Physical Characteristics
Aardwolves are small, hyena-like mammals, native to Eastern and Southern Africa.  Stripped like the Hyena but smaller, the Aardwolf has a long mane and a pointed muzzle.  An interesting and distinct characteristic of the Aardwolf is its sharp-pointed ears; these help to sharpen sounds so that the Aardwolf can locate insects within the vicinity.  Their skull and teeth are similar to that of the stripped hyena, although their tongues and teeth are specialized for consuming insects.

Habitat
The Aardwolf can usually be found in open dry savannah plains.  Due to their specific diet, they can usually be found with close proximity to termite mounds.

Behavior
Aardwolves are shy animals and are usually nocturnal, active by night and sleeping in burrows by day. Primarily solitary animals, they will only share territory when mating and nursing young.
Aardwolf have tremendous appetite and can consume a whole colony of termites in one sitting, however they are careful not to do this, instead they take special care not to destroy the mound or the entire colony, this attitude ensures a continues supply of food.

Fun Facts
* Aardwolf means "earth wolf" in Afrikaans it is also known as the Maanhaar Jackal.
* By night, an aardwolf can consume up to 200,000 termites using its sticky, long tongue.

Physical Characteristics
The African Clawless Otter, also known as Cape Clawless Otter, is the second largest freshwater otter in the world.  They have thick, smooth fur with a silky underbelly, usually brown in colour. They are characterized by white markings that start at their face and run towards the chest area.  The most interesting characteristic of these otters are their partially webbed and clawless paws, which is where their name is derived from.

Habitat
African Clawless Otters can be found from coastal plains to semiarid regions, to densely forested areas. They live in areas surrounded by permanent bodies of water, usually covered by some form of foliage.  Otters use logs, branches, and loose foliage to create shelter and shade opportunities. Since they are known to be clumsy and slow moving on land, Otters build their burrows close by water sources allowing an easy getaway from predators.

Behavior
African Clawless Otters are considered solitary animals, however they have been known to live in neighboring territories with family groups of 3-5 individuals. Still, Otters keep to themselves and within shared territories they still have their own areas and can become quite territorial of their own particular range.

Fun Facts
* Otters greatest threat comes from pythons that lay in, wait near or in the water. Other major predators would include the crocodile and eagles. However the Otter has extremely sensitive whiskers that are used as sensors in the water to detect even the slightest movements from potential predators.
* Territories are marked using a pair of anal glands that secrete a particular scent.

Physical Characteristics
Also known called the hunting dog, the African wild dog is an endangered species in East Africa. Recent studies have shown that the wild dog is a social and highly intelligent animal. They also play an important role in eliminating sick and injured animals, in turn providing a natural balance to the ecosystem.
The African wild dog has distinguishing features that include patchy brown and black coat, large bat-like ears and a bushy tail usually with a white tip.  Studies have shown that the white tipped tail may serve as symbol to help keep the pack in contact while hunting.

Habitat 
Wild dogs can be found in arid and savanna zones. They have also been found residing in woodland areas and mountain habitats.

Behavior
Packs range from 5-20, and although African wild dogs can be extremely aggressive when in numbers, aggression between pack members is virtually nonexistent. They communicate through a range of barks, howls and yelps.  The entire pack, both males and females are involved in the welfare of the pups.  Hunter members return to regurgitate food for the nursing females and the pups.

Fun Facts
* No two wild dogs share marking that are the same, making individuals easy to identify.
* Wild dogs are usually on the move over a very large range. In the Maasai Mara they have been found to cover areas greater than 500km.

Physical Characteristics
Of all the primates in East Africa, baboons are most frequently seen interacting with people; they also spend a majority of their time on the ground. Intelligent and crafty, they have become pests in many parts of Kenya, ruining agricultural plantations and attacking livestock.
The olive and the yellow baboons are the two most common types of baboons in East Africa, the larger olive baboon is found in west and central Kenya and the smaller, yellow baboon inhabits southern and coastal Kenya.

Habitat
Baboons are extremely adaptable and can be found inhabiting varied landscapes; cliffs, forests and beaches. The only main requirements for deciding on a habitat seems to be water and safe sleeping, either in tall trees or on cliff faces.

Behavior 
Baboon troops form a cohesive unit that moves off in queues of two or three, very similar to army drill-training. They have been known to travel up to 10km a day, feeding as they move along. Before sleeping, they spend time grooming; naturalists have found that this behavior helps in keeping strong bonds between troop members, and of course, grooming also rids these animals of pesky pests and parasites.

Fun Facts
* Baboons use over 30 vocalizations ranging from grunts to barks to screams. Non-vocal gestures include yawns, lip smacking and shoulder shrugging.
* Baboons can survive for long periods without water by licking the night dew from their fur.

Physical Characteristics
The Banded Mongoose has a large head, small ears, short, muscular limbs and a long tail, almost as long as the rest of the body. The abdominal part of the body is higher and rounder than the breast area. The rough fur is grayish brown, and there are several dark brown to black horizontal bars across the back. The limbs and snout are darker, while the under parts are lighter than the rest of the body. Banded Mongooses have long strong claws that allow them to dig in the soil. An adult animal can reach a length of 30 to 45 cm and a weight of 1.5 to 2.25 kg. The tail is 15 to 30 cm long.

Habitat
The banded mongoose lives in open savannas, open forests and grassland, especially near water, but also in dry, thorny bush land. The species is common in areas with many termite mounds that serve as housing and food.

Behavior
It is a gregarious species that roams in family groups of about 30 animals. When a group contains more than 40 animals, it will usually split into two smaller groups of 15 to 20 individuals. Members of a group can recognize their companions by a distinctive group scent Banded Mongooses have a close relationship with baboons and are often found in their company. They forage together and probably enjoy greater security as a large group because of more eyes on the lookout for predators.

The diet of the banded mongoose consists mainly of invertebrates. They dig up most of the food with their strong claws. Sometimes they also eat roots and fruit and one of their favorite snacks is a bird's egg.

Fun Facts
* The Banded Mongoose is a diurnal animal, but on hot days it is only active during the morning and evening.
* Banded Mongoose often attacks cobras, biting off the head to kill them.

Physical Characteristics
The bat-eared fox's name comes from its enormous ears, which are large in proportion to its head. The body is generally yellow-brown; the ears, the face, lower legs, feet, and tail tip are all black.

Habitat 
Usually found in large open spaces, they reside mostly in Savanna areas.  Their diet primarily consists of insects; they enjoy delicacies such as the harvester termite and dung beetles. They occasionally feed on small rodents, lizards, the eggs and chicks of birds, and plant matter, although their teeth are not well adapted to biting. These foxes obtain most of their water content from the body fluids of these insects.

Behavior
Bat-eared foxes are mostly nocturnal, emerging from their underground dens at dusk to feed during the night. They live in family groups, mating pairs and their young. These groups are usually close knit; they groom, play and sleep together.

Fun Facts
* To escape from predators, the bat-eared fox relies on speed and incredible agility, they move with extreme fluidity.  They are considered the dodge-ball  champions of the animal kingdom
* Bat-eared Fox stay close to herds of zebras or antelopes in order to feed on the insects landing on their excrements.
* Males participate in playing with the young sometimes even more than the mother.

