The Big Cats
LIONS
The king of the jungle dominates the savanna. Lions are ruthless; they kill both prey and competitors alike, including the cubs of a disgraced or deceased lion. They live in a pride; lionesses do the hunting but lions eat first.
A playful lion and a lioness
Lion in Masai Mara National Reserve
LEOPARDS
Leopards are a farouche and elusive animal, for a cat. However, do not mistake this timidity for weakness. Leopards are stealth killers. They follow their prey surreptitiously from up a tree, pouncing on them unexpectedly
A leopard rests on a tree stump in Kenya
Leopard in Masai Mara
CHEETAHS
Can you spot the difference? Cheetahs have a much smaller stature compared to leopards. But the most distinctive differentiation is their tear marks that run from the corner of their eyes down the side of their nose. Needless to say, they are the fastest animals – they can accelerate faster than a sports car.
A cheetah
Herbivores Wild Animals
BUFALLOES
Cape Bufallo
You will find African buffaloes within a riverine. These social animals live in herds comprising more than 1,000 buffaloes. They are generally gentle but have a quick temper. They are among the most dangerous animals in Africa.
ELEPHANTS
These gentle giants are very social, with matriarchal structures. Elephants are known to exhibit human emotions like mourning, and they are very playful as well as having a high intelligence level. Unfortunately, their tusks are in great demand, leading to their endangered status as hunters continue to attack them for their ivory.
A single African elephant
A herd of elephants drinking water, Kenya
RHINOS
Rhinoceros
How would you differentiate between a white and black rhino? Believe it or not, it comes down to their mouths. There are other subtle differences like their height, but who has the time to measure them? Black rhinos, which are highly endangered, have a narrow mouth while white rhinos have a wide mouth. This also differentiates their feeding behaviours – white rhino are grazers; black rhinos are browsers.
A black rhino in the Kenyan plains
Black rhino
Two white rhinos grazing
GIRAFFES
These are plentiful in Kenya – there are three types to be precise. The Maasai giraffe is the tallest terrestrial animal and the most commonly found type of giraffe. The reticulated giraffes are very rare, only found in the northern part of the country. Rothschild giraffes are endangered, and almost extinct in the wild. However, they are a spectacle at the Giraffe Manor where they dine with the guests
Maasai giraffes in the Kenyan plains
Reticulated giraffe, Kenya
Rothschild giraffe, Kenya
ZEBRAS
Although there are three types of these beauties, only two of them are found in Kenya. The Plains zebras are prevalent, whereas Grevy’s zebras, another endangered species, are mostly found in the northern part of Kenya. They are differentiated by their stripes – Grevy’s zebras have thin stripes while Plains zebras have much larger stripes.
Grevy’s zebras
Plains zebras
Hippopotamus
You may see hippos lazing around on the shorelines of rivers and lakes, or submerged in water during the day.
A mother and baby hippo
WILDBESEST
Wildebeest migration at the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
ANTELOPES
There is a huge variety of antelopes: wildebeest, gazelles, impala, reedbuck, kudu, hartebeest, oryxes, duikers, bushbucks, waterbucks, topi, gnu, and sitatunga. Perhaps the “Wildebeest Migration”, a natural event where more than a million wildebeest, zebra and antelope migrate from Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, made the wildebeest more famous
Gazelles Grazing
Sitaftunga
Sable Antelope
BABOON
Olive Baboon
Guereza Black and White Colobus monkey
Others – carnivores
JACKAL
Black-backed jackals are very similar to the African wild dogs. They also live in small monogamous social structures and are strategic hunters.
A black-backed jackal in the Kenyan plains
African wild Dog
These endangered monogamous animals live and hunt in small groups of six to 20. Due to their small stature, they hunt small- and medium-sized prey like impalas and gazelles.
African wild dog puppies in Kenya
HYENAS
These are cats worst enemies, even in the wild. They have a matriarchal led social structure and hunt in large groups. In the case of food shortage, they purloin big cat’s catch, particularly cheetahs’.
A spotted hyena
A spotted Hyena with a pup
Striped Hyena
AFRICAN WILD CATS