Spot The Big Five in Tanzania

SPOT THE BIG FIVE IN TANZANIA

Spot The Big Five in Tanzania : Tanzania is well known worldwide due to the fascinating experience in the National Parks such as Serengeti, Manyara, Ngorongoro, Mikumi, Tarangire National Park, Mkomazi, Ruaha, Gombe, Katavi, Arusha, and many others large and small. The worldwide fame of these National Parks is due to the present amazing wild animals in these parks. Animals such as the Lions, Rhinoceros, Leopards, Cape buffaloes, Elephants, Giraffes, Antelopes, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, and so on. The Lions, Rhinoceros, Leopards, Cape buffaloes, and Elephants have however been spotted out to be the big five. This stands hand in hand with the uniqueness of their type and the outstanding features that they have, making them not only rare but also interesting to observe. Their uniqueness has therefore made them declared as the Big five. 

Thousands of foreigners come from all over the world every year to not only see the big five animals in Tanzania but to also experience their uniqueness as they constantly struggle to exist along with mother nature. National Parks having the big five animals have had an overwhelming attention to tourists whenever they come to Tanzania. The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Manyara, Tarangire, Mikumi, and all other parks have had fame due to the presence of these animals in them. The details of the Big Five are explained as follows:-

1. THE LION

The lion is a large carnivore found in Tanzania than in any African country. Statistics have shown that Tanzania holds about 50% of the lions in the world. The lions are only between 22, 000 to 32,000 in the world, and out of them a number range of 14, 000 to 15, 000 are found in Tanzania. Serengeti alone holds about 3, 000 lions. 

The lions live in prides containing a minimum of 4 lions and a maximum 0f 37 lions making an average of 15 lions per pride. They are mostly found in Serengeti, Ngoro Ngoro, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire National park. This is because of their natural preference for open woodland, savanna, dense scrub, and grassland. The number of lions is however decreasing and statistics suggest that lions may become distinct by 2050. 

They are well muscled cats with short bodies and long bodies. Size and appearance varies depending on age and sex. Adult male lions have manes while female lions and the young lions do not have manes. Lions stand as tall as 1.8 meters to 2.1 meters with an outstanding weight of 120kg to 180kg and a 1 meter tail thus Spot The Big Five in Tanzania.

A pride of lions may each cover up to 20 square kilometers. Borders between one pride and the other are identified by the use of scent marking. This is done through urination and defecation. Females are the main hunters of the pride. They stand to protect their cubs from being harmed by the males after birth. Lions, what a sight to experience!

2. THE RHINOCEROS

Rhinoceros are amazing herbivores with a horn on the forehead scientifically called Ceratotherium simum. The rhinoceroses being herbivores feed on trees, bushes, herbs, and even grass whenever undergoing nutritional stress. Tanzania is blessed to have both black and white rhinoceroses. The black rhinoceroses have however been distinct due to the cultural practices that involve the use of the keratin material on the horns of these animals. In Yemen for instance the keratin material is used to make handles for the daggers given to the young men during their ceremony as a sign of preparing them ready for their roles in the society.

Rhinoceroses have an average speed of about 55km/hr. and with an average weight of 800kg to 1200kg for adults. Sizes may differ depending on type and age. These animals sleep for about 8 hours every day and they may sleep standing or lying down. Bulls only spend time with the females when in the oestrus cycle. Mating may become very violent and the females can have their first birth at the age of 5 to 6 years. Rhinoceros form a territory whose size is dependent on the availability of food and water. Young bulls may be killed by the dominant bulls during the competition for mates, food, space and water. This factor causes the young bulls to run away immediately after primary maturity thus Spot The Big Five in Tanzania.

The black rhinoceroses can be differentiated from the white rhinoceroses by the structure of the mouth. The black has hooked mouthparts and lacks the teeth on the frontal parts hence plucking food by the use of their lips. The white on the other hand have wide mouthparts. The white rhinoceroses also appear to be larger than the black rhinoceroses. The black rhinoceroses only feed at night, in the dusk and in dawn due to their black color which makes them overheat when exposed to the sun. The black rhinoceroses spend their daytime under the trees for sun heat protection.