Physical Characteristics
The Blue monkey, despite its name is not noticeably blue; in fact, it is mainly olive or grey, apart from the face, which is dark with a pale or yellowish patch on the forehead; blackish cap, feet and front legs, and the mantle, which is brown, olive or grey depending on the subspecies.

Habitat
The Blue Monkey is found in evergreen forests and bamboo forests, it lives largely in the forest canopy, and very rarely comes to the ground level.  It eats mainly fruit and leaves, but will take some slower-moving invertebrates. It prefers to live in tall trees that provide both food and shelter, and therefore suffers from the loss of its natural habitat.

Behavior
The blue monkey mating system is a polygamy, group sizes range from 10 to 40, containing only a single adult male.

Fun Facts
* Despite its name, the Blue monkey is not blue.
* Group sizes range from 10 to 40 but will only contain one single adult male.

Physical Characteristics
Bongos are classified into two: the lowland or "western bongo", and the far rarer, mountain or "eastern bongo" restricted to northeastern Central Africa. The eastern bongo is larger and heavier than the western bongo. The western or lowland bongos, are herbivorous, mostly nocturnal, and among the largest of the African forest antelope species. Bongos are characterized by their striking reddish-brown coat, black and white markings, white-yellow stripes and long slightly spiralled horns.

Habitat
Bongos are found in dense tropical jungles with dense undergrowth up to an altitude of 4,000 meters (12,800 ft) in Central Africa, with isolated populations in Kenya, and other West African countries.

Behavior
Males, called bulls, tend to be solitary while groups of females with young live in groups of 6 to 8. Bongos have seldom been seen in herds of more than 20.
As young males mature and leave their maternal groups they most often remain solitary, although rarely they join-up with an older male.
Bongos are herbivorous browsers and feed on tree/bush leaves, bushes, vines, bark and pith of rotting trees, grasses/herbs, roots, cereals, shrubs and fruits.
Although mostly nocturnal, they are occasionally active during the day. Bongos are both timid and easily frightened; after a scare a bongo moves away at considerable speed, even through dense undergrowth.
When in distress the bongo emits a bleat. It uses a limited number of vocalizations, mostly grunts and snorts while females have a weak mooing contact-call for their young.

Fun Facts
* Both sexes have horns.
* Calves’ horns grow rapidly and begin to show in three and a half months.

Physical Characteristics
The African Buffalo, or Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large African bovid. The African buffalo has a thin covering of hair that is dark brown in colour. They have a large head, a thick neck, a broad chest and strong legs. Their ears are large and droopy and they have large, low curved horns. In males a boss joins the horns, which is a shield that covers their entire forehead.

Habitat
Buffalos live in swamps, floodplains as well as mopane grasslands and forests of the major mountains of Africa. While not particularly demanding with regards to habitat, they need to drink once per day so they are never far away from a water source.

Behavior
When sparring the bulls twist their horns from side to side. If the sparring is for play the bulls may rub each other's faces and bodies during the sparring session. Actual fights are violent but rare and brief. Calves may also spar in play but adult females rarely spar at all.

When chased by predators a herd will stick close together and make it hard for the predators to pick off one member. Calves are gathered in the middle. Buffalo will try to rescue a member that has been caught.

Fun Facts
*Lions do kill and eat buffalo regularly, but it typically takes multiple lions to bring down a single adult buffalo
*Buffalo mate and give birth strictly during the rainy seasons.

Physical Characteristics
The bush baby, also called lesser galago, is one of the smallest primates, about the size of a squirrel; they have large, round eyes for good night vision and bat like ears that enable them to track in the dark. Fast, agile and accurate, they catch some insects on the ground and snatch others from the air. The bush baby travels through the trees in literal leaps and bounds. In a series of leaps a bush baby can easily cover 10 yards in seconds.

Habitat
Bush babies are found throughout East Africa, as well as in woodlands and bush lands in sub-Saharan Africa. Most often Bush Babies live in tree hollows that provide shelter; they prefer trees with little grass around them, probably as a precaution against wild fires.

Behavior
Bush babies are usually found in small groups consisting of a mother and her offspring although usually on their own when feeding. Bush babies are know for their love of affection and can be usually found sleeping in groups during the day.

Fun Facts
* The longest recorded leap by a bush baby from one tree to another was 23 feet.
* Bush babies fertilize flowers by transferring pollen as they feed.

Physical Characteristics
The Bushbuck a.k.a Bush Antelope, are usually light brown in colour, although they do become darker with age.  Characterized by 7 white stripes along their bodies and by the geometric white patches that are on most moving body parts, such as the ears, chin, neck, legs and tail.  Males have horns, which are used for protection against other dominant males.  These horns can reach up to 50cm in length and usually have only one loop.

Habitat
Bushbucks are considered forest antelopes and inhabit forest areas such as rain forests, mountain forests, and bush savannas.

Behavior 
Bushbucks are solitary animals; all group associations are only during mating, with the exception of females and their most recent young; although, even this relationship is temporary.  Bushbuck territories will usually overlap another, however, even with this overlap, bushbucks tend to enjoy their solitary existence, and will avoid contact.  Studies show that when in close proximity to humans the Bushbuck become completely nocturnal.
A bizarre trait of these animals is their reaction to danger, when alarmed a Bushbuck will almost always “freeze” in one position.

Fun Facts
* Bushbucks are great swimmers and can jump over object higher than 6 feet.
 * To protect her young, the Female Bushbuck will eat her young’s dung so no scent remains to attract predators. Things mothers will do to protect their babies!!!’

Physical Characteristics
The Caracal aka Persian Lynx or African Lynx, is known to be a ferocious medium-sized cat. Although categorized as a small cat, the Caracal is the heaviest amongst its group, as well as the fastest. Its most distinct features are its long, tufted black ears.
Throughout history the Caracal has always bean thought to be a close relative of the Lynxes, however recent DNA tests have shown that the Caracal is more closely related to the Serval than the Eurasian Lynx.

Habitat 
The Caracal is evenly distributed throughout Africa.  Although the Caracal prefers semi-arid and desert areas as they can survive without drinking for prolonged periods, they can also be found in woodlands, savanna, and forest areas.

Behavior
The Caracal haunts at night, although in areas where seasons change drastically this animal will change its hunting routine to daytime. Usually they hunt for rodents and hares but occasionally have been known to attack gazelles and small antelope. Interestingly the Caracal is most well known for its skill of catching birds; Caracals have been spotted snatching a bird mid flight.

Fun Facts
* The origin of the name Caracal comes from the Turkish word for black ear - karakulak.
* Its ears are controlled by 20 different muscles that help it to find its prey.

Physical Characteristics
The cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal, at full sprint they can reach up to 120kp/h. Built for speed, the Cheetah has long, muscular legs, a small round head, a long neck attached to a flexible spine, special pads on its paws for traction and a long tail for balance. A distinctive characteristic of the Cheetah is its black "tear tracks" that run from the inside corner of each eye, scientists now believe these marks may serve as antiglare against a daytime hunt.

Habitat
Cheetahs are found in savannas planes.

Behavior 
The Cheetah like most other big cats, live a solitary existence. Males will accompany females only for a short time after mating.  Females however, will often spend a long time rearing and teaching cubs hunting techniques; Small live antelopes are brought back to the cubs so they can learn to catch them.
Cheetahs do not roar like lions, they purr, hiss, and growl. They also make a variety of contact calls; the most common is a chirping sound.

