the plains to the nocturnal lives most guests never see.
Explore the species
Also in the field guide · 160 property recordsMeet the birds of Randilen.Browse species marked as seen on Q’s Lodge property in the supplied bird checklist.The checklist
Meet the neighbours.
Browse by group or search by common and scientific name. Each species opens its own illustrated field-guide page.
Ungulates · Hoofed mammals
15 species
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Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
A powerful ecosystem engineer, the African elephant shapes its surroundings as it moves through savanna and woodland.
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Photo: Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 4.0Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis / G. tippelskirchii
The tallest land mammal browses high among trees, its patterned coat making each individual distinct.
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Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim · GFDL 1.2Plains Zebra
Equus quagga
A familiar striped grazer of open country, plains zebras often travel in social groups.
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Photo: Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 4.0Common Eland
Tragelaphus oryx
The largest antelope, the common eland is known for its size, pale body stripes and spiral horns.
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Photo: Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 4.0Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
A striking woodland antelope, the greater kudu is recognised by the male’s long, spiralling horns.
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Photo: Matt Muir · CC BY 4.0Lesser Kudu
Tragelaphus imberbis
A shy, finely striped antelope of thicket and dry woodland; males carry graceful spiral horns.
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Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0Blue Wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
A robust plains grazer, the blue wildebeest is noted for its shoulder hump, beard and seasonal movements.
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Photo: Diogo Luiz · CC BY-SA 4.0Coke’s Hartebeest / Kongoni
Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii
A long-faced, high-shouldered antelope adapted to life in open grassland and savanna.
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Photo: Hydrocycler (Elizabeth Dougherty) · CC BY 4.0Fringe-eared Oryx
Oryx beisa callotis
A desert-adapted antelope with long straight horns and distinctive black-and-white facial markings.
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Photo: Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 4.0Impala
Aepyceros melampus
A swift, social antelope whose springing leaps are among the most recognisable movements on the plains.
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Photo: Liliana Ramírez-Freire · CC BY 4.0Grant’s Gazelle
Nanger granti
A graceful gazelle of open country, often distinguished by its pale rump and long, lyre-shaped horns.
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Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0Thomson’s Gazelle
Eudorcas thomsonii · listed as Smith’s gazelle
A small, quick gazelle of open grassland, recognised by its bold flank stripe and lively pronking display.
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Photo: Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 4.0Kirk’s Dik-dik
Madoqua kirkii
One of Africa’s smallest antelopes, this pair-bonded browser uses its slender muzzle to pick leaves from scrub.
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Photo: Jean-Paul Boerekamps · CC0Bohor / Mountain Reedbuck
Redunca spp.
A grassland antelope that tends to stay close to cover, lifting its head above reeds when alert.
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Photo: Tristan Jobin · CC BY 4.0Harvey’s Red Duiker
Cephalophus harveyi
A small forest-and-thicket antelope, the red duiker is adapted to moving quietly through dense cover.
Open field noteCarnivores
11 species
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Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0Lion
Panthera leo
A social big cat whose deep calls carry across the landscape; prides rest through the heat and become active in cooler hours.
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Photo: tropicaLiving · CC BY-SA 3.0Leopard
Panthera pardus
A remarkably adaptable, solitary cat, the leopard is known for its rosette-patterned coat and secretive habits.
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Photo: Charles Stirton, UK · CC BY-SA 4.0Caracal
Caracal caracal
A sleek, mostly nocturnal cat with long black ear tufts and exceptional agility.
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Photo: Ikiwaner · CC BY-SA 3.0Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
A highly social and intelligent carnivore, the spotted hyena communicates with a rich range of calls.
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Photo: Obada992 · CC BY-SA 4.0Striped Hyena
Hyaena hyaena
A more elusive, largely nocturnal hyena with a shaggy coat and bold dark stripes.
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Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann · CC BY-SA 4.0Black-backed Jackal
Lupulella mesomelas
An alert, adaptable canid, identifiable by the dark saddle running along its back.
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Photo: Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 3.0Bat-eared Fox
Otocyon megalotis
A small fox with oversized ears, adapted to locating insects beneath the surface of dry ground.
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Photo: Struck, AK., Braun, M., Detering, K.A. et al. · CC BY 4.0Common / Large-spotted Genet
Genetta spp.
A nimble, often nocturnal small carnivore with a long ringed tail and spotted coat.
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Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0Banded Mongoose
Mungos mungo
A sociable mongoose that forages in groups, searching leaf litter and soil for food.
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Photo: Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 3.0Common Dwarf Mongoose
Helogale parvula
One of Africa’s smallest carnivores, dwarf mongooses live in close-knit groups and use lookout posts.
