Our media team recently returned from Botswana and came back with a treasure trove of breathtaking photos and videos. This 360 video (Click here) is truly unlike any video I’ve ever seen. This beautiful video about Botswana (below) gives you a good understanding of the allure of this unique and wild country.
Videos inevitably get the oohs and ahs but of course photos also carry their own stirring beauty. In the 14 days the team was in Botswana, they visited seven lodges in the Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Pans. Simon, our in-house photographer who recently contributed to the blog 5 Pro Tips for Composition in Wildlife Photography, flexed his creative muscles and outdid himself with this collection of photos. Here they are for your visual satisfaction and admiration – and feel free to ooh and ah, these photographers deserve the swoons as much as the other guys…
Close-up of a baby meerkatSilhouette of a bird in BotswanaTraditionally dressed bushman in BotswanaElephants in the wetlands of BotswanaFlock of bee-eaters taking flightGreen-eyed crocodile swimming in BotswanaClose-up of an elephant walking along a road in BotswanaLeopard in the Savannah, BotswanaSilhouette of a leopard up a tree at sunset in BotswanaTwo lion cubs at sunset in BotswanaBaby elephant running in BotswanaLeopard up a tree in BotswanaTwo lion cubs in BotswanaRhino walking in the bush of BotswanaLone elephant standing under palm trees in BotswanaTwo lions in the bush of BotswanaLeopard standing on the edge of a branch in BotswanaMeerkat sitting on a photgrapher in Botswana
You’re bound to have heard of the Big 5 — Africa’s own superstars. The lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo were originally called the Big 5 because they were the most dangerous African animals to hunt on foot. As conservation overtook hunting, the name and prestige stuck with these creatures and they became the most sought after animals to see and photograph on safaris. Most visitors to Africa dream of spotting these impressive celebrities and often forget that the continent holds so much more than these five animals. It was this very thing that prompted the creation of the Little Five — a list of smaller animals containing the names of the famous Big 5.
Photo credit: Javier Ábalos Alvarez
Elephant shrew
This small rodent has a long snout reminiscent of an elephant’s trunk that it twists around in search of food. Elephant shrews feed on insects, fruit, seeds, and nuts and although they are relatively common, they are seldom seen because they spend a lot of time hiding from potential predators and are wary in nature.
Photo credit: Ron Knight
Buffalo weaver
Social and rather noisy, these birds are renowned for following in the wake of buffalo in order to eat the bugs the famous beasts kick up as they walk. Buffalo weavers build extremely scruffy communal nests in forked branches of trees — some say that they make the untidiest nests out of all the weaver birds.
Photo credit: Bernard Depont
Leopard tortoise
With a yellow and black spotted shell reminiscent of their namesake, the leopard tortoise is the biggest of the Little Five. Relatively common, the spots on their shells help them to blend into the surrounding savannah, just like the leopard itself. These tortoises can live for as long as 100 years.
Photo credit: Scott Robinson
Ant lion
The smallest member of the Little Five is the ant lion — an animal that is actually a tiny larva. These predatory creatures grow into winged insects that (despite their appendages & dragonfly-like appearance) have trouble flying. The elusive ant lion traps its prey by digging holes in the sand and waiting at the bottom for the unsuspecting ants to fall in. Sometimes referred to as ‘doodlebugs’, ant lions spend most of their time underground making them hard to spot.
Photo credit: Bernard Dupont
Rhino beetle
Large in size and with two horns on its head, it’s not hard to see where the rhino beetle got its name from. The beetles mostly use their horns to dig for food, but they also come in handy when climbing and mating. Males are sometimes aggressive, but rhino beetles are completely harmless.
Due to their size, sometimes elusive nature, and interesting names, spotting one of these little critters is just as impressive as spying one of the Big 5 — and often a lot harder! Whether you’re a seasoned traveller who’s returning to your African home-away-from-home, an eager new-comer, a safari dreamer, or an African yourself, you may want to add these creatures to your wildlife check-list.