Fun Facts
*The Cheetah is the only cat that can’t retract its claws; this is believed to help maintain traction.
* The name cheetah comes from an Indian word meaning, "spotted one."
* Ancient civilizations trained cheetahs for hunting; this is depicted in their art and in written records.
* Akbar the Great of India loved the Cheetah so much he was said to have kept a stable of over 1,000.

Physical Characteristics 
You can tell a Colobus monkey from other by their distinct and beautiful black fur, which strongly contrasts with the long white mantle, whiskers and beard around the face and the bushy white tail.

Habitat 
Two types of black and white Colobus monkeys are found in Kenya those that inhabit coastal forests and those in inland high-country areas. The Colobus lives in all types of closed forests, including bamboo stands.

Behavior 
The Colobus is the most arboreal of all African monkeys and rarely descends to the ground. It uses branches as trampolines, jumping up and down to reach heights of over 40 feet. Their mantle hair and tails are believed to act as a parachute during these long leaps.
Colobus monkeys live in small troops numbering anywhere from 5 to 15 animals, usually a troop will consist of one dominant male, several females, and young.

Fun Facts
* The name Colobus comes from a Greek word meaning, "mutilated one" because unlike other monkeys they do not have thumbs.
* These monkeys communicate with songlike calls. Local communities say that the Colobus Monkeys are good weather forecasters because they become silent when bad weather is coming.

Physical Characteristics
The Common Eland is considered, alongside the ironically similarly dimensioned Giant Eland, the largest species of "antelope", though in many respects the Elands are quite bovine. Bulls are much bigger and weigh heavier than their females. The females have a tan coat, while males have a darker tan coat with a bluish-grey tinge; there may also be a series of white stripes vertically on the sides of bulls (mainly in parts of the Karoo in South Africa). Males have dense fur on their foreheads and a large dewlap. Both sexes have horns, about 65 cm (26 in) long and with a steady spiral ridge (resembling that of the bushbuck). The female's horns are wider set and thinner than the male's.

Habitat
The Common Eland previously inhabited grassland and open woodlands in East, South and Central Africa. In the breeding season Elands form herds of up to several hundreds. They are highly mobile and have large home ranges. Elands travel large distances through the year.

Behavior
Unlike carnivores and primates, Common Elands are noted for high intelligence. Herds usually have 30 to 80 individuals, but are known to exceed 400. The Common Eland has an unusual social life, leaving or joining herds as necessary without forming close ties. Common Eland communicate with each other using a varied array of sounds. When excited or alarmed, Common Elands also use scent signals to communicate; gestation lasts approximately 8-9 months; one offspring is born at a time

Fun Fact
*The Common Eland is the largest African bovid, but the slowest antelope.
*It can only run about 25 mph, but it can jump 10 feet from a standing start.

Physical Characteristics
Duiker is a medium-sized antelope species. With a slightly arched body and the front legs a little shorter than the hind legs, they are well shaped to penetrate thickets.

Habitat
Duikers are shy and elusive creatures with a fondness for dense cover; most are forest dwellers and even the species living in more open areas are quick to disappear into thickets.

Behavior
Their name comes from the Afrikaans/Dutch word for diver and refers to their practice of diving into tangles of shrubbery. They are primarily browsers rather than grazers, eating leaves, shoots, seeds, fruit, buds and bark. They supplement their diet with meat: duikers take insects and carrion from time to time, and even stalk and capture rodents or small birds.

Fun Fact
*They often follow flocks of birds or troops of monkeys to take advantage of the fruit they drop.

Physical Characteristics 
The Dwarf mongoose is the smallest mongoose in Africa, however, despite its small stature it is a typical mongoose: pointed head, small ears, short limbs and a long tail. They range in colour from yellowish-red to a dark brown with their limbs and belly usually a lighter colour.

Habitat
Found in most parts of Africa, these animals can adapt amazingly to all types of environments, they can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests and semi-arid areas.

Behavior
Dwarf mongooses can live in groups of up to 15 individuals.  Groups are found living on ranges that can cover large areas.  As Mongooses are nomadic and rarely stay sedentary for more than a few days, they require a large amount of area to constantly set up new dens.
Most Dwarf Mongooses tend to be quite social.  Usually a group will consist of more females than males and there are always two dominant individuals that head the group.  The female head is usually the leader and dominant male is usually a scout, who looks for safe surrounding to set up dens.

Fun Facts
* There are several other mongoose species in East Africa, some of these are: 1) Banded mongoose; 2) Slender mongoose; 3) Marsh mongoose; 4) Gray mongoose.
 * The dwarf mongoose system of hierarchy and group living is a perfect example of how groups that work and live together can help ensure survival of a species.

Physical Characteristics 
The African Elephant is the largest living land mammal on the planet.  An extraordinary characteristic of this mammal is its muscular trunk: serving as a nose, a hand, an extra foot, a communication device and as a tool for gathering food, drinking, dusting, and digging. The Elephant’s tusks are another striking feature; differing in size, shape and angle. The tusks are a common way for naturalists to identify individuals in a herd.

Habitat
Elephants can live in any habitat that has reasonable quantities of food and water.

Behavior 
Elephants are extremely sociable creatures; they form small family groups consisting of an old matriarch and several generations of relatives. Solitary male Elephants often visit these groups in search of female elephants that are in heat.  All Elephants are fun loving and when separate groups meet at watering holes they will always greet each other in a friendly manner.
The Elephants sense of smell is highly developed and they can detect even the slightest change in surroundings through this sense.

Fun Facts
* The elephant is famous for its high level of intelligence, interesting behavior, methods of communication and complex social structure.
* The Elephants Myth - the secret "elephant burial grounds," however, has no factual base.

Physical Characteristics
There are two types of flamingoes, the Lesser Flamingo and Greater Flamingo. The Lesser Flamingo is the smallest and most numerous flamingos, probably numbering up to two million individual birds. They generally weigh 4.5 lb (2.0 kg), are 3 ft long, stand 3 ft 3 in (0.99 m) tall, and have a wingspan of 3 ft 3 in (0.99 m). Most of their colour is pinkish white. The clearest difference between this species and Greater Flamingo, the only other Old World species, is the much more extensive black on the bill. This species feeds primarily on Spirulina, an algae which grows only in very alkaline lakes. Although blue-green in colour, the bacteria contains the photosynthetic pigments that gives the birds their pink colour. The lesser flamingo also feeds on shrimp.

The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread species of the flamingo family. This is the largest species of flamingo, averaging 110-150 cm (43-60 in) tall and weighing 2–4 kg (4.4-8.8 lbs). Most of the plumage is pinkish-white, but the wing coverts are red and the primary and secondary flight feathers are black.
The bill is pink with a restricted black tip, and the legs are entirely pink. The call is a goose-like honking.

Habitat
The flamingo's most characteristic habitats are large alkaline or saline lakes Lakes may be far inland or near the sea.

Bahavior
Flamingos run to gather speed when taking off and flap their wings practically continuously in flight. Only when in distress or migrating is when flamingos fly. The webbing between their toes helps them stand on soft mud. It also helps when swimming in water that is deeper than wading depth. Like all flamingos, they lay a single chalky white egg on mounds they build of mud. Chicks join creches soon after hatching, sometimes numbering over a hundred thousand individuals. The creches are marshalled by a few adult birds who lead them by foot to fresh water, a journey that can reach over 20 miles (32 km).

