“Big Five” – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. You’ll see them all at Kenya’s premier parks:
Well, the Mara is one of the few places in Africa where seeing all these five animal species is not just possible but also fairly likely during a 3 day safari.
THE AFRICAN LION ( Panthera Leo)
It is estimated that there are close to 850 to 900 Lions in the Masai Mara National Reserve and surrounding conservancies that border the reserve. The ‘Mara’ as it is also known is generally considered one of the best places in Kenya and East Africa to see these magnificent animals in the wild on a Safari. Individual Lions (males) can hold huge territories ranging from 30 to 400 square kilometers. The lionesses (females) take the lead when it comes to hunting down the prey. From time to time the Males will assist with a hunt. Read more about Masai Mara lions.
THE AFRICAN LION
(Member of Big Five & Big Cats)
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Panthera Leo
WEIGHT: 125 to 272 kilograms (277 to 600 pounds)
SIZE: 1.2 meters at the shoulder (48 inches) and about 2 to 3.3 meters in length (7 to 11 feet)
LIFE SPAN: 10 to 18 years in the wild. Up to 30 years in captivity.
HABITAT: Grassy plains and open woodlands
DIET: Carnivorous
GESTATION: Average about 109 days
PREDATORS: Humans
The Lion is the king of the Savanna grassland a symbol of power and a Big cat on top of the food chain. They are the most feared predators in the African bush. Equipped with teeth that effortlessly tear through bones and tendons of their prey.
They can take down an animal as large as a bull. The lions live in a pride a family unit consisting of more female lions (lionesses) who do the hunting to feed the pride.
The male lions offer protection to the pride and fight among each other to have the mating rights in the pride. It can be found in Masai Mara game reserve, Tsavo East National Park, Nakuru National Park and Nairobi National Park.
THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT
( Loxodonta Africana )
One of the most prolific animals in the Mara, the African Elephant is an intelligent, sociable and familial animal, and despite the threat it attracts due to its Ivory, the great news is that numbers are up in Masai Mara over the last couple of years. African Elephants are the world’s largest land animals, weighing up to (2 to7 tons)
THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT
(Member of Big Five)
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Loxodonta africana
WEIGHT: 2,000 to 6,100 kilograms (about 2 to 7 tons)
SIZE: Up to 4 meters (13 feet)
LIFE SPAN: 60 to 70 years
HABITAT: Open and closed savanna, grasslands, and arid deserts
DIET: Herbivorous
GESTATION: About 22 months
PREDATORS: Humans and occasionally lions or hyenas
African Elephants are the world’s largest terrestrial mammal. There are two recognized subspecies of this iconic animal: bush (or savanna) and forest. African bush elephants are the larger of the two and their tusks curve out, while their forest-dwelling cousins are darker and have tusks that are straighter and that point downward. They can be found in Amboseli National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Nakuru National Park, Nairobi National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve.
They will live in almost any habitat that provides plentiful food and water. Their populations are scattered throughout the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. About 70 percent of their range exists in protected land.
Their trunk is a long nose that is used for breathing, smelling, drinking, trumpeting, and grabbing objects. Their trunks are also a grooming tool. Grooming consists of using their trunks to cover themselves with mud or water to maintain hydration. They have two fingerlike extensions on the tips of their trunks that are used for holding onto small objects. They also use their trunks to exhibit affection, by frequently touching and caressing one another.
It’s no great surprise these large animals love to eat. Elephants spend the majority of their day roaming across large distances to forage for grasses, fruits, roots, and bark. They can eat up to 136 kilograms (300 pounds) of food and drink 113 to 190 liters (30 to 50 gallons) of water in one day.
Much like humans, these mammals are social creatures that live in small family groups that usually consist of an older matriarch and several generations of female relatives. Males are typically solitary once matured but may live in small groups of three or four bulls. They take care of weak or injured members and even appear to grieve over dead companions.
The large ivory tusks on either side of their face—used for foraging for food and water—have long been desired by people. The ivory trade is driven by consumer demand for products made from tusks and supplied by a sophisticated international network of traffickers. Poachers kill this iconic species for its ivory tusks, which are then sold and made into anything from jewelry and crafts to musical instruments to religious objects. At current poaching rates, populations may disappear in the wild within our lifetimes.
