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How to Use Padlet:                       Click or tap on a picture  to access the site.  Scroll up and down the column or side to side to view other topics.

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How to Use Padlet:                       Click or tap on a picture  to access the site.  Scroll up and down the column or side to side to view other topics.

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What is a safari?  Be sure to check out the photo gallery.

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What is a safari?  Be sure to check out the photo gallery.

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A Safari is like no other vacation! A safari is on everyone's bucket list. At some point in your life you have to visit the place from which all mankind originates. It is not uncommon for visitors to Africa to be overcome with emotion, observing the wildlife of Africa, living as it did at the time of our ancestors. There is a feeling of coming home.

Being on safari means following the natural rhythm of the animals. Up at sunrise to witness the dawn and observe the animals as they start their day. Retiring to relax in the comfort of the lodge during the heat of the day. And then once again, venturing forth to observe the animals preparing to bed down for the night. After which we similarly retire to the lodge, for a sumptuous meal, under the stars. The day ends, with story telling around the fire, before turning in for the night ourselves. We are lulled to sleep by the night music of Africa, lions calling, hyenas cackling and the peaceful grunting of hippos, as they feed on the banks of the river.

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A Safari is like no other vacation! A safari is on everyone's bucket list. At some point in your life you have to visit the place from which all mankind originates. It is not uncommon for visitors to Africa to be overcome with emotion, observing the wildlife of Africa, living as it did at the...

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Google Street View - Explore natural wonders and world landmarks

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Explore world landmarks, discover natural wonders, and step inside locations such as museums, arenas, parks and transport hubs.

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What animals might you see on a safari in Africa?

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What animals might you see on a safari in Africa?

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What animals can you see on your African safari? | Safari Travel Guide | LookIwasThere

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Are you going on safari for the first time? It can be really daunting to decide where to go unless you have a reasonable idea of which countries and parks have the greatest numbers of your favourite wildlife. Animal densities vary widely from habitat to habitat even within a single country or park.

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What is the cheetah?

The cheetah is the world's fastest land mammal. With acceleration that would leave most automobiles in the dust, a cheetah can go from zero to 60 miles an hour in only three seconds. Wild cheetahs are thought to be able to reach speeds of nearly 70 miles an hour -although they can only sustain that speed for about 30 seconds. These cats are nimble at high speeds, able to make quick and sudden turns in pursuit of prey.

There's some debate over whether cheetahs are "big cats." Some scientists argue that the term only refers to cats that are capable of roaring: lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards. Cheetahs can't roar, though they can they purr. Still, conservation groups tend to embrace the wider definition of " big cats " that also includes snow leopards and cougars.

Even though their speed makes them fearsome hunters, cheetahs are the most vulnerable of the world's big cats. The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently lists the cheetah as vulnerable to extinction. However, in recent years, scientists have argued that cheetahs should be considered endangered instead, pointing to sizable losses in cheetah populations. There are fewer than 7,000 adult cheetahs remaining in the wild.

Appearance and habitat

Cheetahs are famous for their tawny coats covered in black spots, each arranged in a unique pattern to help the animals identify one another. Bold black stripes streak like tears from the inner corners of their eyes down to both sides of their mouths, and the ends of their bushy tails are encircled by black rings. As the only big cat with a semi-retractable claw-rather than the fully retractable claws that help lions tear flesh and climb trees-cheetahs are the sole member of the genus Acinonyx.

Cheetahs' coats can vary depending on their habitat. Although they typically prefer open grasslands, cheetahs live in a range of habitats across eastern and southern Africa. One subspecies, the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah, can only be found in Iran, and only a few hundred are believed to be left.

Cheetahs in desert regions are sometimes smaller with paler coats, while some cheetahs in southern Africa have a genetic mutation that gives them larger spots and even stripes. There have also been rare sightings of spotless cheetahs in Kenya.

Speed and hunting

Cheetahs' bodies are uniquely adapted to help them reach top speeds, from their long, slender limbs and hard foot pads to the flexible spine that gives them their long stride. The cat's light tail acts like a rudder, and its semi-retractable claws act like the spikes on a sprinter's shoe to offer stability during the chase. Cheetahs also have large nasal cavities that help them gulp in oxygen, while the shape of their inner ears allows them to maintain balance and keep their heads still as they run. (Explore the mesmerizing physics of animal locomotion.)

Before unleashing their speed, cheetahs use their exceptionally keen eyesight to scan the grassland for signs of prey- especially antelopes and warthogs, although cheetahs also prey on smaller animals such as hares and birds. The cheetah is a daylight hunter that benefits from stealthy movement and a spotted coat that allows it to blend easily into high, dry grasses.

Cheetahs begin a hunt by stalking their prey. When the moment is right, a cheetah will sprint after its quarry and attempt to knock it down. Such chases cost the hunter a tremendous amount of energy and are usually over in less than a minute. If successful, the cheetah begins eating its kill quickly to prevent opportunistic animals like lions and hyenas from getting in the way. Cheetahs rarely scavenge for food and stay hydrated by drinking the blood or urine of their prey.

Social structure and reproduction

Unlike lions, cheetahs don't live in groups. Female cheetahs live on their own, each with a large home range. Females in areas such as the Serengeti, where the prey is migratory, typically follow the herds. Meanwhile, males are either solitary or form small coalitions with one or two other males, typically their littermates. Some males establish small territories in areas where they are likely to find mates.