Fun Facts
*Flamingos run to gather speed when taking off.
*They rest by standing on one leg. The “knee” of the flamingo is actually an ankle joint and the lower leg bends forward.
*Grown flamingos have few natural predators.
*Flamingos live an average of 20 to 30 years.

Physical Characteristics
East Africa has tree main Genet species:
1) The Small-Spotted Genet which is found in arid regions, its spots are small, elongated and oval shaped but perhaps its is most recognizable feature is its dorsal crest that runs from shoulder to tail.
2) The Forest Genet, which lacks the crest and has a spots, which are spaced-out.
3) The Large-Spotted Genet, which is the most widely distributed of the three species, this Genet species has a smaller dorsal crest than its small-spotted cousin.
The Genet produces secretions the pass messages about sexual, social or territorial behavior.

Habitat 
The Genets of East Africa, enjoy a wide variety of habitats, including forests, mountain, arid and savanna environments.

Behavior 
Mainly nocturnal they usually spend their day sleeping or relaxing in bushy areas, however during the rainy season, they are often spotted out during the day.  Although considered tree dwellers, they spend a lot time on the ground hunting prey and taking shelter in rocky outcrops. Genets are usually solitary animals and only during mating periods and courtship will see you see them in groups.  Genets reach maturity within 2 years and live about 9 years.

Fun Facts
* When angry, frightened or injured, the genet will squirt a foul-smelling substance to deter enemies.    
* Genets also have retractable claws adapted to climbing and catching prey.
* The genet purrs, hisses, spits and meows, just like a cat.

Physical Characteristics
The giant forest hog has extensive hairs on its body, though these tend to become less pronounced as the animal ages. It is mostly black in colour on the surface, though hairs nearest the skin of the animal are a deep orange colour. Its ears are large and pointy, and its tusks are much smaller than those of the warthog but bigger than that of the bushpig.

Habitat
Giant forest hogs occur in the Jungles, mountain forests and Highlands. The giant forest hog are herbivores.

Behavior
Giant forest hogs are nocturnal, being mainly active for about four to eight hours a day between dusk and dawn. They live in large herds (sounders) of up to twenty animals. However, breeding pairs leave a sounder completely and do not tolerate other individuals. This means that giant forest hogs cannot be domesticated, since this requirement for large breeding territories precludes their being kept in enclosures.

Fun Fact
*Though known to native peoples of tropical African forests for many millennia and subject in many of these cultures to various taboos and superstitions, giant forest hogs were not scientifically classified until 1904.

Physical Characteristics
The Giraffe has peaked mans curiosity, ancient civilizations worshiped them, diplomats have sent them as gifts and for years the giraffe was thought to be a mix between a camel and a leopard, this myth has been ingrained in history through the Giraffes scientific name Giraffa camelopardalis.
The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world and this unique trait allows them to access unreachable foliage.  Another interesting trait is the distinctive way the Giraffe walks; they move both right legs forward followed by the left, and even with this awkward gait, at full gallop Giraffes can reach speeds upwards of 35km/h.  Giraffes have two small horns above the eyes, which protect them from head injury.

Habitat
Giraffes are found in arid and dry-savanna zones south of the Sahara, wherever trees occur.

Behavior
The giraffe is an extremely social animal it is not territorial and lives in large communities with no specific hierarchical coordination.  Male Giraffes will portray their dominance by ‘neck wrestling’ – swinging heads against each other.  Although adult Giraffes have very few predators, this is not the case for young giraffes – recent studies have shown that only 25% of young Giraffes reach adulthood.

Fun Facts
* Despite its long neck, the Giraffe has same number of vertebrae as man - 7.
* Calves are born 6 feet tall and can grow at an outstanding rate, in some cases up to 3cm/day.

Physical Characteristics
The Hartebeest is a large, fawn-colored antelope that at first glance seems strangely put together and less elegant than other antelopes. However, being one of the most recent and highly evolved ungulates, it is far from clumsy. In fact, it is one of the fastest antelopes and most enduring runners. These qualities gave rise to its name, which means "tough ox." Its sedentary lifestyle seems to inhibit the mixing of populations and gene flow; as a result, there are several subspecies of hartebeest.

• Bubal Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus buselaphus (Extinct)
• Coke's Hartebeest or Kongoni, Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii
• Lelwel Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus lelwel
• Western Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus major
• Swayne's Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei
• Tora Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus tora

Habitat
Hartebeest are mainly found in medium and tall grasslands, including savannas. They are more tolerant of high grass and woods than other alcelaphines (archetypical plains antelopes).

Behavior
The social organization of the hartebeest is somewhat different than that of other antelopes. Adult females do not form permanent associations with other adults; instead, they are often accompanied by up to four generations of their young. Female offspring remain close to their mothers up to the time they give birth to calves of their own. Even male offspring may remain with their mothers for as long as 3 years, an unusually long bonding period. As groups of females move in and out of male territories, the males sometimes chase away the older offspring. Their mothers become defensive and protect them from the males. Although bachelor herds of young males are also formed, they are less structured than those of some antelopes, and age classes are not as conspicuous.  The behavior of the female hartebeest when she gives birth is very different from that of the wildebeest. Instead of calving in groups on open plains, the hartebeest female isolates herself in scrub areas to give birth and leaves the young calf hidden for a fortnight, only visiting it briefly to suckle.

Fun Fact
*Young are born throughout the year, but conception and breeding peaks may be influenced by the availability of food.

Physical Characteristics
Hippopotamuses are one of the largest mammals. The eyes, ears, and nostrils of hippos are placed high on the roof of the skull. This allows them to be in the water with most of their body submerged in the waters and mud of tropical rivers to stay cool and prevent sunburn. Their skeletal structure is graviportal, adapted to carrying the animals' enormous weight. Hippopotamuses have small legs (relative to other megafauna) because the water in which they live reduces the weight burden. Like other aquatic mammals, the hippopotamus has very little hair.

Habitat
They can live in the water, or go on land. Their specific gravity allows them to sink and walk or run along the bottom of a river. Hippos are considered megafauna, but unlike all other African megafauna, hippos have adapted for a semi-aquatic life in freshwater lakes and rivers.

Behavior
Hippos spend most of their days wallowing in the water or the mud, with the other members of their pod. The water serves to keep their body temperature down, and to keep their skin from drying out. With the exception of eating, most of hippopotamuses' lives—from childbirth, fighting with other hippos, and reproduction—occur in the water.

Like almost any herbivore, they will consume many other plants if presented with them, but their diet in nature consists almost entirely of grass, with only minimal consumption of aquatic plants

Fun Fact
* Their skin secretes a natural sunscreen substance, which is red-colored. The secretion is sometimes referred to as "blood sweat," but is neither blood nor sweat. This secretion is initially colorless and turns red-orange within minutes, eventually becoming brown.

Physical Characteristics 
The Ratel is a small but extremely muscular and compact animal that has a fondness for honey this trait accounts for its second name, the honey badger.
With a well-developed neck and shoulders and strong forelegs armed with massive claws for digging, the Honey Badger is considered one of the feistiest animals in the world.

