KENYA BIG FIVE

KENYA BIG FIVE

LISTING PHOTOS Click photo to enlarge Page Views: 46 Date Added: 07/11/2009 Last Updated: 07/11/2009 Price: inquire Description: The BIG FIVE are the 5 animals (lion, buffalo, rhino, leopard and elephant) anybody who's going on a safari hopes to spot. One other reason why these animals are classed together, is their original status as a "game animal" for hunting. This is why popular animals such as the giraffe or hippo are not part of the Big Five despite their widespread populations, and beautiful sight. Because many Kenyan animals are endangered or threatened, hunting is not as prevalent as it once was. Indeed, in the old days going on a safari meant going on a hunt. Luckily in most cases, the rifles have been replaced by photo cameras. LION- Prides of lions can be found in many parts of Kenya, particularly in the savannah and grassland regions in the southwest part of the country. Some of the best wildlife parks to find lions are the Masai Mara National Reserve, East and West Tsavo National Parks and the Samburu National Reserve. Though there once was more than 10,000 lions living in Kenya, their numbers have dropped to around 2,000. Lions are threatened by several things, including poachers, poisoning by local farmers (who want to stop lions from attacking their cattle) and the traditional Masai coming-of-age tradition of boys spearing a lion in order to become a warrior. BUFFALO - African buffalo are large herd animals, that live in various regions of Kenya from the grasslands, to the forests and floodplains. They are sometimes called Cape buffalo. They should not be confused with placid cows, as they are actually very dangerous to humans. Many people are gored by African buffalo each year. Along with the hippopotamus, they are considered one of the more dangerous animals in Kenya. Marsabit National Park and Mount Kenya National Park are good locations for sighting the African buffalo. They are not considered to be particularly endangered. RHINO- Unlike the more abundant animals of Kenya, the Rhino is far scarcer. Poaching for their unique horns has severely reduced their population. Two species of rhinoceros are found in Kenya: the black rhino and the white rhino. The names are not based on their colour, and the two types of rhino look basically alike. There is a black rhino sanctuary at the Lake Nakuru National Park, providing a prime viewing spot. Rhino herds are also frequently seen at the Meru National Park, and occasionally at the Masai Mara Reserve. LEOPARD- Leopards are the smallest of the big cats, and looks very similar to the heavier jaguar. Leopards that are all black are often referred to as "black panthers". Like with most big cats, the leopard is hunted and poached for its pelt which has started to threaten the species. Their habit of dragging their kills up into trees can make for great photo opportunities. Leopards often take down animals larger than themselves, like antelope or wild boar. Leopards can be seen at many parks, particularly the Masai Mara or Samburu National Reserves. ELEPHANT- The final member of the Big Five is the African elephant. The African elephant is bigger than the Asian elephant, and has large flapping ears. Like the rhino, it's unfortunately hunted for its tusks, so it is a protected species. Eastern Africa is one of the few areas where the elephant is thriving, and numbers are growing. They are very plentiful in some parks, such as the Shimba Hills Reserve and Amboseli National Park. Elephants travel in herds, and can be quite destructive to the vegetation and landscape when their population gets too high. In Kenya, elephants are found living in either the savannah grasslands or in the forested areas. City: Nairobi County:   Kenya Country:   Kenya Contact person:   Nixon Ogilo Phone: +254725881811 Web-site: http://www.adventurepanoramasafaris.com View Map: Click Here to view E-mail: Reply to Ad

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