PART TWO - ANIMALS SEEN ON GAME DRIVES

CATS

The Lion is known as the king of beasts; it is Africa’s biggest cat and undisputed number one land predator.  This proud animal was once found throughout the world; today, most are found in sub-Saharan Africa.  There are some 2000 lions in this area, spending most of their time resting between chases.  The rest is crucial – when prey is in sight, lions can hit sprinting speeds of up to 60 mph.  The females do most of the hunting, typically setting up a plan of attack, which is then carried out by the pride.  Lionesses take turns hunting and this collective labor allows them to conserve their energy and survive longer in the bush.  

The male stands up to four feet at the shoulder and weighs up to 530 pounds; he is easily distinguished from the smaller female by his heavy mane. Lions are unique among cats for their highly social behavior; an average pride numbers 10-15 individuals.  Lions have been eliminated from much of their original range; those remaining are in danger from trophy hunters, and if they wander out of protected areas, they are likely to be killed by locals.  One of the Big Five; seen in South Africa.

 

The leopard has a special combination of grace, power and elusiveness; it has long enjoyed a mythical status in Africa folklore for its reputed savagery and cunning.  An adult stands up to 2 ½ feet and weighs up to 200 pounds.  It is often confused with the cheetah, but the leopard is much more powerfully built, its spots have a distinct rosette pattern, and it lacks the cheetah’s striking ‘tear’ marks on its cheeks. Leopards are solitary, nocturnal and secretive; they hunt by stealth and use any available cover to creep as close as possible to their intended prey. 

Leopards can be extremely hard to spot on safari – primarily because they are nocturnal and spend the daylight hours resting in tall trees or dense bush.  Plus, they rarely stay in one area for more than a few days.  They are just about as fast as lions, and they definitely have the advantage if the terrain changes.  They can leap as far as 20 feet in a single bound, so deep ravines and narrow rivers won’t slow their hot pursuit.  They are also famous for tree-climbing, sometimes with prey dangling from their jaws.   This is to protect their lunch from lions or hyenas, who can easily take prey away from the leopard.    One of the Big Five; seen in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.

The cheetah is built entirely for speed and is – in short bursts – the world’s fastest mammal.  It can reach speeds of 70 mph; it has slender, muscular legs and special pads on its feet for traction.  Similar in size to a leopard, it differs by having smaller, solid spots and distinct ‘tear’ markings on its face.  It is built more like a greyhound than a cat and has non-retractable claws (visible in its tracks). 

  

The cheetah has speed, but not great strength; it is vulnerable to more robust competitors, including lions, leopards, hyenas and pushy vultures.  Cheetahs are generally solitary creatures; sadly, this cat is one of the most endangered animals, due to shrinking habitat, loss of prey and disease.  One of the Big Two; seen in South Africa.

 

DOGS

The African wild dog, sometimes known as the African painted hunting dog, is one of Africa’s most endangered mammals.  For years, this creature was labelled as a wanton killer and eliminated as vermin, even in parks.  This ignorance has largely been defeated, but the damage has been done; today fewer than 3,000 remain on the continent. It is easily identified by its mottled coat, Mickey Mouse ears, and white tipped tail.  It lives in small packs of about 15 and has an elaborate system of vocalization, including barks, howls, and whines.  They are efficient, intelligent and quick hunters.  One of the Big Two; seen in Botswana.

The black-backed jackal is the more common of the two jackal species in southern Africa.  It has a sandy to reddish coat, a dark ‘saddle’ across its back, and a dark-tipped tail.  They eat just about anything and are adept at scavenging from beneath the noses of larger predators.  They are notorious among farmers for their ability to evade any trap and known for their wolf-like howling at night.  Seen in Botswana.

The side-striped jackal is a bit larger than the black-backed and overall grayer in appearance, with a white-tipped tail, more pointed ears and a pale stripe along each flank.  It is more common in areas with higher rainfall; it is more nocturnal, less vocal and more solitary.  Its diet includes large quantities of fruit and rodents.  Seen in Zambia.

HYENAS

Hyenas live in groups called clans, but they make their homes in dens.  They mark their territory with gland secretions or droppings.  Both a strategic hunter and an opportunist, hyenas will feed on their kill as well as that of others.  Hyenas scavenging alone keep in contact with whooping calls, and gatherings around a kill generate a chorus of ghoulish cackling.  Despite its seemingly harmless nature, it is both aggressive and dangerous.  African folklore links the hyena with witchcraft and legends, which have been expanded in The Lion King.

The spotted hyena is the largest of the hyena family, standing up to 3 feet at the shoulder, with the larger female weighing up to 150 pounds.  It is recognized by its rounded ears, sloping gait, long neck and powerful shoulders.  This versatile, sociable predator is an accomplished scavenger, as well as an efficient hunter, using teamwork to overcome large prey.  One of the Big Three; this female was seen in South Africa, resting near the entrance to her den.   

MONGOOSES

There are 14 species of mongoose in southern Africa, including several with very sophisticated social systems.  A group of mongooses is called a mob; we saw several different species, including a colony of dwarf mongoose that had taken over a termite mound.  

The banded mongoose is medium-sized and grayish-brown, with a pattern of dark bands along its back.  It is often found near water, where troops of 40 may be seen by day – often foraging tamely around camps and lodges.  They also show great cooperation in defending the troop.  Seen in South Africa, near our camp.