Habitat 
Honey Badger can adapt to either very wet or very dry habitats and therefore can be found throughout East Africa residing in moist savannas, semi-deserts and mountain forests.

Behavior
Generally consider solitary animals, the Honey Badgers are known to be quite territorial, they apply scents to mark a wide variety of areas, such as burrows, holes and base of trees. In the wild the Ratel is diurnal, but in areas with large human populations these animals live a completely nocturnal life.

Fun Facts
* The Honey Badger has no external ears. Their ears are enclosed in the skin; this keeps out dirt when digging.
* Honey Badger has been named the most fearless animal in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Physical Characteristics
Humans and hyenas have always lived in close proximity, even in ancient Egypt; Hyenas were domesticated, and kept in households.  Over time, Hyenas have gained a reputation of being cowardly; animals that only scavenges for their food and do not hunt. However, recently it has been found that these animals are quite the opposite; aggressive and dangerous.
The female hyena is generally larger than its male counterpart and it is difficult to tell the two genders apart, as the female genitalia looks similar to the male’s. This development makes the female hyena look larger and stronger than the male, allowing her to protect the infant cubs, as hyenas are known to be cannibalistic.

Habitat 
Hyenas are found in grasslands, woodlands, savannas, deserts, forest edges and mountains.

Behavior 
Hyenas generally travel in groups that consist of related individuals. Hyenas are known to be territorial, marking their areas by releasing a pungent substance secreted from their anal glands. Their den is considered the central location for the group, and is a place where individuals meet and where all cubs are raised. Hyenas communicate with one another through specific calls, coughs, laughs and signals.

Fun Facts
* Hyenas communicate through a number of sounds, such as howling screeches, wailing calls, and the well-known "laughter" used to alert group members of a food source.
* Hyenas eat a great variety of products; autopsies have shown products such as metal pots and pans.

Physical Characteristics 
The hyrax is unlike all other animals, it is said that the Hyrax is the elephant's nearest living relative. Although this statement is true, it can be misleading since the relationship is remote and stems from common ancestor between Hyraxes, Elephants and Dugongs (Sea Cows or Manatees).
The hyrax, also known as the rock rabbit is a small fury animal, and looks similar to an oversized guinea pig. There are 2 main hyrax species, rock hyrax and tree hyrax. The rock hyrax has the widest distribution in East Africa, this Hyrax’s head is more rounded than the tree hyrax, and its nose is blunt. Tree hyraxes; spend most of their time in trees, keeping with the spirit of the name.

Habitat
Hyraxes are extremely adaptable. In Kenya they can be spotted anywhere from the coast to Mount Kenya.

Behavior 
Rock hyraxes live in colonies of 50-60 individuals, they do not dig burrows, instead they inhabit natural crevices. They are active during the day and can be seen feeding or lying out near the entrances to their rock homes. The tree hyrax is quite the opposite they are nocturnal and they do not travel in groups of more than a male and female pair.

Fun Facts
* Hyrax remains have shown that these animals were once the the size of oxen.
* Rock hyraxes live in groups with one male and up to 20 females and their young.

Physical Characteristics
The graceful impala is a slender, medium-sized antelope so adaptable that it is found from southern Africa to the northern limits of East Africa. The body is reddish-brown with white hair inside the ears, over each eye and on the chin, upper throat, under parts and buttocks. A narrow black line runs along the middle of the lower back to the long tail, and a vertical black stripe appears on the back of each thigh. Unlike other antelopes, impalas have large; brush like tufts of long, coarse black hair that cover a scent gland located just above the heel on each hind leg.

Habitat
Impalas are found at grassland and woodland edges, usually very close by water.

Behavior
Their social organization allows impalas to adapt to prevailing environmental conditions. When food is plentiful, the males become territorial. In home ranges averaging 3 square miles, six to eight dominant males set up territories. They stand with erect posture, rub scent from face glands and make dung heaps to mark their territory. The females form herds of 10 to 50 or more and wander in and out of male territories. If they start to leave the territory, the male tries to herd them back to the center, or he feigns danger just beyond his boundary by taking a stance normally used as a warning sign. He tries to mate with females in estrus and defends his territory from challenging males. Bachelor males are allowed to remain in male territories if they ignore the females.
 
Fun Facts
*When frightened or startled the whole impala herd starts leaping about in order to confuse their predator.
*The breeding season of impala is called rutting, which normally lasts about three weeks. While young are born after seven months, the mother has the ability to delay giving birth for an additional month if conditions are harsh.

Physical Characteristics 
East Africa has tree main Jackal species, they differ mainly in color and choice of habitat; 1) Golden Jackal prefers open plains; 2) Side-striped Jackal enjoys waterways and dense undergrowth; 3) Black-backed Jackal which can be recognized by the black hair on the back and its rust-colored body. The black-backed Jackal is easier to see due to its diurnal habits as well as its love for savanna areas, which are abundant in Kenya.

Habitat 
The Golden Jackal lives in open savannahs, deserts and arid grasslands but are usually nocturnal. Side-striped jackals are found in moist savannas, marshes, bush lands and mountains such as the Abedares National Park. The Black-backed jackal lives primarily in savannas and woodlands.

Behavior 
Jackals usually travel alone or in pairs, however recent studies have shown that they also travel in packs or related individuals. Jackal’s are also among a very select group of mammals that mate for life. Mates are territorial, both male and female Jackals mark and defend their territory. They communicate with each other by a high-pitched yell or yapping, when a kill is located they sound a siren like howl.

Fun Facts
* Jackals are noisy. Family or pack members communicate with each other by a screaming yell and yapping, or a siren like howl when a kill is located.
* Jackals are very cunning and resourceful. Although usually considered scavengers, they also hunt and kill a variety of prey.

Physical Characteristics
The Klipspringer is a small African antelope. Reaching approximately 58 cm (22 inches) at the shoulder, Klipspringers are relatively small animals compared to some of their larger antelope cousins. Only the males have horns that are usually about 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) long. They stand on the tips of their hooves.
With a thick and dense speckled "salt and pepper" patterned coat of an almost olive shade, Klipspringers blend in well with the kopje (rock outcrops, pronounced "kah-pee") on which they can usually be found.

Behavior
Klipspringers are herbivores, eating rock plants. They never need to drink, since the succulents they subsist on provide them with enough water to survive. The mating season for Klipspringers is from September through to January. The gestation period is about 214 days.

Fun Fact
* The Klipspringer is known for its remarkable jumping ability and is able to leap to staggering heights of 25 feet, which is about 15 times its own height.

Physical Characteristics 
Two types of Kudus exist in Kenya, the Greater Kudu and the Lesser Kudu; both have stripes and spots on the body, and v-shaped line of white hair between the eyes. Greater and Lesser Kudu males have long, spiral horns, however the Greater Kudu's horns are impressive, they usually spiral 2 to 3 times and can grow over 180cm in length.  Lesser Kudu’s are noticeably smaller than their cousin.

Habitat 
Lesser Kudus are found in arid savannas and the Greater Kudus are found in woodlands and bush lands.