Both male and female cheetahs mate with several partners, and studies show that cubs of the same litter can have different fathers. Female cheetahs typically have a litter of three cubs that live with them for about a year and a half. Young cubs spend that time learning from their mother and practicing hunting techniques with playful games. After leaving their mother, littermates stick together for another six months before the females strike out on their own.

Threats to survival

Cheetah populations are under pressure as the open grasslands they favor are disappearing to human occupation and development. Given their solitary lives and the size of their home ranges, cheetahs need large areas of connected habitat- likely upwards of 3,800 square miles-to find mates and ultimately survive as a species. However, human settlements have fragmented their habitat, and most protected areas are not large enough to sustain cheetah populations.

Conflict with humans, who they're increasingly sharing space with, is another significant threat. If a cheetah kills a goat or sheep, the livestock owner may kill the cheetah in retaliation.

Cheetahs also face threats from hunting and the illegal wildlife trade, where they're sold for their skins and as pets. No one knows how many cubs are taken from the wild for the pet trade each year, but some estimates say it may be several hundred.

Cheetahs also face fierce competition for prey, and their cubs are particularly vulnerable to predation from lions.

Compounding all these problems, cheetahs have an extremely low level of genetic variation, which is essential for a species to evolve in the face of environmental changes and disease. This lack of genetic variation is thought to have nearly caused their extinction at the end of the last ice age -and scientists fear it leaves them vulnerable to extinction today.

Conservation

Cheetah conservation is particularly difficult given their wide geographic range-it requires large-scale, regional collaboration across countries. Hunting cheetahs is illegal in most of the countries where they can be found, as is owning them as pets. They've been protected from international commercial trade since 1975, under the Convention on Trade in International Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

In Africa, almost all of the countries in the cat's range participate in regional conservation efforts that aim to address habitat loss by improving land planning, raising awareness of the need to save cheetahs, and promoting the peaceful coexistence of cheetahs and humans.

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The cheetah is the world's fastest land mammal. With acceleration that would leave most automobiles in the dust, a cheetah can go from zero to 60 miles an hour in only three seconds. Wild cheetahs are thought to be able to reach speeds of nearly 70 miles an hour -although they can only sustain that speed for about 30 seconds.

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At the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, servals are fed a ground-meat diet made for zoo carnivores, with a few small items for variety throughout the week (a mouse here and there, a couple of fish, a bone twice a week to keep the teeth clean).

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The Amur leopard, a subspecies living at the San Diego Zoo, exists on the cusp of extinction. As a conservation organization, we are working with other zoos to develop a sustainable and genetically diverse population of Amur leopards that can contribute to new scientific knowledge and to the survival of the species in restored and protected native habitat.

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The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has had lions on exhibit since it opened in 1972. In 2004, the Safari Park's Lion Camp opened with six adorable six-month-old Transvaal lion cubs newly arrived from a facility in Africa.

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View a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat via live cams.

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African River Wildlife Camera - live video from Kenya | Explore.org

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Look out for giraffes, elephants, monkeys and other African animals as they drink and take a swim in a river in Kenya.

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Vultures - Photographing the Antiheroes of Our Ecosystems | Exposure

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For the past three years I have spent most of my days with wild mountain gorillas. Their home, and mine, has been the misty wooded slopes of the Virunga range, eight lofty volcanoes-the highest is 14,787 feet-shared by three African nations, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

During this time I have become well acquainted with many of the gorillas, and they with me. They roam the mountain slopes and saddles in groups, and several groups now accept my presence almost as a member. I can approach to within a few feet of them, and some, especially the juveniles and young adults, have come even closer, picked up my camera strap, and examined the buckle on my knapsack. One has even played with the laces on my boots, though I have a feeling that he did not suspect that the boots were, in fact, connected with me.

I know the gorillas as individuals, each with his own traits and personality, and, mainly for identiﬁcation in my hundreds of pages of notes, I have given many of them names: Raﬁki, Uncle Bert, Icarus, and so on.

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For the past three years I have spent most of my days with wild mountain gorillas. Their home, and mine, has been the misty wooded slopes of the Virunga range, eight lofty volcanoes-the highest is 14,787 feet-shared by three African nations, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Conservation Status:

Least Threatened

Scientific name

Cercopithecus aethiops

Weight

7 to 17 lb.

Size

18 to 26 in.

Life span

Up to 24 years in captivity

Habitat

Woodland, savanna, high bush

Diet

Omnivorous

Gestation

5.5 months

Predators

Leopards, eagles

Where do vervet monkeys live?

In East Africa, vervet monkeys can live in mountain areas up to about 13,000 feet, but they do not inhabit rain forests or deserts. Their preferred habitat is acacia woodland along streams, rivers, and lakes.

Tags: East Africa View Africa | Habitat

What is a vervet monkey?

The vervet is a small, black-faced monkey, common to East Africa.There are several subspecies of vervet monkeys, but, generally, the body is a greenish-olive or silvery-gray. The face, ears, hands, feet, and tip of the tail are black, but a conspicuous white band on the forehead blends in with the short whiskers. The males are slightly larger than the females and easily recognized by a turquoise-blue scrotum and red penis. The vervet is classified as a medium- to large-sized monkey. Its tail is usually held up, with the tip curving downward, and its arms and legs are approximately equal lengths.

