Rock Hyrax
Rock HyraxRock HyraxRock HyraxRock Hyrax

Rock Hyrax

Procavia capensis

Silhouette: PhyloPic · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
at Lake Nakuru National Park
47 Verified sightings at Lake Nakuru National Park From 2019 to 2026
1,558 Verified sightings across all 25 parks From 2019 to 2026
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Rock Hyrax

The rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), also called dassie, Rickaz, Cape hyrax, rock rabbit, or coney (in early English Bible translations), is a medium-sized terrestrial hyrax native to Africa and the Middle East. Commonly called the dassie in South Africa (Afrikaans: klipdassie), it is one of the five living species of the order Hyracoidea, and the only one in the genus Procavia.

Rock hyraxes weigh 4–5 kg (8.8–11.0 lb) and have short ears. Rock hyraxes are found at elevations up to 4,200 m (13,800 ft) above sea level in habitats with rock crevices, allowing them to escape from predators. They are the only extant terrestrial afrotherians in the Middle East. Hyraxes typically live in groups of 10–80 animals, and forage as a group. They have been reported to use sentries to warn of the approach of predators. Having incomplete thermoregulation, they are most active in the morning and evening, although their activity pattern varies substantially with season and climate.

Over most of its range, the rock hyrax is not endangered, and in some areas is considered a minor pest. Rock hyraxes are squat and heavily built, with adults reaching a length of 50 cm (20 in) and... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Lake Nakuru National Park

Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax
LC

Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Heterohyrax brucei

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Southern Tree Hyrax
LC

Southern Tree Hyrax

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Dendrohyrax arboreus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~80%
2 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~70%
3 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
4 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~40%
5 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
6 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
7 Golden Gate Highlands National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
8 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
9 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
10 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~20%
11 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
12 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
13 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
14 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
15 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
16 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
17 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
18 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
Insufficient data
19 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
20 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
21 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
22 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
23 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
24 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
25 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Rock Hyrax in Lake Nakuru National Park?

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Hyrax sighting in Lake Nakuru National Park, based on 47 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Rock Hyrax in Lake Nakuru National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Rock Hyrax in Lake Nakuru National Park in our monthly data.

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