They have longer pregnancies than almost any other mammal. Calves are carried for about 22 months, with cows usually bearing only one calf every three to six years. Their regeneration rate averages 5 to 6 percent annually, compared to the 8 to 9 percent poaching rates, resulting in a net loss in population numbers. Extinction is a very real threat if poaching continues unabated.
THE AFRICAN RHINO
( Rhinocerotidae )
Masai Mara is home to Black Rhino, the slightly smaller but more aggresive species compared to White Rhino which is more commonly found at Lake Nakuru. Rhinocerous is the proper name for the Rhino, and this animal is one of any five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae, as well as any of the numerous extinct species. Black rhinos are smaller than white rhinos, and there is actually no colour difference between them at all. Black rhinos use their horns during mating and fighting, as well as when defending themselves from predators. They also use their hooked lip to browse shrubs and prefer thick bush habitat.
THE AFRICAN RHINO
(Member of Big Five)
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Black: Diceros bicornis
White: Ceratotherium simum
WEIGHT:
Black: 1 to 1.5 tn. (2,000 to 3,000 lb.)
White: More than 2 tn. (4,000+ lb.)
SIZE: About 60 in. at the shoulder
LIFE SPAN: 35 to 40 years
HABITAT: Grassland and open savanna
DIET: Herbivorous
GESTATION: 16 months
PREDATORS: Humans
Its is among the endangered spieces of wild animals in Kenya for illegal trade in horns. There are two types of Rhinos in Kenya, The Black Rhino and White Rhino.
A female Rhino can give birth once every 5 years and that is the reason their population is low. Most of the Rhinos in Kenya are protected in sancturies and national parks.
AFRICAN LEOPARD (Panthera pardus )
The Leopard (Panthera Pardus) is counted as one of the Big Cats and is one of the five species in the genus Panthera. Though Leopards can be found in Masai Mara in healthy numbers and in some other parks in Kenya as well, these elusive animals are nonetheless listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because leopard populations are threatened by human encroachment and habitat loss. Leopards almost always hunt on their own and are by nature ‘shy’, preferring to hunt at night.
AFRICAN LEOPARD
(Member of Big Five & Big Cats)
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Panthera Pardus
WEIGHT:17 to 65 kilograms (37 to 143 pounds)
SIZE: 1.6 to 2.3 meters in length (5 to 7.5 feet) about 60 to 70 centimeters in height (2 to 2.5 feet)
LIFE SPAN: Average 10 to 12 years in the wild. Up to 23 years in captivity.
HABITAT: Desert and semi-desert regions, arid regions, savanna grasslands, mountainous environments, rainforests, and occasionally urban areas.
DIET: Carnivorous
GESTATION: 2.5 months
Leopards belong to the famous BIG Five whose other members are lion, African elephant, Bufallo & Rhino.
These large carnivorous Big Cats are powerfully built with long bodies, relatively short legs, and a broad head.
There are nine subspecies and are distinguished by the unique characteristics of their coats, which range from tawny or light yellow in warm, dry habitats to reddish-orange in dense forests. Their coat is covered in dark, irregular spots called rosettes.
These spots are circular in east African leopards, but square in southern African leopards.
THE AFRICAN BUFFALO ( Syncerus caffer )
Also known as the Cape Buffalo, these large bovines are regarded as one of the more dangerous animals in East Africa not least due to their volatile and unpredictable nature, which is one of the reasons the African Buffalo has never been domesticated as is the case in Asia. Females protecting their young calves, and solitary rogue bulls, are the most aggressive, and having 800kg of angry animal is no joke.Both sexes have the distinctive curving horns which broaden and almost meet over the forehead, although those in females are fairly smaller. Buffalo are often found in herds of 100 or more and never stray too far from water, especially in dry season. These animals appears in great numbers in all major parks, with the exception of Nairobi National Park. They can also be found in large numbers in Masai Mara National Game Reserve.
THE AFRICAN BUFFALO
(Member of Big Five)
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Syncerus caffer
WEIGHT: About 300 to 835 kilograms (660 to 1,840 pounds)
SIZE: About 1 to 2 meters tall (4 to 5 feet)
LIFE SPAN: 11 to 22 years in the wild
HABITAT: Dense forest to open plains
DIET: Herbivorous
GESTATION: 11 to 12 months
PREDATORS: Humans, lions, leopards, hyenas, African wild dogs.
The African buffalo or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large sub-Saharan African bovine.
The Buffalo is a member of the Big five animals. It is wild and aggressive in nature and live in a herd. They are known to kill lions when in a group especially to protect one of their own when attacked by the lions as a meal.