Vervet monkeys enjoy a mostly vegetarian diet.

Leaves and young shoots are most important in the vervet diet, but bark, flowers, fruit, bulbs, roots, and grass seeds are also consumed. Their mainly vegetarian diet is supplemented with insects, grubs, eggs, baby birds, and sometimes rodents and hares. Vervets rarely drink water.

They adhere to a strict hierarchy.

Vervet society is built on complex but stable social groups (called troops) of 10 to 50 individuals-mainly adult females and their immature offspring. There is a strict social hierarchy among troop members. Males transfer troops at least once in their lifetime, beginning at puberty. This is a dangerous process, not only because of the predators they may encounter in transit, but also because troops dislike immigrants.

The hierarchical system controls feeding, mating, fighting, friendships, survival, and even grooming-an important part of the vervet's life. They spend several hours each day removing parasites, dirt, and other materials from one another's fur. In the hierarchy, dominant individuals receive the most grooming.

Infants are cherished in vervet society.

The newborn has black hair and a pink face, and it takes three or four months before it acquires adult coloration. The infant spends the first week of life clinging to its mother's stomach. After about the third week, it begins to move about by itself and attempts to play with other young monkeys. Infants are of great interest to the other monkeys in the troop; subadult females do everything possible to be allowed to groom or hold a new infant. Researchers report that usually a female's close family members will have the most unrestricted access to the babies. As the infants grow, they play not only with monkeys, but also with other young animals.

The Maasai School was dangerously dilapidated.

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Mau Reforestation
Planting trees in a critical forested ecosystem

Kenya's ecological health is in danger.

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A failing cattle ranch endangers local wildlife.

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Reason #82 to get involved

Adapting to their recent human neighbors, vervet monkeys steal food and raid crops. As a result, humans mass-poison the monkeys to defend their food sources. Help is needed to establish a buffer zone so both humans and monkeys can coexist.

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The name cheetah comes from an Indian word meaning "spotted one."

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Conservation Status: Least Threatened Scientific name Cercopithecus aethiops Weight 7 to 17 lb. Size 18 to 26 in. Life span Up to 24 years in captivity Habitat Woodland, savanna, high bush Diet Omnivorous Gestation 5.5 months Predators Leopards, eagles In East Africa, vervet monkeys can live in mountain areas up to about 13,000 feet, but they do not inhabit rain forests or deserts.

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Conservation Status:

Least Threatened

Scientific name

Olive baboon (Papio anubis)
Yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus)

Weight

50 to 100 lb.

Size

14 to 30 in. at the shoulder

Life span

20 to 30 years

Habitat

Savannas and woodlands

Diet

Omnivorous

Gestation

6 months

Predators

Humans, leopards, cheetahs

Where do baboons live?

Baboons are found in surprisingly varied habitats and are extremely adaptable. They generally prefer semiarid habitats, like savannas, but some live in tropical forests. The major requirements for any habitat seem to be water sources and safe sleeping places-either in tall trees or on cliff faces.

Tags: Benin, View Africa | Habitat Burkina Faso, DRC, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, East Africa, West/Central Africa, Congo, Kilimanjaro, Regional Parc W, Cameroon

What are baboons?

Baboons are some of the world's largest monkeys. There are five species of baboon-olive, yellow, chacma, Guinea, and hamadryas-scattered across various habitats in Africa and Arabia. The baboon, like other Old World monkeys, does not have a prehensile (gripping) tail, but it is still able to climb when necessary. All baboons have dog-like noses, powerful jaws, sharp canine teeth, and thick fur. The male baboon also has a ruff-a longer mane around its neck.

The baboon is an opportunistic eater.

Baboons are opportunistic omnivores and selective feeders. Grass makes up a large part of their diet, along with berries, seeds, pods, blossoms, leaves, roots, bark, and sap from a variety of plants. They also eat insects and small quantities of meat, such as fish, shellfish, hares, birds, vervet monkeys, and small antelopes.

They like to hang out in groups.

Baboons sleep, travel, feed, and socialize in groups of about 50. These groups usually consist of seven or eight males and about twice as many females plus their young. The family unit of females and juveniles forms the core of the troop. Male baboons will leave their natal troops as they mature and move in and out of other troops.

Civil war has led to poverty and environmental degradation.

Following years of social turmoil and civil war, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was left without a...
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Reason #68 to get involved

The impala-like kobs inhabit low-lying hills with permanent water sources, restricting them to regions rapidly being populated by humans. Without any designated buffer zones, this vulnerable species is being hunted at an alarming rate.

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Did you know?

New farming methods can prevent habitat loss in threatened areas of Africa.

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Join African Wildlife Foundation as a member for just $25. Your partnership is vital to our mission to protect Africa's most precious - and imperiled - creatures.

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Conservation Status: Least Threatened Scientific name Olive baboon (Papio anubis) Yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus) Weight 50 to 100 lb. Size 14 to 30 in. at the shoulder Life span 20 to 30 years Habitat Savannas and woodlands Diet Omnivorous Gestation 6 months Predators Humans, leopards, cheetahs Baboons are found in surprisingly varied habitats and are extremely adaptable.

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The African Wildlife Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity. Within the limits of law, your gift is 100% tax-deductible. For tax purposes, our EIN is 52-0781390.

