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Lion – Panthera leo
Lions are large and impressive cats. The males can reach a shoulder height of 1.2m, and weigh in at around 200Kg. They can run at speeds of 40mph (20 metres per second!), bringing down their prey with huge paws and razor sharp claws. Hunting is conducted in groups, pairs or solitary. A single lion hunting alone only has a 15% success rate, whereas in groups they are far more successful, catching up to 50% of all animals they attack. Being lazy cats, lions are prone to stealing the food from other predators, such as leopards and cheetahs. They spend most of the day sleeping and lying around in the bush.
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Leopard – Panthera pardus
Leopards are the most elusive of the big cats, and you are unlikely to see them when you visit the bush, but you may just get lucky! If you do see one, you can consider it a very special experience. Some guides work in the bush for a whole year without seeing a single leopard. Being smaller than lions and weighing only 60Kg, leopards are nonetheless very strong cats for their size, with the ability to carry prey up into trees by holding it in their strong jaws. They hunt at night in a stalking fashion. Once within about 15m of their prey, they will rush it and pounce. Leopards do not chase prey to the same extent as lions, but instead rely on surprise and stealth to make their kills. As lions and hyaenas often steal leopard kills, driving them from their food, leopards will drag their kills up into trees to keep it safe from their bullying neighbours. In areas where leopards are the dominant predator, they do not resort to this tactic.
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White Rhino – Ceratotherium simumo
The word ‘white’ does not refer to the colour of the animal, but it’s a mistranslation of the Afrikaans word for ‘wide’ (spelled ‘wyd’). This refers to the rhino’s wide, square-lipped mouth, ideally suited for grazing on grasses (as opposed to browsing like the black rhino). White rhinos are significantly bigger than black rhinos, weighing in at a massive 2,100Kg, and running at speeds of up to 28mph. Like black rhinos, white rhino males mark their territories using dung middens. It is possible to tell the difference between the two animals’ middens by observing the dung. As white rhinos graze on grass, their dung is fibrous and grass-like, whereas black rhino dung is clumpier, darker and with noticeable traces of twigs and leaves present. Both species can live for up to 45 years, depending on habitat and health.
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Black Rhino – Diceros bicornis
Being the smaller of the two species, the black rhino was included on the original hunting list of Big Five species due to its aggressive nature. It is generally thought that black rhinos are far more likely to charge an aggressor than white rhinos. But like all animals, they are unpredictable and there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to their behaviour. They differ from white rhinos in both size and appearance. Weighing in at around 1,000Kg, they have a hooked-lip that is used for browsing on trees and shrubs. If you are walking through the bush and you come across a plant that appears to have been trimmed, study the clipped end of the stems and you may see a V-shape cut. This is the work of a black rhino. They also have a pronounced hump on their backs. Despite the name, they are not black in colour, but more of a brown-grey. The males live alone and aggressively defend their territories from other males. They create dung ‘middens’ (heaps of dung in a particular place) to mark out their areas.
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Buffalo – Syncerus caffer
Also known as the Cape Buffalo, these bovines stand at up to 1.6m at the shoulder, and weigh in at a massive 680Kg, the females being slightly smaller. Being able to run at speeds of up to 35mph, it is easy to see why these creatures are a formidable presence in the bush. They are not to be confused with the Asian Water Buffalo or the American Bison (which is not a true buffalo). The African Buffalo is the only bovine species that has not been domesticated, due to the animal’s aggressive and unpredictable temperament. Buffalos live in herds, from anything between 5 to 3000 animals! Herds are arranged according to hierarchy, with the outermost members (lowest ranking) of the herd being used to protect the members at the centre and front of the herd. The members at the front of the herd lead the way when they are moving. Males often leave the large herd to form bachelor herds, or to roam about in a solitary manner. These males are known locally as the ‘Dagga Boys’, and when on foot they are avoided at all costs, due to their aggressive nature.
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Elephant – Loxodonta africana
Despite lions being crowned as ‘Kings of the Jungle’ in popular fiction, the real honour actually goes to the elephants. Weighing in at 5,500Kg (males), standing 3.28m at the shoulders, and with charging speeds up to 25mph, they are creatures to be reckoned with. They are also highly intelligent and have complex social behaviour. Elephants are very destructive feeders, needing to consume up to 170Kg of plant matter and 160 litres of water every day. In that respect they also act as the gardeners of the bush, helping to clear areas which then allows for new growth, though over-feeding can be a real problem when the elephant populations grow too large for the reserve to sustain (known as the ecological carrying capacity). They form matriarchal herds, with a dominant female leading the herd, the young males being kicked out of the herd when they become adolescents at around 12 years old and start experiencing ‘musth’, a hormonal condition that gets them ready to mate with females in oestrus.