Africa’s animals are kind of a big deal. Between the Big 5, the Little 5, thousands of birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians and everything in between, this continent is home to some of the most majestic creatures on the planet. Whether you’re impatiently biding the time until your safari trip, reminiscing over past journeys or simply dreaming of Africa, here are some of the top wildlife Instagrammers you should be following:
Shannon Benson is an Australian wildlife photographer, cinematographer, author, and conservationist based in Africa. Her feed largely features African wildlife and behind-the-scenes shots and videos of her trips. Shannon holds photographic safaris and workshops all over the world and is an ambassador for organisations such as WildAid, Wild Tomorrow Fund, and The Perfect World Foundation among others. If you’re into animals, location shots, and conservation, Shannon’s feed will be right up your street.
Wildlife film-maker and photographer, Russel McLaughlin is a South African with an obvious love of Africa and her animals. His black and white or colour images tend to feature African animals the most, but also show off the various animals he encounters on his travels. Russel has filmed documentaries for National Geographic and Animal Planet, is an expert guide with both photographic and environmental knowledge, and is also a passionate conservationist, working closely with WildAid, an organisation with a mission to end illegal wildlife trade.
UK wildlife photographer and innovator Will Burrard-Lucas has an Instagram feed that is, for the most part, dedicated to African wildlife. He is the founder of Camtraptions, a company that has developed BeetleCams and Camera Traps — products that help photographers capture wildlife in new ways. Will is also the founder of WildlifePhoto.com, a website that offers resources, services and products for wildlife photographers. His feed is dominated by spectacular colours and unbelievable close-up images, many of which have been captured using his innovative products.
After buying her first DSLR camera in 2010 for a trip to the Maasai Mara, Margot Raggett fell in love with wildlife photography and with Africa. She is the founder of the Remembering Elephants project, a fundraising book that combines photographs taken by 65 of the best wildlife photographers — 100% of the proceeds go towards fighting elephant poaching.
Although she is based in Cantabria, Spain, Marina Cano’s Instagram feed features plenty of African wildlife. She has published two books as well as an e-book and hosts numerous photographic workshops in Spain as well as safaris in and around Africa.
Keith Connelly’s Instagram can be described as a combination of close-ups, dramatic lighting, soft colours and black and white. He started his career as a wildlife guide and is now a professional photographer and photographic guide specialising in, you guessed it, wildlife and nature photography.
Both a photographer and a film-maker, James Suter’s Instagram features both stills and video of African wildlife. He is a photographic guide and a co-owner of a film production company, Black Bean Productions, in Cape Town.
Gerry van der Walt’s feed has a bit of everything; wildlife from Africa as well as from other parts of the world, videos, stills, and even the occasional Snapchat. The South African is a specialist photographic safari guide, wildlife photographer, educator, public speaker, and co-founder of Wild Eye, a photographic safari company.
Although he doesn’t only focus on African wildlife, Elliot Neep’s Instagram is a must-follow. A professional photographer and ORYX photography safari guide, Elliot’s photographs tend to fit into three broad categories: intimate portraits, action-filled behaviour imagery, and wildscapes. He also has his own column in Practical Photography magazine, one of Britain’s leading photography monthlies.
David Lloyd manages to capture both the harsh and soft side of nature in his “fine art wildlife photography” — something that comes through strongly on his Instagram. His best piece of advice is “to stay with your subject for as long as possible”.
Mother’s Touch A photo posted by David Lloyd | Wildlife (@davidlloyd) on
A self-proclaimed Africa addict, Burak Dogansoysal’s Instagram mostly features African wildlife, with occasional portraits of people and location shots scattered in between. Starting out in business, Burak is now a professional photographer and has travelled through 64 countries.
A professional wildlife photographer, Brendon Cremer leads photography safaris, tours, and workshops. Brendon has a passion for and deep understanding of big cats, something that comes through strongly in his feed.
The One&Only Cape Town is a favourite of ours, with its swanky bars, restaurants, own private island in the city… and they also give back.
