Mammals Active at night

African Savanna Hare

Lepus microtis

iNaturalist Wikipedia

Meet the African Savanna Hare, the nocturnal sprinter of the grasslands. With its oversized ears and incredible camouflage, this master of the night is a frequent visitor to backyard cameras across the continent.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Length: 41–58 cm (16–23 in); Weight: 1.5–3 kg (3.3–6.6 lb)

palette

Colors

Grizzled buffy-brown or greyish upperparts with black flecks; white underparts; distinctive rufous (reddish-brown) patch on the back of the neck

visibility

Key Features

Long ears with black tips and white margins
Rufous-colored patch on the nape of the neck
Grizzled brown-grey coat with a pure white belly
Large hind legs adapted for high-speed sprinting

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern Active at night

brightness_5

Peak hours 7 PM - 5 AM

calendar_month

Season Year-round

restaurant

Diet Strictly herbivorous; feeds on a variety of grasses, herbs, and occasionally shrubs, bark, or fallen fruit during the dry season.

park

Habitat Open savannas, grasslands, scrublands, and forest edges; also frequently found in agricultural fields and suburban gardens with sufficient cover.

public Geographic range

Where Does the African Savanna Hare Live?

Native to the vast landscapes of the African continent, the African Savanna Hare is found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa. Its core range extends from the Sahel region in West Africa across to Ethiopia and Kenya, and down through Central and Southern Africa to South Africa. While they are a staple of the savanna, they generally avoid the extremely arid deserts of the Sahara and the dense, humid rainforests of the Congo Basin.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

11 Countries

15.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

ZA South Africa KE Kenya TZ Tanzania ET Ethiopia UG Uganda NG Nigeria ZW Zimbabwe BW Botswana NA Namibia SN Senegal ZM Zambia

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Explore more Mammals arrow_forward

Behavior

The African Savanna Hare is a predominantly solitary and nocturnal mammal that spends its daylight hours hiding in 'forms'—shallow depressions in the ground or under dense vegetation. Unlike rabbits that live in burrows, these hares rely on their incredible camouflage and stillness to avoid detection. When a predator gets too close, they use their powerful hind legs to bolt at high speeds, often running in a zigzag pattern to confuse their pursuer.

While they are usually seen alone, they may congregate in small numbers where food is particularly abundant, such as in freshly burnt grasslands or lush agricultural fields. They are highly alert, using their large, rotatable ears to detect the slightest sound of approaching danger. Although they are not aggressive, they are known for their 'boxing' behavior during mating seasons, where individuals compete for dominance or territory.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the African Savanna Hare on camera, placement is everything. These hares travel along established 'game trails' through the grass or along the edges of thickets. Position your camera very low to the ground—no higher than 20 to 30 centimeters (8-12 inches)—to get a clear, eye-level shot. Point the camera toward a clearing or a patch of short grass near denser cover, as they often stop in these open spots to scan for predators.

Since this species is strictly nocturnal, your camera must have a high-quality infrared (IR) flash. White flash can startle them and cause them to flee, whereas 'no-glow' IR is much less intrusive. Set your camera to a fast trigger speed (0.3 seconds or less) because once a hare decides to move, it moves quickly. Using a 'burst mode' of 3 to 5 photos per trigger will help ensure you catch a clear image of the animal even if it is mid-stride.

If you are trying to attract them to a specific spot, fresh green grass, lucerne (alfalfa), or even a salt lick can be effective lures in drier environments. However, simply placing the camera near the boundary of a well-watered garden and the natural bush is often enough. Look for their distinctive droppings—small, round, compressed pellets of plant fiber—to identify high-traffic areas for your setup.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with African Savanna Hare.

Scrub Hare

Larger in size with longer legs and a less prominent reddish patch on the nape of the neck.

Cape Hare

Typically inhabits drier, more open desert-like environments and has shorter ears with less distinct black tipping.

Browse all Mammals arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

African Savanna Hares are strictly nocturnal, meaning they are most active during the night. You are most likely to see them or capture them on camera between dusk and dawn, specifically between 7 PM and 5 AM.

The best way to attract them is to maintain a patch of short, green grass or provide supplemental alfalfa. They are also drawn to gardens with plenty of low-lying cover, such as thick shrubs or tall grass, where they can hide during the day.

Their diet consists primarily of grasses and herbs. During the dry season, when green grass is scarce, they may resort to eating the bark of trees, roots, and sometimes fallen fruit.

Yes, they are quite adaptable and are frequently found in suburban areas that border parks, golf courses, or wild grasslands. They are often seen on suburban lawns at night grazing on well-watered grass.

The African Savanna Hare is generally smaller than the Scrub Hare. The most reliable visual cue is the patch on the nape of the neck; the African Savanna Hare has a more distinctively reddish or rufous nape compared to the duller colors of the Scrub Hare.

Record African Savanna Hare at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo