What animals are there in kenya

What really sets them apart and gives them their name is the telltale warts on their bodies. These warts are used as protection during mating season, when male Warthogs a. Named for its white back, the White-backed Vulture is gray and white in color. Like other vultures, they scavenge on animal carcasses and do not have any natural predators. They like to circle around open savannas and plains areas, using their strong eyesight to identify potential food for themselves.

Despite its lack of predators, these birds are endangered because of habitat loss and hunting amongst other threats, demonstrating the interconnected nature of scavengers with other creatures. Originally known as the gnu, Wildebeests gained their current name from the Afrikaans language because of their wild and intimidating appearance. While it resembles a buffalo more than anything, wildebeests are actually a larger antelope species marked by their large, pointed horns.

Despite their large size, wildebeests are prey for many major predators in Kenya, such as lions and hyenas. Wildebeests are herbivores, feeding on grasses and other plants.

Latin Name: Kobus ellipsiprymnus Habitat: Savanna grasslands, gallery forests, and riverine woodlands Size: Height: to in; Length: to 93 in; Weight: to pounds Diet: Grass, leaves, bushes Conservation Status: Least Concern, population decreasing. Named for their preferred proximity to water , the Common Waterbuck feeds on plants near bodies of water in various habitats, including savannas and forests.

Their eyes are situated on the sides of their face in order to maximize their field of vision. Their bodies give off a strong odor that helps to ward off predators as well. Another notable trait is their long horns, which are sometimes used by males when fighting over territory.

But our favorite feature of the Waterbuck is their adorable noses, which resemble a heart shape if you look closely. The massive animal looks a little like a cross between an antelope and a cow. These antelopes live in various ecosystems in East and Southern Africa, ranging from mountains to plains and everything in between. Elands usually travel in herds of various sizes but sometimes wander alone, grazing on grasses and other plants all year-round.

Both males and females have huge horns, which they use to detach high tree branches and grab food. Although they are very large, Elands are actually quite shy. These antelopes feed and run quickly in herds overseen by a dominant male. Impalas can leap up to 33 feet in the air, which helps them to avoid predators and send signals to other Impalas, but is also occasionally done just for fun.

Impalas have adapted to feed on a variety of plants depending on the season, eating grass shoots in the wet months and shrubs and other dry herbs in the dry months. These little antelopes only grow to about 14 pounds and mate for life, repeatedly traveling along the same trails that wind through the grass and bushes. Their large eyes help them to see and also hold a preorbital gland , which produces a substance that the Dik-Dik uses to mark its territory.

They are targeted by many predators, and survive by staying hidden in the bush. Living primarily in floodplains, the Topi is also found in the savanna and other dry habitats. Topis feed on very specific plants , chewing for long periods of time before resting and then grazing again.

Unlike many other antelope species, the Topi is very sociable and interacts with other species, such as wildebeests and zebras. Within their own species, Topis live in herds ranging in size from , and they establish smaller herds when necessary. They prefer to sleep standing up, usually on a high point and facing in opposite directions as if they are keeping watch. Latin Name: Canis mesomelas Habitat: Coastal areas, deserts, mountains Size: Length: 2 to 3 feet; Weight: 12 to 21 pounds Diet: Rodents, gazelle, hares, lizards, birds, insects, fruits, berries Conservation Status: Least Concern, population stable.

Named for the streak of black hair along its back, the Black-backed Jackal lives in open areas that are not completely covered by tall grasses or bush. These animals are active both day and night, hunting and scavenging on several different types of animals, including various antelopes species. They will hunt individually or in pairs, but also dine on plants and other vegetable matter.

Black-backed Jackals are clever and have been able to take advantage of human development. They often feed on scraps left behind by humans or on domesticated animals such as cats and dogs that humans keep as pets. Like wolves and coyotes, jackals are among the few mammal species that generally mate for life. Mated pairs are usually very territorial, with both male and female marking and defending their territory. The fastest land animal in the world, the Cheetah is known for its lightning-fast speed and its well-defined spots.

Unlike its spotted counterpart, the Leopard, Cheetahs do not stalk their prey. Instead they run after it, dashing at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour. Despite their great speed, Cheetahs are considered shy and less aggressive than other big cats. So they have to quickly eat their prey before a scavenger comes and steals it away.

Unlike Lions, Cheetahs are solitary animals. But they sometimes live in coalitions with other Cheetahs, constantly moving around without settling in one place. Looking a bit like a spotted raccoon or a small hyena, the Large-Spotted Genet is actually related to the weasel.

It feeds on small mammals, birds, plants and more. These animals are distinguished from the Small-spotted Genet by their black-tipped tails and large, black spots all along its body. The Large-Spotted Genet is solitary and generally spends its time in densely-covered habitats such as forests.

These animals operate mostly at night, and pounce on their prey in order to catch it. Named for its freshwater home, the Nile Crocodile lives in the Nile River Basin as well as other rivers and swamps throughout eastern Africa.

These reptiles have a bad reputation as vicious predators, feeding on just about anything they come in contact with including humans. Nile Crocodiles are also known for eating plants and small animals, so they do not really discriminate when it comes to their food sources. With long legs like a deer and a gorgeous multicolored coat like that of a big cat, Wild Dogs are an unusual animal to say the least. These dogs have large, upward-pointing ears and communicate with one another through a distinctive series of sounds and touches.

These dogs are predators that live in packs of up to 30 members. Named for their characteristic grey heads, this small, multicolored bird is usually seen perched in the low branches of trees, from which they hunt. The diminutive Grey-headed Kingfisher feeds on small bugs like grasshoppers and beetles as well as small lizards. They live near water in wooded areas, often watching silently for long periods of time before they dive after their prey. The feathers of the Lilac-Breasted Roller, which is officially the National Bird of Kenya, contain almost every color of the rainbow.

With lilac plumage, these birds have blue stomachs, green heads, reddish-brown faces, and brown and blue wings. The Lilac-breasted Roller has large wings and flies well, residing in nests in trees. These small birds feed on a variety of smaller creatures, like grasshoppers, lizards, beetles and more, diving to catch their food on the ground before flying swiftly back into the trees. With a neck that matches the primary color of their favorite prey, the Little Bee-Eater has a yellow neck, green back, and reddish-orange front.

Safari , by the way, is the one common English word that is derived from Swahili. It means a trip or journey of any kind. Favorite Lodges. Kenya Recipes. Camping in Kenya. Join 'Discover Kenya' for Free. Exceeded expectations in so many ways! Staff were great, Guide was amazing, Camp was definitely not roughing it! And the location proved to be the best. Hippo Point is an exclusive private wildlife conservancy, located between Lake Naivasha and Lake Oloidien.

It is the perfect place to let go of your busy life! Kenya Travel Ideas. Kenya Animals. I am at least 16 years of age. I have read and accept the privacy policy. Ostriches are large flightless birds that live in small groups on the plains of Kenya. They lay their eggs in "nests" scratched into the bare earth. Ostriches eat mainly plant material, along with insects. Their long legs can give a powerful kick to ward of predators, and they can run at a steady speed of 30 mph. There are 2 species of rhino in Kenya, the black and the white though they are both gray in colour.

The black rhino is critically endangered worldwide, with the white rhino only having a handful of individuals living in Kenya. White rhinos have much larger populations farther south in Africa. Though protected, they are still frequently poached for their horns.

The warthog is a member of the pig family, and is very recognizable by the tusks and "warts" on its head. Their tusks are used to dig for roots, and to dig their burrows. They are common animals in most regions of Kenya. Warthogs are not considered to be among the endangered animals of Kenya. The grazing wildebeest are among the most famous animals of Kenya because of the yearly migrations through the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Millions of animals migrate together, creating a natural spectacle. Wildebeest are related to cows and antelopes, and they are also called "gnus". The striped hide of a zebra is unmistakable. Living in Kenya are 2 species of zebra, the plains zebra and the Grevy's zebra. The plains species is quite plentiful throughout eastern and southern Africa, whereas the Grevy's zebra is limited to Kenya and considered endangered.

Baboon Baboons are ground-dwelling monkeys that live in packs known as troops. Bushbaby The bush baby is a common name for the galago, a very small primate that lives in the trees. Cheetah Known best for its remarkable speed, the cheetah is one of the major predators of Kenya.

Crocodile A number of crocodile species live in Kenya. Elephant The African elephant ranks as another Big Five game animal, and lives in many areas of Kenya. Gazelle Herds of speedy gazelle can be found grazing in the open grassland.

Giraffe The unmistakable giraffe is the tallest animal on the planet, reaching heights of 18 feet. Hippopotamus It may not look like it, but the fat hippopotamus or hippo is considered to be among most dangerous animals of Kenya.

Hyena The dog-like hyena is one of the larger scavengers of Kenya grasslands, stealing prey or eating other animals leftover carcasses.