With World Rhino Day on 22 September this year, the One&Only has devoted the month of September to raising awareness of the need to save the critically endangered African Rhino. They have joined forces with Save the Rhino International and Wildlife ACT Fund and planned several rhino-centric activities.
Over the past five years, hundreds of rhinos have been illegally poached in South Africa, their horns destined for markets where it is wrongly believed that the ground powder has medicinal properties.
Find out how you can help below.
Wine & Dine For Rhinos
What: There will be a special three-course lunch and dinner menu at Reuben’s for September, at R230 per person, paired with Linton Park’s Rhino Wines. Guests staying at the Hotel during September will receive complimentary bottles of these Rhino Wines. A percentage of all sales of the wines will be directed to this incredibly worthy cause. A Save the Rhino cocktail “Rhinos Revenge” will also be on sale at the bar for guests and a giant red rhino sculpture will greet you in the entrance hall.
Where: Vista Bar & Lounge, One&Only Cape Town
When: September 2012
Walk The Talk
What: Presentation and talk with rhino expert Galeo Saintz, who will present On Foot through Rhino Heartland and Rhino Reality, a showcase of an adventure of four young conservationists walking through the extent of the heartland of black and white rhino in Zululand. A founder of the Rhino Reality Project initiated by the Wildlife ACT Fund, Galeo will share his experiences and shed more light on the reality of the world’s rhinos.
When: Saturday September 22 (World Rhino Day)
Cost: Tickets to the talk are R230 per person and include lunch at Reuben’s (the Save the Rhino set menu with wine pairings from Linton Park)
Purchase a Save the Rhino bracelet/ necklace, on sale in One&Only’s boutique NEO. A percentage of proceeds goes toward this cause.
Wildlife photographer Shem Compion, owner of C4 Images and Safaris, is exhibiting photographs of rhinos and other wild animals in the African bushveld. All canvas prints will be on sale with a percentage of proceeds going towards Wildlife ACT Fund.
For more info/to book, call 021 431 4511 or email restaurant.reservations@oneandonlycapetown.com
The humble .gif or Graphical Interchange Format has been around since 1987 and looks set to be in use for years to come. As the internet has evolved, so has the .gif and today moving .gifs are considered an art form by some. Not quite a movie and not quite an image, the .gif presents an interesting format for showcasing some African animals in action. We’ve collected a bunch of the best moving .gifs featuring the animals of Africa for you to enjoy.
The .gif images collected in this post are created by Marinus from Headlikeanorange, his work extends beyond African animals so visit his website if you’re in the mood for more .gif goodness.
If you’re interested in taking your own photographs of African animals, get in touch with Rhino Africa to organize your very own tailor-made African safari.
Our travel consultant Niki Duncan has been with us for over 6 years and gone on numerous safaris with Rhino Africa. She considers her Canon EOS 7D her best travel companion (after her husband – after all, a camera isn’t going to help you carry your bags and massage your tired toes).
Her favourite thing to peer at through the lens is none other than Africa’s wild cats.
Our intrepid Rhino Africa leader, David Ryan, and member of the marketing team, Ryan Rapaport, recently visited &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa for one incredible experience! It was the trip of a lifetime as our team accompanied Wildlife ACT Fund on a conservation project to experience tracking rhinos. Like something out of Mission Impossible, our boys flew in helicopters, darting animals from the air and collaring endangered species on the ground.
Take a look at the video Ryan filmed:
They tracked (via 4×4 and helicopter, with experienced trackers from the reserve) and collared rhino and elephant as part of a conservation effort to better monitor these species in the region, as well as to gain more data about them.