It can be found in Amboseli National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Nakuru National Park, Nairobi National Park, Hells Gate National Park and Masai Mara game reserve.
The Big Nine Animal List In Kenya
The Big 9 are essentially the Big Five animals above with the addition of the Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra and Hippopotamus. Masai Mara is one of the few places in Kenya and East Africa where all of the Big Nine wildlife may be spotted on single game drive of 2 to 3 hours.
THE AFRICAN CHEETAH ( Acinonyx Jubantus )
Cheetah is one of the iconic animals in Masai Mara, known for hunting in the open and in groups of upto four or five, Cheetahs are universally known for their speed, being the fastest land animals, touching upto 110 km per hour on short bursts during hunts. Similar in appearance to the leopards, the Cheetah is longer and lighter in the body. It has a slightly bowed back and a much smaller and rounder face. It stands around 80cm at the shoulder, measures around 210cm in length (including the tail) and weighs anything from 40 to 60kg. It’s found in small numbers in all of Kenya’s major game reserves.
THE AFRICAN CHEETAH
(Member of Big Cats)
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Acinonyx jubatus
WEIGHT: 20 to 72 kilograms (45 to 160 pounds)
SIZE: 1 to 1.5 meters in length (45 to 60 inches) 76 centimeters at the shoulder (30 inches)
LIFE SPAN: Maximum recording of a female living 14 years and 5 months in the wild and about 10 years for a males.
HABITAT: Wide range of habitats—from dry forests and thick scrubs through grasslands and Sahara deserts.
DIET: Carnivores
GESTATION: About 3 months
PREDATORS: Eagles, humans, hyenas, lions
The Cheetah is the fastest land mammal on the planet. They can reach speed limit of up to 70 Miles Per Hour (112Km/hr) its part of the Big cats found in the Savanna grasslands. They run out of steam after running about 300m and would take more than half an hour to cool off before hunting again.
It can be found in Tsavo East National Park, Nairobi National Park, Masai Mara game reserve and Nakuru National Park.
THE AFRICAN GIRAFFE
( Giraffa )
Giraffe ( Giraffa) are the tallest living terrestrial animals and actually quite a sight, extremely picturesque and known for their graceful movements even when running at their fastest speed of 50 to 60 km per hour. There are two main sub species of Giraffe found in Kenya, the Reticulated or Somali Giraffe in Northern Kenya, and the Maasai Giraffe in southern Kenya including Masai Mara. It is estimated that close to 33,000 Maasai giraffe are alive in the wild in Kenya.
THE AFRICAN GIRAFFE
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Giraffa camelopardalis
WEIGHT: Males: 1,930 kilograms (4,254 pounds) Females: 1,180 kilograms (2,601 pounds)
SIZE: 5.7 meters tall from the ground to their horns (18.7 feet)
LIFE SPAN: Average 10 to 15 years in the wild; recorded a maximum of 30 years
HABITAT: Dense forest to open plains
DIET: Herbivorous
GESTATION: Between 13 and 15 months
PREDATORS: Humans, lions, leopards, hyenas, crocodiles
Its is the tallest land mammal on the planet between 3.5m-5.2m, with long neck and legs an advantage to scare off predators. They feed on tall trees with a tough and long tongue that can feed on thorney trees and bushes.
Their primary food source is acacia leaves, which they browse at heights most other herbivores cannot reach. Giraffes are preyed on by lions their calves are also targeted byleopards, hyenas and wild dogs.
Hippo ( Hippopotamus amphibius )
The Hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius), commonly referred to as Hippo are the third largest land mammal with the average adult males weighing in at close to 1500 kilos. Hippos typically inhabit swamps, rivers, and areas close to the lake shore, and remain cool by staying in the water during most of the day. They are found in greatest numbers in Masai Mara National Game Reserve but can also be seen at Amboseli, Nairobi and Tsavo National Parks as well as Lake Baringo.
THE AFRICAN ZEBRA
( Equus quagga )
One of the wild animals that most people would always associate with East Africa, Zebras are present in Masai Mara and Kenya generally in large numbers. There are 2 sub species, namely the Plains Zebra, Mountain Zebra and Grevys Zebra. Masai Mara is home to the plains Zebra while the Grevy’s Zebra with their unique thinner stripes are found in Samburu Reserve, Northern Kenya.