Behavior 
Male kudus are usually solitary animals; occasionally they may form bachelor groups but this is rare.  Male and female Kudu’s only come together during mating.  Male Kudu’s are not territorial; fighting between males is uncommon and confrontations are settled peacefully, by both parties standing in front of each other, each trying to look larger than the other.
Female Kudu’s travel in groups of 6 to 10 individuals, when pregnant, the Female will leave the confines of the group to give birth.  Once a calf is old enough to follow the mother, usually within 3 to 4 weeks, they will then rejoin the group.  Calves reach maturity within six months and are usually independent of the mothers by this time.

Fun Facts
* The colour of the Kudu’s hide camouflages them in the bush and thus protects them from predators.
* When alarmed, Kudu’s will freeze in one spot, against a background of bush, these animals become extremely difficult to spot

Physical Characteristics 
Pound for pound, the leopard is the strongest of the large cats and capable of easily killing a prey larger than itself.  A strong climber and the extremely secretive, the Leopard is considered the shrewdest hunter of all the large carnivores.

Habitat  
Favourite habitats include bash and rocky surroundings and dense ravine forests.  However, it has been seen that Leopards adapt easily to many differing habitats and climates. This adaptability has in fact allowed the Leopard to survive even with major loss of habitat and human encroachment.

Behavior  
Leopards are solitary creatures and are usually more active during the night. Individual territories overlap, male Leopard’s territory are usually much larger than the female’s and usually a males territory will overlap a number of females territories.  
Leopards are nomadic within their range, they seldom stay in an area for more than 2 to 3 days, and they mark their new territories with urine and announce their presence by coughing.  Female Leopards will change their nomadic habits when child rearing begins; this continues until such a time that the cubs are strong enough to accompany her on her travels.

Fun Facts
* The elegant Leopard’s coat is covered with dark, irregular circles called "rosettes".
* In the Abedares National Park you may have a chance to spot the elusive black leopard or panther.

Physical Characteristics
King of the jungle, the lion is a magnificent carnivore, a symbol of power, courage and nobility. At one time, Lions were found throughout the ancient world from Greece through the Middle East and all the way up to India, however today, this is not the case.  Most lions are now found only in Sub Saharan Africa.
A unique trait amongst mature male lions is their thick manes, dark brown or black, these manes encircle the head and neck, this is not seen on any other large cat in the world.

Habitat
Lions are nearly everywhere in Kenya from the savanna plains, to grasslands and dense bush all the way to mountain woodlands.

Behavior 
Lions travel together in social groups called a pride; this again is a unique to most cat species.  Their social existence is based on the pride, teamwork, division of labour and close family unit are the foundations of the group.  A pride can consist of up to 15 individuals; 10 females, 2 males and the rest are made up of young cubs.
Lions enjoy touching, rubbing and licking; just like house cats.

Fun Facts
* Lions in arid areas are able to go 5 days without drinking.
* When a male take over a pride, it will usually kill the cubs, in order to sire his own cubs.
* A lions roar, can be heard up to 8km away.

Physical Characteristics
The Mountain Reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) is an antelope found in mountainous areas of much of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Mountain Reedbuck averages 75 cm at the shoulder, and weighs around 30 kg. It has a grey coat with a white underbelly and reddish-brown head and shoulders. The male has ridged horns of around 35 cm, which curve forwards.

Habitat
The Mountain Reedbuck lives in thick mountainous forest, where it eats grasses and leaves.

Behavior
The Mountain Reedbuck lives in thick mountainous forest, where it eats grasses and leaves. It forms herds of around five individuals, including a single mature male. Adolescent males are forced out of their herds and form small bachelor herds. In the dry season, the Mountain Reedbuck sometimes forms herds of up to thirty individuals. They are diurnal, but inactive during the heat of the day.

Physical Characteristics
Typically, Oryx have long, straight, almost-upright or swept-back horns. Both males and females possess permanent horns. The horns are narrow, and straight except in the scimitar Oryx, where they curve backwards like a scimitar. The horns are lethal—the Oryx has been known to kill lions with them—and oryxes are thus sometimes called the Sabre antelope. The horns also make the animals a prized game trophy, which has led to the near-extinctionof the two northern species.

Habitat
All Oryx species prefer near-desert conditions and can survive without water for long periods.

Behavior
They live in herds of up to 600 animals. Newborn calves are able to run with the herd immediately after birth.

Fun facts
*The Oryx may offer one explanation for the root of unicorns in mythology: from a distance, the animal's two horns may appear to be one.

Physical Characteristics
A male ostrich stands between 6 and 9 feet at maturity, while females will range between 5.5 and 6.5 feet tall at maturity. Ostrich chicks grow about 10 inches per month for the first year and weigh about 100 pounds at 12 months of age. Adults usually weigh between 150 to 330 pounds. Domesticated ostriches reach maturity at 2 to 3 years of age. Females mature about 6 months earlier than males. Ostriches normally live from 30 to 70 years in captivity. Even though ostriches are flightless birds, their wings are surprisingly strong.

Habitat
Ostriches live in grassland, desert, woodlands, shrub land, and savannas, flat grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs.

Behavior
It is a myth that the ostrich is famous for hiding its head in the sand at the first sign of danger. The normal walking pace of ostriches is 2.5 miles per hour. When ostriches sense danger or are threatened, they can run at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour for a few minutes and can maintain a steady speed of about 31 miles per hour for thirty minutes.
Males and females are polygamous, meaning they have more than one mate at the same time. Following mating, the dominant male will build a nest by scraping the ground or sand with his feet several times, making a shallow depression.

Fun Facts
* Ostrich eggs incubate for 42 days and weigh 3 pounds.
* Ostriches use their wings for aggressive display and courtship rituals.

Physical Characteristics 
There are 3 main types of Pangolins:
1) Giant Pangolin;
2) Tree Pangolin;
3) Ground Pangolin.
Pangolins have long, thick tails, small heads with no external ears and they have no teeth (Not someone won you’d introduce to your Mother). Their sense of smell is extremely developed, but their sight is poor. Their Hyde is a protective layer keratinous scales, these scales make up 20% of the pangolin's weight.

Habitat 
The common pangolin prefers sandy soils and is found in woodlands and savannas, within reach of water.

Behavior 
Being nocturnal, Pangolins usually remain in their burrows throughout the day. All pangolins have a very interesting defense mechanism, when threatened they roll themselves into a ball, the amour plated layer protect them and can also inflict serious injuries if one were to force them open. Another defense mechanism for the Pangolin is their anal scent glands which when threatened emit an offensive odour to warn off predators.

Fun Facts
* A pangolin walks a few miles each night, but tends to use the same burrow for many months.
* As pangolins have no teeth, their stomachs are specially designed for crush food. Small rocks and sand that the pangolins consume speed up this process.

Physical Characteristics 
There are two types of Rhinos, the Black Rhinoceros and The white Rhinoceros. The Black Rhino a.k.a. Hook Lipped Rhino is native to the eastern and central areas of Africa and although it is referred to as black in colour, the Black Rhino is actually grey.  The name of the species was chosen to distinguish it from the White Rhinoceros although technically the two species cannot be distinguished by colour. The White Rhino is not white like its name suggests, in fact it is more of yellowish-grey, its name come from the Dutch word “wite” which means “wide” Larger than its cousin the Black Rhino, the White Rhino is probably the second largest land mammal on the planet..
Typically, The Black Rhino is smaller than its cousin the White Rhino, it has 2 horns (sometimes 3) made out of keratin the larger front horn can grow up to 70cm long.  A noticeable characteristic of this animal is its hooked (prehensile) lips, which allow the Rhino to feed on selective foliage. The White Rhino on the other hand can weigh upwards of 5000 pounds and grow to lengths of over 13 feet. They have two horns; the front one is usually the longer of the two.  A distinct feature of the White Rhino is a hump on the back of the neck which helps support its large, wide head.

