Meet a clan of Hyraxes, smallish and thick rodent-like animals I spent about 20 minutes observing as they lurked among shrubs and climbed over rocks at Boulders Beach, a public beach area and nature preserve near Cape Town.
These are presumably Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), known locally as dassies, that range in size from 30-70cm in length and weigh between two and five kilos. They’re not considered dangerous but will use their small sharp inscisors when threatened.
Not that I felt any urge to pet one.
Boulders Beach is a busy place, with most visitors who see them – and they are relatively easy to spot – quickly taking sides in the “oh it’s so cute / geez what an ugly creature” debate. Opinion seemed evenly split on the Friday afternoon I was there. I came in pretty indifferent on that – to me they just look curiously confused. I did enjoy watching them as the cautiously emerged, one sibling at a time, to make their appearance on this large rock as they gathered for the family portrait above.
Photos from 13 June, 2025.
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