Kenya AnimalsKenya animals are astoundingly diverse and number in the hundreds. They range from the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) which sit at the top of many a tourist's "must see" list to less glamorous foragers such as antelopes which are nevertheless still worth looking out for. Here is what you are likely to see on your Kenya Safari... LionsA lion (Swahili: simba) is a yellowish-brown large cat that lives in prides. The male has a bushy dark brown mane while the lioness, somewhat smaller than its male counterpart, does all the household chores; hunting and taking care of the cubs.
Fittingly referred to as "the king of the African jungle," lions are truly regal and undisputed symbols of courage and nobility. It is therefore little wonder that they continue to grace national flags, coat of arms and emblems everywhere. Kenyan lions are the biggest and fiercest in the world and seeing them strutting across the Kenyan savanna will fill you with awe. Although these prized carnivores can be seen in their natural habitat in virtually all Kenya's National Parks, your best bet is the Masai Mara and Tsavo National Parks. If you want to see these Kenya animals up close though, then be sure to make a date with the Nairobi Animal Orphanage and the Nairobi Safari Walk where you can see them in a quasi-wild setting. Click here for fascinating anecdotes about lions in Kenya. Leopards
The leopard (Swahili: chui) is a sneaky big cat that has a yellowish-brown coat with black rosettes (rose-shaped spots) and is particularly adept at climbing trees. These Kenya animals are largely nocturnal although they have exhibited diurnal characteristics in the national parks. Leopards often drag their prey up a tree where they feast on it for several days. Because they live in trees, their survival is threatened by rapid deforestation caused by banned but nonetheless thriving logging. ElephantsThe elephant (Swahili: ndovu) is the largest land-based mammal and is easily identifiable because of its long trunk, ivory tusks and large flapping ears.
Elephants are herbivores and each can eat up to 170 kilograms of vegetation every day. They are matriarchal which means they live in social units controlled by females. These Kenya animals can attain a height of 4 meters and a weight of 7 tonnes. Their life expectancy is 70-80 years. Gestation lasts 22 months and the young can suckle for up to 3 years. They are extremely intelligent animals with unbelievably good memories and mourn their dead by keeping vigil at the remains for days on end and finally scattering the bones and tusks. More... RhinoThe rhino (Swahili: kifaru) is a huge herbivore whose distinctive features include 1 or 2 horns and folded skin. The black rhino is hook-lipped while the white rhino is wide-lipped.
Both the white and black rhino occur in Kenya and number about 500 and both, particularly the white rhino are severely endangered on account of poaching. This is because of the mistaken belief that their horn has aphrodisiacal qualities. Black rhinos can be seen in Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Nairobi and Aberdare National Parks while white rhinos can be seen in Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru. Rhinos in captivity can also be seen at the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi and Nairobi Safari Walk. Gestation for these Kenya animals lasts about 18 months and the young can suckle for up to 2 years. Buffaloes
Weighing up to 850 kilograms, a buffalo (Swahili: nyati) is essentially a heavily built wild-ox. It is notorious as innately unpredictable. Buffaloes often use their horns to defend themselves against attack from other animals and from one another. Buffaloes can be found in virtually all the national parks. You can see 2 buffaloes in captivity in the Nairobi Animal Orphanage. These Kenya animals live in herds of up to about 300. Gestation lasts 11 months and a calf suckles for about a year. Cheetahs
The cheetah (Swahili: duma) is a slender big cat with a brown coat with solid black spots and the distinctive "tear line" namely; a black line running from the front of the inside corner of each eye to the corners of the mouth. Adult males weigh up to 50 kilograms and females 40 kilograms. Sexual maturity is 14 months and gestation lasts 70 days. Cheetahs can live up to 16 years. These Kenya animals boast the coveted title of being the fastest terrestrial animals as they can pick up speeds of up to 122 kilometers within seconds. Cheetahs hunt by singling out prey, stalking and then chasing, tripping and suffocation by biting the prey's jugular vein. Cheetahs abound in the country's national parks as well as the Nairobi Animal Orphanage and the Nairobi Safari Walk. Hippopotami
Hippos (Swahili: kiboko) are a semi-aquatic herbivore with massive jaws and feet that can be found near fresh water. They spend the day in water and the night grazing. In the Mara River, they are notorious for maliciously drowning crossing wildebeest, adding to the already breathtaking annual wildebeest migration. Although not strictly speaking Kenya animals as they are endemic to West Africa, you can see a pair of pygmy hippos at Nairobi Safari Walk. Giraffes
The tallest animals on earth, giraffes (Swahili: twiga) are truly elegant and sights of them galloping or browsing on acacias will be with you for a long time. There are 3 types of giraffes in Kenya; the Masai giraffe with 2 horns and a broken dark pattern, the reticulated giraffe with up to 5 horns and chestnut patches and the Rothschild giraffe which has 2 horns and seemingly Rescued giraffes can be seen, touched and fed at the Giraffe Center Hyenas
A hyena (Swahili: fisi) has an irregularly spotted light brown coat and a black tip on its tail. Often portrayed only as scavengers, the hyena is in fact one of the most formidable and coordinated hunters in Kenya. Even though they are not very fast, hyenas can maintain speeds of 48 km per hour for 3 km non-stop are thus able to exhaust their prey. They are very efficient eaters and besides flesh, also consume the prey's bones, horns, hooves and hide thereby keeping the environment clean. 20 hyenas can consume an adult zebra in a record 13 minutes. Does that make them "greedy hyenas?" They are known to laugh too (as our friend in the photo is doing:-). This begs the question: do hyenas have a developed sense of humor? Hyenas weigh up to 90 kg and live up to 40 years when in captivity. Sexual maturity is 2 years for the male, 3 years for the female and gestation lasts 4 months. Because it is difficult to distinguish between a male and female hyena, there is widespread misconception that hyenas are innately hermaphroditic. Monkeys in KenyaKenya is home to a variety of monkey species such as the vervet, the black and white colobus, Sykes, patas, olive baboons (yes, baboons are monkeys) as well as the endangered red colobus, Debrazza and Tana River Mangabey.You can find out more about these primates by going to the Monkeys in Kenya page. Related PagesMonkeys in Kenya Lions in Kenya Baby Elephants Elephant Orphanage Giraffe Center Nairobi Safari Walk Nairobi Animal Orphanage Masai Mara Amboseli National ParksReturn from Kenya Animals to Home
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