The dwarf mongoose is the smallest carnivore in Africa.  They are curious and sociable, living in groups ranging from 8 to 30 individuals called a pack or troop. You will often find these energetic animals playing and grooming one another or searching for tasty insects to eat.  Birds of prey and snakes are the primary predators of the dwarf mongoose.   Seen in Zimbabwe and Botswana.

The slender mongoose, or black-tailed mongoose, eats rodents, lizards and snakes.  It is small, brown and slim and identified by its habit of arching its long black tail over its head as it dashes for cover. They live in open woodland and make their homes on hollow trees or termite hills.  Seen in South Africa, in our camp.

The yellow mongoose is usually seen alone by day, although it lives in loose colonies, often sharing burrows with other critters.  It typically has a yellowish fawn coat and always holds its tail horizontally.  Seen in Botswana.

ELEPHANTS

The African Elephant was once the undisputed monarch of the African savannah.  The largest of all land animals, they once roamed the continent by the millions.  Today, there are about 500,000 in southern and eastern Africa, and nearly gone from central and western Africa.   Standing 13 feet tall and weighing in at 7 tons, almost no predators were brave enough to take them on.   Among elephants, the matriarch – the oldest and biggest female - is in charge.  The grand old dame of each family determines where her female offspring and their offspring will eat, drink and rest.  Male elephants only enjoy the comfort of family until age 12; after that, they experience a solitary existence except when they tangle with other males. 

 

 

Almost every part of this animal is unique.  The trunk functions as the world’s longest nose and as a fifth limb that is both nimble and strong.  Its tusks are out-sized incisors that serve as tools for digging up roots and splitting open tree trunks; they can also function as lethal weapons.  The huge ears provide acute hearing, but also help keep the elephant cool by circulating its entire blood supply through a fine network of blood vessels at the surface.  It wrinkled skin traps mud that stays moist, evaporates slowly and helps with cooling.  Its legs look like columns, but elephants can move quite fast when the need arises.  Its huge round feet have spongy soles, enabling the elephant to move almost silently even on a crunchy carpet of leaves. 

Elephants eat anything vegetable and they eat a lot of it – over 300 pounds a day for a large male.  Over half their time, both day and night, is spent feeding.  Not much escapes a hungry elephant – roots and tubers, grass, leaves, seed pods, bark and juicy inner pulp of trees.  This mountain of food needs washing down and elephants gather daily to drink; adults may down over 50 gallons in a single session.   They also bathe, wallow and play; they are strong swimmers, readily crossing rivers with their trunks aloft like snorkels. 

 

 

Elephant society is matriarchal.  A breeding heard is led by a dominant female, together with her offspring and related females with their youngsters.  Adult bulls join the herd when the cows are ready to breed, but otherwise hang out in smaller bachelor groups.  The gestation period for elephants is 22 months; a single calf is born, weighing about 260 pounds.  Calves require patient instruction from their mother and elder siblings. 

 

 

Elephants have a greater impact on their own landscape than any other mammal except man.  By destroying trees, they open up woodland into grassland.  During droughts, big herds wreak havoc on trees, leaving only smashed splintered logs.  While seemingly laying waste to their environment, they also enrich, fertilize, distribute seeds, and provide rich pickings for foragers. 

The dilemmas of elephant conservation are well known.  Hundreds of years of slaughter for ivory peaked in the 1970s and 80s when poaching ran rampant across the continent, culminating in the 1989 international ban on the ivory trade.  Several southern African nations opposed the ban, arguing that elephants had to pay their way and pointing out that successfully protected elephant populations have reached unsustainable levels.  The debate continues, as does poaching, regional instability and increasing human demand for land.  

We were fortunate to see many elephants on this trip, including several breeding herds with babies.  We were surprised at how quietly elephants can move - if they are not ripping branches off trees - they make almost no sound as they pad through the bush.  Also surprising was how hard it can be to spot elephants - big as they are, it is amazing how they can disappear into the bush.  Along the same lines, we often surprised elephants as we rode along in the jeep - the road ahead would seem clear and then, boom, there's an elephant giving us the evil eye.  Whenever this happened, the driver would stop immediately and we would sit quietly waiting for the elephant to decide whether to wipe us out or just to move on.  Thankfully, they all moved along, but not without some head-shaking, snorting, trumpeting and heart-stopping looks.   One of the Big Five; seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

HOOFED MAMMALS

RHINOCEROS

The black rhinoceros weighs about a ton or so, and stands about 5 feet.  They’re not particularly black, but diagnostic features include a hooked upper lip, a smaller head – generally held up, a slighter build, and a distinct saddle to the back.  These creatures are quite agile and can reach 35 mph at full tilt.  Black rhinos have a reputation for bad tempered aggression; in fact, they are timid and curious.  With acute smell and hearing, but poor eyesight, they are quick to perceive a threat but slow to identify it; they sometimes opt for a blind charge as the best form of defense.   

The black rhino is seriously endangered; only about 4,000 remain on the entire continent.  This animal was common across Africa for much of the 20^th century, and white trophy hunters slaughtered thousands without a thought.  Since the 1960s, their decline has accelerated, mainly due to the Asian market for rhino horns.  Rhino wars have claimed the lives of many rangers and poachers, but nothing has curbed the demand.  Many black rhinos now remain only in secure, fenced areas, which does not bode well for the free-ranging future of this animal. The black rhino is one of the Big Five; not found on this trip.