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Scientific Name:

Giraffa camelopardalis

Average Life Span In The Wild:

25 years

Weight:

1,750 to 2,800 pounds

Size relative to a 6-ft man:

Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks. A giraffe's legs alone are taller than many humans-about 6 feet . These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 miles an hour over longer distances.

Behavior

Typically, these fascinating animals roam the open grasslands in small groups of about half a dozen.

Bulls sometimes battle one another by butting their long necks and heads. Such contests aren't usually dangerous and end when one animal submits and walks away.

Height and Size

Giraffes use their height to good advantage and browse on leaves and buds in treetops that few other animals can reach (acacias are a favorite). Even the giraffe's tongue is long! The 21-inch tongue helps them pluck tasty morsels from branches. Giraffes eat most of the time and, like cows, regurgitate food and chew it as cud. A giraffe eats hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and must travel miles to find enough food.

The giraffe's height also helps it to keep a sharp lookout for predators across the wide expanse of the African savanna.

The giraffe's stature can be a disadvantage as well-it is difficult and dangerous for a giraffe to drink at a water hole. To do so they must spread their legs and bend down in an awkward position that makes them vulnerable to predators like Africa's big cats. Giraffes only need to drink once every several days; they get most of their water from the luscious plants they eat.

Female giraffes give birth standing up. Their young endure a rather rude welcome into the world by falling more than 5 feet to the ground at birth. These infants can stand in half an hour and run with their mothers an incredible ten hours after birth.

Population

Giraffes have beautiful spotted coats. While no two individuals have exactly the same pattern, giraffes from the same area appear similar.

Up until recently, the consensus has been there is only one species of giraffe with multiple subspecies. In 2016, some scientists released a study that claims genetic differences among giraffe populations indicate the existence of four distinct giraffe species.

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Discover why giraffes are much more than the world's tallest mammals. Learn how their young are welcomed, rather rudely, into the world.

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Common Name:

Hippopotamus

Scientific Name:

Hippopotamus amphibious

Average Life Span In The Wild:

Up to 40 years

Size:

Head and body: 9.5 to 14 feet; tail: 13.75 to 19.75 inches

Size relative to a 6-ft man:

Hippopotamuses love water, which is why the Greeks named them the "river horse." Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies cool under the hot African sun. Hippos are graceful in water, good swimmers, and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes. However, they are often large enough to simply walk or stand on the lake floor, or lie in the shallows. Their eyes and nostrils are located high on their heads, which allows them to see and breathe while mostly submerged.

Hippos also bask on the shoreline and secrete an oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood. The liquid is actually a skin moistener and sunblock that may also provide protection against germs.

Hippos on Land

At sunset, hippopotamuses leave the water and travel overland to graze. They may travel 6 miles in a night, along single-file pathways, to consume some 80 pounds of grass. Considering their enormous size, a hippo's food intake is relatively low. If threatened on land hippos may run for the water-they can match a human's speed for short distances.

Reproduction

Hippo calves weigh nearly 100 pounds at birth and can suckle on land or underwater by closing their ears and nostrils. Each female has only one calf every two years. Soon after birth, mother and young join schools that provide some protection against crocodiles, lions, and hyenas.

Hippos once had a broader distribution but now live in eastern central and southern sub-Saharan Africa, where their populations are in decline.

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Common Name: Hippopotamus Scientific Name: Hippopotamus amphibious Average Life Span In The Wild: Up to 40 years Size: Head and body: 9.5 to 14 feet; tail: 13.75 to 19.75 inches Size relative to a 6-ft man: Hippopotamuses love water, which is why the Greeks named them the "river horse."

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Conservation Status:

Least Threatened

Scientific name

Connochaetes taurinus

Weight

265 to 600 lb.

Size

50 to 58 in. at the shoulder

Life span

20 years

Habitat

Open woodlands, open grassy plains

Diet

Herbivorous

Gestation

8.5 months

Predators

Lions, cheetahs, hunting dogs, hyenas

Where do wildebeest live?

Wildebeest can be found in the plains and acacia savannas of Eastern Africa.

Tags: Botswana, View Africa | Habitat Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, East Africa, Southern Africa, Kilimanjaro

What are wildebeest?

The wildebeest (also called a gnu) is a member of the antelope family. It has a large, box-like head with curving horns. The front end of the body is heavily built, while the hindquarters are slender with spindly legs. They have a gray coat and a black mane as well as a beard that can be black or white. There are several races of wildebeest. The species forming the large herds of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem of Kenya and Tanzania is known as the western white-bearded wildebeest, while the eastern white-bearded races inhabits Kenya and Tanzania east of the Gregory Rift. The brindled, or blue, race occurs south of the Zambezi River.

Wildebeest are driven by their appetites.

Wildebeest are continually on the move, as they seek favorable supplies of grass and water. The famous Serengeti population of wildebeest is a very large nomadic group. This group makes a migratory circle of 500 to 1,000 miles each year, beginning right after the calving season at the start of the year. They are relentless in their advance and many are injured, lost (especially calves), or killed. By the end of the dry season, the wildebeest have almost exhausted the grazing lands and return to the Serengeti plains as the rains begin.

They are noisy creatures.

Wildebeest bulls have a wide array of loud vocalizations, from moans to explosive snorts.

The majority of female wildebeest give birth around the same time.

About 80% of the females calve within the same two- to three-week period, creating a glut for predators and enabling more calves to survive the crucial first few weeks.

Banhine is an overlooked but rich national park.

Southern Africa's vast transnational Limpopo Heartland is perhaps best known for the world-famous Kruger National...
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Reason #61 to get involved

On the brink of extinction in 1996, the West African giraffe population is now steadily growing. However, their habitat in Niger is not formally protected. African Wildlife Foundation needs support funding efforts that reduce human-giraffe conflict within these crucial ecological buffer zones.

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Did you know?

Each year, wildebeest and zebras trek 1,800 miles during the Great Migration.

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Join African Wildlife Foundation as a member for just $25. Your partnership is vital to our mission to protect Africa's most precious - and imperiled - creatures.

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Conservation Status: Least Threatened Scientific name Connochaetes taurinus Weight 265 to 600 lb. Size 50 to 58 in. at the shoulder Life span 20 years Habitat Open woodlands, open grassy plains Diet Herbivorous Gestation 8.5 months Predators Lions, cheetahs, hunting dogs, hyenas Wildebeest can be found in the plains and acacia savannas of Eastern Africa.

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Conservation Status:

Least Threatened

Scientific Name

Equus Quagga

Weight

Up to 770 lbs.

Size

3.6 - 4.8 ft. at the shoulder

Lifespan

20 years

Habitat

Grasslands and savannas

Diet

Herbivorous

Gestation

13 months

Predators

Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, hunting dogs, leopards, humans

Where do plains zebras live?

Plains zebras have a wide range in east and southern Africa. They usually live in treeless grasslands and savanna woodlands and are absent from deserts, rainforests, and wetlands. This species' habitat is shrinking, however, and plains zebras are now extinct in Burundi and Lesotho.

Tags: Botswana, View Africa | Habitat DRC, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, East Africa, Southern Africa, Samburu

What is a plains zebra?

Also known as the common zebra, plains zebras are the most common and widespread species of zebra-even appearing on the coat of arms of Botswana. Larger than the mountain zebra, and smaller than the Grevy's, this ungulate is horse-like but has a mane of short, erect hair, a tail with a tuft at the tip, and bears recognizable vertical stripes.

They travel regularly.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of zebras gather up their young and begin the long journey from Tanzania's Serengeti plains, north to Kenya. This annual trek to find food and water covers a distance of around 1,800 miles and exposes zebras to a myriad of dangers. River crossings leave zebras vulnerable to crocodiles, while the size of the migration itself brings lions, hyenas, and wild dogs.

They have harems.

Plains zebras live in small family groups called "harems." These groups consist of one stallion, several mares, and their offspring. Harems generally remain together for months or even years, making it an incredibly stable family unit.

They communicate.

Plains zebras have at least 6 different vocal calls. A two-syllable call is used to alert herd members to predators while snorts indicate happiness. Zebras also use facial expressions to communicate. When greeting each other, zebras will stick their ears up and push their faces forward. When feeling threatened they will press their ears against their heads.

They aren't picky eaters.

Unlike many ungulates in Africa, zebras do not require short grass to graze. Instead, they eat a wide variety of different grasses, sometimes even eating leaves and young trees. As a result, zebras can range more widely than many other species, often venturing into woodlands. Zebras are considered to be "pioneer grazers"-preparing plains for more specialized grazers who rely on short, nutritional grasses.

Reason #28 to get involved

African Wildlife Foundation has helped farmers return to the Congo River as a means of finding new markets for their goods. To improve livelihoods and reduce locals' reliance on wildlife hunting for survival, efforts like this need continued funding.

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Give me another reason

Did you know?

Each year, wildebeest and zebras trek 1,800 miles during the Great Migration.

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Become a member

Join African Wildlife Foundation as a member for just $25. Your partnership is vital to our mission to protect Africa's most precious - and imperiled - creatures.

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Conservation Status: Least Threatened Scientific Name Equus Quagga Weight Up to 770 lbs. Size 3.6 - 4.8 ft. at the shoulder Lifespan 20 years Habitat Grasslands and savannas Diet Herbivorous Gestation 13 months Predators Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, hunting dogs, leopards, humans Plains zebras have a wide range in east and southern Africa.

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(Image credit: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-849775p1.html">Patrick Foto</a> | <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com">Shutterstock</a>)

Crocodiles are large reptiles found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. They are members of the order Crocodilia, which also includes caimans, gharials and alligators.

There are 13 crocodile species, and they range in size. The smallest, the dwarf crocodile ( Osteolaemus tetraspis), grows to about 5.6 feet (1.7 meters) in length and weighs 13 to 15 pounds (6 to 7 kilograms), according to the Zoological Society of London (opens in new tab). The largest, the saltwater crocodile ( Crocodylus porosus), can grow up to 23 feet (6.5 m) in length and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg), according to (opens in new tab).

What do crocodiles eat?

Crocodiles are carnivores, which means they eat only meat. In the wild, they feast on fish, birds, and crustaceans. Occasionally, crocs cannibalize each other. In captivity, they eat small animals that have already been killed for them, such as , fish or . They also eat live , according to The Australian Museum (opens in new tab).

In the wild, crocodiles clamp down on prey with their massive jaws, crush it and then swallow the prey whole. They cannot chew or break off small pieces of food as some other animals do.

