Kenya’s Animals
African Lion
Lions are perhaps one of the first animals that come to mind when thinking of the Savanna. Featured famously in movies like the Lion King, these wild-maned animals are the rulers of the Savanna and the predators at the top of the food chain. With a life span of 10-15 years they live on a carnivorous diet. They feast on large animals like buffalos, warthogs, wildebeest, zebras, and even giraffes.
To counter the Savannas hot weather they spend their leisure time under the shade of trees and in fact are generally nocturnal hunters for their preference for cooler temperatures.
African Elephant
These friendly giants can come to weigh around 13,000 pounds!!! They live 60-70 years under safe conditions on a mainly vegetarian diet of around 350 lbs of plants and vegetation per day.
Their unique features, big ears and trunks allow them to better survive the Savanna conditions. They use their ears to help shade them from the sun and use their trunks to suck up water, misting themselves to cool off.
They’re gentle and calm nature makes them one of the few animals you can actually pet. While it’s important to take precautions, a visit to the African Savanna will get you one step closer to any elephant petting dream.
Plains Zebra
An interesting fact about these Zebras is that they sleep standing up. They are also another clear example of how animals have evolved over time to fit their environment and have specific adaptations that allow them to thrive in their environment. Their detailed stripes allow them to better camouflage themselves as prey from predators as well as helping dissipate about 70% of the heat.
Their natural lifespan of 20 years is doubled in captivity. However in the wild they dedicate the majority of their lives, 2/3 a day, grazing fields.
Cheetah
Cheetahs are the fastest animal on Earth, able to run up to 70 mph. These carnivorous animals sit near the top of the food chain and prey on small antelopes, gazelles, birds, rabbits, and warthogs. They have bodies designed for hunting, not only are they incredibly fast but have sharp claws and teeth that allow them to dig into the animals they hunt.
Giraffe
Giraffes are known for their long necks often reaching 16-19 ft tall. Their long necks allow them to reach tall trees from which they survive off of. To survive the hot temperatures and limited rain they rely on tree leaves for dew and in fact spend the majority of their day (16-20 hrs) eating up to 75lbs of food daily. Another hidden feature of theirs is their 18-inch long tongues which allows them to better reach and grab leaves. You might also be surprised to know they sleep for only 30-40 minutes per day in the wild!!