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Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
The greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is a handsome antelope that is easily distinguished by the male’s spectacular spiral horns, which can reach astonishing lengths of over a metre. It can also be identified by the six to ten thin, pale stripes against its tawny to grey-brown body. The female greater kudu is smaller than male, and lacks the impressive horns. The coat colour of the female is also somewhat different, varying from sandy yellowish-grey to russet, against which the thin stripes are conspicuous. Both sexes have a crest of hair that runs along the middle of the back and forms a mane (2), and there is a distinct white band across the face between the eyes. The large, rounded ears of the greater kudu give a slightly comical appearance.
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Eland (Taurotragus oryx)
Along with the giant eland (Tragelaphus derbianus), the common eland is one of the largest antelopes in existence. Its coat is tan, fawn or tawny coloured, turning slightly bluish-grey on the neck and shoulders with age, and a short dark mane runs down the back of the neck. Both male and female common eland possess horns that rise with a slight twist, back from the head to sharp points. The horns of the male are more robust and bear more distinct ridges than those of the female. The massive adult males can also be recognised by the large fold of loose skin that hangs below the throat (the dewlap), and the patch of long, coarse, dark hair on the forehead. These features become respectively larger and bushier with age. The common eland has a fairly small and pointed mouth and muzzle, small, narrow ears, and a long tail with a tuft of black hair at the tip. A distinct clicking sound can be heard as the common eland roams around its habitat; this unusual and distinctive feature is believed to be the result of two halves of the hoof knocking together when the foot is raised, or by the movement of bones in the leg.
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Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger)
This stunning antelope rivals even the greater kudus as the most handsome of all antelope, with its powerful, robust build, vertical mane and fantastically long, curved horns, which arch majestically backwards. Newborn calves are born with a camouflaging, sandy-brown coat, but as they grow and achieve herd status their coats continually darken. Mature females eventually become a rich chestnut-brown to dark brownish-black and fully mature males are a glossy brownish-black to pitch-black, varying with the subspecies. Coat colour appears to be controlled hormonally, with castrated males losing their black colour to become brown again, and it is thought to help communicate age, and therefore social status, to others. Both sexes have sharply contrasting white abdominal, rump, and facial patches, and black facial stripes running down the bridge of the nose and from the eyes to the nostrils. The semi-circular, ridged horns are longer and thicker in males, growing up to an incredible 165 centimetres in length, while those of females reach a worthy 100 centimetres. These massive horns are very effective defensive weapons against natural predators and are used in dominance fighting.
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Roan Antelope (Hippotragus equinus)
The roan antelope is one of the largest of all African bovids, exceeded in size only by the African buffalo and eland. It is somewhat horse-like in appearance with a number of striking features; a distinct, erect mane runs from between the ears to just beyond the shoulders; massive, heavily-ringed horns, measuring up to a metre, curve back away from the head; and the face bears a prominent black and white pattern. The roan antelope is tall and powerful with a thick neck, and long, narrow ears tipped with a tassel of hair. The coarse coat varies in colour depending on the region; from grey, to more tawny, to reddish, and the hairs of the mane are dark at the tips.
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Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)
This rather shaggy-haired antelope is noted for its association with water and its strong musky scent. Its coat of coarse hair ranges in colour from grey-brown to reddish (3), with darker legs. The face is marked with white around the nose, mouth, above the eyes and on the throat. The short, rounded ears are white on the inside and black on the edges and tips. The males bear long, heavily-ridged horns, extending back from the head and then sweeping forward (3), reaching up to 99 centimetres in length. Two subspecies of the waterbuck are recognised, which can be easily distinguished by the obvious pattern on their rear; a broad, white ring encircles the rump of the Ellipsen waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus), while the Defassa waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa) has a solid white patch on its rump.
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Impala (Aepyceros melampus)
The graceful impala is a noisy antelope renowned for its agile leaps. It has reddish-brown upperparts becoming paler on the sides. The underparts, belly, throat and chin are white, as is the tail, which has a thin, black line down its centre. A black line also extends down each buttock. At the back of the hind leg, just above the hoof, is a characteristic tuft of black hair, which covers the fetlock gland. A high kick sends out a puff of scent from the gland, which is thought to be used to lay trails and help regroup herds. Males have lyre-shaped horns, up to 0.7 meters long and deeply ringed for most of their length. Two subspecies of the impala are recognised, based on morphological and genetic differences; Aepyceros melampus petersi, the black-faced impala, is significantly larger and darker than the common impala, Aepyceros melampus melampus, and has a characteristic dark facial blaze. At certain times of the year, guttural roars followed by a series of snorts can be heard as the males advertise their territories.