The white rhinoceros is the world’s second biggest land mammals (after elephants); it is also known as the square-lipped rhino, a better descriptor since it certainly is not white.  This rhino is the tank of the bush – 6 feet tall and four massive tons of grey flesh, surmounted by two lethal horns (composed of compressed hair-like keratin).  The white rhino is much bigger than the black rhino, has distinct hump on the neck and a fin-like ridge on its spine.  They are said to be a bit more sociable and even-tempered than their notorious relative.  

 

Southern Africa is home to the world’s largest white, or square-lipped, rhino population, an impressive fact considering that the species was extinct in South Africa before the protected area was established.  The southern subspecies found here has made a dramatic comeback, but its survival remains under serious threat from poaching.    The white rhino is one of the Special Five; seen in South Africa.

HIPPOPOTAMUS

The hippo is the fattest of Africa’s giants; a mature bull can weigh over two tons, while the female is about 25% smaller.  Their extraordinary shape reflects their amphibious lifestyle of lounging all day in water, where the bulk provides buoyancy, then feeding by night on land where short study legs carry it efficiently between grazing grounds.  The huge mouth houses enormous teeth, which are useless for feeding but lethal as fighting weapons – the aggressive hippo has gained a reputation as the most dangerous mammal in Africa. 

  

By supporting themselves in water, hippos can keep cool and protect their sensitive skin from the sun.  They can stay underwater for up to six minutes, and their tiny eyes, ears and nostrils perched on top of the head enable them to breathe, see and hear while almost completely submerged.  On land, despite their bulk, hippos can move alarmingly fast when pressed. 

 

Poaching is a serious threat to hippos as their ivory tusks are still hunted, like the elephants, to sell on the black market.  One of the Special Five; seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

 

WILD PIGS

The common warthog is a familiar character, rooting around undeterred by the presence of people.  It has made a name for itself as the world’s ugliest animal.  Its delicate hindquarters are dwarfed by its huge head, adorned with warty protrusions and nasty tusks.   The warthog is almost hairless, except for a coarse mane along its neck and shoulders.  Its grey-brown skin takes its color from the mud in which it wallows frequently.  One of the Ugly Five; seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

GIRAFFE

The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world and has the biggest heart of any land mammal.  Males may reach 16 feet tall and weigh over 2600 pounds; females are noticeably smaller.  Both genders have horns, but the male’s horns are thicker and worn smooth by years of fighting. The complex pattern of dark blotches is unique to each individual and is excellent camouflage in the dappled light of the open woodland where they browse. 

Giraffes spend 15-20 hours a day feeding.  They browse from the crowns of trees without competition, and they are especially fond of acacia trees.   Giraffes can eat as much as 65 pounds of acacia leaves and twigs daily.  Over time, the acacia tree has developed defense mechanisms to prevent giraffes from munching on them unabated.  Their first line of defense is their wicked thorns; some species grow thorns that are as long as 3-4 inches, and sharp as a knife.  Giraffes counter this by way of their incredible tongues - about 18 inches long and highly prehensile. This allows the animal to successfully negotiate the bigger thorns and pull the leaves from the branch.  

But … acacia trees have developed a further defense – the release of tannins, chemical compounds that taste awful (to giraffes at least) and inhibit digestion.  What’s even more amazing is that acacia trees within 50 yards react to the release of the tannin by their neighbor and jump on the bandwagon by emitting their own. The simultaneous tannin release by all nearby acacias essentially thwarts the greedy giraffe, who must now travel upwind to trees that have not yet ‘caught wind’ of its insatiable appetite.

Giraffes are social creatures that live in loose herds, with young often let alone during the day while their mothers go off to feed.  This practice makes the young particularly vulnerable to predators; only one-quarter of infant giraffes survive their first year.  Highly sought after for its meat and hide, the giraffe is also vulnerable to poaching. 

The Southern giraffe is the species found in southern Africa.  Its pattern extends all the way down its legs and is made up of large, uneven and notched spots on a background that ranges from white/cream to tan-colored.  There are two sub-species, Angolan and South African; Research is ongoing to determine if these two are really different.   One of the Special Five; seen in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa.   

ZEBRAS

The zebra is the quintessential African animal; the fat little horse in striped pajamas at the end of every child’s alphabet.  Like all horses, they bear their weight on the middle digit of each foot, giving them an energy-efficient gait and a distinctive track.  Zebras are exclusively grazers and are highly sociable.  

Burchell’s zebra, also known as the plains zebra, is about 4 ½ feet tall and weighs 650-750 pounds.  This stocky animal always seems healthy, even when other animals are suffering during droughts; the zebra’s plumpness can partly be explained by the fermenting action of bacteria in its gut – it’s bloated!  The zebra’s pattern of stripes varies between regions and individuals, but the stripes are always widest at the rear, with pale ‘shadow’ stripes visible between them.  The stripes are not very effective as camouflage against the dusty plain; a more likely theory is that the confusion of stripes baffles a charging predator trying to select a target from the herd. 

 

 

Zebras live in small family groups, each comprising a stallion with mare and foals, while young males form separate bachelor herds.  Each group obeys a strict pecking order as it files along well-trodden paths, heads nodding and tails swishing.  Larger herds forms during migration, sometimes numbering in the thousands.   One of the Special Five; seen in Botswana and South Africa.

AFRICAN BUFFALO

The African buffalo, or Cape buffalo, is considered by many to be the most dangerous of the Big Five because of its unpredictability and speed.  This is a much heftier and more powerful beast than the Asian water buffalo or the North American bison.  Herds, consisting mainly of females and their offspring, generally number around a few hundred. 

