The safari is an exciting proposition as well. You can spot Leopards, Cheetahs, Lions, Elephants and other animals within no time on a safari. While in the Serengeti, I used a Nikon D90 to take some fantastic photos that you can check out at my Tanzania Flickr set.

What adds mystery to the Serengeti plains are its Leopards. You can find leopards mostly along the tracks built particularly for game-viewing along the riverine. A trick to spot them is to look for their presence in the tall trees rather than on the ground. You would most likely spot a leopard resting among the inclined trunks of the large trees.

Leopard watching the Zebras

If you are lucky you can spot a leopard dragging its prey high into a tree from where lions and hyenas cannot steal it. It is rare to get a classic photo of a leopard with a fresh kill, but I managed to get lucky on this.

Leopard with fresh Kill

Leopard eating fresh Kill

The Serengeti Leopard is particularly known for its robustness and reclusive nature. They are much more heavier and sturdily built than the cheetahs in the region. Most people end up confusing them, yet the spots are different! A Serengeti leopard’s spots are hollow on a tan background while the cheetah has solid and round spots. Also, cheetahs chase their prey while the leopard stalks its prey pouncing upon it suddenly.

Leopard in Tree

The Serengeti Leopard is much stealthier than the Lions and Cheetahs in the area. In fact, because of this nature and their varied diet, the Serengeti Leopard has been able to have a stable population.

Serengeti leopards communicate by roaring a deep throaty roar. The leopards use roaring even to define their territory. It’s so sweet to watch the leopard cubs communicate with their mothers through purrs and meows almost similar to a cat at home. Serengeti Leopards also use scent marking for fellow leopards. It was a treat to spot and view 5 leopards in 3 days in the Serengeti.

The Latin name for mountain gorillas is Gorilla beringei beringei.

Habitat

The mountain gorilla inhabits the tropical rainforests of Central and Eastern Africa; in Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park), the Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga National Park), and Uganda (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park & Bwindi Impenetrable Forest).

Species

The mountain gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla, that also comprises the Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri). The latter subspecies is most common, with an estimated population standing at approximately 5000 individuals.

DNA

The DNA of gorillas is 98%–99% identical to that of a human, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the bonobo and common chimpanzee species.

Diet

Mainly vegetarian: feed on fruits, leaves and shoots. May also eat larvae, snails and ants (their favourite delicacy ).

Population

The total population of mountain gorillas worldwide is estimated at 720, half of which belongs to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Bwindi also happens to be a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site.

Threats

• Incursions by militia (war).
• Habitat destruction for firewood, farmland and gold-mining. This causes habitat fragmentation.
• Transmission of diseases from surrounding human populations (human-wildlife disease transmission).
• Illegal cattle grazing.
• Illegal bushmeat hunting and poaching (illegal pet trade).

Other Key “Did you KNOW” Facts

• The name gorilla is derived from the Greek word “Gorillai” meaning hairy women.
• Only 10 countries worldwide host naturally occurring gorilla populations.
• Mountain gorillas live in stable family groups that vary from 5 to as many as 30+ individuals.
• They have a “patriarchal” social unit: each unit is dominated by a mature silverback male.
• Adult males can weigh up to 120 kg, and eat as much as 25 kg of food per day.
• Females are relatively smaller in size, and their average weight is +/- 90 kg.
• Just like humans, the mountain gorilla has individual and unique finger prints.
• Unlike humans, sex is only used for reproductive purposes, not for leisure (nor pleasure… ).
• Females usually conceive when they are 8-9 years old, and pregnancy lasts 8 and-a-half months.
• Every evening, mountain gorillas go to sleep in a brand new bed made out of fresh leaves and twigs.

Conservation

Conservation Status: Critically endangered species. Mountain gorillas are not known to survive outside their natural habitat. In other words, don’t expect to see them at zoos.

Support the Mountain Gorillas:

- Friend a Gorilla.

Become a Fan on Facebook.

- International Gorilla Conservation Programme.

- The Gorilla Organization.

Thank you!