It was an incredible and moving experience for both, not something you get to experience on safari every day…
Phinda Private Game Reserve is quite something, with 23 000 hectares in the wilderness of KwaZulu-Natal and home to Africa’s Big 5, the endangered black rhino, 415 bird species and seven distinct habitats. As well as luxury accommodation…
What’s in store for you at Phinda:
Where To Stay in Phinda
Relax at Forest Lodge with its floor to ceiling glass walls and dry sand forest surroundings. Take in the view from up high of the Ubombo mountain range at Mountain Lodge or enjoy the seclusion of Rock Lodge’s hidden valley. Take a dip in your plunge pool while antelope graze nearby at Vlei Lodge and if you’re looking for the ultimate exclusive getaway, enjoy a private safari experience at Zuka Lodge or The Homestead.
With its proximity to the coast you can even enjoy a scuba diving experience while staying at Phinda – this place has it all!
The African Wild Dog. It’s one of South Africa‘s lesser known and rarely seen endangered species. You can go on a week long safari in one of the reserves they inhabit in South Africa and still not lay eyes on them. It’s the greatest pity as these furry creatures are some the most amazing to witness, roaming free and hunting in their loyal packs, and the pups playing together as your pooch at home would.
The biggest threat to them is – surprise, surprise – poachers, and the snares they set. Rudimentary and made entirely of wire, they cut into the bodies of the dogs that get caught in them, wiping out entire packs in a matter of hours.
We’ve mentioned the Wildlife ACT Fund before – and currently just handed over a cheque of R160,000 to them to help fund their efforts to help and conserve endangered animals like the Wild Dog (read more here). They work on the ground and are currently busy collaborating with engineers and companies locally and abroad to acquire anti-snare tracking collars to help save the Wild Dog. The collars allow rangers and monitors to track the dogs throughout the day. They send out an emergency signal if they dog has been immobile for an unnatural amount of time. The collars are also specially-reinforced and riveted to prevent the animal from choking to death. Once alerted, rangers in the various reserves of South Africa will then swoop in to help save the dog.
A Word from Simon Morgan of Wildlife ACT Fund:
Having watched two wild dogs come out of the den in their reserve for the first time and make their way off into the wilderness only to have to pull them both out of snares just two days after they left their pack is one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever encountered. We hear continuously about the brutal slaying of our rhino population in South Africa, but I can tell you now, I would rather have a bullet to the head than a wire snare wrapped around my neck and it cut into me and suffocate me to an agonising death. The decimation of our Painted Dog population has been on-going for years and it is largely unnoticed.
The same people that are behind the bushmeat trade, which sees thousands of animals snared in our national, provincial and private parks every year, are the same individuals that ultimately end up with a rifle in hand shooting our Rhinos. Help us put a stop this by supporting the Wildlife ACT Fund‘s work protecting these animals and educating communities surrounding reserves on the importance of saving our species.
How You Can Help
The collars come at a high price. Wildlife ACT Fund has partnered with Woolworths South Africa to rebrand the dogs as “Painted Dogs” since the name Wild Dog tends to carry negative connotations for people like farmers who see them as pests . The partnership has seen the creation of the first of four Limited Edition reusable shopping bags that have gone on sale in Woolworths stores across South Africa. The first of these bags features the “Painted Dog”. R9 from the sale of each bag will go directly toward the Wildlife ACT Fund’s efforts to save the species from extinction. The Fund has already started to collar some dogs from money already raised through the bags.
Simply by buying one of the Painted Dog bags, you can ensure that many more lives are saved. What’s more: the bags look cool and by buying one you can enter and stand a chance to win a R100 000 conservation trip for four to the amazing Thanda Private Game Reserve, where you can experience these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat, as well as getting hands-on experience as you help collar the dogs in the reserve.
To buy a Wildlife ACT Fund African Painted Dog Limited Edition Woolworths Shopping Bag online – click here!
Find out more about the Wildlife ACT Fund and the work they’re doing here.
