Large Mammals Seen On A Tanzania Safari
Tanzania has some of the most famous national parks and game reserves in the entire African continent. The Serengeti, the Ruaha, the Selous... there is no end to the variety of wildlife you can see on safaris through these places.
The variety of fauna is greater than most people dare imagine - a combination of birds, small animals and big game. People going on their first safaris are usually too busy being dazed and overwhelmed by the enormity of the experience, but they quickly develop a particular niche preference of their own. A large number of safari-goers, then, goes again and again just to see the big game of Tanzania in action.
The first and most unusual of large animals seen in Tanzania is the tree-climbing lion. Found in the southern parts of the Serengeti, the Lake Manyara National Park and also in nearby Uganda, this variety of lion is a wonderfully pleasing sight. A young lion can often be spotted with its length draped across a branch, enjoying a nice siesta in the cool shade and avoiding tsetse flies. Cubs can also be seen playing on the plains or climbing trees for fun - an amazingly cute visual of an animal that will ultimately grow up to be one of the most feared predators.
The second of Africa's famous large animals seen in Tanzania is the African elephant. Found in the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, these stately animals can be extremely dangerous while they are in heat. So do not be fooled by their stately demeanor - keep your distance, and be ready to flee at the first sign of a charge!
Of course, what trip to Africa would be complete without sighting giraffes? Wherever you see dense growths of acacia, you will probably see giraffes. These magnificent animals exhibit a delicacy of movement and a complexity of behavior that can rivet anyone's attention.
If you are lucky enough to go in the right season, it is likely that you will witness the migration of the zebra and wildebeest. This is one of the largest-scale phenomena of the grasslands, with tens of thousands of animals migrating together, and the wildebeest and zebras in perfect harmony. The zebras chew up the longer, tougher grass of the grasslands, leaving the shorter, softer and more nutritious grasses for the wildebeest to graze on. In return, any attack by the enemy is responded to by the male wildebeest, who instinctively herd both the zebras and their female and young into a circle, and stand with horns outward, waiting to defend. Even lion attacks have been foiled by this strong defense mechanism.
The experience of seeing animals in their natural habitat is indescribable, and nothing at all like seeing them in the zoo. While big game used to be the target of hunters not so long ago, today it is the target of a much less harmful shooting instrument - the camera.
Design your own
Tanzania Safari to suit your interests and budget. Specialists for Selous, Ruaha, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro and cultural safaris.
Climb Kilimanjaro . Specialists for Kilimanjaro and Meru Treks, Kilimanjaro by all routes: Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Rongai, Shira, Umbwe.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
