The Bat-eared fox is one of those species that many people think are strictly nocturnal, but that is not quite true. We do see them out and about during daylight hours but more so in the early morning. Even then, they can be elusive. Small, quiet, very shy, and easy to overlook unless you are really paying attention!

This Bat-eared fox footage was captured at night by a camera positioned near the track entrance to Mattikoko Safari Camp. It must have been closer into camp via another route as here we can see it leaving. At first glance, the animal moving through the frame could have been several things. The size and movement suggests a small canid or felid, but ID is not immediately obvious. When the head turns and those unmistakable ears come into view at around 6 seconds, then the mystery resolves!

Those oversized ears are the Bat-earedfox’s defining adaptation. They feed on beetles, termites, millipedes, crickets, supplementing this with small rodents, scoropions, birds’ eggs, and occasional fruit when available. Their hearing is so acute that they can detect prey moving underground, allowing them to forage efficiently with minimal energy expenditure.

Encounters like this are a reminder that even around camp the habitat still delivers moments of surprise. Much of the wildlife experience happens when nobody is watching. Our PIR camera traps give us a rare glimpse into that hidden, nocturnal world.

Reviewing our night vision camera footage with our guests and Maasai friends has become a rewarding safari experience. It offers a shared moment of discovery, revealing what has quietly passed through camp while we slept, and deepening everyone’s connection to the landscape beyond daylight hours.