Most first time safaris are focused on the Big 5 but on any decent safari your expert ranger will delight and enthuse with tall tales and fascinating facts about all creatures great and small. There’s nothing quite like an African safari holiday to spark a life long interest in wildlife. So for the more discerning wildlife enthusiasts among you, we’ve compiled a list of some of the more intriguing African animals…
Dugong
Dugongs, we think you’ll agree, are rather splendid marine animals. They’re sometimes called “sea cows” because they graze on large amounts of sea grass. They can grow to about 3 metres in length and weigh as much as 500kg. The Bazaruto Archipelago is one of the largest nature reserves in Mozambique and it is believed that this is the only place along the East African coast that still hosts a significant population of Dugongs. They are an endangered and protected species in Mozambique. Dugongs are a different species to Manatees, but are part of the same order (Sirenia).
Image credit: Fotograferen.net
Pangolin
A pangolin is a prehistoric-looking mammal with large keratin scales covering its skin, creating an impenetrable armor that protects it from predators. It uses its well-developed sense of smell to find insects. The pangolin is a nocturnal animal, which makes spotting it on a game drive during daylight, extremely difficult, as it spends most of the day curled up into a ball, sleeping. Tswalu Kalahari is considered probably the best place on earth to view pangolin. This unusual animal is rarely seen elsewhere but the open grasslands on Tswalu make it easier to find, particularly during winter when they emerge in daylight to search for ants and termites.
Photo credit: David BrossardImage credit: Mark Sheridan-Johnson
White Lion
White lions are not albino, instead the white color is caused by a recessive gene known as chinchilla or color inhibitor. At the moment there is a small population of white lion in the Timbavati Game Reserve. The white lion gene from the Timbavati is thought to be the source of almost all white lions in the world! For the most part they can only be found in zoos, a few in the Timbavati and at Sanbona Private Game Reserve on the Garden Route there is a free roaming pride of white lions.
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a rare sight because it is completely nocturnal. The name is Afrikaans, and means “earth pig”. Aardvarks are omnivores that are about 1,6 metres long with a life span of about 11 years. Aardvarks are found throughout Africa except for equatorial forest and northern desert regions. They are highly adaptable and can be found anywhere with plenty of ants or termites – its principle diet.
Red Lechwe
The Red Lechwe is an antelope found in abundance in the Okavango Delta in Botswana and notable for its adaptations to swampy conditions. The hind legs are somewhat longer in proportion to other antelopes, to ease long-distance running in marshy soil. They use the knee-deep water of the Okavango Delta as protection from predators and their legs are covered in a water repelling substance allowing them to run quickly through the water. The splayed, elongated hooves act like fins in water and as stabiliser on soft, muddy ground.
Indri
The Indri (Indri indri) is the largest living lemur and inhabits the montane forests of eastern Madagascar. It resembles a giant panda with its black and white fur, but its long neck and arms, and small ears make it look more human. The Indri lives on canopy fruits and leaves. It is characterised by its strange yet beautiful song, which can carry for more than 2 kms. It barks when confronted with danger and makes kissing sounds when affectionate. It doesn’t move along the ground, but instead leaps between tree trunks – often over 10 metres. The Indri population is dwindling due to habitat loss and hunting.
Image credit: David Cook
Aye-Aye
This thing is freaky looking! A cross between Golum and Dobby, the Aye-Aye is actually a lemur native to Madagascar and is the world’s largest nocturnal primate. It is characterised by its unusual method of finding food; it taps on trees to find grubs, then gnaws holes in the wood and inserts its narrow middle finger to pull the grubs out. The Aye-Aye is currently classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
The Ostrich
The ostrich is the largest living species of bird and lays the largest egg of any living bird. Commonly found on South Africa’s Garden Route, Ostriches can run at speeds of up to about 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph), the top land speed of any bird. Their eggs are so strong that the average human can stand on it without it breaking – since it needs to be tough enough for an ostrich to sit on. One ostrich egg is the equivalent of about 24 chicken eggs. That’s one big breakfast! Or a big breakfast for one.
