The lion, king of the savannah and safaris
Tanzania is home to the largest concentration of lions in Africa, and therefore in the world, i.e. 14,000 to 15,000 of the 25,000 felines scattered across Eastern and Southern Africa, including almost 3,000 on the Serengeti plain alone. Remember Simba from The Lion King? That's actually the Swahili name for him. When you observe him, you're bound to find similarities between his behavior and that of your cat, even though he's a fervent fan of your sofa and its kibbles. The comparison may end with the way it stretches, its approach when hunting or the mimetic way it grooms itself after a good meal (normally to wash away the blood), but feline instinct is not to be forgotten! The lion still lives in a few countries, mainly in southern and eastern Africa. They can even be found on the west face of Mount Kilimanjaro, at altitudes of up to 4,500 m. It is a territorial animal: 1 to 3 males, with their females and cubs, occupy a moving area of several hundred km2. In the Serengeti, for example, they follow the great migration (wildebeest, zebra and gazelle), their unchanging larder. Its roar, a loud, hoarse, descending cry followed by 3 or 4 short blasts, can be heard almost 10 km away: it's generally used to ward off intruders from its territory. Although it has its own preferences (zebras, warthogs, etc.), the lion eats all prey, such as young elephants, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, etc. It's generally the females who do 80% of the hunting, preferably in groups, using diversionary tactics. After the approach, the charge is made at 60 km/h over a short distance (pursuit is rare). Downed prey are killed by suffocation: either jaw pressure on the windpipe, or the outright kiss of death, i.e. snout in mouth. Lions can hunt at any time of day or night, although they are often seen resting in the shade in the afternoon. Feeding at least once every 3 days, they pose no particular danger when they're full, and herbivores can sometimes graze nearby - the last straw! During the breeding season, the polygamous lion stays with one female for more than a week, and mating takes place every quarter of an hour. The frequency of mating is attributed to the male's low fecundity. The gestation period lasts 3 and a half months, usually producing 2 or 3 cubs weighing less than 2 kg. The cub weighs 20 kilos at 6 months, and around 90 kilos at 20 months. They reach peak physical development and mane at 5 years of age, and live an average of almost 15 years. It then weighs up to 200 kilos for a length of 2.20 m without tail and 1 m at the withers. The lion has no predators other than man, with itself and leopards competing for cubs. Southern lions, particularly those of the Selous, have a reputation for being more ferocious than others.
The elephant, a sociable and sensitive being
The African elephant - tembo in Swahili - is larger than its Asian cousin. There are an estimated 60,000 in Tanzania today, including 15,000 in the Selous reserve. This pachyderm measures up to 4 m at the withers, and weighs over 7 tons at the end of its life, which can last up to around 70 years. The tusks, which are larger in the male, grow throughout his life. They are particularly useful for digging in the soil to find mineral salts, and for tearing off branches and bark to feed. They are often damaged or asymmetrical. Because elephants have long been intensively hunted, very long tusks are now rare, although in 1898, a hunter in Tsavo brought back a pair over 3 m long! The pachyderm lives in matriarchal herds of 10 to 20 head, led by an old female and including a dominant male. As soon as the young males become sexually aroused, at around 12-14 years of age, they leave home to join other males. They communicate with some 70 vocalizations and 160 visual and tactile signals, from ultrasound to barring. The erect proboscis and outstretched ears announce the charge. A regular, peaceful flapping of the ears is a sign of blood temperature regulation during hot weather. Elephants are found in savannah and mountain forest, up to almost 3,000 m, north and west of Kilimanjaro. The gestation period is 22 months, and the baby elephant weighs around 130 kg at birth. The elephant's memory is no myth: it has a large brain and can recognize a fellow elephant or a human by smell almost 30 years after meeting them! Cemeteries, on the other hand, are a myth, but there's an obvious reluctance on the part of fellow elephants to abandon the body of the deceased. Elephants move at around 7 km/h, but can reach 40 km/h when charging. Feeding on grasses, fruit, branches and bark, it is capable of swallowing up to 300 kg of food a day, for more than 15 hours. Elephants live in wooded areas, and can absorb more than 200 liters of water at a time - a veritable cistern! Elephants also enjoy spraying themselves with water and taking mud baths: as it dries, the earth cracks on the skin and carries off parasites. Most fights are about dominating the herd. Apart from humans, only baby elephants are sometimes attacked by lions. When this happens, all the adults rally around them, and the predators have no choice but to give up.
