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Bushbaby

The ideal safari vacation awaits you during a trip out to the nature paradise of South Africa. Boasting stunning scenery, a favourable climate, and a plethora of game parks, South Africa promises travellers a terrific game viewing experience. The legendary Kruger National Park is one of the most sought-after destinations in the country as it provides access to a staggering collection of wildlife and has some of the best bush and veld views in the region. One of the smallest primates amongst the Kruger Park family is that of the Bushbaby. Its name likely owes to its very cute appearance, small stature, and the fact that it can produce shrill cries that sound very much like a human baby’s. Bushbabies are recognized by their big round eyes and their bat-like ears. Because it is largely nocturnal its eyes are important for good night vision, while its ears help to track the movements of insects at night. It has a very developed sense of hearing with this sense being so profoundly acute, it can even define the sound of an owl gliding. The bushbaby is known as a fairly agile creature and appears to hunt quite efficiently; it can also cover medium-sized distances fairly quickly while leaping from the limbs of trees. As they jump through the bush or through trees, they pin their large ears back to protect them; their ears are also pinned back while they are sleeping. Visitors to the Kruger Park wanting to know more about these animals should pay attention to the calls they emit. The Bushbaby has a staggering 18 different calls all related to three various behavioural modes: social contact, aggressive or defensive, and annunciatory. This ability to produce so many vocal calls is pivotal in their quest to outwit potential enemies. An interesting fact about the bushbaby is that it is a very conscientious groomer, making sure it preens itself before every nocturnal hunting trip it takes.