Group of ostriches along the Garden Route with yellow rapeseed fields in background, South Africa
Gerenuk (Waller’s Gazelle)
Gerenuk means “giraffe-necked” in the Somali language. Gerenuks are a type of gazelle, with a small head in proportion to its body, and a long thin neck that makes it look like the result of someone stretching an impala. Gerenuk prefer lightly bushed areas and are found in East Africa – (mainly in Kenya, north-east Tanzania, southern Somalia and southern Ethiopia). They are very well adapted to arid conditions and don’t drink free water. Gerenuks are exclusive browsers, feeding on leaves, shoots, and sometimes flowers and fruits, which they often acquire by standing on their hind legs to pick from a tree or a bush.
Image credit: Sean CraneImage credit: Paul Buck
Gaboon Adder
The Gaboon Adder (Bitis gabonica) is a venomous viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the world’s heaviest viper, has the longest fangs (up to 2 inches), and the highest venom yield of any venomous snake. Not a guy to be messed with! He’s a master of disguise with the colouring and patterns enabling him to blend in with rocks, leaves and other African terrains. He’s also got tiny horns between the nostrils and two stripes below the eye. Alias’s include butterfly adder, forest puff adder, and swampjack.
Image credit: John White
Bushbaby
They’re as cute as a button until you realise they pee on their hands and then jump around marking their territory on things. They are also known as galagos or nagapies (meaning “little night monkeys” in Afrikaans, since they are almost exclusively seen at night.). They are small, nocturnal primates native to Africa. Some say that the name bush baby comes from either the animal’s cries or appearance. Cute factor 10.
Image credit: Andrea Tulnik-Hellinger
What are your favourite African animals? And do you have any interesting wildlife facts to share? Post a Blog Comment below or share with us on our Rhino Africa Facebook Page.
Your experience on safari will depend heavily on the quality of the game viewing experience and the knowledge and experience of the rangers. That is one of the reasons why prices for safari holidays vary so widely. Our expert travel consultants know what to look out for and they know the very best experiences to recommend so that you get the best value for money. If you’d like to see some of these extraordinary creatures and many more under the expert supervision of Africa’s top guides and rangers, then contact Rhino Africa Safaris today to start planning your African Safari Holiday of a lifetime!
“No place is boring, if you’ve had a good night’s sleep and have a pocket full of unexposed film.” ~Robert Adams
Photography has the ability to totally transform and enrich your experience of life, especially on your travels. Suddenly you see differently. You see the little things, the obscure, the artistic. You see it all and get to take the sights and memories back home so family and friends can experience it too. We travel a lot here at Rhino Africa, scouting and sussing out the best destinations and lodges in Africa to send our clients – you travellers and adventurers – to.
These are the top 20 photographs taken mostly by our consultants last year. We think they epitomise the essence of Africa and show quite obviously why it is that we dig this continent so much. Take a look. Enjoy.
Keen to go on your own African safari with us to snap some of your own shots? Contact us and we’ll help you tailor-make the perfect itinerary at the best cost.
Animals always seem cuter as babies. Fully grown adult rhinos or lions, for example, just don’t evoke the same “Awwww” reaction in people as the smaller variety do. It’s more a respectful, “Fwoah – close the car window!”
Our expert safari consultant, Samantha Myburgh, has just returned from a trip to the Okavango Delta. Lucky gal! Look out for the full blog coming soon. She brought back these pictures of babies in the wild… Better than a “My boyfriend went to the Okavango Delta and all I got was this lousy T-Shirt” T-Shirt. We thought we’d share them with you, as well as photos taken by our other adventurous travel consultants and team members, particularly since it’s nearing impala birthing season, when the plains and pans of Africa will start sprouting shaky-legged little impala.
Read more about this season on Londolozi’s Blog and enjoy our own pics of the African Wilderness’ latest additions as they get used to the wild new world they find themselves in…
Be sure to head out on your own African safari to see these cute critters up close! Contact us to plan the best adventures possible!
No they’re not some new Mafia group, although going head-to-head with them would be just as – if not more – daunting. If you’ve been on a safari in Africa, you’ll have heard plenty about “The Big Five“.