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Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii)
The last of the large ungulate species to be discovered in Africa, the mountain nyala is an elegant and rather attractively marked antelope, with a greyish to chestnut-brown coat, a white chevron between the eyes, two white spots on the cheeks, two white patches on the throat and chest, white spots on the flanks and rump, and up to nine poorly defined white stripes on the sides. The underparts are slightly paler, and the dark legs bear white patches on the insides, while the tail is rather bushy, with a white underside. The pattern of markings may be unique to the individual. The coat of the mountain nyala is smooth and glossy during the summer, becoming shaggier during winter months). The male mountain nyala is larger than the female, and bears long, spiralling horns, which may grow to 118 centimetres in length, developing ivory-coloured tips as the male matures. The male may also be darker than the female, and possesses shaggier hair on the neck, and a dorsal crest of brown and white hair running from the neck to the base of the tail. Although named after the nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) of southern Africa, the mountain nyala is now thought to be more similar to the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros).
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Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)
Medium-sized antelope with characteristic white patch on throat and white flecks on hindquarters; only rams carry horns; adult ramsweigh up to 80kg and are 1m tall. Nocturnal solitary browsers; sometimes form nursery herds; secretive, seldom moving out of bush cover; very good swimmers.
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Tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus)
One of the most common ungulates over many African grasslands until the early 1900s, the topi has now gone extinct in much of its former range and remaining populations continue to decline. It is the rise of cattle-based human societies in its habitat which has resulted in the retreat of many extant topi populations. Known for its distinctive sentry position on termite mounds as it surveys its range, the topi has a short, glossy, brown coat with a bold pattern of black patches, and fawn coloured underparts and legs. Most of the subspecies also have a purple sheen, black face masks, and black patches on the upperlimbs. Both sexes have strong, deeply ringed, S-shaped horns.
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Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus)
This large, high-shouldered antelope is one of the grazing mammals that formerly ranged in huge herds, shaping the vast grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa. The hartebeest has long legs, a short neck, long, narrow face and long, pointed ears. Despite being a little ungainly in appearance, the hartebeest is actually a nimble and fast runner, capable of reaching speeds of 70 kilometres per hour. Its short coat varies considerably in colour, from red, black or tan to golden brown, and its tail has long dark brown to black hairs on the outer surface. Both the male and female have horns that are set close together at the base, curve slightly forward and outwards and then point back inwards. The bottom two-thirds of the horns have distinctive rings and those of the female are more slender. The taxonomy of the hartebeest is somewhat complex, with several living subspecies, all of which are more or less separated by their distribution, horn structure and coat colour.
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Grey Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia)
The blue duiker is the smallest and one of the most abundant and widespread of all duiker species. Like other duikers, this diminutive antelope has a distinctive stocky body, large hindquarters, arched back and short, slender legs, a body shape adapted for easy movement through dense undergrowth. The name “duiker” comes from an Afrikaans word meaning “diver”, these species being named for their habit of diving into cover when disturbed; in the blue duiker this behaviour is often accompanied by a loud, sneezing whistle given by the male. Coat colour is quite variable, depending on location, and ranges from slate grey to dark brown, sometimes with a bluish sheen on the back, which gives the blue duiker its common name. The underparts are whitish, as is the underside of the tail, where slightly crinkled white hairs reflect light so well that on the dark forest floor the constantly flickering tail can resemble a light flashing on and off.
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Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris)
Smaller than a duiker with y-shaped marking on its nose; reddish in colour with white underparts; the male has short, straight horns; male and female same size weighing up to 15kg and standing 55cm at the shoulder; lifespan up to 10 years; solitary. Solitary woodland browser, occasionally grazes; sometimes found in monogamous pairs.
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Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus)
This fascinating small antelope has a number of distinct features that make it well adapted to its rugged, rocky habitat. It is unique amongst the antelope for walking on the tips of its hooves and it has a remarkable dense, coarse coat consisting of hollow hairs that rustle when shaken or touched. When the klipspringer is hot or sick its fur stands erect, giving the illusion of being much larger than it actually is. The coat varies in colour from yellow-brown to grey-yellow, with whitish underparts, chin and lips. In most areas only the males have horns, which are short, widely-spaced apart and ringed near the base; in the Ethiopian, Ugandan and Tanzanian populations some females may have horns too. The black-edged ears have white parts that catch attention when flicked. Numerous subspecies of the klipspringer have been described, but only one is recognised as valid for the purpose of assessing its conservation status: the western klipspringer.
