Slender Mongoose

Slender Mongoose

Galerella sanguinea

Silhouette: Margot Michaud · PhyloPic

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
at Aberdare National Park

In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%

12 Verified sightings at Aberdare National Park From 2019 to 2026
469 In all 19 parks
September Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Slender Mongoose

The common slender mongoose (Herpestes sanguineus), also known as the black-tipped mongoose, the black-tailed mongoose, or just the slender mongoose is a very common mongoose species native to sub-Saharan Africa. The scientific name Herpestes sanguineus was proposed by Eduard Rüppell in 1835 who described a reddish mongoose observed in the Kordofan region.

As the name suggests, the common slender mongoose has a lithe body of 27.5–40 cm (10.8–15.7 in) and a long tail of 23–33 cm (9.1–13.0 in). Males weigh 640–715 g (22.6–25.2 oz), while the smaller females weigh 460–575 g (16.2–20.3 oz). These measurements are consistent with the average measurements given by Rood and Wozencraft.

The color of their fur varies widely between subspecies, from a dark reddish-brown to an orange red, grey, or even golden yellow, but these mongooses can be distinguished from other mongooses due to the prominent black or red tip on their tails. They also have silkier fur than the other African members of their family.

The common slender mongoose occurs throughout sub-Saharan Africa, where it is most common in the savannah and semiarid plains,... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
2 uMkhuze Game Reserve 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
3 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
4 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~30%
5 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~30%
6 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~30%
7 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~20%
8 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
9 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
10 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
11 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
12 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
13 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~20%
14 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
15 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
16 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
17 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
18 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
19 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Pretoria 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
2 Johannesburg 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
3 Durban 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Slender Mongoose in Aberdare National Park?

Likely

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Slender Mongoose sighting in Aberdare National Park on a given day, based on 12 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 12th most-seen of the 19 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Slender Mongoose in Aberdare National Park?

April and September

In those months about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Slender Mongoose in Aberdare National Park on a given day, against about 10% in February and November–December, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Slender Mongoose?

Between 3 and 6 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Slender Mongoose sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Aberdare National Park the best place to see a Slender Mongoose?

Yes

Of the 19 parks where we can rate Slender Mongoose sightings, Aberdare National Park has the highest daily chance: about 50%. Next come uMkhuze Game Reserve (South Africa, about 40%) and South Luangwa National Park (Zambia, about 30%). All parks ranked.

Which relatives of the Slender Mongoose live in Aberdare National Park?

Same order: Carnivora

The closest relatives of the Slender Mongoose that you can see in Aberdare National Park (order Carnivora, Carnivorans) are Spotted Hyena (about 80%) and Serval (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Slender Mongoose sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Slender Mongoose is recorded against all the mammals logged in Aberdare National Park (12 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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