Males leave the herd for dry season every year, separated into bachelor gangs.  The bulls come back for mating season until they become too old and are then relegated to the periphery of the herd.  These lone old males are called dagha (mud) boys, because they spend much of their days in mud wallows and are usually coated with the stuff.  They may seem lethargic, but these old guys can turn on a dime and run like lightning. 

 

A large bull may weigh over 1700 pounds and stand over 4 ½ feet at the shoulder, with cows being about 25% smaller.  Both sexes have formidable curved horns; those of a bull may measure over 3 feet along the curve.  It has a powerful body, stocky legs, and large, fringed ears hanging low beneath the horns. Buffalo are highly gregarious and live in herds of hundred or even thousands.  One of the Big Five; seen in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. 

 

ANTELOPE

Antelope are ruminants (like the buffalo), with 33 different species living in southern Africa. All males have horns; females have horns in only about half of the species.   This group has impressive diversity with regard to size, ranging from the 2200-pound eland to the 9-pound blue duiker. They also have a variety of lifestyles to suit all habitats, from nomadic grazers, such as the wildebeest, to sedentary browsers such as the klipspringer, who occupy small territories in monogamous pairs.  Many of the species exhibit complex breeding behaviors, including scent-marking and ritual fights or displays among males.  Note that antelope have horns (permanent) and deer have antlers (shed  every year).

The Eland is the biggest of all antelopes; the male eland is twice as big as any other antelope.  Despite their size, eland can jump a 6-foot fence with ease.  They are tawny in color and have straight horns with a single twist.  Both sexes have horns.   Seen in Botswana and South Africa.

The Greater Kudu has a brownish-gray coat with vertical white stripes, making them hard to spot in dappled sunlight coming through the trees of their usual habitat.  Theodore Roosevelt once described greater kudu as the handsomest of game animals.  Bulls are much larger than the cows, outweighing them by up to 220 pounds.  Males (only) have big spiral horns, the longest of any antelope.  One of the Big Four; seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

The Bushbuck is the smallest of the spiral-horned antelopes.  Only males have short, sharp horns.  Both sexes have white markings on face, chest, throat and top of foreleg and white spots on rear and white stripes across back.  They stick to cover in wooded areas and can be hard to spot.  Seen in Zambia.

The Nyala is halfway between kudu and bushbuck in size.  It has a shaggy charcoal gray coat with reddish knee-length stockings, a white crest along its spine, whitish stripes on sides, and yellow-tipped horns on males.  The female has a sleek chestnut-colored coat, but both sexes have white stripes, a bushy tail and a white mark between the eyes. One of the Big Four; seen in South Africa in our camp – every day, all day.

 

The Sable Antelope is an impressive creature.  Its jet-black upperparts are a bold contrast with its white belly and white-striped face.  Its powerful neck is trimmed with a stiff black mane.  Both sexes carry big, ridged horns.  Trophy hunting has eradicated the sable from much of its former range.  One of the Big Four; seen in Botswana, along Chobe River.

The Blue wildebeest (or gnu) looks a bit like a small lightweight buffalo.  It has a dark coat, heavy forequarters and short cow-like horns; black mane and beard; high-set eyes.  It is truly an odd-looking creature with its large head and front end, curved horns, and slender body and rear.  Legend says that it was made of leftover parts at creation.  We missed the chance to see an implausibility (group) of wildebeest; all of our sightings were of one or two animals only.  One of the Ugly Five; seen in Botswana and South Africa.

The Tsessebe has a reputation as the fastest of all antelopes.  They are found in woodland savannah, generally in small groups and often with other grazers.  Tsessebe are close kin to the East African topi.    Seen in Botswana in Okavango Delta.

The Waterbuck is a large, thickset antelope with a shaggy gray-brown coat, unmarked except for a striking white ring around the rump and white marks around the eyes and mouth.  They are seldom found far from water.  Only males have horns.  Seen in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa.

 

The Red lechwe is common in the Okavango and Chobe wetlands, grazing at the water’s edge on semi-aquatic grass.  This medium-sized antelope is similar to the smaller impala, but the lechwe is nearly twice as heavy and has a distinctive high-rumped profile.  Both sexes have a uniform chestnut coat with white underparts and a black blaze down each leg.  Seen in Botswana, Okavanga Delta.

The Puku is slightly smaller than the red lechwe, whose habitat it shares.  It has a pale, unmarked coat and shorter horns.  Puku often graze near water.  Seen in Zambia.

The Impala is one of the most populous animals in the African bush; it is found in grasslands and wooded areas, usually near water.   The impala is slim and elegant; graceful lyrate horns occur only in males.  Coat is reddish brown, with whitish color on the belly, and white hair inside the ears, over each eye and on the chin, throat and rear.  

The impala is a favorite prey animal for leopard, cheetahs and wild dogs.  Males are at high risk during breeding time:  they are so preoccupied with females, they don’t eat, and they get exhausted - making for easy prey.   Seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

 

The Common Duiker, also known as the Gray Duiker is about the size of a small dog.  It has a slightly rounded back, a uniform gray-brown coat with black streak down the nose and hairy tuft on crown.  Males have short, straight horns.  Seen in South Africa.

The Steenbok is about the same size as the duiker, but it is lighter in build, with a straight-backed profile.  Its shiny rufous-fawn coat has white underparts, and it has a face like Bambi.  Only the males have horns.  Seen in Botswana and South Africa. 