Habitat 
Rhinos are quite adaptable, although they prefer savannah plains and grasslands; they also choose regions that are close to a good water source.

Behavior 
The Black Rhino is considered very aggressive and what they lack in eyesight they make up for with their sense of smell and incredible hearing. Head lowered, horn pointed and tail erect, Rhinos are a formidable force when charging.  As they always charge in a straight line, your best bet would be to run in long zigzags; as they lack good eyesight. Rhinos use their horn to help them keep straight.

White Rhinos are more social than the secretive Black Rhino; they live in herds of up to 15 individuals, mostly female.  Adult bulls are usually solitary and will only congregate during mating seasons. An interesting trait of the Bull Rhino is their “dung-piles”, these well-defined piles are used to identify territories and ward off other Rhinos.  The White Rhino, like their cousin, is an extremely agile animal, reaching speeds of over 50km/h, these beasts can cause havoc when provoked.  Female Rhino’s are very protective over their young, and it is rare for a calf to be attacked while in her presence.

Fun Facts
* Less than 4000 Black Rhinoceros exist in the world.
* When a Rhino charges it can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h.
*The largest Black Rhino horn was measured at 152cm.
* Although these animals require water on a daily basis they can live comfortable for up to 5 days without water.
* During the 70’s and 80’s poachers reduced the population of White Rhinos a drastic 95%.  In 2006, the Northern White Rhino was considered extinct!

Physical Characteristics
The Roan Antelope is a savanna antelope found in West, Central, East Africa and Southern Africa. It stands about a metre and half at the shoulder and weigh around 250 kilograms. Named for the "roan' colour (a reddish brown), they have a lighter underbelly, white eyebrows and cheeks and a black face, lighter in females. There is a short erect mane, a very light beard and prominent red nostrils. The horns are ringed and can reach a metre long in males, slightly shorter in females. They arch backwards slightly.

Habitat
Roan Antelope are found in woodland and grassland savanna mainly in the Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrub lands biome, which range in tree density from forest with a grassy under storey  to grasslands dotted with few trees, where they eat mid-length grass.

Behavior
They form harem groups of five to fifteen animals with a dominant male. Roan Antelope commonly fight among themselves for dominance of their herd, brandishing their horns while both animals are on their knees.

Fun Fact
*They are similar in appearance to Sable Antelope and can be confused where their ranges overlap. Sable Antelope males are darker, being black rather than dark brown.

Physical Characteristics
The Sable Antelope stands 120 to 140 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh 200 to 270 kilograms, males being larger than females. Female Sable Antelope are chestnut to dark brown darkening as they mature while males are very distinctively black. Both sexes have a white underbelly, white cheeks and a white chin. They have a shaggy mane on the back of their neck. Sable antelope have ringed horns that arch backward, in females these can reach a meter, but in males they can reach over one and a half meters.

Habitat
Sable Antelope live in wooded savannah where they eat mid-length grass and leaves.

Behavior
They are diurnal but are less active during the heat of the day. Sable Antelope form herds of ten to thirty females and calves led by a single male.

Fun Fact
*Sable Antelope males will fight among themselves; they drop to their knees and use their horns.

Physical Characteristics 
Servals are medium sized African wild cats, they have black-spotted coats, long neck and legs to see over savanna grasses and have large oval shaped ears with an acute sense of hearing.

Habitat 
Needing plenty of water, Servals are usually found in savannah areas that within close proximity to a good water source.  Although Servals prefer bush and tall grass regions it is not uncommon to find them in mountainous areas.

Behavior 
Servals are mainly nocturnal, spending there days sleeping in tall grass, which makes it almost impossible to spot them during this time. Servals have powerful hearing, when hunting, you will usually see them listening intently for any movement, head cocked above the grass. Their sense of hearing is said to be so acute, that Servals are able to locate prey even when they are moving underground.
Servals are solitary animals; they come together only when the female is in heat. Female Servals raise their litter alone, hunting and protecting them until they are large enough to hunt for themselves.  

Fun Facts
* Servals have a variety of vocalizations, including a high-pitched cry used to call other servals. When angry they snarl, growl and spit. When content they purr.
* Servals are found in most parts of Africa, with the exception of central equatorial Africa, the very southern part of the continent and the Sahara region.
* When young males are large enough to hunt, the mother drives them out so that they can start to fend for themselves.  Females are driven out once they reach sexual maturity.

Physical Characteristics
Sitatunga stand about one and a half metres at the shoulder. They have a water-proof coat which is dark brown in males and reddish brown in females. Both sexes have white stripes and spots as well as white splotches on their faces. Their hooves are long and thin to deal with the Sitatunga's swampy habitat. Males have a mane as well as horns, which are twisted and can reach almost a metre in length.

Habibtat
Sitatunga live in papyrus swamps and are very good swimmers.

Behavior
They are crepuscular although they are also somewhat active at night and day. Sitatunga can be solitary; females tend to stick in herds while males become mostly solitary after mating.

Fun Fact
*They may take to the water to evade predators such as leopards or wild dogs, lying submerged in pools with only their nostrils above the surface.

Phycical Characteristics
The Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. Steenbok stands 45–60 cm at the shoulder. Their coat is typically rather orange. The underside, including chin and throat, is white, as is the ring around the eye. Ears are large with "finger-marks" on the inside. There is a black crescent-shape between the ears, a long black bridge to the glossy black nose, and a black circular scent-gland in front of the eye.

Habitat
Steenbok can use a variety of habitats from semi-desert, such as the edge of the Kalahari Desert to open woodland and thickets, including open plains, stony savannah, and Acacia grasslands. They are said to favour unstable or transitional habitats

Behaviour
Steenbok typically browse on low-level vegetation but are also skilled at scraping up roots and tubers. They are almost entirely independent of drinking water, gaining the moisture they need from their food. During cool periods, Steenbok are active throughout the day; however, during hotter periods, they rest under shade during the heat of the day.

Fun Facts
* They cannot reach above 0.9 m
* At the first sign of trouble, Steenbok typically lie low in the vegetation. If a predator or perceived threat comes closer, a Steenbok will leap away and follow a zigzag route to try to shake off the pursuer.

Physical Characteristics
Sykes' Monkey also known as the White-throated Monkey, is an Old World monkey found between Ethiopia and South Africa, including south and east Democratic Republic of Congo and in northwest Angola. It has a large white patch on the throat and upper chest, and a grayish cap.

Behavior
The territories and migration pattern of Sykes monkeys is in relation to plantations of exotic softwood. Monkey troops showed comparable pattern of movement that is governed by the availability of food resources. Sykes monkeys are territorial in behaviour.

Physical Characteristics
Thompson's gazelles have light brown coats with white under parts and a distinctive black stripe. Their horns are long and pointed with slight curvature. The white patch on their rump extends to underneath the tail but no further.