THE AFRICAN ZEBRA
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Equus Quagga
WEIGHT: 250 to 300 kilograms (550 to 700 pounds)
SIZE: About 1.5 meters in height (about 4.5 feet)
LIFESPAN: 20 years in the wild; up to 40 in captivity
HABITAT: Grasslands and savannas
DIET: Herbivorous
GESTATION: 13 months
PREDATORS: Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, hunting dogs, leopards, humans
They are among the most preyed animals in the wild as a meal for most of the big cats and other predators. They live in large herds and can be found alongside the wlidebeest during the great migration in the Masai Mara National reserve.
They feed on plants and can virtually be found in all major parks and game reserves in Kenya
AARDVARK
( Orycteropus afer )
The Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a small to medium sized burrowing mammal with a long snout and powerful claws, native to Africa. Aardvarks are nocturnal animals and feed on insects, mainly ants and termites. They have a hairless body with a pronounced arched back and short legs. The thick claws on the forefeet are well adapted for burrowing and digging.
AARDVARK
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Orycteropus afer
WEIGHT: 39 to 82 kilograms (88 to 181 pounds)
SIZE: 1 to 1.5 meters in length (3 to 5 feet) .6 meters at the shoulder (24 inches)
LIFE SPAN: 18 to 23 years in the wild
HABITAT: All savanna types, rainforests, woodlands, and thickets
DIET: Insectivorous, Myrmecophagous
GESTATION: Average 7 months
PREDATORS: Humans, lions, leopards, hyenas, pythons
Aardvark belong to the same group of mammals as the African elephant and have no relation to anteaters despite their similar appearance. They have a short neck connected to a strong, large, almost hairless body with an arched back. Their legs are not proportional to each other; the hind legs are longer than the front ones. They have an elongated head, with a long, protruding, narrow snout and nostrils that can be sealed. Their ears are long and tubular and are normally held upright but can be folded and closed. Their tapered, cone-shaped tail is short and muscular, and they have thick claws on the forefeet that are well adapted for digging.
Aardwolf ( Proteles cristatus )
Aardwolf “proteles cristatus” is an insectivorous carnivore, native to East and Southern Africa. Its name means “earth wolf” in Afrikaans. It is yellowish with vertical black stripes and a bushy black-tipped tail and resembles a small striped hyena. Like the hyena, it has a long coarse ridge of erectile hairs along the length of the back, sturdy shoulders, and longer front than hind legs. However, Aardwolf is less of a runner and has five toes on the front feet instead of four. Aardwolves are found on the open, grassy plains of east and south Africa. They are solitary and they rest in burrows during the day before becoming active at night. Their territory is between 1 and 4 square kilometres, depending on food availability, and they mark it with urine, dung and secretions from their anal glands.
African Hare ( Lepus capensis )
African hares are commonly found in grasslands and wooded savannas throughout in Africa. They live mainly solitary lives, though they sometimes form groups of two or three when eating and use their senses of hearing, smell, and sight to avoid predators. African hares are 20 inches long, weighs between 1.5 to 3 kilograms (3.3 to 6.6 lb) and feeds on leaves, buds, roots, berries, fungi, bark and twigs. African hares are generally present in Masai Mara National Reserve. The life span of the African hare is 12 years.
Banded Mongoose ( Mungos mungo )
Banded mongoose is a mongoose commonly found in the central and eastern parts of Africa. It lives in savannas, open forests and grasslands and feeds primarily on beetles and millipedes. Mongooses use various types of dens for shelter including termite mounds and they live in colonies with a complex social structure. They are brown or grey in colour and are easily identifiable by the dark bands across the back which stretch from shoulder to the tail. The animal is about 40 cm in length and weighs btween 1.3 to 2.3 kg. They are commonly seen in groups in Tsavo, Amboseli and Masai Mara reserves.
Bat Eared Fox ( Otocyon magalotis )
Bat eared fox is a species of fox found on short-grass prairies and arid grasslands and are only found in Africa, where they are most often seen foraging at night or in the early morning in warmer months and during the day when the weather turns colder. Its body is generally yellow-brown; the throat and underparts are pale. Often seen in areas that have been extensively grazed by domestic and wild ungulates, but they do venture into tall grass and thick shrub areas if threatened. They are highly social so if you spot one, keep your eye out for more. Majority of the bat-eared fox’s diet consists of small invertebrates such as ants, termites, spiders, scorpions and crickets. They will also eat small birds, mammals and reptiles, and even desert truffle.
