What to Expect in a Wild Kenya Safari
If you watched the movies, “Out of Africa” or “Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life”, you definitely got a glimpse of beautiful Kenya. With its scenic landscapes and diverse wildlife population, it makes sense why this magnificent country has had its starring role in a few dozen movies.
About Kenya
The Republic of Kenya lies in the capital of Nairobi in East Africa with a population of over 45 million people. The country’s official languages are Swahili and English, and they make use of Kenyan Shilling to purchase items.
With an area of 582,644 km2, Kenya is the 47th-largest country in the entire world. Kenya is also home to the second-highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kenya.
Kenya has a multitude of wildlife, landscapes, and cultures to explore, so make sure it’s on your travel bucket list.
Wildlife of Kenya
With its endless savanna and multitude of animals, it makes sense why millions of travelers make their way to Kenya to enjoy their African holiday.
Kenya has over 40 species of wildlife, including Africa’s Big Five, for travelers to explore. With so many to choose from, here are a few animals you can explore in Kenya:
1. Cheetah
The Cheetah is the fastest animal on land so be careful to not blink too fast as you might miss seeing this predator in action. The Cheetah isn’t just well known for its speed but also for its well-defined spots covering its fur.
A Cheetah doesn’t stalk its prey as a Leopard does instead, it runs after it at a speed of up to 120 km per hour. But despite their lightning-fast speed, these animals aren’t the aggressive type thus tend to be the shy cats among the rest.
Fun fact: Cheetahs hunt for food during the day, not like lions and leopards who hunt at night.
2. Crocodile
Meet the Nile Crocodile, the most common crocodile found in Kenya. Growing up to five metres in length and weighing over 400 kg, this animal is one of the largest reptiles in the world.
The Nile Crocodile also has an assortment of food preferences. These reptiles like to eat fish, other reptiles such as frogs, birds, and other mammals such as wildebeests and monkeys. They can stalk their prey for hours at a time before making their deadly move.
Fun fact: Nile crocodiles can reach the age of 40 or older.
3.Giraffe
With their beautiful spots and friendly faces, one can understand why Giraffes are so popular in selfies with tourists.
Giraffes are the tallest land animals with necks that reach up to 1.8 metres. These tall animals need to kneel with their front necks because their necks are too short to reach the river to drink some water.
Fun fact: Giraffes only need 5 to 30 minutes of sleep a day.
4. Wildebeest
The wildebeest or “wild beast” earned its name because of its menacing appearance consisting of a large head, pointed beard, and sharp horns. It has an average lifespan of 20 years and can reach a size of up to 1.3 metres.
The Great Migration
Thousands of wildebeest and zebras migrate between the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara in search of fresh grazing. These animals go on a journey of roughly 500km during the migration and go in a clockwise direction by following the rain.
If you’d like a more in-depth overview of the migration patterns, click here.
Fun fact: The Great Migration is the largest migration in the world with over two million wildebeest, zebras and other animals.
5. Rhinoceros
The Rhinoceros or more commonly known as the Rhino is an endangered species found in Africa. These animals are hunted for their horn and it’s used in traditional Chinese medicine or taken as a trophy by poachers.
A Rhino also follows a herbivore diet and lacks front teeth so it must use its lips to pluck food it wants to eat.
Fun fact: Rhinoceros means “nose horn”.
People of Kenya
With its endless savanna and multitude of animals, it makes sense why millions of travelers make their way to Kenya to enjoy their African holiday.
Kenya has over 40 species of wildlife, including Africa’s Big Five, for travelers to explore. With so many to choose from, here are a few animals you can explore in Kenya:
1. Cheetah
The Cheetah is the fastest animal on land so be careful to not blink too fast as you might miss seeing this predator in action. The Cheetah isn’t just well known for its speed but also for its well-defined spots covering its fur.
A Cheetah doesn’t stalk its prey as a Leopard does instead, it runs after it at a speed of up to 120 km per hour. But despite their lightning-fast speed, these animals aren’t the aggressive type thus tend to be the shy cats among the rest.
Fun fact: Cheetahs hunt for food during the day, not like lions and leopards who hunt at night.
2. Crocodile
Meet the Nile Crocodile, the most common crocodile found in Kenya. Growing up to five metres in length and weighing over 400 kg, this animal is one of the largest reptiles in the world.
The Nile Crocodile also has an assortment of food preferences. These reptiles like to eat fish, other reptiles such as frogs, birds, and other mammals such as wildebeests and monkeys. They can stalk their prey for hours at a time before making their deadly move.
Fun fact: Nile crocodiles can reach the age of 40 or older.
3.Giraffe
With their beautiful spots and friendly faces, one can understand why Giraffes are so popular in selfies with tourists.
Giraffes are the tallest land animals with necks that reach up to 1.8 metres. These tall animals need to kneel with their front necks because their necks are too short to reach the river to drink some water.
Fun fact: Giraffes only need 5 to 30 minutes of sleep a day.
4. Wildebeest
The wildebeest or “wild beast” earned its name because of its menacing appearance consisting of a large head, pointed beard, and sharp horns. It has an average lifespan of 20 years and can reach a size of up to 1.3 metres.
The Great Migration
Thousands of wildebeest and zebras migrate between the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara in search of fresh grazing. These animals go on a journey of roughly 500km during the migration and go in a clockwise direction by following the rain.
If you’d like a more in-depth overview of the migration patterns, click here.
Fun fact: The Great Migration is the largest migration in the world with over two million wildebeest, zebras and other animals.
5. Rhinoceros
The Rhinoceros or more commonly known as the Rhino is an endangered species found in Africa. These animals are hunted for their horn and it’s used in traditional Chinese medicine or taken as a trophy by poachers.
A Rhino also follows a herbivore diet and lacks front teeth so it must use its lips to pluck food it wants to eat.
Fun fact: Rhinoceros means “nose horn”.
Would You Like to Visit Malawi?
Interested in visiting Lake Malawi or simply exploring the beautiful country? We offer various tours which allow you to travel through the spectacular country. Visit www.africatravelco.com or send us an email to cpt@africatravelco.com to make your bookings.
