Pangolin by Johnson Shayo

It was a rainy afternoon, with steady drops soaking the reserve and keeping most guests indoors. Many had already enjoyed several game drives and chose to rest. One family of four, however, was full of excitement. This was their last destination, and the rain was not going to stop them from exploring.

We put on our ponchos and gently started the engine, slowly descending Sasakwa Hill while taking in everything nature had to offer that afternoon. About fifteen minutes into the drive, we came across a breeding herd of buffaloes. We spent a good amount of time there, watching the bulls wallowing in the mud, cows calmly feeding their calves, and the rest of the herd grazing peacefully across the plains.

Suddenly, a call came through on the radio: a lion pride had been spotted nearby, with special mention of how actively the cubs were playing. Without hesitation, we decided to head in that direction. Arriving just in time, we were rewarded with a beautiful scene. The cubs were full of energy, playing around fallen trees and hopping over rocks, while the adult lions sat at a distance, quietly watching over them.

As we scanned the area, counting the scattered cubs, one of them caught our attention. It seemed very focused on something we couldn’t see from our angle.

We slowly repositioned the vehicle to get a better view. Within seconds, we saw the cub jump onto what looked like a small rock and begin to roll around. After a couple of turns, we noticed scales and the tip of a tail. To our amazement, the “rock” was actually a pangolin! It was tightly curled and bravely protecting itself from the predators around it. Most likely, the lions had cornered it before we arrived.

We sat there in quiet excitement, talking about how incredibly special this sighting was. For me, as a guide, it was even more poignant as it had been exactly a year since my last pangolin sighting. On that rainy afternoon, with ponchos on and hearts full, nature had given us a truly rare and unforgettable moment.

Eventually the lions left the pangolin, but it remained tightly curled in its impenetrable fortress, wisely not unfurling itself until danger had well and truly passed.

The ground pangolin (Temminck's ground pangolin, Smutsia temminckii) is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, facing significant threats from poaching for its scales and meat, habitat loss, and electrocution on fences, despite being the most widespread African pangolin.