Springhare
SpringhareSpringhareSpringhareSpringhare

Springhare

Pedetes capensis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Kruger National Park
20 Verified records at Kruger National Park
December Best month highest sighting rate
🌙 Nocturnal When it's active during nighttime hours (6pm–6am)

The South African springhare (Pedetes capensis) (Afrikaans: springhaas) is a medium-sized terrestrial and burrowing rodent. Despite the name, it is not a hare. It is one of two extant species in the genus Pedetes, and is native to southern Africa. Formerly, the genus was considered monotypic and the East African springhare (P. surdaster) was included in P. capensis. Springhares live throughout semi-arid areas in southern Africa, preferentially in sandy plains and pans with short grasses. In agricultural areas, springhares can be considered a pest due to their destructive feeding on crops. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Springhare sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 20 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Kruger National Park

Smith's Bush Squirrel
LC

Smith's Bush Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Paraxerus cepapi

30–40% · Possible
Cape Porcupine
LC

Cape Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Hystrix africaeaustralis

5–10% · With luck
Greater Cane Rat
LC

Greater Cane Rat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Thryonomys swinderianus

<5% · Rare
Woodland Dormouse
LC

Woodland Dormouse

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Graphiurus murinus

<5% · Rare
Single-striped Grass Mouse
LC

Single-striped Grass Mouse

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lemniscomys rosalia

<5% · Rare
Acacia Rat
LC

Acacia Rat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Thallomys paedulcus

<5% · Rare
Bushveld Gerbil
LC

Bushveld Gerbil

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Gerbilliscus leucogaster

Insufficient data
Pygmy Mouse
LC

Pygmy Mouse

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Mus minutoides

Insufficient data
Tete Veld Aethomys
LC

Tete Veld Aethomys

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Aethomys ineptus

Insufficient data
Southern Giant Pouched Rat
LC

Southern Giant Pouched Rat

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Cricetomys ansorgei

Insufficient data
Woodland Thicket Rat
LC

Woodland Thicket Rat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Grammomys dolichurus

Insufficient data
Pouched Mouse
LC

Pouched Mouse

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Saccostomus campestris

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
5–10
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
5–10
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
5–10
Dec

🌙 When They're Spotted

Most active during nighttime hours (6pm–6am) · across all parks (global)

🌙Nocturnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
2 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
3 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
4 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
5 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
6 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
7 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
8 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Springhare in Kruger National Park?

About 4% of wildlife watchers report a Springhare sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 20 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Springhare in Kruger National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Springhare in Kruger National Park in our monthly data.

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