To help with digestion, crocodiles swallow small stones that grind up the food in their stomachs. Thanks to their slow metabolism, crocodiles can survive for months without food.

Where are crocodiles found?

About 100 million years ago, during the Mesozoic era, the Crocodilia order included some of the top animals in the food chain. Today, crocodiles are found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. They normally live near lakes, rivers, wetlands and even some saltwater regions.

Crocodiles live in tropical climates because they are cold-blooded and cannot generate their own heat. During colder months, they enter a hibernation-like state of inactivity known as aestivation, which involves slowing down all bodily processes, according to (opens in new tab). Crocodiles also aestivate during long periods of drought. To create a place to hibernate, they dig out a burrow in the side of a riverbank or lake and settle in for a long sleep.

Are crocodiles dinosaurs?

Though they share many characteristics and appeared on the planet during the Mesozoic era, crocodiles and dinosaurs are not the same.

Dinosaurs and crocs both belong to a reptile subclass known as archosaurs, which first appeared in the fossil record about 250 million years ago, during the Triassic period. By the end of the Triassic, archosaur evolution split into two paths: One branch of archosaurs evolved into the oldest relatives of crocodiles and alligators, and the other branch evolved into dinosaurs, birds and flying reptiles (also known as pterosaurs).

About 66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period, a mass extinction wiped the nonavian dinosaurs and flying reptiles off the planet. Today, crocodilians and birds are the only surviving archosaurs.

Baby crocodiles

Crocodiles lay an average of 12 to 48 eggs at a time. The hatchlings stay in their eggs for 55 to 100 days. The sex of each crocodile baby depends on the temperature of its egg during a critical moment during the first half of its incubation period.

Crocodile babies measure about 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 centimeters) long when they are born and don't mature until they are 4 to 15 years old. How long a crocodile lives depends on its species; some, such as the Dwarf crocodile, live to around 40 years, while others, such as the Nile crocodile, live up to 80 years, according to (opens in new tab).

Are crocodiles endangered?

The Cuban crocodile is one of the world's most endangered species of crocodile. It is considered critically endangered and has a population of only about 4,000, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (opens in new tab) (IUCN). Poaching is a constant threat to the species.

The American crocodile is considered vulnerable by the (opens in new tab), but its population is increasing.

Alligators vs. crocodiles

How are alligators and crocodiles different? For one, an alligator's jaw is U-shaped, while a crocodile's is V-shaped, Live Science previously reported. In addition, crocodiles' teeth stick up over their upper lip when their mouths are closed, whereas alligators' teeth do not.

Another difference between alligators and crocodiles is that crocs have salt glands on their tongues. These modified salivary glands help crocs tolerate life in salt water. Alligators and caimans have lost the ability to secrete excess salt through the tongue glands and, therefore, prefer to live in freshwater areas, according to the Crocodilian Biology Database.

Crocodile taxonomy

Here is the taxonomy of crocodiles, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (opens in new tab) (ITIS):

Facts about crocodiles

When a crocodile loses a tooth, it is quickly replaced. These reptiles can go through 8,000 teeth over a lifetime, according to the San Diego Zoo.

Crocodiles don't sweat. To keep cool, they open their mouths in a process called "mouth gaping," which is a lot like panting.

"Crying crocodile tears" refers to a person expressing insincere remorse. It is a saying that goes back to about the 16th century. However, crocodiles do in fact produce tears, according to the Crocodilian Biology Database. Their lacrimal glands secrete a fluid behind their third eyelid, called a nictitating membrane. The fluid helps clean the eye, lubricate it and reduce . Crocodile tears aren't usually noticeable unless the croc has been out of the water for a while and the eyes begin to dry out.

A crocodile's jaws can apply 3,700 pounds of pressure per square inch, according to National Geographic (opens in new tab). This means that they can bite through a human arm or a leg with no problem. For comparison, a human jaw produces only about 100 pounds of pressure per square inch. The crocodile jaw has very little opening strength, though; a crocodile's mouth can be held shut with just a rubber band.

In addition to their strong jaws, crocodiles have very keen hearing. It is so good, in fact, that they can hear their babies calling from inside their eggs.

Crocodiles are very fast swimmers, which helps them catch their prey. They can swim up to 18 mph (29 km/h) and hold their breath underwater for around one hour, according to Australia's Northern Territory government (opens in new tab). Crocodiles aren't as fast on land, where they can run only up to 11 mph (18 km/h) for a short distance.

Nina Sen contributed to this article. This article was updated on Mar. 4, 2022, by Live Science Senior Writer Brandon Specktor.
Additional resources

Learn more fun crocodile facts from the San Diego Zoo's crocodilian info page (opens in new tab). Read more about crocodile conservation and the conservation status of different crocodile species via the (opens in new tab). Concerned about crocodile attacks on humans? Check out (opens in new tab), the worldwide database of crocodilian attacks.

