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BE WELCOMED BY THE WILDLIFE:
Exploring the Serengeti Fauna
The Serengeti offers fascinating wildlife viewing throughout the year. June and July are the best months for seeing the annual migration of wildebeest and February is the best month for the wildebeest calving. Lions, giraffes, and elephants are everywhere. The dry months from June to October offer the best general game viewing. Here are some common animals that you will see i the Serengeti:
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ELEPHANT
The elephants in the Serengeti are the largest land animals and can weigh as much as 5000 kg. When they search for food, they can push down full grown trees with their body, or even use their trunk for picking up small seeds or nuts. They also use their trunk for drinking and spraying water on themselves for cooling down. They have giant ears to fan themselves and they have two tusks growing out from the head for protection from predators. Elephants can go several days without water, although they will drink every day if they can find water. They travel in herds which help protect them from predators (Sharam and Estes).
The elephants in the Serengeti are the largest land animals and can weigh as much as 5000 kg. When they search for food, they can push down full grown trees with their body, or even use their trunk for picking up small seeds or nuts. They also use their trunk for drinking and spraying water on themselves for cooling down. They have giant ears to fan themselves and they have two tusks growing out from the head for protection from predators. Elephants can go several days without water, although they will drink every day if they can find water. They travel in herds which help protect them from predators (Sharam and Estes).
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LION
The lion is known as Africa’s largest carnivore and the only known social cat. Lions are very powerful and one of the largest predators in the Savanna. They hunt many other animals in the Serengeti. They have a thick mane of brown or black hair that surrounds the neck and head. Lions are very lazy spending most of their day sleeping. Female lions hunt 80-90% of the time, while the males look out in the territory for attackers (Janssen).
The lion is known as Africa’s largest carnivore and the only known social cat. Lions are very powerful and one of the largest predators in the Savanna. They hunt many other animals in the Serengeti. They have a thick mane of brown or black hair that surrounds the neck and head. Lions are very lazy spending most of their day sleeping. Female lions hunt 80-90% of the time, while the males look out in the territory for attackers (Janssen).
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BUFFALO
Savanna buffaloes in the Serengeti are cape buffalos. They dark gray or dark brown in color and are large, heavy cow-like animals. Their powerful leg muscles help them run up to 37 mph, but they do not have long endurance. The savanna buffalo's diet is mostly grass. Buffalos spend more time feeding at night than during the day. Their dark color keeps them from being easily seen by predators in the night.They have a poor ability to regulate body temperature so, they remain in the shade for long periods of time in the heat of the day or wallow in mud (Janssen).
Savanna buffaloes in the Serengeti are cape buffalos. They dark gray or dark brown in color and are large, heavy cow-like animals. Their powerful leg muscles help them run up to 37 mph, but they do not have long endurance. The savanna buffalo's diet is mostly grass. Buffalos spend more time feeding at night than during the day. Their dark color keeps them from being easily seen by predators in the night.They have a poor ability to regulate body temperature so, they remain in the shade for long periods of time in the heat of the day or wallow in mud (Janssen).
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WILDEBEEST
Wildebeests have an appearance of like a cross between a cow and a horse. They live in small family herds and they migrate all year in the Serengeti. Their main food source is grasses, they drink daily but go a few days without water. They are prey to lions and hyenas. Wildebeest form large herds and migrate in January and February. They are active in the day and night and they often move in long single columns (Janssen).
Wildebeests have an appearance of like a cross between a cow and a horse. They live in small family herds and they migrate all year in the Serengeti. Their main food source is grasses, they drink daily but go a few days without water. They are prey to lions and hyenas. Wildebeest form large herds and migrate in January and February. They are active in the day and night and they often move in long single columns (Janssen).