A. An elephant.

B. A ground squirrel.

C. A giraffe.

D. A hippo.

2. I can sometimes be confused with “Jabulani”, the World Cup 2010′s official match ball. What am I?

A. Porcupine.

B. Hippo.

C. Pangolin.

D. Black mamba.

3. My Australian pal is also a great athlete, yet I am much smaller in size. Any guesses?

A. Rabbit.

B. Springbok.

C. Tiger.

D. Springhare.

4. In Walt Disney’s “Lion King”, I am Pumba’s best friend…

A. Suricate.

B. Lion.

C. Mandrill.

D. Yellow-billed hornbill.

5. I have the most recognizable “laugh” of the African bush?

A. Yellow baboon.

B. Hunting dog.

C. Koala bear.

D. Spotted Hyena.

6. In Afrikaans, my name literally means “Earth pig”. I am…

A. The bushpig.

B. The aardvark.

C. The warthog.

D. The elephant shrew.

7. My closest living relative is the World’s largest land mammal, yet our looks are light years apart…I’d certainly need some serious “extreme-makeover” to resemble him! Who am I?

A. The black rhinoceros.

B. The serval cat.

C. The hyrax.

D. The leopard.

8. I am the only African animal that makes a “prayer” before having a bite…find me if you can…

A. Kudu.

B. Buffalo.

C. Praying mantis.

D. Warthog.

9. I can “dive”, but do not take it literally…I am…

A. The common duiker.

B. The sitatunga.

C. The waterbuck.

D. The giant kingfisher.

10. Safari guides and big cat predators sometimes see me as the “McDonald’s” of the bush! Who am I?

A. The sable antelope.

B. The lesser bushbaby.

C. The impala.

D. The zebra.

Need a hint? Check out my “bum beauty contest“!

Want to Know the Answers?

Please comment below with your answers! Solutions to be revealed soon…

While the table is far from complete, it should give you a good overview of Common African Animal Names.

Download your FREE table below:

Enjoy!

NB: Some of the names come from Clive Walker’s book “Signs of the Wild.” This compact field guide to the identification of Southern African mammals based on their spoor, droppings and skulls has been accepted as the standard work on the subject. This edition offers up-to-date information on identification through signs. Highly recommended!

Until next time, have a “fantabulous” day!

Michael aka Africafreak.

Photo taken by safari guide, Mark Homann

The Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger) by Mark Homann, Professional Guide

The Sable Antelope is truly a spectacular creature, the smaller females are a chestnut to dark drown color while the males mature to a dark black off set by distinctive white under belly and facial markings. They stand 55 inches from the shoulder and weigh over 550 pounds. Their most striking physical feature is their sweeping horns that arch back and can be as long as 43 inches.

They are found in part of East Africa but the savanna woodlands of Southern Africa provide their preferred habitat (best place to see them is in the miombo woodlands of Southern Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia). The Sable is a selective grasser feeding on mid-length grasses. Found in breeding herds of up to thirty females and a single dominate mature male, young males leave this herd within three years, joining bachelor herds, young males raise in dominance though an impressive fighting displace as they drop to their front knees and duel with their horns. The dominant male in a bachelor herd will replace the resident male in a breeding herd. Calves are born after a nine-month gestation coinciding with the rainy season. The young sable is a chestnut color lying up in the grass for the first ten days of their lives.

Their main predators are lion, leopard and hyena (feeding mainly on young animals), but their impressive horns make them a formidable opponent and have been know to severely injure their adversaries.

Although qualified safari tours are extremely safe, here’s a little look into Africa’s wild side, without the protection of a guide or vehicle . . .

* The grunting rock: You see cute and cuddly stuffed versions of these animals everywhere in shades of pink, purple, and blue. Disney depicted them as graceful, yet obese, ballerinas in Fantasia. And MB Games incorporated these “hungry hungry” animals into a kid’s game. But hippos are definitely not an animal that you should try and snuggle with while on an Africa safari tour.

In fact, hippos are the number one cause of human deaths in Africa—higher than any other animal including lions. Why are they so violent? Well, they’re not really violent, they just don’t take kindly to disturbances. And when they’re disturbed, they charge full speed ahead, stopping at nothing that gets in their path.

Quick hippo fact: Hippos use their tails to fling feces at each other as a way of marking their territory . . . it’s true. And, disgustingly enough, baboons enjoy eating “hippo territory.”