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Gemsbok (Oryx gazella)
The most distinctive features of this heavily built antelope are its long, rapier-shaped horns and striking black and white facial markings. The beautiful horns of the gemsbok are sought after as charms in many cultures and were even sold as unicorn horns in medieval England. The body is fawn-grey with a black stripe along the side separating the upperparts from the white underparts, and there are extensive black areas on its upper legs. The gemsbok has a long, horse-like tail, and whilst both sexes possess the impressive horns, those of the male are shorter and more robust than the female’s. Gemsbok calves lack any black body markings.
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Red lechwe (Kobus leche smithemani)
The black lechwe is one of three living subspecies of the lechwe, a water antelope of southern Africa. The long body is highest at the hindquarters and the hooves are elongated and spreading, which prevent the lechwe from sinking into the marshy ground of its habitat. Males possess long, thin lyre-shaped horns that are highly ridged. Lechwe have a long, greasy coat that differs in colour between the subspecies; the coast of K. l. smithemani is black, as the common name suggests.
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Southern reedbuck (Redunca arundinum)
An elegant antelope of Africa’s grasslands, the southern reedbuck can be identified by the distinctive dark lines that run down the front of each of its forelegs and lower hindlegs. The colour of its coat varies between light brown to greyish-brown, often turning lighter on the neck and chest. White fur defines the underparts and area around the lips and chin, while a distinctive black patch below each ear is the site of a gland. The short, bushy tail is white on its underside. Male and female southern reedbucks can be easily distinguished as only the males bear forward-curving horns, which measure between 30 and 45 centimetres, and are ridged for most of their length except for the smooth tips. At the base of the horns is a band of pale, rubbery tissue, a feature which is unique to the reedbucks of the genus Redunca. The southern reedbuck makes a number of characteristic noises, including a piercing whistle through the nostrils, and a distinctive ‘popping’ sound, caused by the inguinal glands, heard when the southern reedbuck jumps.
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Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)
A distinctive, high-shouldered antelope, with a long, broad muzzle and cow-like horns, the blue wildebeest is famous for forming vast migratory herds. The species gets its common name from the silvery-blue sheen to the coat, the base colour of which varies from greyish to brown. The forequarters bear vertical black stripes - the ‘brindled’ colouration that gives the species one of its alternative names - and the front of the face, the long tail, and the mane are also black. The long beard may be black or white, depending on the subspecies. Both the male and female have unridged horns, which curve downward laterally before pointing upward and inward, and in older animals may have a knobby base.
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Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)
Roaming the central plains of southern Africa is the slender springbok, the National Animal of South Africa. Within the last 100 years springbok numbers have greatly declined, but older Southern Africans still remember a time when springbok herds were so large they took several days to pass their farms. Its striking body colouring distinguishes it from other antelopes; cinnamon-brown upperparts and white underparts, separated by a dark reddish-brown band that runs horizontally from the foreleg to the hindleg. A crest of white hairs runs along the back of the springbok; these are normally hidden beneath two folds of scent-secreting skin, but can be seen when the white hairs are erected in alarm. The head is white with a dark streak through each eye to the corner of the mouth, and the ears are long, narrow and pointed. Both male and female springbok have beautiful heavily-ridged lyre-shaped horns, although those of the female are much more slender.
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Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus)
here are two very distinct subspecies of this handsome African antelope, the bontebok (D. p. pygargus) and the blesbok (D. p. phillipsi), both of which are extinct as wild animals and owe their survival to their existence in National Parks, game reserves, and on farms. Their body is compact with a short neck and long narrow face, and both sexes carry simple, lyre-shaped horns, although the female’s are more slender. The beautiful bontebok, perhaps the rarest antelope in southern Africa, has a rich brown coat with a purplish gloss, and a distinctive white face, white buttocks, white belly and white ‘socks’. The white facial blaze is usually unbroken which distinguishes it from the blesbok, whose white blaze is normally broken by a brown band between the eyes. The blesbok also differs by having a dull reddish-brown coat, which lacks the purple gloss, with lighter brown buttocks and off-white lower legs.