The cheetah, an exceptional sprinter
A tall, slender feline with a curved back and slender waist, the cheetah is distinguished by its solid black spots, black rings on the tip of its tail and a black stripe running from each eye to the mouth, rather like a tear. This feline lives on the ground so it can easily chase its prey, and often stands on small promontories or termite mounds to observe its surroundings; its eyesight is excellent. With its particularly slender anatomy, it is more suited to speed than to combat, which is why it lives on open plains. The cheetah does not stalk, but approaches its prey slowly and pursues it at full speed: it is the fastest land animal on the planet, reaching 115 km/h over a distance of less than 500 m! Its tail acts as a pendulum during the chase. If it still fails, it will need several hours to recover. Not being able to eat his catch immediately, he is often robbed of his meal by other predators. It attacks small antelopes, warthogs, hares, guinea fowl and so on. The capture of large prey requires a group hunt. Its claws are not retractable, which is unusual for a feline and prevents it from climbing trees. The average adult cheetah weighs 60 kilos, and lives for around 12 years. The gestation period is 3 and a half months, and litters range from 2 to 4 cubs. Over 92% of cubs die before reaching maturity, mainly due to lions competing for territory and sometimes killing young cheetahs. Cheetahs live solitary or in small groups; males generally join females only to mate.
The buffalo, the most powerful of the savannah
The buffalo, called Mbogo in Swahili, is a very dangerous animal. A massive, wild bovine (weighing up to 800 kg), it lives in sedentary herds, sometimes numbering several hundred head. That's why it's one of the famous Big 5. Herbivores hunted by lions and humans alike, they are easily threatened, and their defense system is to counter-attack, often in groups. The danger is even greater in the forest or thick bush, where it can be surprised. The herd is united: only the older males sometimes stray. Its horns curve over its head, while the two bases are joined together, forming a veritable protective helmet. Like other bovids, the buffalo is a ruminant. The gestation period for buffalo is one year. Their herds provided meat for the Tanzanian army during the war with Uganda. Today, the species is proliferating, although trophy hunters tend to kill the largest specimens.
The chimpanzee, star of Tanganyika
The chimpanzee(soko in Swahili) is a terrestrial, arboreal ape that walks upright over short distances. It lives in bands of 2 to 50 individuals, which can split at any time. Only the mother-child relationship is stable. They can be seen in Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains national parks, along Lake Tanganyika. Rudimentary tool-making, regular struggles for power and recognition of authority, anticipatory maneuvers and food concealment are frequent behaviors. In fact, we share 98% of our genetic heritage with this ape! The average male weighs 50 kg and the average female 40 kg. Their life expectancy is 40 years. More noisy and talkative than gorillas, they communicate through a multitude of sounds, mimics and gestures. Omnivores, they feed on fruit, nuts, leaves, shoots, insects, and sometimes birds and young antelopes. The gestation period is 7 months, and the newborn weighs less than 2 kg.
The Nile crocodile, the largest reptile
This species, the largest and most widespread in Africa, can exceed 5 meters in length, and can reach 7 m! As a reptile, the crocodile rests by warming itself in the sun, its mouth wide open to evacuate excess heat. Crocodile tears are only caused by the compression of glands when the crocodile opens its jaw! It hides on the banks or in the water, lying in ambush. It prefers slow-moving streams, river mouths and marshes. Its hearing is far superior to its eyesight. It preys on all types of prey, especially large fish, thanks to a shiny third eyelid that enables it to see underwater, herbivores and large birds around waterholes, wildebeest and zebra crossing the Grumeti and Mara rivers in the Serengeti on their migration. He eats about one meal a week, as his food takes a long time to digest. On land, it can make prodigious leaps or catch up with a man, and in the water, it can make lightning accelerations thanks to its tail, a broad, muscular beater. It shatters all its prey's limbs with powerful jaws. It usually stores its meat underwater for a few days, clinging to submerged branches. It has a lifespan of 60 years. After 4 months, the female lays her eggs at a depth of 1 m and more than 100 m from the shore. Incubation lasts 3 months, and the ambient temperature influences sex: between 30 and 34°C, males are more numerous.