 

PRIMATES

Most primates, with their dexterous hands, agile limbs and fondness for fruit, evolved for a life in the trees.  Being somewhat short of trees, southern Africa does not have the wealth of species found further north in the continent.  There are six species (not counting humans):  three monkeys (with the Chacma baboon and vervet monkey the most common) and three bush babies (which may sometimes be seen at night).

The Chacma baboon is by far the largest non-human primate in the region.  It has coarse gray-brown fur, a long dog-like muzzle, deep-set eyes and a distinct kink in its tail.  Big males can weigh up to   pounds, twice the size of females, and with their powerful arms are massive canine teeth can look quite intimidating. 

Baboons have a diurnal, semi-terrestrial lifestyle, including an omnivorous diet and a high hierarchical social structure.  Baboons rely on social skills for survival, thus much of their time is spent negotiating the delicate politics of the troop.  Alliances are formed by currying favor, including strategic use of childcare and hours of devoted grooming, but squabbles break out when rules are broken. 

 

Troops range in size from fewer than 30 to more than 100 individuals.  Older males hold the ultimate authority and direct the troop’s movements and defend it from enemies.  Sentries are kept posted and give a characteristic bark when danger is spotted.  One of the Ugly Five; seen in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa.

The Vervet monkey is much smaller and longer-tailed than a baboon.  The larger male weighs up to 13 pounds and measures 40-47 inches in length, over half of which is tail.  Both sexes have grayish upperparts and a black face frame with white.  Vervets are equally at home on the ground or in trees.  Troops of 10 or more establish a home range near abundant food and water, where they forage for plant and invertebrate food. 

A vervet monkey troop contains an even balance of males and females of all ages, within a strict dominance hierarchy; bonds are maintained by constant grooming and communication.  Vervets have evolved a warning language that distinguishes between different types of threats.   Seen in Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

 

SMALL MAMMALS

The Aardvark or antbear actually eats termites.  It has a long snout and almost naked skin; hump-backed body, short legs and a thick tail.  Its long rabbit ears are distinctive, as were its holes and its footprints around our tent.   One of the Big Three; seen in Botswana – tracks only.

The Hydrax, also known as the dassie, is an ancient mammal that has changed little in the last 40 million years.  It looks like a big, fat guinea pig, but is closely related to elephant.  Hydrax live in small colonies in rocky terrain.  Seen in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

 

The African Porcupine is big enough to resent the label of ‘small mammal.’  Up to 3 feet long and 40+ pounds in weight, it is by far the largest rodent on the continent.  It trundles around beneath a quivering battery of spines – like a bush on legs.  A bush to be avoided.  Seen by some of our group in South Africa, but we only saw his quills.  One of the Big Three.

The Scrub Hare is widespread throughout southern Africa.  It has long ears and powerful hind legs.  Hares live in shallow scraps (not burrows) by day and graze by night.  We saw them on night drives, when they seem to get confused by the jeep headlights.  Seen in Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. 

The Tree Squirrel is a woodland species, foraging by day in small parties, searching for plants and invertebrates.  At night tree squirrels roost together in tree holes.  Seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

SEA MAMMALS

The Cape Fur Seal is one of the eared seals or sea lions; they have visible ears and can move well on land using flippers.  The Cape fur seal is the only species indigenous to southern Africa, where there are about 25 colonies, mostly on west coast where there are lots of fish.  Almost exterminated for skin and meat; now mostly recovered.  Males weigh 440-770 pounds, some 3-4 times bigger than females.  Seen in South Africa, Cape Peninsula.

REPTILES

The Nile Crocodile found in Africa’s rivers, averages about 16 feet long and weighs about 700 pounds.  Big males can reach 16 feet in length and weigh 2000 pounds; they may live up to 100 years.  Crocodiles eat mainly fish, but will eat almost anything, including a baby hippo or a human. Although fearsome in appearance and hunting reputation, they are very sensitive with their young, carefully guarding their nests until their babies are born.  Their numbers have been seriously affected by poachers, who seek their skins to sell to designer shoe makers.   One of the Dangerous Six; seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

 

 

The Black-lined Plated Lizard is a big, diurnal lizard with a long tail, large head plates, and a lateral fold of skin along each flank.  Insects are its main food.  Pictured here with an African striped skink.  Seen in Zimbabwe.

The Nile Monitor, or water monitor, can reach a length of over 6 feet, over half of which is tail.  This giant lizard occurs in aquatic habitats, where it is seen basking in the sun or foraging at the water’s edge or swimming powerfully across the water.  Seen in Zambia and Botswana.

The Marsh Terrapin is widespread in pans, marshes and slow-moving rivers.  They are voracious predators and will even ambush drinking doves.  Seen in Zambia

AMPHIBIANS

The Angolan Reed Frog lives in marshy areas, using the adhesive suckers on its fingers and toes to climb up any surface.  Reed frogs mostly hide in damp places by day and come out after dark to feed on invertebrates.  Seen in Botswana, in Okavango Delta.

BIRDS

Sea Birds and Water Birds


The African penguin, also known at the jackass penguin, is Africa’s only endemic penguin.  Each pair occupies a burrow among rocks or dug into guano.  The dot-like markings on its chest are unique to each individual members of the smallest penguin species.  The African penguin is highly endangered; their numbers have declined by 60 percent in the last 28 years.   Seen in South Africa, Cape Peninsula.  