Bushbaby ( Galago senegalensis )
Bushbaby also known as the Senegal galago, the lesser galago or the lesser bush baby, is a small arboreal and nocturnal primates with large round eyes that are good for night vision and exceptionally fine hearing ability. They have strong back legs that enable them to jump more than 5-6 feet in a vertical direction. They are agile, speedy climbers and their long tails give them added balance. They are gentle furry creatures that feed in seeds, nuts, fruits, flowers and insects. It is found in all major reserves particularly Masai Mara National Reserve.
Bushbuck ( Tragelaphus scriptus )
Bushbuck also known as Imbabala, is a sub-Saharan antelope found in rain forests, montane forests, forest-savanna mosaics and bush savannas. Bushbucks have a light brown coat, with up to seven white stripes and white splotches on the sides. The muzzle is also white and horns are found only on the males and they can reach over half a meter with only one twist. They mainly browse, but supplement their diet with any other plant matter that they can reach. Bushbucks are active around 24 hours a day, but tend to be nocturnal near human habitations.
Coke’s Hartebeest ( Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii )
The Coke’s Hartebeest is a medium-sized, fawn-colored antelope. It is easy to recognise as it has long, narrow face and distinctively angular short horns (on both sexes) which are heavily ridged. They are mainly found in medium and tall grasslands, including savannas. They can be easily spotted in Nairobi and Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West and Amboseli National Park, and Masai Mara National Reserve. It is one of the fastest antelopes and most enduring runners. The hartebeest feeds almost entirely on grass, but is not very selective and quite tolerant of poor-quality food.
Common Eland ( Taurotragus oryx )
Also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. It is the second largest antelope in the world, being slightly smaller on average than the giant eland. Common eland are spiral-horned antelopes. They prefers savannah scrub to wide open spaces, but also avoids thick forest. It feeds on grass and tree foliage in the early morning and late afternoon, and is also active on moonlit nights. They are easily seen in Nairobi and Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve.
Copper Tailed Monkey/ Red Tailed Monkey ( Cercopithecus ascanius )
Also known as copper tailed monkeys, found in East and Central Africa. They are social primates that form groups of 7-30 individuals.The groups consist of one dominant male and females and their offspring. Groups generally stay together throughout the day and through life, except for males who reach maturity. Red-tailed monkeys are more active in the early morning and evening. They communicate physically, vocally, visually and also demonstrate social dominance, submissiveness, or greeting. They are omnivorous and feed on fruits but also eat leaves, flowers, or insects in times where fruit is scarce.
Crested Porcupine ( Hystrix cristata )
Crested Porcupine is a very large, black-bodied, nocturnal rodent with long, black and white spines and a prominent crest of elongated, spiny hairs from forehead to shoulders. It can be distinguished from others by its black rump and short, rattle-like quills in the tail. Crested porcupine are mostly seen in non-desert habitat in savannas, woodlands, steppes and uplands. They eat mostly plant material: fruits, roots, tubers, bulbs, and bark.
Dwarf Mongoose ( Helpgale parvula )
Dwarf mongoose also known as common dwarf mongoose, is a small African Carnivore belonging to the mongoose family. They are commonly found on Savannas, thicket and woodlands, typically with numerous termitaries for shelter. Although they survive seasonally waterless periods, they avoid very arid, open country. They are one of the two social species of mongoose, living in family groups of between 2 and 21 individuals with more female than male and fluctuating numbers of young ones. They are territorial, and each group uses an area of approximately 30-60 hectares (depending on the type of habitat). They feed on insects, notably crickets and grasshoppers, termites, scorpions and spiders. The gestation period lasts for 53 days and 1-6 young ones are born.
Grant’s Gazelle ( Gazella granti )
Grant’s gazelles are mostly identified by their colouring and long horns. They are sandy brown on the back, clearly demarcated from a lighter colour on the flanks and white belly, and white around the tail and hind legs. Horns are found on both sexes. These gazelles are often found in mixed groups alongside other herbivores. e.g. Wildebeest, Zebras and Thomson’s Gazelle. They may occur in large numbers (up to 500 individuals) in suitable areas. They exists in large numbers in Nairobi National park, Amboseli, Masai Mara, Tsavo and Marsabit National Reserve.