The giraffe, the animal emblem of Tanzania
What are the secrets of this graceful creature that camouflages itself remarkably well in the savannah? A mammal of the ungulate order (it has 2-toed hooves), the giraffe (called twiga in Swahili) has 7 cervical vertebrae like us, but its very elongated vertebrae can make it reach a total height of over 5 m, for 3 m at the withers. It can weigh up to 1,700 kg, of which the head weighs almost 60 kg, and the heart over 25 kg, in order to propel the blood all the way up there. The giraffe has two horns covered with hair between the ears, and another hump between the eyes, which, being much more developed in the male, often distinguishes the two sexes. Like the dromedary, the giraffe walks at amble: both legs on one side are sent forward at the same time. When on the run, it can reach 40 km/h, but seems to run in slow motion. A ruminant, its 30 cm-long tongue is very handy but very hard, enabling it to tear off leaves as well as 5 cm-long acacia thorns, which it chews and swallows easily, as part of its adaptation process. To drink, she has to spread her front legs wide, which makes her very vulnerable at that moment. Males frequently fight, with violent blows to the head and teeth. They are in the habit of collecting a little of the female's urine with their tongue, which determines their sexual arousal. After a gestation period of 14 months, the young are born between December and February. They weigh around 70 kilos at birth. Giraffes can live for around 30 years. Their hearing and eyesight are highly developed. To defend themselves and their young against lions, giraffes are capable of violent hoof beats. A distinction is made between the fairly common Masai giraffe and the darker, star-spotted reticulated giraffe.
The hippopotamus, more dangerous than it seems
The hippopotamus is a fascinating semi-aquatic mammal of the porcine family. It's called Kiboko in Swahili. It is a dangerous animal for humans: it swims very well, runs very fast on land and sometimes leans on the sandy bottom to overturn boats. Its lower canine teeth can measure 1 m in length, and are made of ivory that is more resistant than that of the elephant. Its short legs end in a clawless four-toed hoof. It measures 1.50 m at the withers, is over 4 m long and sometimes weighs over 3 tons. The gestation period is 8 months, and the calf weighs 50 kilos at birth. Its life expectancy is 40 years. During the day, it rests in the water, spraying itself with its tail and making complete turns on itself to cool off. It can stay underwater for up to 6 minutes and swim fast. They are very sedentary, living in groups of 5 to 30. At night, it emerges from the water in regular paths, but wanders several kilometers away from its pond or river to graze. When a hippopotamus gets lost on its way home, or when there isn't enough water for it to submerge, its skin, which can be 3 cm thick, exposed unprotected to the sun and open air, cracks: large cracks form, become infected and often lead to death. The hippopotamus is a herbivore (swallowing up to 60 kilos of vegetation a day), not a ruminant despite its 3 stomach pouches. Pink at birth, it turns grey-brown. Lions and crocodiles threaten the young in particular. Males inflict severe wounds on each other with their teeth, the scars of which remain visible on their backs. They open their mouths to yawn, or scream to impress another hippo. It's as if he's laughing out loud.
