Wild Animals to see on a Kenya safari
Wild Animals to see on a Kenya safari : Possible sightings of wild animals during a safari in Kenya – Kenya is among the best destinations to go on a safari in order to witness wildlife in its natural habitat. The country boasts breathtaking scenery, immaculate beaches, and welcoming locals who are eager to show you around. You will get to experience the bush in its authentic form and return home with a wealth of memories from your safari to Kenya, which is well worth the time and money invested.
A safari through most of Kenya’s national parks or game reserves offers a chance to see a variety of wild animals and birds, including the Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Leopard, and Buffalo), as well as other predators and grazers. This is a list of animals that you should be able to observe while on your Kenyan safari.
African Cape Buffalo.
Among the big five animals the lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, and buffalo regarded as one of the most dangerous. Nearly all of Kenya’s national parks, game reserves, and wildlife conservancies are home to African Cape Buffalo. Lions adore it because they are unable to run quickly.
Giraffe.
The tallest mammal in the planet whose height is five times of an adult human being. It’s breathtaking to witness giraffes with your own eyes. They belong to three species: the Maasai Giraffe, the Reticulated Giraffe, and the Rothschild Giraffe, all of which are found in Kenya’s several national parks and wildlife reserves. In most of the parks, you may see Maasai Giraffes. The Laikipia Conservancies and Samburu-Shabba National Reserve in northern Kenya are home to the majority of Reticulated Giraffes. The Rothschild giraffe is an endangered species that may be found in Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre in Karen and Lake Nakuru National Park.
Zebra.
One of the gorgeous wild animals encountered at most of the Kenya’s attraction sites, Zebra are of two species; the Plain Zebra with broad, widely spaced stripes which are typically browner in females and get black in stallions and the Grevy’s Zebra with bat ears, its narrow, close-set stripes and unstripped belly. The majority of Kenya’s parks are home to plain zebras, while the Grevy’s Zebra is restricted to the northeastern conservancies and reserves. Sometimes Grevy’s Zebra and Plain Zebra are seen in groups. While leopards and occasionally cheetahs steal foals, lions, hyenas, and hunting dogs can all kill adult and juvenile zebras. Predators can be struck by a zebra’s bone-crushing kick.
The African Lion.
The lion, one of the majestic and courageous creatures found in Kenya’s wildness, is feared by both humans and other wild animals. It is referred to as the king of the jungle and the largest of the Big Five predators. A safari in Kenya would not be complete if you do not see a lion. The Maasai Mara in Kenya is home to numerous lion prides. Maasai Mara is also home to black-manned lions. Lions can be found in most national parks and game reserves.
Impala.
A medium-sized antelope that is frequently spotted in the majority of Kenya’s game reserves and national parks. While females have no horns at all, men have horns fashioned like lyres. A smell gland is located in a tuft of black hair above the hooves on the lower portion of the hind legs. During the day, early mornings and late afternoons are when impala are most active. Can be observed roaming their vast home region in herds of six to one hundred individuals. When startled, they may leap up to 10 feet into the air and an amazing 36 feet across in a sequence of breathtaking bounding hops.
The African Elephant.
Unquestionably the most gregarious of all terrestrial mammals, they live in family groups of ten to fifteen people, with several related adult females and their calves. Led by the matriarch, an elderly woman. Witnessing these gentle giants move across the plains, grazing, lazing, and rubbing up against trees or boulders will make your trip to Amboseli National Park well worth your time and money. Due to their wallowing in the red sand of Tsavo, red-dust elephants can be found in Tsavo East. It will undoubtedly be an impressive sight when you see elephants for the first time.
Rhinoceros.
The white and black rhinoceroses are two of the five species of rhinos. Because of poaching for their horns, which are thought to have medicinal properties, they are classified as endangered wildlife species. Compared to black rhinos, white rhinos are more gregarious. Typically seen in solitary women or women with little children. Male adults tend to be lonesome and possessive. White rhinos can be seen at Nairobi National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park and Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Tsavo West National Park, Nairobi National Park, and Maasai Mara Game Reserve are further locations where black rhinos can be spotted.
