Uganda Wildlife
Aardwolf (Proteles cristata)
- Best Months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
The aardwolf is a small, highly elusive insectivorous mammal belonging to the hyena family, instantly distinguished by its yellowish-white coat marked with vertical black stripes and a long, shaggy dark mane running along its spine. Unlike its larger, bone-crushing relatives, the aardwolf has evolved specialized, flattened cheek teeth and a long, sticky tongue designed exclusively for consuming up to 300,000 harvester termites in a single night. Because it does not dig its own burrows, this nocturnal creature repurposes abandoned holes left by aardvarks or porcupines, emerging under the cover of total darkness to forage across open plains while living in stable, monogamous pairs.
Last updated October 22, 2026
· Written by Enoch, Huko Safaris
5.0average traveler rating
Local expert: Enoch
Best Months to See Aardwolf
From our team
Aardwolf
If you're coming to Uganda, there's a 99% chance you've never heard of the aardwolf, making it a true holy grail sighting if you're a safari enthusiast. It is completely restricted to the semi-arid, remote north-eastern frontier: specifically inside Kidepo Valley National Park and the rugged plains of Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. Because they are exclusively nocturnal and feed almost entirely on harvester termites, you will not see them on standard daytime game drives, only on night safaris.
— Enoch, Huko Safaris