 

The Great White Pelican, measuring 6 feet in length and weighing up to 33 pounds, is a contender for the title of world’s largest flying bird.  The Pink-Backed Pelican is smaller and grayer.  These pelicans were seen feeding cooperatively, corralling fish into the shallows to scoop them up in their huge bills.   Seen in Botswana, along the Chobe River. 

 

 

The White-Breasted Cormorant is a dark, long-necked bird that often perches with its wing spread wide.  This master fisherman is readily identified by its white underparts.  Seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

The African Darter, also known as the Red Anhinga, is commonly known as the snake bird.  It has a dagger-like bill to impale fish.  Seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana.

The Goliath Heron, standing four and a half feet high, is the largest heron in the world.  It strikes a stately pose as it hunts in the shallows.   Seen in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The Wattled Crane is Africa’s rarest crane and one of its most elegant birds.  This gray-and-white bird can reach up to 5 feet tall, and while mating, nests in pairs along the shallow wetlands of large rivers.  They sometimes wander onto farmlands where they are vulnerable to attack or poisoning by farmers.  It is on South Africa’s critically endangered list.  Seen in Botswana, near the Chobe River.

Storks are large, long-legged and long-billed wading birds.  The Yellow-Billed Stork lives along rivers and lakes, where is wades with its bill held open below the surface, pausing to stir up the mud with its feet.  The African Open-Billed Stork has a bill that is perfectly adapted for cracking open mollusk shells. It is seen along creeks and marshes.  The Marabou Stork, also known as the ‘Undertaker,’ is a big bird with a naked head and neck and a black cloak-like mantle and wings.  It is seen scavenging around animal kills or catching fish in shallow water.  The Marabou Stork is one of the Ugly Five.  The Saddle-Billed Stork has a bright yellow ‘saddle’ across its black and red bill.  It’s not very common, but it sure stands out!  The Saddle-billed Stork is one of the Big Six.  Seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana.

 

Ibises are slightly smaller than storks and use their long, curved bills to probe for invertebrates.  The Sacred Ibis, one revered but now extinct in Egypt, is mostly white with a naked black head and neck.  The Hadeda Ibis often feeds in open fields; it is named for its distinctive laughing call.  The smaller Glossy Ibis appear stick-thin in flight; it is found feeding at the edge of lakes, often alone.  Seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

The African Spoonbill is closely related to ibises, but this all-white bird has an extraordinary spoon-shaped bill which it sweeps from side to side to sift small organisms from shallow water.  Seen in Zambia and Botswana.

The Hamerkop is one of Africa’s strangest looking species.  Its crest, short neck and flat back give it the profile of a hammer.  It is seen along lakes and creeks.   Seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana.

The Egyptian Goose is a noisy and conspicuous resident of nearly every fresh body of water around.  It has rich brown plumage, contrasting with black and white wing markings.  Seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

The White-Faced Duck is a showy bird with a white head and a loud, clear whistling call.  They are often found in large flocks.  Seen in South Africa and Botswana.

The African Jacana is commonly known as the ‘lily trotter’ or ‘Jesus bird.’  These birds inhabit wetland areas where they walk easily on floating plants, aided by their abnormally long toes.   Seen in Zimbabwe and Botswana.

The Blacksmith Lapwing is a member of the plover family.  It is a beautiful patchwork of black, white and gray, and usually occurs near water in small flocks. Seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

The Black-Winged Stilt is a common wading bird with super-long legs that project beyond its tail in flight.  It occurs in small numbers in shallow water.  Seen in Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Dikkops, also known as Thick-Knees, live throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They are largely nocturnal waders, hard to spot along the water’s edge. Folks in South Carolina can stop by Riverbanks Zoo to say hello to the new dikkop chick recently hatched under the foster care of two masked lapwings.  This is a first for Riverbanks.  We saw the Spotted Dikkop and the Water Dikkop.  Seen in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana. 

Ground Birds

The Ostrich is the largest and heaviest living bird, with the male standing nearly 8 feet tall.  Due to its size, it is flightless, but it can run at top speeds to avoid predators.  It has a kick that can kill a lion.  One of the Dumb Three; seen in Botswana, in the Okavanga Delta. 

The Kori Bustard is the world’s heaviest flying bird.  Reaching almost 30 pounds and about 3.5 feet in length, the male is about twice as large as the female.  Both are gray in color with black crests and yellow legs.  Although it can fly, most of its time is spend on the ground where it can find lizards and seeds.  One male mates with several females, who then raise the young on their own.  One of the Big Six; seen in Botswana.

The Red-Crested Korhaan is related to the Kori Bustard, but much smaller.  It is a common savannah resident, quiet and inconspicuous except during mating season.  Seen in Botswana.

Game Birds

The Helmeted Guinea Fowl is a commonly seen bird, known by its blue ‘helmet’ and its erratic behavior.  It moves around and feeds in noisy flocks.  One of the Dumb Three; seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

 

Francolins and spurfowl are smaller and browner than guineas, with subtle markings that differentiate the 12 species in the region.  They forage tamely around campsite.  We saw four species:  Crested Francolin, Red-Billed Francolin, Red-Necked Spurfowl, and Swainson’s Spurfowl.  Pictured here are Swainson's Spurfowl and the Crested Francolin.  One of the Dumb Three; seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

 

Raptors

Vultures serve a vital role as scavengers, feeding mostly on the carcasses of dead animals.  Sadly, vultures in Africa have undergone steep population declines due to medicines used on farm animals.  Certain drugs are poisonous to vultures when they consume the remains of medicated animals.  Deaths to African vultures also have resulted from other human actions including poacher activities, powerline collisions and electrocutions, and killings for use in traditional medicine and human consumption.  All but one of African vulture species are listed as critically endangered.  We saw the White-Backed Vulture in Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.  Vultures are one of the Ugly Five. 