The hyena, a useful and noisy scavenger
A close relative of the canidae, the hyena's rump is lower than its withers, which are 80 cm high. Its gait is not very graceful. It moves erratically, in slight zigzags, running at around 4 km/h in search of meat, but can reach 60 km/h to attack prey. It weighs around 60 kilos. It lives in packs of 10 to 30 animals on the savannah. It is first and foremost a predator, thanks to its powerful jaws and pack organization. Its sharp teeth are used to tear the prey apart by biting, then, once drained of its blood and weakened, the hyena finishes it off. It can compete for prey with a cheetah, several wild dogs, a lion or a leopard. It's also a scavenger, following lions on the hunt and spotting vultures. Its jaw enables it to crush bones and find the marrow. They play a real role in cleaning up the savannah! Hyenas live in burrows dug 80 cm below ground or in natural caves. Their characteristic call, often heard around villages at night, is a mournful, low, hoarse howl that ends in a high-pitched shriek. Laughter is heard more rarely. Each pack has a well-defined territory. Females are often mistaken for males, as their large genitalia can resemble penises. Hyenas can be killed by lions and wild dogs when they get too close to coveted prey. A distinction is made between spotted hyenas, which are fairly aggressive and common, and striped hyenas and brown hyenas, which are smaller.
The leopard, a big shy cat but a formidable hunter
The leopard is probably the African big cat most comparable to our living-room cat, all things considered. Also known as the "panther", it has retractable claws that enable it to hoist its game up trees to avoid being bitten by lions or hyenas, even a large gazelle! A muscular but very supple feline, the leopard weighs up to 85 kilos for a height of 70 cm at the withers. Its fawn coat is marked with numerous rosette-shaped black spots. Young leopards have more indistinct spots. In mountainous or humid regions, the leopard is much darker, sometimes brownish-black. Adult leopards live solitary lives, except during the breeding season. It hunts at night or at dusk, lying in wait near waterholes, in rocks, where it sometimes tries to flush out its prey, or from the top of a tree. It then leaps at once on its prey, terracing it with its powerful legs, breaking its neck or slitting its throat. It feeds at its own pace, but a female can ingest a phenomenal quantity of meat to feed her young for several days. It is an extremely powerful and fast animal. It eats francolins, guinea fowl, gazelles, young zebras and baboons. It has been decimated by hunting for its beautiful fur, even though it reproduces well. It's so discreet that you're unlikely to see it on safari, especially when it's sleeping high up in a tree. And it's hard to count, as it can jump all the fences and camouflage itself in deep forests.
The black rhinoceros, found mainly in Ngorongoro
A member of the ungulates, the rhinoceros has two longitudinally-arranged solid horns on its nose, the foremost being the largest, measuring up to 1.20 m in length. These are the reason for their slaughter: still 30,000 at the end of the 1960s, they are now threatened with extinction. Because of the unusually long mating time (over an hour) of these animals, some Chinese, particularly in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and some Japanese believe that the powder from their horns has aphrodisiac properties, although this has been scientifically disproved. An estimated 50 are still alive in Tanzania, half of them in the Ngorongoro Crater alone. Even if they reproduce, the risk of degeneration is high due to inbreeding, which is now inevitable. The black rhinoceros, smaller than the African white rhinoceros, differs from the latter not in color (neither black nor white), but in the shape of its mouth. The black rhino's mouth is more pointed, while the white rhino's mouth is flat and wide. The black rhino weighs up to 1,500 kilos and can charge at 50 km/h. Its eyesight is very poor, unlike its sense of smell and hearing; it perceives moving intruders, and charges straight ahead. The gestation period is 15 months; the young weigh around 40 kilos and measure 45 cm. At five months, the rhinoceros already weighs 200 kilos and measures almost 1 m. It has a potential lifespan of 40 years.
The zebra, the equine of the savannah
The only striped animal in the equidae family, the zebra is unique to Africa. It weighs up to 330 kilos and measures up to 1.40 m at the withers. Like the giraffe, its mane is always relatively short and erect. A distinction is made between the larger Grévy's zebra, with more numerous, finer and less distinct stripes, and Burchell's zebra, a close relative of the Quagga (striped only on the head and neck), which was exterminated in the 19th century (the last specimen died in captivity in Amsterdam in 1883). Like a DNA fingerprint, stripes are now analyzed by scientists on photos to determine and count populations. The zebra has excellent eyesight, excellent hearing, a keen sense of smell and runs very fast (up to 80 km/h), so it knows how to flee better than any savannah herbivore. Lions and hyenas prey on adult zebras, while the latter can break their jaws with a kick from their hooves.
