Kenya animal vacation planner guide: Easy Kenya Holiday animals

The Bongo animal

You must be very lucky to see the bongo (Boocercus eurycerus). A large, robust, Eland-like antelope, but with no dewlap. Colour brilliant rufous or chocolate brown, richly striped with white. Horns twisted in a spiral reaching length of more than one metre. Both sexes have horns. The Bongo is the most brilliantly marked of the African antelopes and it is unfortunate that it is so difficult to see in its secluded forest home. In Kenya, Bongo is confined to the high forest of Aberdare and Kinangop ranges.

Visitors of the treetops may be lucky sometimes (during the night) to spot the animal when it is going to drink. The bongo has a particular predilection for water and for bamboo groves. The Bongo is also very fond of rotten wood from fallen trees. Bongos do not bark, like most of the antelopes of the Tragelaphinas family. They charge angrily when wounded. Most of the lions in Aberdares National Park had to be translocated to other parks when it was realised that they were decimating the only remaining herd of the Bongo.

Gerenuk animal

The gerenuk is a very interesting creature with no close resemblance to any other antelope-except the Dibatag-it has earned itself the nickname of "gazelle-giraffe" (swala twiga in Kiswahili).Its proper name is Litocranius walleri or waller’s.

No longer than 1 metre and 60, its height reaches one metre. And its weight is no more than 50-55kg. Small head, very long legs and neck. Only the male has short, ringed horns. Coat reddish-brown, belly white. With its long neck the gerenuk reaches tasty leave and shoots by standing on its hind legs and balancing itself against the branches, its powerful muscles enabling it to hold this position for a considerable period.

It does not eat grasses, but only leaves and shoots, flowers and fruits and lianas. In the wilderness, almost empty of animal life, the gerenuk is completely at home. Because of its ability to go without water for long periods, the animal has no need to compete with other animals on the bank of rivers, streams or water holes. It will not miss the opportunity to drink should water be easily available, but it is no matter of great importance.

Provided that the leaves and shoots will not disappear because of persistent drought, the gerenuk will not bother. The horns are very solid and thick at the base; because of this particular solid brain-pan the scientists gave to this species of gazelle the latin name "litocranius" (lito = stone; cranius=skull)

The gerenuk can be found mainly in the semi arid northern Kenya national parks and reserves including the Samburu game reserve, buffalo springs national reserve, Shaba national reserve, Kitui south national reserve, Sibiloi national park among others.

The north of Kenya is famous for its different species of animals including the reticulated giraffe, the beisa oryx, the grevy zebra and the gerenuk. The grevy zebra is of particular significance due to its endangered status and is actively protected in several of the private game ranches including the Lewa conservancy and the IL ngwesi conservancy.

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 http://www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/wildlife.php