 

Eagles get better press than vultures, being emblematic of power and nobility the world over.  Most are hunters, but some also scavenge.  They are long-lived birds, the lords of the sky.  We saw five of the region’s 17 species:  African Fish Eagle (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa), Bateleur Eagle (Botswana),Tawny Eagle (Botswana), and Black-Chested and Brown Snake Eagles (only in South Africa). 

The Bateleur Eagle is mainly black with a red back, legs and beak, and white underneath its wings.  It can fly up to 200 miles at a time in search of prey, which includes antelope, mice, other birds, snakes and carrion.    The African Fish Eagle is one of the region’s most iconic birds.  Its call is one of the quintessential sounds of Africa’s rivers and lakes.  The Tawny Eagle is a large brown eagle that is common in open, wooded savannah.  It is an effective hunter, but it also often steals food from other birds. 

Hawks are down the size scale from vultures and eagles; most are aerial hunters of small birds.  Their short, broad wings and relatively long tail allow them to pursue their quarry with great agility.  The Pale Chanting Goshawk hunts in arid open country from a low perch - we saw several of these in Zimbabwe and Botswana.  

Near-Perching Birds

The Grey Lourie, commonly known as the “Go-Away Bird,” is a large, long-tailed bird with a prominent crest and a raucous voice.  It has dove-gray plumage and derives its name from its far-carrying, nasal ‘kwaaay’ call.   Seen in Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

Doves are among the most common birds in southern Africa.  Most are ground-feeding seed-eaters, often flushed with a rush of wings just in front of the jeep.  The Cape Turtle Dove, pictured here, is the most common predominantly gray species; it has a thin black half-collar and an unmistakable call (Drink lager, drink lager).  Seen in Seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.   We also saw the Emerald Spotted Dove ( (South Africa) and Namaqua Dove (Zambia and Botswana).

The Coppery-Tailed Coucal is seen foraging on open floodplains along the water’s edge. It is a member of the cuckoo family.  Seen in Botswana.

The Lilac-Breasted Roller has seven different colors in its plumage and is easily seen as it perches on tree tops and small bushes.  During mating season, the male flies to great heights and then swoops down making screeching cries; apparently, the female apparently finds this sexy.  This may be nature’s most perfect creation – it’s beautiful and it eats bugs!  Seen in Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

 

Bee-eaters are brightly colored, gregarious, and flamboyant. All 22 species are fast and fierce when it comes to securing a meal. These birds pluck bees (and other flying insects) out of the air with their strong, downward curved beak, smack the victim’s head on a branch to stun it, rub its rump on a surface to remove the stinger and flush out the toxins, and chow down.  We saw four species of bee-eaters:  Little Bee-Eater, Southern Carmine Bee-Eater, Swallow-Tailed Bee-Eater, and White-Fronted Bee-Eater.  

 

 

We spotted the White-Fronted Bee-Eater just above her nest - actually above a whole bunch of nests.  We could see holes in the bank of the creek, as well as adults feeding the chicks hiding in the holes.  Pretty nifty!  Seen in Zambia and Botswana.

 


Kingfishers nest in tree holes near water and catch the eye with their colorful plumage and sometimes bold behavior.  There are ten species in southern Africa; all have long powerful bills and most are plunge-diving fishermen.   We saw four species of kingfishers:  Brown-Hooded Kingfisher, Half-Collared Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, and the Malachite Kingfisher.   Seen mostly in Zambia, along the Zambezi River.

  

Hoopoes are hole-nesters with long, curved bills.  Their call is distinctive; they cover the ground on short legs, probing deeply for insect larvae.  Seen here is the African Hoopoe.  Seen in Botswana and South Africa.

 

Hornbills are medium to large-sized birds, with a heavy, decurved bill.  Some species feed on fruits and berries, others on insects and small reptiles.  We saw five species of hornbills:  Red-Billed Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Bradfield’s Hornbill, Southern Ground Hornbill, and Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill.  Seen mostly in Botswana and South Africa.

 

 

The Crested Barbet is a distinctive bird with a large bill and a mix of colors.  It is often seen bouncing on the ground in search of insects.  Seen in Botswana and South Africa.

Perching Birds

The African Pied Wagtail is an energetic bird that constantly wags its long tail as it erratically dashes about in search of insects.  This species forages along shorelines much like a sandpiper.  Seen in Zambia and Botswana.

The Yellow-Bellied Greenbul is a pretty little songbird with olive green upperparts and yellow underparts. Its natural habitats are dry forests, moist lowland forests and dry savannah.  Seen in Zambia, checking out our picnic table.  

.

The Fork-Tailed Drongo is solid black and rather aggressive.  It has been known to take on much larger raptors.  Seen in Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

The White-Browed Robin-Chat has colorful plumage that is matched by its beautiful song.  This one was hopping along the pathway at Victoria Falls.  Seen in Zimbabwe.

The Chinspot Batis is a member of the flycatcher family.  It sits quietly for long periods before darting out to grab an unsuspecting insect.  Seen in South Africa, near Kruger National Park.