Honey Badger ( Mellivora capensis )
Honey badger also known as ratel is a mammal widely distributed in Africa, Southwest Asia and the Indian subcontinent. They get their name from their fondness for feeding on honey and honeybee larvae. They also eat insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, as well as roots, bulbs, berries, and fruits. Honey badgers hunt by locating their victims with their acute sense of smell. They will then dig with their razor-sharp claws to extract their prey. Most honey badgers are active throughout the day, though near human settlements they may prefer the cover of darkness. They are often seen alone, though it’s not uncommon to spot mating pairs. They are notorious for their pugnacious and fearless personality, and have been known to take on animals many times their own size.
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Impala ( Aepyceros melampus )
Impala (Aepyceros melampus) is a medium-sized antelope found in eastern and southern africa. It is reddish-brown in colour with white hair inside the ears, over each eye and on the chin, upper throat, underparts and buttocks. A narrow black line runs along the middle of the lower back to the tail, and a vertical black stripe appears on the back of each thigh. Impalas are found at grassland and woodland edges, usually very close by water. They are both graze and browse and eats young grass shoots in the wet season and herbs and shrubs at other times. Best places to find impalas in Kenya includes; Masai Mara National Reserve, Kisumu Impala santuary, Hell’s Gate, Nairobi and Lake Nakuru National Parks.
KIRK’S DIK DIK
( Madoqua kirkii )
Kirk’s dik dik is the most common of the two dik-diks found in Kenya and is easily seen in Nairobi, Tsavo East and West and Amboseli National Park as well as Masai Mara National Reserve. The dik-dik is a tiny antelope, reddish-brown colour on the back, with lighter flanks and white belly. They are easily recognised by almost lack of a tail and the tuft of dark hair on the forehead. Horns (found only on males) are so short that they are often lost in the hair tuft. Dik-diks are highly nocturnal, and during the daytime seek shade to rest throughout the hottest parts of the day to help avoid the loss of valuable fluids.
KIRK’S DIK DIK
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Madoqua kirkii
WEIGHT: 3 to 6 kilograms (6 to 13 pounds)
SIZE: 30 to 40.5 centimeters at the shoulder (12 to 16 inches) 52 to 67 centimeters in length (20 to 26 inches)
LIFE SPAN: No data for in the wild; approximately up to 17 years in captivity.
HABITAT
Ranges from arid, dense thorn scrub to thickets and open woodland, riverine woodlands, and open plains.
DIET: Herbivorous
GESTATION: 5 to 6 months
PREDATORS: Humans, many small carnivores
Kirk’s dik-diks are tiny antelopes that vary in color depending on their habitat but are typically yellowish-gray to reddish-brown on its back and grayish-white on their belly. Males have horns that are ringed and stout at the base, which are often concealed by a tuft of hair on their forehead. These antelopes have beautiful, large, dark eyes surrounded by a white ring. And while their eyes are stunning, they provide more than just sight. Preorbital glands appear as a black spot below the inside corner of each eye. These glands produce a dark, sticky secretion used to scent-mark their territories.
The most distinguishing feature is their elongated snout, which is also an evolved cooling mechanism that stops them from overheating, even in extreme temperatures of up to 40°C (104°F). This also helps minimize their need for water.
This species remains widespread throughout much of its historical distribution. Kirk’s dik-diks occur in two separate regions: East Africa, from southern Somalia to central Tanzania and in Southern Africa from northern Namibia and parts of southwestern Angola. They tend to live in habitats with good cover but without tall herbage. They move to different ranges when grass grows too high and obstructs their view.
Klipspringer ( Oreotragus oreotragus )
Klipspringer is a small antelope found in Eastern and Southern Africa. It is a small, sturdy antelope; standing about 50cm at the shoulder. They are easily recognised by their curious ‘tip-toe’ stance and the greenish tinge of their speckled coarse hair. Their horns are short and widely spaced. Klipspringer are most often seen on rocky outcrops, or in the grassland in the immediate vicinity, and when alarmed they retreat into the rocks for safety.Best places to find klipspringers in Kenya includes; Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli and Meru National Park as well as Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park.
Olive Baboons ( Papio cynocephalus anubis )
Olive Baboon also know as the Anubis Baboon, is one of the largest baboons, with an olive green/grey coat that covers its bodies and a black face. Olive baboons have the largest range of all baboons. They inhabit savannahs, steppes and forests and are very adaptable.They live in troops of males and females that consist of between 20 and 50 members, but sometimes these troops can consist of over 100 baboons. They feed on grass, seeds, leaves, cereals, fruit, tubers, small mammals, invertebrates and young birds.