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HIPPOPOTAMUS
The hippopotamus are one of the most feared animals. They are very aggressive and need water deep enough to submerge. They feed on the grassland. Hippos have very thick skin, especially over the back and rump, the grayish-brown body. They have no sweat or sebaceous glands, so they rely on water or mud to keep cool. They are social, group-living mammals. If anything gets between a hippo and its refuge , they may be bitten or trampled. Hippos are agile and can climb but they are usually pretty sedentary, so they do not eat much. The main predators of hippos are humans (Janssen).
The hippopotamus are one of the most feared animals. They are very aggressive and need water deep enough to submerge. They feed on the grassland. Hippos have very thick skin, especially over the back and rump, the grayish-brown body. They have no sweat or sebaceous glands, so they rely on water or mud to keep cool. They are social, group-living mammals. If anything gets between a hippo and its refuge , they may be bitten or trampled. Hippos are agile and can climb but they are usually pretty sedentary, so they do not eat much. The main predators of hippos are humans (Janssen).
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RHINOCEROS
Rhinos are solitary and territorial. They are powerful animal, but the population has decreased 90% due to poaching. Their sense of smell and hearing is very good, and they have an extended “vocabulary” of noises. White rhinos live in savannas with water holes, mud wallows and shade trees. The eat grasses, so they are herbivores. When a Rhinoceros attacks, it lowers its head, snorts, gallops up to 30 miles an hour, and gores or strikes powerful blows with its horns. Even though it is huge, it is very agile and can quickly turn in a small space. The rhino has a symbiotic relationship with oxpeckers, also called tick birds. Man is the biggest predator (Janssen).
Rhinos are solitary and territorial. They are powerful animal, but the population has decreased 90% due to poaching. Their sense of smell and hearing is very good, and they have an extended “vocabulary” of noises. White rhinos live in savannas with water holes, mud wallows and shade trees. The eat grasses, so they are herbivores. When a Rhinoceros attacks, it lowers its head, snorts, gallops up to 30 miles an hour, and gores or strikes powerful blows with its horns. Even though it is huge, it is very agile and can quickly turn in a small space. The rhino has a symbiotic relationship with oxpeckers, also called tick birds. Man is the biggest predator (Janssen).
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GIRAFFE
Giraffes are the tallest animal in the Serengeti, with a long neck help that them eat leaves high in the trees. They are herbivores, eating wide-leaf foliage from trees that they search with their long tongue. Giraffes are very sociable and live in open grasslands in loose, open herds, which makes them vulnerable to predators like lions (Koch and Wolf).
Giraffes are the tallest animal in the Serengeti, with a long neck help that them eat leaves high in the trees. They are herbivores, eating wide-leaf foliage from trees that they search with their long tongue. Giraffes are very sociable and live in open grasslands in loose, open herds, which makes them vulnerable to predators like lions (Koch and Wolf).
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VERVET MONKEY
The Vervet Monkey is a light coloured monkey with black face, hands and feet. They eat leaves and young shoots as well as bark, flowers, fruit, bulbs, roots and grass seeds. The sometimes eat insects, grubs, eggs, baby birds and sometimes rodents and hares, so they are omnivores. Vervets rarely drink water.They live in wooded areas along streams, rivers, and lakes. Vervet Monkeys form groups of 6 t0 50 monkeys. They have a diurnal lifestyle, meaning they are active during the day. Vervets rarely go far from the trees, since their predators are many, including leopards, caracals, servals, baboons, large eagles, crocodiles and pythons. They scream when they are in danger (Janssen).
The Vervet Monkey is a light coloured monkey with black face, hands and feet. They eat leaves and young shoots as well as bark, flowers, fruit, bulbs, roots and grass seeds. The sometimes eat insects, grubs, eggs, baby birds and sometimes rodents and hares, so they are omnivores. Vervets rarely drink water.They live in wooded areas along streams, rivers, and lakes. Vervet Monkeys form groups of 6 t0 50 monkeys. They have a diurnal lifestyle, meaning they are active during the day. Vervets rarely go far from the trees, since their predators are many, including leopards, caracals, servals, baboons, large eagles, crocodiles and pythons. They scream when they are in danger (Janssen).