Rock Hyrax Species Profile: The Elephant's Small Relative on East Africa's Kopjes

Hyraxes are easy to miss and easy to love. They sit in rows on warm boulders, soaking up the morning sun, then scramble over the rocks with astonishing grip. A first-time visitor may take them for guinea pigs or marmots, but the animal's family tree points to something much larger.

This profile covers how to identify hyraxes, how their colonies work, what they eat and what hunts them, and where to look for them on a safari. For other small mammals of the region, see the East Africa wildlife guide and animals of Uganda list.

This guide is part of our animals of Uganda and East Africa guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

Identification

The rock hyrax is a compact, stocky animal with short rounded ears, a blunt face, thick brown-grey fur and no visible tail. Its legs are short, and the feet have rubbery pads kept moist by glands, which work rather like suction cups on steep rock. The upper incisors grow into small tusk-like points, a clue to its ancestry. There are several kinds in East Africa. The bush hyrax is often seen alongside the rock hyrax and has a pale spot of fur on the back, while the tree hyrax is a forest animal, mostly nocturnal and rarely seen, known by its eerie screaming call after dark.

An Unlikely Family Tree

Despite looking like a rodent, the hyrax belongs to an ancient group of mammals whose closest living relatives are elephants and the sea cows, manatees and dugongs. The evidence comes from anatomy and genetics, and it includes the tusk-like incisors, the toenail structure and details of the skeleton. Millions of years ago, relatives of the hyrax were far larger and filled the niches now occupied by many grazing mammals. It is a favourite fact of safari guides and always raises eyebrows. You can read about the large end of the family in the elephant profile.

Colony Life and Sunbathing

Rock hyraxes live in colonies, typically a dominant male, several females and their young, with others living on the edge. They are poor at regulating their own body temperature, so they sunbathe to warm up in the morning and huddle together on cold nights. Sentinels sit on high rocks and give shrill alarm calls when an eagle or a leopard appears, and the whole colony disappears into crevices in seconds. Colonies often use the same latrine spots for years, and the dried urine leaves pale streaks on cliffs that can be seen from far away.

Diet and Feeding

Hyraxes are herbivores that eat grasses, leaves, shoots and the occasional fruit, moving out from the rocks to feed in the early morning and late afternoon. Their digestion is slow and efficient, and they chew with a side-to-side motion. Because they depend on the shelter of rocks, they rarely wander far from home. In places where tourists feed them, colonies become bold and unhealthy, so resist the temptation to offer food and keep a respectful distance.

Predators and Threats

Many animals hunt hyraxes, including leopards, caracals, servals, jackals, snakes and large eagles. Verreaux's eagle specialises in them, and nesting pairs of this eagle are often found where hyrax colonies are large. Hyraxes are not considered globally threatened and are abundant in suitable habitat, though they are hunted for meat or pest control in some places. Their main requirement is safe rock cover, so the clearing of boulder slopes and uncontrolled fires can hurt local colonies. See also the profiles of the leopard and serval.

Where to See Hyraxes

In Tanzania, the granite kopjes of the Serengeti are famous for colonies. In Kenya, Hell's Gate National Park, described in the Naivasha and Hell's Gate guide, offers cliffs where hyraxes and eagles share the stage, and Lake Nakuru and Nairobi have colonies too. In Uganda, look at rocky outcrops in Kidepo Valley and at Mount Elgon and Sipi Falls, while high up in the Rwenzori Mountains the tree hyrax is often heard at night.

Photography and Related Species

Hyraxes are relaxed once they know you are not a threat. Approach slowly, sit down and let the colony settle, then use a medium telephoto lens for portraits and group scenes. Early morning gives the best light and the most activity as the animals line up in the sun. Compare them with the mongoose and meerkat, two other small social mammals, and use safari photography tips to plan your shots.

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Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
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• Uganda travel guide
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