It’s a phrase that was coined by white hunters back in the day, referring to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot and the degree of danger involved. It’s still used today but also by tourist and wildlife guides leading African wildlife safaris and more in reference to these Big Five being the continent’s greatestwild animals than treacherous to hunt.
3. Rhinoceros – technically it’s the black rhino that forms part of the Big Five, but you’ll see in our video below that we’ve featured the white rhino. For more about the difference between the two, scroll down…
The animals had and still have their moment of fame, appearing on South African rand banknotes in 1990 and later releases. Different denominations feature a different Big Five animal.
We’ve featured the Big Cats before – including the Big Five’s Lion and Leopard, as well as the Cheetah, which isn’t part of the Big Five, – but here’s more about the other members too:
1. Lion
• Family Felidae
• Mass ± 200 kg / ± 440 lbs
• Height ± 100 cm / ± 39 inches
• Walking speed 4 km/h / 2.4 mph
• Charging speed 80 km/h / 50 mph
• Potential longevity 20 years
• Gestation period 3.5 months
• Family – Elephantidae
• Mass 6000 – 7000 kg / 13000 – 15000 lbs
• Height 300 – 340 cm / 118 – 134 inches
• Walking speed 10 km/h / 6.2 mph
• Charging speed 40 km/h / 24.8 mph
• Potential longevity 65 – 70 years
• Gestation period 22 months
• Record length of tusks 3,5 m / 137 inches
The African elephant is the largest land mammal. They’re a matriarchal bunch, with an older cow leading the herd. Herds are usually family groups of up to 16. Several family groups may join when at watering sites forming large herds numbering several hundred. Their tusks are basically modified incisor teeth, used as weapons and to help acquire certain food, like the bark of trees. Their long trunks can hold up to 15 litres of water and is used to locate food by touch and smell, as an elephant cannot see down its trunk. If an elephant loses the use of its trunk it will die.
3. Rhinoceros
• Family Rhinocerotidae
• Mass 3500 kg / 7717 lbs
• Height 160 cm / 63 inches
• Speed 45 km/h / 28 mph
• Potential longevity 45 years
• Gestation period 18 months
• Record length of front horn 158 cm / 62 inches
• Record length of rear horn 56 cm / 22 inches
The herbivorous white rhino has a wide mouth perfectly adapted to a life of grazing. Its thick set body is covered by a tough leathery skin. The most distinctive feature of the rhino is the presence of 2 horns on the snout. These horns are composed of a protein which is similar to that of our own hair. Family groups of 2 – 5 individuals are protected by a dominant bull who defends his cows against other intruding bulls. A number of fixed latrine sites known as rhino middens demarcate a bull’s territory. The smaller black rhino has a hooked lip.
4. Leopard
• Family Felidae
• Mass ± 60 kg / 132 lbs
• Height ± 60 cm / 23 inches
• Charging speed 80 km/h / 50mph
• Potential longevity 21 years
• Gestation period 3 1/2 months
• Family Bovidae
• Mass 750 kg / 1653 lbs
• Height ± 160 cm / 63 inches
• Charging speed 55 km/h / 34 mph
• Potential longevity 20 – 25 years
• Gestation period 11 months
• Record span of horns 147 cm / 58 inches
Buffalo are large, cattle like animals. Once widely distributed in Southern Africa, the buffalo’s numbers have been greatly reduced by large-scale hunting and sickness such as Rinderpest and foot and mouth disease. Now restricted to the eastern regions of South Africa, they are abundant in the Kruger Park and are frequently seen wallowing in muddy pools or grazing in the vicinity of dams in the reserve.
The buffalo is highly gregarious and usually occurs in large herds, with the largest herd estimated to be in the region of 400. Bachelor groups and single animals are also often encountered. A dominance hierarchy occurs within buffalo herds. Although a favourite prey item of the lions, the large horns and powerful muscles of the buffalo make it a formidable adversary and it is frequently the lions who come off second best in such encounters.
For more information about the Park, and tours and accommodation in the region, contact us. We can help you tailor make an African safari trip so you can tick these animals off the check list.
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