Africa Kenya animals: Kenyan Zebra & Topi-animal of Kenya game

There are many different species of zebras in Africa. The most popular are the Equus quagga burchelli or common zebra and Equus quagga grevyi or grevy’s zebra. The grevy’s zebra is larger than the others and less horse like in appearance. It is more adapted to desert conditions withstanding extremes of heat and thirst.

An African legend says that when God created the desert, after reviewing what he had done, he was abit disappointed with the solitude of that huge territory and so created the zebra to inhabit that wilderness. Zebras belong to the same family as horses, as the Latin name implies. Order of the Perissodactylis and family of Equids.

While the common zebra may weigh up to 300kgs, the Grevy’s species may reach more than 400. The stripes of the grevy are mush more numerous than those of the common zebra. Looking at this strange creature you may think the colour of the mantle is a natural target for predators. In fact it provides an excellent camouflage, especially when running.

Lions, cheetahs, hunting dogs are the usual hunters of zebras, but they must be very careful about the powerful kick of zebras; otherwise a very well placed kick may reverse the situation and the hunters may finish their chase with their entrails scattered all over the ground.

The ballerinas of the savannah
Herds of wild animals can be seen from afar, on the open savannah grazing, cautious and secretive. Numerous varieties of these animals move about, agile and graceful, elegantly built as the impala or massive as the Eland or strikingly handsome as the sable…They belong to the ungulate family, commonly known as Gazelles and Antelopes.

The Topi

The name Topi is one among many names given to a good quantity of animals of the genus Damaliscus, distributed widely throughout Africa. The Africans call these animals Nyamera. The Topi is a characteristic antelope reaching the height of 125 centimeters and the length of nearly two meters. Well built, it may weigh up to 150kg. When silhouetted against the sky you will not miss the peculiar shape of the body; the head rather long and narrow and the back rather sloping, with horns weakly lyre-shaped. Body colour: purplish red-brown in the subspecies Damaliscus lunatus.

This is the most typical East African subspecies, found in large numbers on the plains of the Serengeti and Mara. Like almost all the herbivores, they lead a nomadic type of existence, migrating north to south and vice-versa according to the season. They form themselves into large herds, 100 strong, and mix together with zebras and gnus in unending procession towards fresh pastures. Reaching the new pastures they enjoy thoroughly without even minding the presence of lions and predators.

In Masai Mara reserve you may observe in certain seasons thousands of these animals grazing peacefully sometimes very near the lions, already bellyful. They are easily recognized with their shiny black patches on their upper outer thighs and the front legs shin. They actually look like some painter went through them applying an unmistakable splash of black on their dark brown hides.

Robert is a travel expert with Landmarksafaris.com. Degreed in tourism management, he has authored more than 1000 articles on Kenya animal holiday & vacation travel. To find out what happens to you on your Kenya animal safari, see more blah blah blah http://www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/wildlife.php