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Black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou)
A large and distinctive antelope, the black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) is the southernmost species of its genus. Its northern relative, the blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), is well known for its spectacular migrations, but the remaining black wildebeest populations no longer migrate. The black wildebeest is a dark brown- to black-bodied antelope with an erect mane. This species gets one of its common names, ‘white-tailed gnu’, from its long white tail, which is black only at the base. Both male and female black wildebeest have heavy, forward-curving horns, which in mature males are expanded at the base to form a shield over the top of the head. Black wildebeest calves are born with shaggy, fawn-coloured fur. The head of the black wildebeest is large and boxy, and the face, throat and chest are covered in bristly tufts of long, black hair. The front end of the black wildebeest’s body is heavily built, and the shoulders are higher than the hindquarters.
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Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
The fastest land mammal in the world, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) has many adaptations that allow it to sprint across the plains. Its rangy frame supports long limbs and a deep chest cavity, and this species has a small waist and an extremely flexible spine. Unlike other cats, the cheetah has claws that are not fully retractable , enabling it to grip the ground when in a hunting sprint. The large nostrils allow greater amounts of air to enter the lungs, and the tail is particularly long to provide extra balance when cornering. The common name of this species is derived from the Hindi word chita meaning ‘spotted’ or ‘sprinkled’. The coat of the cheetah is a yellowish, tan or tawny colour with black spots on the upperparts, and a paler, whitish colour on the underparts. The last third of the tail has a series of black rings. The small head has high-set eyes and small, flattened ears, and is instantly recognisable by the black ‘tear lines’ running from the corners of the eyes to the muzzle. Cheetah cubs have a mane of tufty pale hair which sticks upright on the back of their neck.
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Hippopotamus – Hippopotamus amphibius
Hippos are large and powerful creatures, weighing in at 1,500Kg and standing 1.5m at the shoulders. They can remain underwater for up to 6 minutes, and despite their lumbering appearance, they can run on land at speeds up to 25mph! They can live for 40 years, depending on habitat and environment. Hippos have very sensitive skin, being susceptible to sun burn and dehydration, and spend most of the daylight hours submerged in water, although they will leave the water on overcast days. They also leave the water at night to feed on select species of grass. Due to their size and regular feeding habits, they create quite visible paths through the reed beds and tall grasses besides the water. It is essential to avoid these hippo paths in the late afternoon, at night and in the early morning if you are on foot. Hippos kill more people in Africa than any other vertebrate animal, partly due to their territorial and aggressive behaviour, and if they encounter a human on their path back to the water, they see that as a threat and will attack without further provocation. They have also been known to attack boats and canoes. If you are on a canoeing safari, one of the guide’s priorities will be keeping a very safe distance from any hippos you spot.
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Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)
One of the largest of all crocodilians, the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is a supremely adapted aquatic predator, with a streamlined body, a long, powerful tail, webbed hind feet, and long, powerful jaws, ideally suited for grabbing and holding onto prey. The eyes, ears and nostrils are located on top of the head, allowing the crocodile to lie low in the water, almost totally submerged and hidden from prey. A special valve at the back of the throat allows the mouth to be opened to catch and hold prey underwater without water entering the throat. In addition to a good sense of smell and excellent night vision, the Nile crocodile also possess sensory pits in the scales along the side of the jaw, used to detect movement and vibrations in the water. Like all true crocodiles, the enlarged fourth tooth on the lower jaw is clearly visible when the mouth is closed, a feature which distinguishes this group from other crocodilians, such as alligators. The body of the adult Nile crocodile is a grey-olive colour, with a yellowish belly, while the juvenile is more greenish or dark olive-brown, with black cross-banding on the tail and body, which becomes fainter in adults. In general, the male Nile crocodile grows larger than the female .
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Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
The largest and heaviest of all living birds, the ostrich is instantly recognisable, with its long, bare neck, large body and long, sturdy legs. Despite its relatively small head, it is also notable for having the largest eyes of any land animal, measuring an impressive five centimetres in diameter, and protected by long black lashes. The adult male ostrich has black plumage, with a white tail and primary feathers, and a bright pinkish or blue neck in the breeding season. The female is smaller and is grey-brown in colour, while immature birds resemble the female, but are slightly darker. Four subspecies are recognised, differing mainly in the colour of the neck and legs of the male, and in the amount of feathering on the head.
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Side-striped jackal (Canis adustus)
The side-striped jackal (Canis adustus) is a medium-sized canid of sub-Saharan Africa, with long legs, a long muzzle and a fairly short, bushy tail. Its pelt is mainly grey, the back being darker than the underside, and its black tail normally has a distinctive white tip. Its head is a brownish-grey and the legs often have a reddish tinge (2). A fuzzy white stripe with black fringing runs along the side-striped jackal’s flanks from the elbow to the hip, and these stripes are more defined in adults than in juveniles.
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