Shrikes are smallish perching birds with stout, hooked bills.  There are nearly 30 species in southern Africa, falling into two groups – true shrikes and bush-shrikes.  We saw two true shrikes:  the Magpie Shrike (also known as the Long-tail Shrike), with its very long, forked tail, and the Southern White-Crowned Shrike.    We also saw two bush-shrikes:  the Crimson-Breasted Shrike, with its stunning combination of black and red, and the Tropical Boubou, which is predominantly black and white.  Seen in Zambia and Botswana.

 

 

Starlings feed mainly on the ground, on a variety of plant and insect food; they move by waddling and are sociable, noisy birds.  Other than that general description, starlings in Africa bear little resemblance to the drab starling that lives all over the USA.  African starlings have color, lots of color!  We saw three types of starlings: Burchell’s Starling, Cape Glossy Starling, and Greater Blue-Eared Starling; they all look alike!  Seen in Botswana and South Africa.

Oxpeckers spend much of their lives on the backs of large animals, where they find food, rest, nesting material (hair), and even partners.  The feed by climbing around the bodies of their hosts, removing ticks.  This may sound like a useful service, but their habit of pecking into wounds and sores is less welcome.  There are two species in the region; we saw both.  The more common Red-Billed Oxpecker prefers giraffes, impala and other antelopes, while the Yellow-Billed Oxpecker likes less hairy animals such as rhinos, hippos and buffalo   Seen in Botswana and South Africa.

 

Weavers are are among nature’s great artisans.  Males spend much of their lives building one nest after another and attempting to lure females onto their property. A successful male secures several females and then leaves all the parenting to them.   We saw at least two species, the White-Browed Sparrow Weaver and the Red-Billed Buffalo Weaver, one of the Little Five.  Their nests can be distinguished by size; the buffalo weaver's nest is bigger.  Note that they tend to build nests on the west side of the tree, away from the prevailing winds.  Also, not all nests are used - some are decoys to confuse potential predators. Seen mostly in Zimbabwe.

 

The Blue Waxbill is a little seed-eater that feeds in small groups on or near the ground.  They are regular visitors to bird baths.  Its powder-blue coloring is unlike anything else.  Seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

INSECTS

Termites are perhaps the most amazing creatures in Africa.  There are many varieties of termites all share similar social structures.  They live in colonies that include soldiers that protect the nest, workers that care for young and forage for food, and an egg-laying queen who is fertilized by a resident king.  All termites are vegetarian.  Some carry micro-organisms in their gut that enables them to digest plant cellulose, other cultivate a fungus to do this job for them.  Termites can cause serious damage to timber and crops, but on balance this is outweighs by the essential work they do in draining, enriching and aerating the soil.

The most common termites in southern Africa are harvester termites (grass-eaters), wood termites, and the macro-termites, which cultivate a fungus to break down plant material for food.  Communicating entirely through pheromones, millions of blind workers can raise several tons of soil, particle by particle, into an enormous structure.  Terminate mounds can reach 10 feet in height and contain separate chambers to meet needs of its millions of inhabitants.

 

The whole structure is prevented from overheating by a miraculous air-conditioning system.  Warm air rises from the nest chambers, up a central chimney, into thin-walled ventilation flues near the surface.  Here it is cooled and replenished with oxygen before circulating back down in the next chambers. In this way, termites maintain the 100% humidity and constant temperatures of 29-31 degrees C required for successful production of eggs and young.

 

Macro-termites are surprisingly important to their human neighbors, and not just for improving the soil.  Termites are an important protein source for humans.  The insects are collected, dried and are eaten fried or ground into a flour that can be stored for months.

 

Old termite mounds are equally important.  Not only are they used as home by other animals, but humans use the soil from termite mounds to make bricks, plaster houses, and fertilize crops.  Pregnant women eat termite soil as a good source of calcium. Sometimes they serve as a loo with a view ...

Termite mounds are pretty much everywhere:  seen in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

To Return to Part One, Click Here: https://ultimateafrica2018.blogspot.com/  

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Big One – Pangolin (The Hardest to See, and we didn’t see it)

Big Two – Cheetah, Painted Hunting Dog (The Beautiful and Rare Predators)

Big Three – Hyena, Porcupine, Aardvark (The Nocturnal Animals)

Big Four – Kudu, Nyala Sable, Gemsbok (The Most Beautiful Antelopes)

Big Five – Buffalo, Lion, Elephant, Leopard, and Black Rhino (Dangerous Animals to hunt; this originally was a hunting term referring to those animals that posed the greatest risk to hunters on foot)

Big Six – Kori Bustard, Saddle-Billed Stork, Grey-Crowned Crane, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Martial Eagle, Secretary Bird (Large and Beautiful Birds)

Dumb Three – Ostrich, Guinea Fowl and Francolins (Birds that Are Really Dumb)

Small Five – Leopard Tortoise, Buffalo Weaver, Rhinoceros Beetle, Ant Lion and Elephant Shrew (Small-time Versions of the Big Five)

Ugly Five – Warthog, Wildebeest, Vultures, Marabou Stork and Baboon (Just Plain Ugly Animals)

Special Five – White Rhino, Zebra, Giraffe, Hippo, Honey Badger (Iconic African Animals that Everyone Needs to See).

Dangerous Six – Mosquito, Crocodile, Puff-Adder, Scorpion and Cobra (The Biggest Killers in Africa).