MammalsLeast Concern

Black-backed Jackal

✓ Reviewed by Nhongo Safaris Field Guide · Updated 4 November 2026

Black-backed Jackal at a glance

Height38–48 cm at the shoulder
Weight6–13 kg
Length70–90 cm, plus a bushy tail of 30–40 cm
Lifespan8–10 years in the wild
DietRodents, birds, insects, fruit, young antelope and carrion
Social lifeMated pairs, often helped by older offspring
ActiveMostly at dusk, at night and at dawn
GestationAbout 60 days, usually 3–4 pups
Conservation statusLeast Concern (IUCN Red List)

Track and paw print

Roughly 4–5 cm long, with four toes and claw marks showing, in a neat oval. It looks like a small dog's print, and the two middle toes lead slightly ahead of the outer two.

Lesser-known facts

Black-backed jackals are smart, adaptable opportunists. They hunt rodents, birds and young antelope such as impala lambs, but they will also eat insects, fruit and carrion, and they are often seen waiting at the edge of a lion or hyena kill for scraps.

A pair mates for life, and the older pups from the previous litter often stay on as helpers, guarding the den and bringing food to the new pups. It is one of the few mammals where the young help raise their siblings.

At night jackals call to each other with an eerie, drawn-out wail that ends in a series of short yaps. The silver-streaked black "saddle" on their back, which gives the species its name, is easy to see in the evening light.

Where to spot it in Kruger

Jackals are common and widespread. Scan the edges of roads and open ground at dawn and dusk, and watch the margins of lion and hyena kills, where they wait for scraps.

Guide tip

Watch the edge of a lion or hyena kill. Jackals dart in to grab scraps, and circling vultures are a clue that one is going on. At night, listen for the long, wailing call.

Photo gallery

Questions and answers

What do black-backed jackals eat?

Almost anything. They eat rodents, birds, insects and fruit, they catch young antelope such as impala lambs, and they scavenge from the kills of larger predators.

Do jackals mate for life?

Yes. A pair stays together for life, and the older pups from the last litter often stay to help guard the den and feed the new pups.

How can I tell a jackal from a hyena or a wild dog?

A jackal is small and fox-like, with a silver-streaked black saddle on its back. A spotted hyena is much bigger, with a sloping back, and a wild dog has a patchwork coat of black, tan and white and large round ears.

Where is the best place to see black-backed jackals in Kruger?

They are common across the park. Scan the edges of roads and open ground at dawn and dusk, and look at the margins of lion and hyena kills, where they wait for scraps.

Are jackals dangerous?

Jackals are shy and keep away from people, but they are wild animals. Never feed them, keep food locked away in camp at night, and stay at a distance.

Best time to see the Black-backed Jackal

Best months: Jul–Oct

Jackals are seen all year round. Pups are born in the winter months and are often seen around the den from about July to October, which is when the pairs are busiest.

About the Black-backed Jackal

The black-backed jackal is one of the most common predators in the Kruger National Park, and one of the smartest. About the size of a small dog, it has a slim, fox-like face, big ears and a silver-streaked black saddle down its back, which gives the species its name.

Jackals are opportunists. They hunt rodents, birds and young antelope, eat insects and fruit, and scavenge from the kills of lions and hyenas, darting in to grab scraps. A pair mates for life, and the older pups often stay to help raise the next litter. At night, jackals call to each other with a drawn-out wail that carries across the bush.

Jackals are easiest to see in the cooler hours around dawn and dusk. On a guided drive, your field guide watches the edges of the road and the margins of a kill, and tells you what each jackal is up to.