Cape Ground Squirrel

Cape Ground Squirrel

Xerus inauris

40–50% · Likely
overall probability at Etosha National Park
164 Verified records at Etosha National Park
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The Cape ground squirrel or South African ground squirrel (Geosciurus inauris) is found in most of the drier parts of southern Africa from South Africa, through to Botswana, and into Namibia, including Etosha National Park. The name Cape ground squirrel is somewhat misleading as it actually has a much wider area of habitation. This common name may have been arrived at to distinguish it from a tree squirrel (the eastern grey squirrel) found around Cape Town, which was imported from Europe by Cecil John Rhodes. The species has also been known as the fan-tailed squirrel. Wikipedia →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Ground Squirrel sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 164 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Etosha National Park

Smith's Bush Squirrel
LC

Smith's Bush Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Paraxerus cepapi

40–50% · Likely
Congo Rope Squirrel
LC

Congo Rope Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Funisciurus congicus

5–10% · With luck
Black-tailed Tree Rat
LC

Black-tailed Tree Rat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Thallomys nigricauda

5–10% · With luck
Dassie Rat
LC

Dassie Rat

Mammal

Petromus typicus

Insufficient data
Cape Porcupine
LC

Cape Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Hystrix africaeaustralis

Insufficient data
Namaqua Rock Rat
LC

Namaqua Rock Rat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Micaelamys namaquensis

Insufficient data
Pygmy Mouse
LC

Pygmy Mouse

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Mus minutoides

Insufficient data
Cape Four-striped Grass Mouse
LC

Cape Four-striped Grass Mouse

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rhabdomys pumilio

Insufficient data
Springhare
LC

Springhare

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Pedetes capensis

Insufficient data
Acacia Rat
LC

Acacia Rat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Thallomys paedulcus

Insufficient data
pygmy rock mouse
LC

pygmy rock mouse

Mammal

Petromyscus collinus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

50–60
Jan
40–50
Feb
50–60
Mar
30–40
Apr
40–50
May
40–50
Jun
40–50
Jul
40–50
Aug
50–60
Sep
40–50
Oct
50–60
Nov
50–60
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

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

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙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 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
40–50%
2 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
40–50%
3 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
30–40%
4 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
5 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Cape Ground Squirrel in Etosha National Park?

About 48% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Ground Squirrel sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 164 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cape Ground Squirrel in Etosha National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Cape Ground Squirrel in Etosha National Park in our monthly data.

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