Oribi ( Ourebia ourebi )
Oribi is a tall, slender antelope of medium-small size and sandy body color, with white undersides, upper throat, and mouth and ear linings. They are commonly found in grasslands maintained by fire or heavy grazing. Oribi prefers flats or gentle slopes and is commonest on open lawns of grass kept short by compaction, poor soils. They are relatively uncommon, and chances of spotting one is in Masai Mara National Reserve.
Pangolin ( Manis temminckii )
Pangolins are bizarre-looking, nocturnal mammals covered in protective keratin scales. They are the only known mammals with this feature. When threatened, they roll up into a ball to protect themselves. They live in hollow trees or burrows, depending on the species. Pangolins diet consists of mainly ants and termites, which they capture using their long tongues. They tend to be solitary animals, meeting only to mate and produce a litter of one to three offspring, which are raised for about two years. Although they are one of Africa’s most elusive creatures and rarely seen, pangolins can be spotted in Masai Mara National Reserve.
Side Striped Jackal ( Canis adustus )
Side striped jackal is shorter legged and shorter eared than other Jackals, it can be easily recognised by the white tip to its tail and by the poorly defined black and white stripes along the flanks. Commonly found in woodland and scrub areas. They mostly feed on invertebrates and small vertebrates eg; fish and gazelle fawns as well as fallen fruits, unripe maize, carrion and organic rubbish.
Slender Mongoose ( Herpestes sanguineus )
Slender mongoose also known as the black-tipped mongoose or the black-tailed mongoose, is a very common species of mongoose of sub-Saharan Africa. It is long-bodied, short-legged, partly arboreal mongoose, extremely variable in colour. The digits of the hands and feet splay readily and are armed with small but sharp color. The tip of the tail is usually black tipped. They are found in all wooden, Savannah, thicket and forest habitats and forest swamps. Slender mongoose feeds on rodents, insects, reptiles, frogs and birds.
Spotted Hyena ( Hyaena hyaena )
The spotted hyena also known as laughing hyena, is one of the most fascinating and successful carnivores in sub-Saharan Africa. In contrast to most other female mammals, the female hyena are male-like in appearance, larger than males, and substantially more aggressive this is beacuse of their social structure and an increase in testosterone in its fetal stages. Female hyenas are highly social and dominate the male hyenas, with the largest group sizes and most complex social behaviors. In the Maasai Mara, spotted hyena territories are stable, but not large, averaging 12 hyenas per 100 sq km. Hyena is more often heard than seen, its loud long distance call carries for up to 5km and can be found throughout the Maasai Mara. They are most active in the early hours of the morning at the time of the migration.
Spring Hare ( Pedetes capensis )
Spring Hare (pedetes) is a long-tailed, hopping rodent with long, soft fur, varying from warm reddish tints to yellow-grey above and white to pale tawny underneath. It has short forelegs but long, powerful hind legs and feet used for jumping. Found locally in the semiarid steppes and dry savannas of Kenya. Spring hare feeds on fresh grasses, grazed to the ground stems, roots and storage bases of grasses, new sprouts of herbs and fruits. They sometimes eat insects, such as locusts. They feed only at night and within about 400m of burrow.
Straw Coloured Fruit Bat ( Eidolon helvum )
Straw coloured fruit bat also known as african straw coloured fruit bat is the second largest fruit bat in africa. They live in a wide range of habitats across sub-Saharan Africa. They prefers moist and dry tropical forests, because there is so much fruit, although they also eat blossoms and young shoots of silk-cotton trees but will use various other forest habitats and even urban areas. These bats are very strong fliers, with long, pointed wings built for endurance over agility. Because of this, they can’t manoeuvre in tight spaces and find their food in the more open upper canopy layer. Their bodies vary from the straw colour of their name to pale yellow or dark brown-grey. They are highly social species and travel in massive colonies of at least 100,000 bats.
Thomson’s Gazelle ( Gazella thomsonii )
Thomson’s gazelle is one of the best-known gazelles. It is named after explorer Joseph Thomson and is sometimes referred to as a “tommie”. It is often confused with the much larger (38-80kgs) Grants Gazelle, however it is more easily identified by its thicker black tail, shorter horns and more obvious black stripe on the flank. Thomson’s gazelles prefer savannas and grassland habitats, particularly in the Serengeti region of Kenya and Tanzania.