* The lurking water log: Although known as caring parents to their young, the Nile crocodile is by no means a friendly creature. As crocodiles lay still in the water, often passing for a giant floating log, they are carefully waiting for their prey to get close enough for a quick attack.

Many of the lakes in Africa are home to sly crocs, especially Lake Victoria, which is the sanctuary for an estimated 100 crocodiles. In fact, this area saw more than 40 human deaths due to crocodile attacks in a 7 month period in 2002. At the time of the attacks, Arthur Mugisha of the Uganda Wildlife Authority said “Any crocodile sighted waiting is regarded a man eater. It is shot dead.”

Quick croc fact: Nile crocodiles often eat up to half their body weight during one feeding. That means they can ingest over 250 lbs. of food in one sitting.

* The falling leaf: While walking through the African rainforests, be sure to dodge falling leaves—they may not be what you think they are.

Often mistaken for a fallen leaf by prey, the gaboon viper’s brown, triangle-shaped head has a shocking resemblance to a leaf, which allows it to blend perfectly into the rainforest floor. In addition to its head, the gaboon viper’s body is thick and comprised of colorful geometric shapes and hues including brown, black, white, purple, and pink, which all mix well with the colors of the forest.

Quick gaboon viper fact: Equipped with some of the largest fangs of any snake, the gaboon viper’s fangs can grow up to 2 in. in length. Their venom is deadly and is injected to kill.

Photo from Fitnesssafaris.com

* The “great” ocean monster: Everyday, Cape fur seals and penguins venture into the ocean for play and snacking. Sometimes they return to land, other times they don’t. And many times when they don’t return, it is safe to assume that they had an encounter with the great white shark—one of the ocean’s deadliest predators. With an intimidating jaw line riddled with razor-sharp teeth, the great white shark is a heart-stopping sight—literally.

With strict preservation laws on great white sharks, Gansbaai on Africa’s coastline is arguably the world’s best place to observe these exceptional creatures in their natural feeding grounds. One of the most popular places to observe the great white shark in Gansbaai is in the channel between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock—justifiably referred to as shark alley.

Quick great white shark fact: Great whites can sense one small drop of blood from over a mile away.

* The black plague: As the fastest and longest venomous snake in Africa, the black mamba is arguably the world’s most deadly snake and has been the focal point for many exaggerated African legends. When it displays its blackish-blue gapping mouth it’s time to run as quickly as possible because one bite of this highly-venomous snake means death.

Quick black mamba fact: Left untreated, the black mamba’s venom has a fatality rate of 100%.

Image taken by Mark Homann

The Greater Kudu, by Mark Homann Professional Guide

The Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is a most spectacular antelope found in woodland habitats of Southern and Eastern Africa. The larger males have two and a half impressive horns (twists) that, when fully formed, can be as long as three feet. The females lack the horns of males but are equally impressive in their beauty.

Image taken by Mark Homann

Mature males tend to be more solitary and will often fight one another by locking their horns together. I once witnessed two males that had locked their horns together and could not pull apart. Their struggle sadly led them to exhaustion and their untimely demise. Large males, such as the ones I witnessed, can weigh close to 600 pounds—which made it extremely difficult to separate the two greater kudu after they had died.

Males leave the females to join other young males and form bachelor groups of up to as many as eight individuals. The dominant bull in an area will join up with female herds when the cows start ovulating around May—depending on the area in which they live.

A cowherd can average anywhere from five to eight individuals, but can be substantially higher at times. When these females calve, they will hide their offspring for the first two weeks while they feed nearby, until the young animals are strong enough to move with the herd. Young animals have little to no scent and can lie motionless for hours, avoiding detection from Africa’s many predators.

Kudu have a number of larger predators to defend against, such as the lion, hyena, and wild dog.

I have seen leopards kill female kudus a number of times, which is a very impressive feat for a leopard, seeing as the female kudu weighs 400 pounds and a leopard weighs about 130 pounds.

Africa safari tours

The kudu’s most effective lines of defense are their senses, stealth, and the soft white lines on their coats that help to break their silhouette. As browsers, kudus stick to the woodlands, coming out into the open to occasionally drink, and feed on herbs found in open grasslands. It is important to their survival that they stay together as a herd. To help them stay in packs when they’re running through dense foliage, they’ll lift up their tails to expose the white fur underneath. Because kudu can only see in shades of black and white, the white tail stands out and helps them to stick together.