Bibliography

Britton, A. (n.d.). Crocodilian Biology Database. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/cbd-faq-q1.htm (opens in new tab)

Handwork, B. (2012, March 15). Crocodiles have strongest bite ever measured, hands-on tests show. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/120315-crocodiles-bite-force-erickson-science-plos-one-strongest

Integrated Taxonomic Information System. (n.d.). Crocodylus. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=174360#null

Northern Territory Government. (2016, July 4). Be CrocWise. https://becrocwise.nt.gov.au/about-crocodiles/did-you-know (opens in new tab)

Ross, J. P. (2008, June 13). Crocodile. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/crocodile-order (opens in new tab)

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. (n.d.). Crocodilian. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/crocodilian (opens in new tab)

Targarona, R. R., Soberón, R. R., Cotayo, L., Tabet, M. A. & Thorbjarnarson, J. (2008). Cuban Crocodile. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T5670A11516438.en (opens in new tab). Retrieved on February 28, 2022.

Zoological Society of London. (n.d.). Dwarf crocodile. Retrieved February 28, 2022 from http://www.edgeofexistence.org/species/dwarf-crocodile/ (opens in new tab)

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(Image credit: Patrick Foto | Shutterstock ) Crocodiles are large reptiles found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. They are members of the order Crocodilia, which also includes caimans, gharials and alligators . There are 13 crocodile species, and they range in size.

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Male West African Rainbow Lizard (Agama agama africana) - a subspecies of Agama agama and a non-native, invasive species to Florida - approx. 24 inches in total length at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, Florida. >

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Kruger Park Times | Myths, facts and more about the Black Mamba...

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The black mamba, one of Africa's most feared and respected snakes, inevitably evokes reactions of fear, respect or awe - often merely by being mentioned

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The African continent is home to many different snake species, some of which are amongst the world's most dangerous. These range from legendary species like the black mamba to little-known snakes like the West African carpet viper.

It is important to remember that although snakes must be treated with respect, the majority are not venomous. Even those that are will typically try to avoid contact with humans rather than risk confrontation, and anti-venom is available for all of the species listed below. Don't let a fear of snakes stop you from exploring Africa's breathtaking wilderness areas. With a little care, there's nothing to prevent humans and snakes from co-existing in harmony. All snake species are important to the balance of the African ecosystem, fulfilling a valuable role as middle-order predators.

This article was updated and re-written in part by Jessica Macdonald on June 27th 2018.

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A Top 10 List of Africa's Most Dangerous Snakes

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Find out everything you need to know about 10 of Africa's most dangerous snakes including the black mamba, the puff adder and the Cape cobra.

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Fun facts for kids including photos and printable activity worksheets about spiders.

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Check out this interactive map of the world.

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Home " World Maps " World Map

This is a large 38" by 48" colorful wall map showing the United States of America and state flags.
More Information.

The map above is a political map of the world centered on Europe and Africa. It shows the location of most of the world's countries and includes their names where space allows.

Representing a round earth on a flat map requires some distortion of the geographic features no matter how the map is done. We have used a Mercator projection for this map because it is the projection most commonly used in schools. On this map, geographic boundaries that trend north-south appear as vertical lines, geographic boundaries that trend east-west appear as horizontal lines. This type of projection causes a minimum of country-shape distortion near the equator, a small amount of distortion at mid-latitudes, but extreme distortion near the poles. For that reason, the map does not extend to the north and south poles.

The United States Central Intelligence Agency standard time zone map of the world in .pdf format. Easy-to-read.

This is a large 33" by 54" wall map with the world's physical features shown.
More Information.

The map shown here is a terrain relief image of the world with the boundaries of major countries shown as white lines. It includes the names of the world's oceans and the names of major bays, gulfs, and seas. Lowest elevations are shown as a dark green color with a gradient from green to dark brown to gray as elevation increases. This allows the major mountain ranges and lowlands to be clearly visible.

This map is also a Mercator projection centered on Europe and Africa. A scale of miles is not shown on these maps because the scale changes with distance north and south of the equator. Scale is highly exaggerated as distance from the equator increases.

Countries of the World:
The United States Department of State recognizes 195 "Independent States in the World". We have listed these countries below, and those that we have a map for are clickable.

Copyright information: The images on this page were composed by Angela King and Brad Cole and are copyright by Geology.com. These images are not available for use beyond our websites. If you would like to share them with others please link to this page. The maps were produced using digital vector graphics licensed from and copyright by Map Resources.

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World Map: A clickable map of world countries :-)

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A large colorful map of the world. When you click a country you go to a more detailed map of that country.

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What is Africa Like?  Learn about the countries of Africa from students living there

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What is Africa Like?  Learn about the countries of Africa from students living there

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Our approach is better than short-term charity. In partnership with governments, NGOs and other relief organizations, we build effective support systems with lasting impacts for struggling families. These efforts enable access to education, healthcare services and employment opportunities that are essential to maintaining safe environments for children at risk. Our long-term services-which focus on making families self-reliant-include savings and loan associations, income-generating activities, child rearing classes, health education, emergency response and much more.

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Our approach is better than short-term charity. In partnership with governments, NGOs and other relief organizations, we build effective support systems with lasting impacts for struggling families. These efforts enable access to education, healthcare services and employment opportunities that are essential to maintaining safe environments for children at risk.

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Baby Elephants That Will Instantly Make You Smile

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Most people live along the northern coastal region. The capital of Algiers is a busy port and a historic city with buildings in the old hilltop town (known as the Casbah) dating back to medieval times. Come and take a look around Algiers and places nearby like Tipaza to learn more about Algeria.

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If you're familiar with zoology or wild animals, you may have heard of the serval cat. They look similar to a leopard, and I was surprised when I learned that some people domesticated them and kept them as pets.