Habitat
Thompson's gazelles live in Africa's savannas and grassland habitats, particularly the Serengeti region of Kenya and Tanzania. They eat low vegetation and grass. Most of the water they need comes from what they eat. Though it's one of the most common gazelles in its range, the population size is not large due to its limited range.

Behavior
Thompson's gazelles often congregate with other ungulates, such as wildebeest and zebra and usually live and migrate in herds with hundreds or thousands of other gazelles.

During the non-territorial periods males usually spend their time in bachelor groups or as part of a mixed herd. Likewise females will form migratory female groups that travel through the males' territory. As the female groups pass through, the territorial males will try to herd them to prevent them from leaving.

A noticeable behaviour of Thompson's gazelles is their bounding leap, known as stotting or pronking, used to startle predators and display strength. Female Thompson's gazelles give birth to single fawns after a 5–6 month gestation period. They are unusual among ungulates in that they can give birth twice yearly, rather than just once.

Fun Facts
* Thompson's gazelle and a zebra or other ungulate will even appear to enjoy one another's company with great sociability.
* The gazelle is a favored prey item for the cheetah.

Physical Characteristics
The Topi is a medium-sized antelope with a striking reddish-brown to purplish-red coat. Distinct black patches appear on the face, the upper forelegs and on the hips and thighs. To complete its singular appearance, the Topi's yellowish-tan legs look like they are encased in stockings.

Habitat
The species is a savannah and floodplain antelope and can go without water for long periods of time only if they have access to green grazing land.

Behavior
Topis are most active in the morning and evening. Pace of their every day behavior is influenced by the availability of food - the drier the food, the longer time needed for digestion.
Mating takes place in the territories. If food provisions are predominantly good, Topis will conceive at different times of the year, with shorter gap between calves.

Fun Facts
*Topis are the fastest of the ungulates, capable of out running other similar antelope species.
*Females have the ability to stop the process of the labor in order to delay giving birth if they sense unexpected danger.

Physical Characteristics 
Vervet monkeys are usually found to have greenish-olive or silvery-gray coats, their faces, 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, but can easily recognized by a their blue scrotum and red penis.

Habitat 
In East Africa these monkeys can live in mountain areas above 12,000 feet. However, their preferred habitat is acacia woodland along streams, rivers and lakes.

Behavior 
Vervet society is built on complex but stable social groups called troops.  Usually consisting of anywhere from 15 – 50 individuals, mostly adult females and their offspring.

Fun Facts
* Vervet monkeys are great climbers, jumpers and swimmers.
* After a birth, the mother licks the infant clean, bites off the umbilical cord and eats the afterbirth.
* Young vervets are very playful; they chase one another, wrestle, tumble and taking turns pushing each other off a high perch. ‘Hmm... just like King of the Castle.’

Physical Characteristics 
Found in most of East Africa, Warthogs are widely distributed throughout Kenyan Game Parks. Warthogs are distant cousins to the pig, however unlike their pink cousins, Warthogs are able to live without water for several months, this is done through conserving moisture inside the body, by raisings its internal core temperature.
The Warthog is a tough and muscular animal with oversized heads.  An unusual characteristic of the Warthog is their large tusks; two that emerge from the top and 2 from the bottom.  The lower tusks are extremely sharp and can cause sever damage when attacking.  Another characteristic trait is the Warthog’s tail that stands up right as they run.

Habitat 
Warthogs are found in moist or arid savannas.

Behavior 
Warthogs live in family groups consisting of a female and her young. Males normally live separately and only join the family groups during mating.  Warthogs sleep in dens or holes, usually dug by other animals, these holes provides much needed shelter for thermoregulation (heat control) especially since they have no fat or fur to insulate them from weather conditions.

Fun Facts
* The warthog has poor vision, but its senses of smell and hearing are amazing.
* When alarmed, the warthog will grunt and bolt for underground cover, if you see this, get out of the way.

Physical Characteristics
The Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is an antelope found in Western, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. The Defassa Waterbuck is a subspecies (Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa) in which the ring on the rump is solid white. The Defassa Waterbuck are found west of the Great Rift Valley, ranging from Ethiopia west to Senegal, while the Ellipsen Waterbuck occur in south-east Africa, east of the Great Rift Valley.
Waterbuck stand 100 to 130 cm at the shoulder and weigh from 160 to 240 kg. Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become gradually darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and a white ring on their rumps surrounding their tails.

Habitat
Waterbuck are found in scrub and savanna areas near water where they eat grass. Despite its name, the waterbuck does not spend much time in the water, but will take refuge there to escape predators.

Behavior
Waterbuck are diurnal. Females gather in herds of between two and six hundred individuals. Males keep territories of around three hundred acres (1.2 km²) during their prime. They usually lose their territories before the age of ten.
 
Fun Fact
*The long spiral structured horns, found only in males, sweep back and up.

Physical Characteristics
Wildebeest Weight: 265 to 600 pounds, 50 to 58 inches at the shoulder and it has a lifespan of 20 years. The head of the Wildebeest is large and box-like. Both males and females have curving horns that are close together at the base, but curve outward, inward and slightly backward. The body looks disproportionate, as the front end is heavily built, the hindquarters slender and the legs spindly.

Habitat
Large herds of Wildebeest are located in the plains and acacia of eastern Africa.

Behavior
In the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem the animals make a migratory circle each year of 500 to 1,000 miles. The migration starts after the calving season in January and February on the short grass plains in the southeastern Serengeti. Wildebeests move west toward Lake Victoria, across the grass savanna to the open woodlands, then turn north into the Mara. They then begin the return trip to the south. They are relentless in their advance and will swim rivers and lakes in such huge masses that many are injured, lost (especially in the case of calves) or killed.

Wildebeest are continually on the move as they seek favorable supplied of grass and water. They also cover long distances at a slow rocking gallop but can run fast when necessary.

Fun Facts
* Active both day and night, they often string out in long single columns when on the move.
* During mating season, bulls go through all kinds of antics, galloping and bucking around to mark their territories. They also urinate and defecate in a certain spot and toll in it to signal to other bulls to stay away.

Physical Characteristics 
Zebras have horse like bodies, but their manes are made of short, erect hair, their tails are tufted at the tip and of course, their coats are striped.
Three main species of Zebra still occar in Africa, two of which are found in Kenya; The Burchell’s Zebra, a.k.a Common Zebra and the Grevy's Zebra, named after the President of France, Jules Grevy, who received one as a gift from Abyssinia in the 19th century.

Habitat 
Burchell's Zebras inhabit savanna plains, from grasslands to open woodlands; they have been known to occur in tens of thousands in migratory herds in the Maasai Mara.  Grevy's Zebras are now mainly restricted to parts of northern Kenya.

Behavior
Zebra’s social system is based on a harem, one Stallion leading a group of females. Stallions establish their harems by abducting fillies that have reached sexual maturity. Stallions will battle long and hard for a filly, this is because the filly will permanently stay with the successful mate.  New fillies assume the lower stature when abducted into a harem so as not to receive hostility from the other females.

Fun Facts
* Romans called Zebras 'hippotigris' and trained them to pull two-wheeled carts for exhibition in circuses.
* No two Zebras have exactly the same stripes.  Scientists’ state that the Zebra stripes are as distinctive as fingerprints.
* Zebra coats reflect over 70% of incoming heat.