Topi (Damaliscus lunatus jimela)
Topi (Damaliscus lunatus jimela) is a medium-sized antelope with a striking reddish-brown to purplish-red coat that is glossy, even iridescent in bright sunlight. Primarily lives in flood plains, but they are sometimes found in dry areas of open savanna and park woodland, taking to the shade during the heat of the day. They prefer flat lowlands, and can go without water for long periods of time only if they have access to green pastures. In Kenya, they are mainly found in Masai Mara where they exists in large numbers. Their main predator is lion.
Vervet Monkey ( Cercopithecus aethiops )
Vervet Monkey is a small, black faced monkey with a greenish-olive or silvery-gray body, found in the Mara. Vervet society is built on complex but stable social groups (called troops) of 10 to 50 individuals—mainly adult females and their immature offspring. They eats a primarily herbivorous diet, living mostly on Leaves and young shoots- but bark, flowers, fruit, bulbs, roots and grass seeds are also consumed. The mainly vegetarian diet is supplemented with insects, grubs, eggs, baby birds and sometimes rodents and hares.
THE AFRICAN WARTHOG
( Phacochoerus africanus )
Warthogs are the most common wild pig in Kenya and the most frequently observed wild pig in Africa. They are distributed throughout the savannah and semi-arid areas of sub-saharan africa. They are often seen in family groups, with parents and piglets trotting briskly in a straight line with tails erect. Warthogs are herbivores and diurnal animals that spend much of their day foraging for food. Their most endearing habit is the way they turn tail and trot away with their thin tufted tails stuck straight up in the air like some antenna. Best places to see them in Kenya are in the Masai Mara National Reserve, Nairobi and Amboseli National Parks.
THE AFRICAN WARTHOG
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Phacochoerus aethiopicus (desert/cape warthog); Phacochoerus africanus (common warthog)
WEIGHT: 50 to 150 kilograms (110 to 330 pounds)
SIZE: 90 to 150 centimeters in length (35 to 60 inches)
LIFE SPAN: 15 to 18 years in the wild; up to 20 years in captivity
HABITAT: Savanna
DIET: Omnivorous
GESTATION: About 6 months
PREDATORS: Lions, leopards, humans, crocodiles, and hyenas
A Warthog is a wild member of the pig family found in grassland, savanna, and woodland in East Africa. A warthog is identifiable by the two pairs of tusks protruding from the mouth and curving upwards. The lower pair, which is far shorter than the upper pair, becomes razor sharp by rubbing against the upper pair every time the mouth is opened and closed.
only the big males are safe from the lions, cheetahs and hyenas. to protect themselves when attacked, warthogs run for burrows and reverse backside in while slashing widly with their tusks.
Waterbuck ( Kobus ellipsiprymnus )
Waterbuck also known as defassa waterbuck is a fairly solid animal and is easily recognisable by its thick, shaggy, dark brown coat and white inner thighs. The horns are present in males only which they use to defend themselves if attacked, and these curve gradually outwards then grow straight up to a length of about 75cm.The female and young ones move in vicinity of a number of territorial males,or may stay with one male. They feed on grass,reeds,and some foliage. It is fairly common and easily seen in Nairobi and Lake Nakuru National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve.
THE AFRICAN WILDEBEEST
( Connochaetes )
Wildebeest (also called gnu) are a member of the antelope family. The front end of their body is heavily built, while the hindquarters are slender with spindly legs. They have a gray coat and a black mane as well as a beard that can be black or white. There are several races of wildebeest. The species forming the large herds of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem of Kenya and Tanzania is known as the western white-bearded wildebeest. Their favourite habitats are open woodlands and open grassy plains.
THE AFRICAN WILDEBEEST
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Connochaetes taurinus
WEIGHT: 118 to 270 kilograms (260-595 pounds)
SIZE: 123 centimeters in length (48 inches)
LIFE SPAN: 20 years in the wild
HABITAT: Open woodlands, open grassy plains
DIET: Herbivorous
GESTATION: 8.5 months
PREDATORS: Lions, cheetahs, hunting dogs, hyenas
The wildebeests, also called gnus,In East Africa, the blue wildebeest is the most abundant big game species and some populations perform an annual migration to new grazing grounds but the black wildebeest is merely nomadic.
Breeding in both takes place over a short period of time at the end of the rainy season and the calves are soon active and are able to move with the herd.