While there are many admirable qualities to the serval, there are also risks involved with keeping one as a pet.

What Is a Serval Cat?

A serval is a cat native to the African grasslands typically found south of the Sahara Desert. The cat has a lean body and the longest legs and largest ears of any cat breed.

Their coats are predominantly shades of tan or orange with black or dark brown markings. The coat pattern helps the cat disguise itself when hunting in tall grasses. The serval is a solitary animal that can live around 20 years. A subspecies of the serval is considered endangered, per the San Diego Zoo.

Small Cats of Africa offers an explanation of this exotic cat's history:

The Serval was the symbol of the Italian Tomasi family, princess of the island of Lampedusa. Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, wrote the famous Italian novel IlGattopardo. Despite being known as The Leopard in English, the Italian title actually refers to a serval. The Serval's North African range is near Lampedusa.

The San Diego Zoo adds that ancient Egyptians worshiped the serval for its grace and power.

Some people keep them as exotic pets today, but they are limited in number. Most servals can be found at zoos or large cat rescues, and there is a reason for this. This isn't a domestic house cat with awesome abilities; a serval is a wild animal that has specific needs and inherited instincts that need to be nurtured in a specific environment.

Risks of Ownership

As explained above, this isn't the superman version of a pet cat. The serval is a wild animal, and for this reason several states have prohibited their ownership or required specific licenses to contain one. There are many risks surrounding the ownership of this animal, and you should seriously consider all points below before making the decision to bring one into your home as a domesticated pet.

Serval cats need zoo-like areas to explore, swim, hunt, run and occasionally climb. These habitats can be expensive to create, and keeping too small of an area or an interior-only option will not allow this cat to expel all of its energy or fulfill its natural instincts.

Servals require special diets. This is not a cat you can throw the Meow Mix at and assume its nutritional needs are met.

These cats are not your typical lap cats. Servals can be affectionate and are normally not aggressive to humans, but remember that this is still a wild animal. It has basic, inherited instincts it needs to fulfill.

Servals are considered wild animals, and legislation restricts their ownership in several U.S. states and other countries. If you decide to get a serval and later decide it won't work, you may find it difficult to relinquish ownership of such an animal as organizations or individuals receiving the animal will also need to hold the appropriate licenses.

These cats like to hunt - at night! Keep in mind a serval weighs an average of 40 to 50 pounds on the high end. Imagine your serval is playing or hunting at 3am and those 40 to 50 pounds lands on you in the bed mid-sleep. Talk about startling!

Servals like to mark their territory. This includes peeing on household items and you. Yes, you.

The average life expectancy for a serval is 20 years. This is longer than the typical domestic cat, and you should understand the responsibility of taking care of a wild animal for a long period of time before deciding to obtain one.

Unless your serval has been raised and bottle-fed by humans from early in his life, he will not take to a new owner well.

Servals are not recommended for households with young children. They play using their teeth and claws, and they may be too rough with children or view them as toys or prey. This is not likely, but it is possible.

These cats play - hard. They can knock over large items, scratch and tear furnishings, jump extremely high and crash into things during their many excursions.

Some servals are declawed when domesticated, but this is not recommended. If there was ever a time you needed to find another home for your cat or sign him over to a sanctuary or zoo, chances are they have other servals on the premises. While the servals may not fight, they will fight over food if they feel the need (especially during winter). Your declawed serval will be at a disadvantage.

Servals may not always take to litter boxes like most domesticated cats, and they will require a much larger box than normal.

The cats are strong with fast reflexes, and they even use their teeth and claws during play.

Servals don't chase their prey like leopards and other cats in the wild. They listen and wait until ready, then they jump in the air and land on their prey. Once they hold them or incapacitate them with their weight, they usually deliver a fatal bite to the neck. Servals are considered the best hunters in the cat world, with a 50 percent kill rate. (A domestic cat's kill rate is 10 percent, in case you're wondering.)

Scratches are much worse with servals. Their strength is much higher than that of a normal cat and even if they don't mean harm, they can cause it simply by playing.

These cats are more likely to chew and eat anything. Cue the vet trips!

Servals are also high-energy and curious cats. Your house must be secured, similar to baby-proofing, to ensure their safety.

Servals will dig for their prey. If you have smaller animals in the home, such as hamsters, guinea pigs or rodents, the cat will find creative ways to get to them using his paws.

Should I Get a Serval Cat?

There are many reasons you should reconsider buying a serval. At the end of the day, this is still a wild animal. While some can be affectionate, they don't do well with changing owners and need space to fulfill their natural instincts. Don't confuse space with efficiency; just because you have multiple acres doesn't mean you can just drop a serval onto the property and he will fend for himself.

There are so many cats and other animals waiting for homes in shelters and rescues across the country and the world, so consider giving one of them a home before taking the risks explained above. If you just adore servals and need an exotic cat fix, visit your local zoo or a large cat rescue. There are also plenty of videos on the internet of cats, servals and everything in between. Here's one of them:
Photo: Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr

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Considering a Serval Cat? Know the Risks of Having One

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If you're familiar with zoology or wild animals, you may have heard of the serval cat. They look similar to a leopard, and I was surprised when I learned that some people domesticated them and kept them as pets. While there are many admirable qualities to the serval, there are also risks involved with keeping one as a pet.