In Touch With Nature – Meet Pumbaa the Warthog and a treat #southernafricanwildlife #intouchwithnature
Posted: October 22, 2025 Filed under: Africa, Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Nature writing, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: In Touch With Nature, Photography, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Warthogs, White Giraffe, Wildlife, Writing to be Read 40 Comments
Disney was as kind to warthog’s as it was unkind to hyenas in its movie, The Lion King. Pumbaa the Warthog is a well-known Southern African cartoon figure among many people, young and old. This is intriguing to me as warthogs, together with poor unloved hyenas, are both part of the Southern African ‘Ugly Five’ group of animals.
I always laugh when I see warthogs running about in the veld. I immediately think of ‘pigs in blankets’ and they are definitely ‘bush snacks’ for many carnivores. So, let’s learn a bit more about these funny looking creatures.
Warthogs are day animals and spend most of their time foraging for food. Socially, they are found in three groups: solitary boars, bachelor groups, and matriarchal groups which consist of adult sows with their young and yearlings. Outside of mating, the boars seldom associate with the sows and play no role in rearing the piglets. Did I mention that warthogs are a member of the pig family? Warthogs are the only pigs that have adapted to living and grazing in savannah like habitats.
A few interesting features of warthogs are that they kneel on their front knees while feeding and foraging and they shelter in (frequently borrowed) burrows at night which they enter tails first. Although they like more dry surroundings, warthogs enjoy wallowing in muddy water every day. This wallowing process is how they stay cool on hot days in the same manner as elephants and buffalo.
Warthogs tend to breed and give birth at the beginning of the rainy season in regions where the seasons are defined. In other environments, warthogs can breed all year around. Warthogs generally have two to three piglets in a litter.
Although I said these creatures are bush snacks for lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and painted dogs, they have longer legs than most pigs and can run very quickly. They are difficult to catch and also difficult to photograph.
Interesting warthog facts
- Warthogs have two pairs of tusks
- Warthogs trot with their tails in the air
- Warthogs can run up to 55 kilometres per hour (35 miles per hour)
- Warthogs fight in a ritualistic way and use their heads and tusks to try to push their opponent over.
- Warthogs have warts on their faces which act as a cushion for blows from their adversaries. Large warts also help protect their eyes during fights.
- A group of female warthogs with young is called a sounder
- Mama warthogs like orderly behaviour and the piglets always run in a fixed order in a line and not in a disorderly group.
- Warthogs are attentive mothers; they leave the sounder when about to give birth and find their own burrow or hole. Mama remains in this hole with her young for the first six to seven weeks after birth, only leaving for short periods to graze.
- Warthogs are hunted for their tusks which are carved for the tourist trade in eastern and southern Africa (don’t buy these!)
- Warthogs communicate using a variety of different noises including loud grunts, growling and squeals. Clacking noises are used by males to entice females.
My Youtube video of a sounder having breakfast:
Poem about warthogs
This poem is extracted from my favourite of my own books, Lion Scream.
Home Thief
I am not beautiful
My head is too big
My face is covered in wartlike protrusions
To protect it during fights
I have four large tusks
***
I prefer to trespass
On ready-built homes
It’s easier if aardvark does the digging
Creating a safe hole
And I just move in
***
My babies enter first
I have up to four
Backing in leaves me prepared to protect them
From many predators
Who view us as snacks
Lion Scream is available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Scream-Syllabic-Southern-Wildlife-ebook/dp/B0BXP5N766
White headed giraffe – a special sighting
During a trip to Babanango Private Game Reserve we had the good fortune to come across this giraffe with large white patches on its face. Very unusual. The guide was very patient and waited for me to get my shots.
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
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Great information about warthogs and I love that giraffe! Thanks.
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I’m glad you enjoyed this post, Darlene. I was delighted to see this unusual giraffe.
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Wonderfully informative post Robbie.
I think warthogs are cute, in their own way.
Love the giraffe.
Thsnk you for sharing.
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My pleasure, Maggie. I enjoy warthogs and think the piglets are very sweet.
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They are , reallly cute 🤗
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💜
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This is Warthog Central! Very informative post, Robbie.
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Hi Dave, I am very fond of pumbaas and always want to find a few. I wish they lingered a little longer so I could get more photographs.
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Your passion for nature shines through Robbie. Nice photos and education about the warthogs, along with beautiful images of the giraffe.
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Such wonderful, clear photos with such good sun. Happy to learn about these amazing creatures.
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Yes, we usually have good sun in South Africa 🌞💛
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🙂 ❤
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Interesting facts about warthogs. Loved your poem, lots of facts.
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Thank you. The poems in Lion Scream were aimed at instruction 😉🤗
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I really enjoyed this post. Not only did I learn some facts about warthogs, I enjoyed the images, video and your poem, Robbie. Thanks for hosting this Kaye Lynne.
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🙂 ❤
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I’m am thrilled to know that, Carla 🤗💓
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Who knew there was so much to learn about warthogs!
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They are pretty amazing and so entertaining to watch.
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I loved reading about the wart hog and they do seem to be even uglier than one imagines , but their mother always loves them.
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They are cute ugly and I find them very entertaining 🌞🌺
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Thanks for the information Robbie. And also for reminding us not to buy anything made with tusks!
And great giraffe pictures. (K)
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My pleasure, Kerfe. It’s horrible to thing of these beautiful creatures being killed just for their tusks.
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Yes it is. And those who buy the good are just as guilty.
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I love learning about animals. Since warthogs are only found in small pockets of America and giraffes are only seen here in zoos, I enjoyed this excellent post. I never would have guessed that a warthog was so fast.
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Hi Pete, the quickness of warthogs is amazing. It’s great to see them running in a row with their tails up.
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🙂
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So interesting, Robbie! I had no idea they could run so fast!
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Thank you for the info about the Warthog they seem quite cute and the giraffe is splendid…You really are lucky to have such a bounty of fabulous animals there, Robbie xx
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Such an interesting post. I haven’t given much thought to the warthog, I will admit- but I loved learning a little more about them. I am forever in awe of the wildlife you are surrounded by.
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Thanks for the information, Robbie. Warthogs are cute in their own way, and the photos are terrific. The giraffe photos are fabulous too!
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I enjoy warthogs very much, Lauren. Giraffes are peaceful which is wonderful.
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What a pleasure to see some warthogs wandering around. Just smiling!Lovely poem, Robbie.
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Hi Chris, I am very entertained by warthogs too. Always a joy to see them.
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I can see why you shake your head at the Disney movie, as warthogs are part of the ‘ugly five.’ My first thought looking at that giraffe was that his white was because he was an old giraffe. Thank you for the story on both the giraffe and the warthog, Robbie.
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Hi Jennie, I prefer a more realistic portrayal of animals as I think its misleading and it can actually end up in deaths. Kids think animals like hippos and warthogs are friends when in fact they are very dangerous if approached. The white giraffe was not old, animals don’t really age like that, it was most unusual thought.
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You make good points, Robbie, especially for children. Thank you for letting me know about the white on the giraffe.
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Such an interesting post! Thank you, Robbie, for sharing your knowledge and talent.
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