Hippopotamus.
Mostly found in rivers, lakes and swamps within National Parks and Game Reserves. They typically inhabit groups of 10–20 females along with their offspring, as they are nocturnal creatures. Usually emerges at evening to graze in the nearby grasslands after spending the day dozing in the water or relaxing on sandbanks. Hippos in great numbers are known to reside in the Mara River and Mara Talek in Maasai Mara.
Cheetah.
The world’s fastest wild mammal, reaching a top speed of 70 mph (112 kph). Black “tear-marks” that run from the inside corners of the eyes to the corners of the lips help to distinguish cheetahs from leopards. Cheetahs mostly hunt Thomson’s Gazelles and Impala, which are medium-sized and small antelope. It’s likely that a safari in Kenya to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve would grant you cheetah sightings. Additionally, cheetahs can be seen in Samburu, Tsavo, and Amboseli.
Wildebeests / Gnus.
Wildebeests, one of the antelopes found in Kenya’s game reserves and national parks, are typically found in wide grasslands and thickets of acacia. Can be found in vast herds that contain hundreds of thousands of animals. There are more wildebeests in the in the Masai – Serengeti eco-system than anywhere else. There is a stunning sighting of millions of wildebeests and zebras crossing the Mara River during the annual wildebeest migration, which takes place between July and October. Predators wait to prey down the wildebeests.
Leopard.
One of the big five and one of Kenya’s wildlife’s large cats. Being opportunistic creatures, leopards can hunt day or night as long as they are left alone. It has spots and bards across its chest; spots on the torso and upper limbs form a rosettes. Compared to cheetahs, leopards are less common to see. Melanistic leopards, sometimes referred to as “black leopards” or “panthers,” have been sighted and documented in Laikipia County.
Wild Animals to see on a Kenya safari : Hyaena.
The spotted hyena, stripped hyena, and aardwolf are the three species of hyena. All are located in Kenya’s national parks and wildlife tourism areas. Of all land carnivores, the spotted hyena has the strongest jaws due to its exceptionally strong molar teeth, which can break bones. In Africa, they are the most prevalent big mammalian predator. Smaller in size and less common than spotted hyaenas are stripped hyaenas. The aardwolf is smaller and mostly an insectivorous animal, yet it resembles a stripped hyenas in appearance.
Wild Animals to see on a Kenya safari : Ostrich.
The largest bird without wings that can run at a pace of about 70 km/h due to its strong, long, and muscular legs. The female ostrich has greyish plumage, whilst the male has black plumage with white plumes on the wings and tail. It may be found throughout the majority of Kenya national parks. Another variety of common ostrich found in the Samburu National Reserve in Northern Kenya is the Somali ostrich.
Wild Animals to see on a Kenya safari : Thomson’s Gazelle.
A smaller gazelle than the grant’s Gazelle also known as tommy with a black stripe on their body, can be found in the majority of the national parks & game reserves. Males and females have horns, however the females’ horns are smaller. A territorial male is present in a loose association of five to fifty female Thomson’s gazelles and their young. Tommies can travel up to 50 mph (80 kph), which is a fairly fast pace. Hunting dogs, leopards, and cheetahs frequently prey on them.
Wild Animals to see on a Kenya safari : Waterbuck.
As their name implies, they are the most water-dependent antelopes, typically located close to bodies of water. Males just have horns. They belong to the Defassa and Common Waterbuck species. Waterbuck can be found in most of Kenya’s game reserves and national parks. Lake Naivasha and Nakuru are good places to find them in abundance. While hyenas and leopards prey on calves, lions and hunting dogs occasionally prey on adults.
Being able to witness the world’s richest wildlife, with an incredible diversity and quantity of both animal and bird life, will make your trip to Kenya unforgettable.