While You Were Sleeping
March 2026
The arrival of the rainy season in Namibia signals a period of renewal. Across the landscape, many species synchronise reproduction with increased food availability, resulting in a seasonal pulse of births and mating activity.
This year at Okonjima, we have had regular sightings of zebra foals, giraffe and wildebeest calves, as well as leopard and brown hyena cubs exploring their surroundings for the first time. But beyond these more familiar sightings, the camera traps have quietly captured something even more special.
Hidden in burrows, along termite mounds, and deep in the night, rare and elusive species are also raising young, courting, and mating. From porcupine families to aardvark encounters and polecat lessons in defence, these moments are seldom seen, even by researchers.
Fortunately, AfriCat’s camera trap network never sleeps. This month’s While You Were Sleeping reveals the quieter side of baby season, where some of Okonjima’s most secretive species are continuing the cycle of life, often just out of sight.
The Quill Crew
A Family That Sticks Together
At a burrow entrance, a porcupine pair flanks their youngster like a living shield of quills. This is family life, porcupine style. Unlike most rodents, they form long-term, monogamous pairs and raise their young together. Born during the rainy season, the single pup arrives well developed, with soft quills that harden within days. For several weeks, it stays close to the burrow, learning when to venture out and when to retreat. With predators always nearby, growing up in this family means staying cautious and letting the adults take the sharp end of any trouble.
Aardvark Advances
Nose Knows Best
Two aardvarks meet in a rare, almost awkward moment of romance, sniffing and nudging as they size each other up. For a species that prefers solitude, this is a big deal. Aardvarks rely on scent to determine whether a potential partner is worth the effort, turning courtship into a quiet investigation. If successful, the female will raise a single pup in the safety of a burrow, only allowing it out once it is strong enough to follow her on nightly foraging trips. It may not look like much, but this slow, careful exchange is how the next generation begins.
The Genet Nursery
Practice Makes a Predator
While the kittens poke and prod at the burrow entrance, their cautious mother stands guard, ears up and eyes scanning the darkness. Spotted genets hide their young in well-chosen dens, from abandoned burrows to thick vegetation, where they can grow in relative safety. Litters are small, but development is fast. Within weeks, curiosity takes over, and the kittens begin exploring, practising the movements that will one day make them agile hunters. Maternal vigilance is critical during this stage, as predation risk is high. So for now, every step is supervised.
Scrub Hare “Kiss”
A Hare-Raising Romance
Two scrub hares pause face to face in what looks like a soft “kiss”, but is more likely a quick check before mating. In the hare world, romance moves fast. These animals breed frequently, producing multiple litters each year when conditions are favourable. Their young, called Leverets, are born fully furred, eyes open, and ready to move, skipping the vulnerable stage entirely. With little time spent in one place, encounters like this are brief but frequent. It is a system built for speed, where even a fleeting moment like this forms the basis of a highly efficient life history strategy.
Slender Mongoose Mating Mission
Business in Broad Daylight
No secrecy here. A pair of slender mongooses mate right beside a burrow in full view of the camera. Usually solitary, these animals do not linger when they meet. Courtship is brief, mating is efficient, and it may be repeated several times in quick succession to ensure successful fertilisation. The choice of location matters. Termite mounds offer shelter, elevation, and stable conditions for raising young. With litters of just one or two, every attempt counts. It is quick, purposeful, and perfectly timed, a reminder that in the wild, reproduction is less about romance and more about getting it right.
Striped Polecat Survival School
Learning the Language of Warning
A striped polecat and a smaller individual move together, possibly a mother teaching her young defensive behaviour. When threatened, they do not run immediately. Instead, they advertise their presence with bold markings and, if needed, release a powerful chemical deterrent via their glands. Young polecats must learn this early. With small litters and high parental investment, survival depends on getting the message right. Even their mating is intense, with prolonged copulation (up to 100 minutes) increasing success. Here, growing up means learning to stand your ground and make predators think twice.
Honey Badger Tough Love
Bold Lives, Tender Moments
These two honey badgers offer a glimpse into the private side of one of Africa’s most formidable mammals. Solitary by nature, honey badgers only briefly meet to mate, with copulation often repeated several times in quick succession. Afterwards, the female focuses on raising her one or two cubs, who stay close to the burrow for months while learning essential survival skills. Cubs slowly build the confidence, cunning, and toughness that define the species, making the honey badger both a notorious predator and a dedicated, hands-on parent.
Related Posts
Wildlife Photography in Namibia: Behind the Lens Photographing Brown Hyena and Pangolin at Okonjima Nature Reserve
Some of the most significant wildlife photography moments at Okonjima Nature Reserve have nothing to do with dramatic action or perfect light. A brown hyena pausing to scent-mark at dawn. A pangolin moving slowly across the ground under the red glow of a research lamp. These are the moments that stay with photographers long after the drive is over, and they are possible because Okonjima has spent thirty years building the kind of knowledge that turns a sighting into something deeper. Part 2 of Behind the Lens, told through the eyes of OKMedia’s Pascal and Ricco Seebach and Crew10’s Robin and Nina Maeter, looks at what that depth actually means for the people behind the camera.
While You Were Sleeping – April 2026
When night falls at Okonjima, a hidden world emerges. Through AfriCat’s extensive camera trap network, While You Were Sleeping reveals rare nocturnal moments that shape conservation research and deepen our understanding of wildlife after dark.
While You Were Sleeping – March 2026
When night falls at Okonjima, a hidden world emerges. Through AfriCat’s extensive camera trap network, While You Were Sleeping reveals rare nocturnal moments that shape conservation research and deepen our understanding of wildlife after dark.
Namibia’s Medicinal Plants: Traditional Knowledge, Conservation and World Wildlife Day 2026
When preparing for a safari, it’s helpful to think about comfort, safety, and practicality. Here’s a checklist of essentials to assist your planning.
While You Were Sleeping – February 2026
When night falls at Okonjima, a hidden world emerges. Through AfriCat’s extensive camera trap network, While You Were Sleeping reveals rare nocturnal moments that shape conservation research and deepen our understanding of wildlife after dark.
While You Were Sleeping – January 2026
When night falls at Okonjima, a hidden world emerges. Through AfriCat’s extensive camera trap network, While You Were Sleeping reveals rare nocturnal moments that shape conservation research and deepen our understanding of wildlife after dark.