Kudu have a habit of feeding into the wind. Not only does this allow them to smell any danger ahead of them, but it also enables them to stay ahead of the tannins produced by the trees that they are feeding on. Trees produce tannins in their leaves when disturbed, in order to stop animals from over feeding on them. And it is thought that the trees pass pheromones to other trees downwind of them as a warning of the browsing animals’ presence.

Image taken from National Geographic website

Standing 4.5 ft. tall and 8 ft. in length, and weighing in anywhere from 330 – 550 lbs., the regal wildebeest is a fascinating creature to see on an African safari tour. Never still, the wildebeest is always traveling with millions of its comrades—which include millions of other wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle—in search of fresh grass and pools of drinking water. This constant movement to follow the rains is referred to as The Great Migration, which is a looped path the wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle take around the Serengeti.

Image taken from Discovery Channel website

Interesting Wildebeest Facts:

• If you’re ever in front of a horned, barrel-chested wildebeest, it might behoove you to step aside. These powerful creatures can reach speeds up to 40 miles per hour over a short distance.
• During the months of May and June, female wildebeests will breed, and an estimated 80 percent of those females will give birth the following year to almost half-a-million calves.
• Wildebeest have an average lifespan of 20 years in the wild.
• With an untidy unibrow, the wildebeest is not the most attractive animal to witness on an African safari tour. Their nappy main—which extends from the shoulder blades, all the way down its forehead—and beard, and menacing horns, has earned the Wildebeest its name from the Afrikaans, which translates to “wild beast.” There is, however, one aspect of the wildebeest that is truly beautiful, and that is the silver-blue glisten to their hide.
• Good thing there are millions of wildebeest—they’re a main food source for predators across the eastern, southern, and central regions of Africa. From lions to hyenas and cheetahs to wild dogs, wildebeests provide a meaty source of protein and nutrients for the lurking predators of the Serengeti.
• Both male wildebeest and female wildebeest grow horns. A male’s horns can grow up to 32 inches in length.
• Bachelor herds are individual wildebeest herds that consist of wildebeest that range in age from 1 – 4 years-old.
• As herbivores, the wildebeest primarily eats grasses and shrubs and grazes both day and night.
• The wildebeest is a form of antelope and there are two species: the blue and the black wildebeest. The more common of the two is the blue wildebeest, which is seen in The Great Migration. The black wildebeest, on-the-other-hand, is nearly extinct.

What African animal do you want to learn about? Let us know in our comments section and we’ll feature a spotlight on that animal in our blog.

• In Ancient Egypt dung beetles, or scarabs, were worshiped.
• Egyptians believed that the scarab was a god that rolled the sun across the sky and buried it each evening.
• The sun emerged the next morning born anew.

Dung Beetle Facts

• Insects part of the Scarabaeoidea family.
• Feed partly or entirely on feces.
• 3 dung beetle types: rollers (roll balls), tunnelers (bury dung where they find it) and dwellers (live in manure).
• Possess super powerful front legs that can roll up to 50 times their own weight!
• Have been around for over 50 million years.
• There are over 7000 dung beetle species worldwide.

Dung Balls?

• Dung beetles remove dung from cows/wild animals and form dung balls.
• They have a very funny way of carrying around their “treasured prize”: heads down and bottoms up!
• Dung balls are the centerpiece of their new homes.
• Once they’ve picked the right spot, the beetles dig a hole to burry the ball.
• The female then lays her eggs in the new burrow.
• When the eggs hatch, they feed on the dung and renew the whole cycle.

Vital Function

• The abundance of dung beetles can be correlated with the abundance of flies. In other words, more dung beetles = less flies.
• The recycling of the dung aerates the soil and the nutrients in the dung ball nourish the Earth.
• Ultimately, this improves the nutrient cycle, betters the soil structure and encourages forage growth.

Just for Fun

Enjoy this fun dung beetle video by Rich Laburn (thanks man, you’re a champ ). And take a good look at the animal’s technique to know where it’s going…it rolls its ball, stops and climbs to the top to check its surroundings!