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Photo: MCSchaeffer · CC BY-SA 3.0White-tailed Mongoose
Ichneumia albicauda
A largely nocturnal mongoose recognised by its pale bushy tail and long, low-slung body.
Open field notePrimates
2 species
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Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0Olive Baboon
Papio anubis
A resourceful, highly social primate that travels in groups and adapts to a wide range of habitats.
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Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0Vervet Monkey
Chlorocebus pygerythrus
An agile, social monkey with a distinctive dark face framed by pale fur.
Open field noteAfrotheria · Hyraxes
3 species
Photo: Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 3.0Rock Hyrax
Procavia capensis
A compact mammal often seen warming itself on sunlit rocks, with strong feet made for climbing.
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Photo: Matt Muir · CC BY 4.0Bush / Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax
Heterohyrax brucei
A small hyrax of rocky places, often living in colonies and using crevices for shelter.
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Photo: Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 3.0Southern Tree Hyrax
Dendrohyrax arboreus
A nocturnal, tree-dwelling hyrax known for its haunting calls after dark.
Open field noteRodents
8 species
Photo: B20180 · CC BY-SA 4.0Cape Crested Porcupine
Hystrix africaeaustralis
A large nocturnal rodent whose striking quills offer protection from predators.
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Photo: Stephanie Dolrenry · CC BY-SA 4.0East African Springhare
Pedetes surdaster
A nocturnal rodent that moves across open ground with powerful, springing hind legs.
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Photo: Gary M. Stolz · Public domainUnstriped Ground Squirrel
Xerus rutilus
A quick, ground-dwelling squirrel of dry country, often seen darting between cover and open ground.
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Photo: Nikolay Usik · CC BY-SA 3.0Acacia Rat
Thallomys paedulcus
An agile climber associated with thorny acacias, where it can find both shelter and food.
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Photo: Tino Strauss · CC BY-SA 2.5Striped Grass Mouse
Lemniscomys barbarus / L. striatus
A small grassland rodent with fine stripes that help it disappear among stems and seed heads.
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Photo: Bodlina · CC BY 3.0Common Spiny Mouse
Acomys cahirinus
A small, quick rodent with stiff, spine-like hairs and a talent for sheltering among rocks.
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Photo: Kelly, et al. · CC BY 3.0Natal Multimammate Mouse
Mastomys natalensis
A widespread small rodent, named for the multiple pairs of nipples females have.
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Photo: Unknown author · CC0Fringe-tailed Gerbil
Gerbilliscus robustus
A nocturnal gerbil with long hind limbs and a tail tipped with a distinctive dark tuft.
Open field noteBats
8 species
Photo: Fritz Geller-Grimm · CC BY-SA 2.5Straw-coloured Fruit Bat
Eidolon helvum
A large fruit-eating bat that can gather in huge roosts and disperse seeds across the landscape.
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Photo: Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org · CC BY 3.0 USWahlberg’s Epauletted Fruit Bat
Epomophorus wahlbergi
A nectar- and fruit-feeding bat named for the pale tufts of fur on the male’s shoulders.
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Photo: Oleg Chernyshov · CC BY 4.0Yellow-winged Bat
Lavia frons
A striking bat with warm yellow-orange wing membranes, often associated with well-wooded savanna.
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Photo: Adrien Jailloux · CC BY 4.0Heart-nosed Bat
Cardioderma cor
An insect-eating bat with a distinctive heart-shaped noseleaf and large ears.
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Photo: Pavel Kirillov · CC BY-SA 2.0Darling’s Horseshoe Bat
Rhinolophus darlingi
A small echolocating bat with a characteristic horseshoe-shaped noseleaf.
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Photo: Naturalis Biodiversity Center · CC0Noack’s Roundleaf / Leaf-nosed Bat
Hipposideros ruber complex
A leaf-nosed insectivorous bat; the listing notes a species complex rather than a single confirmed taxon.
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Photo: Bernard DUPONT · CC BY-SA 2.0Cape Serotine Bat
Neoromicia capensis
A small insect-eating bat that hunts flying insects at dusk and through the night.
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Photo: Jan Ebr · CC BY 4.0Egyptian Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida aegyptiaca
A fast-flying insectivore with long, narrow wings and a tail that projects beyond the tail membrane.
Open field noteThis guide organises the species in the list supplied for Randilen. Wildlife is free-ranging: presence and sightings vary by place and season and can never be guaranteed. Unsplash images are illustrative references, not verified records from Randilen.