3. LEOPARDS

The leopards are said to be big secretive cats, they are muscular and are therefore good tree climbers compared to other wild cats. Leopard’s muscularity and pattern of the spots differentiate them from the other wild cats. Leopards inhabit the mountains, savanna, forest, and woodlands. They enjoy particularly much when in open bushes with large trees in dotted structures on a rocky land.

The leopards are said to be among the disappearing species to an estimation of about 40%. Statistics explain that the leopards were found even in Zanzibar in the 1990s but no traces have been seen in Zanzibar at the moment. Leopards are mainly found in the Central Serengeti at the moment.

Leopards have an average weight ranging from 30 to 90kg and with an average speed of about 58kg. They have a 3 weeks gestation period. The diet relies on a range from as small animals as beetles to large animals like zebras. Details show that some leopards have also been inhibiting residential areas where they would feed on domestic dogs. The male leopards may kill the cubs immediately after birth so as to ensure that their chance for dominance is not out-ruled by the cubs as they grow. It is therefore the duty of the females to protect their cubs thus Spot The Big Five in Tanzania.

4. ELEPHANTS

These are the largest existing land animals. They are herbivores hence food on grass, small plants, bushes, fruits, twigs, tree barks, and roots. Tree barks however stand to be their favorite. Elephants are said to feed on pharmaceuticals since the barks and plants they feed on have been researched and medical capabilities were discovered from them. Elephants are also pointed out to have a very poor digestive system to a point that they can still excrete viable seeds. This is the history behind the arranged line of baobab trees in the Tarangire National Park.

Elephants have an average speed of about 40km/hr. and with an average weight of about 2700kg to 6000kg. Elephants have a famous long gestation period of about 22 months. They feed on about 149 kg to 169 kg of vegetation every day making them drink about 68.3l to 98.9l of water daily. Males can however exceed this range and drink as much as 212l per day. Elephants can only become vulnerable to predators only when sick, at an old age, or very young to defend themselves. Predators may otherwise become incapable of attacking this herbivore.

Elephants are known for their hate for noise and may cause chaos upon car hooting in their presence. Female elephants are known to be good babysitters since they can handle a big family of about 30 members regardless of the distance between them, they can still use urine scents to locate their family. Their memory for family location is outstanding.

5. CAPE BUFFALOES

Cape buffaloes are also called African buffaloes. They are not the ancestors of domestic cattle as some may think; they are just from a larger bovine family. African buffaloes unlike other buffaloes in the world have never been domesticated in history. The cape buffaloes are herbivores that mainly feed on grass and small plants. They have an average mass of about 300 to 900kg.

Cape buffaloes live in heard which have a dominant bull recognized by the thickness of their horns. Male dominance depends on their age and size. The older the age and the bigger the size the dominant the male buffalo becomes. Very old buffaloes may also lose their dominance in a herd due to their weakening with age thus Spot The Big Five in Tanzania.

During the dry season males team up to form bachelor groups and only in the wet season they re-join the herd and mate with the females. Dominant males hold themselves from sexual attraction in fear of losing their dominance and becoming vulnerable. Cape buffaloes do spar when playing or fighting. They inter-twist their horn and pull each other. Their fights are very intense and yet very brief. The sparing behavior is common in young buffaloes and rare in adults as they age. African buffaloes are community animals as they stick together whenever they are attacked by predators. These are the top five reasons to why one should visit Tanzanian National Park 

Birding in Serengeti. The other great uniqueness of Serengeti National Park is the scene of over 500 bird species which can be spotted through birding activities. Birders’ trips always start in the morning, the time at which most nesting birds are around their nests.  This trip is usually slow and quite in order to avoid scaring the birds. A good camera with a sharp binocular are vital tools for exploring Serengeti National Park birds. Serengeti National Park have five bird species that are not available anywhere else. Therefore, your carefulness during this trip can make you break the records of capturing such species in your picture or video. Serengeti National Park best time for birding activities is from November through April, which is the breeding season of most bird species especially the migratory ones. Some of the wonderful species found in Serengeti National Park include Kori bustard, Secretary bird, Fischer’s lovebird and Rufous-tailed weaver; whereas having five bird species that are not available anywhere else is another uniqueness of Serengeti National Park.

Experience a sleep in the bush. You can take a camp at the tents of Serengeti National Park lodges while experiencing the voices of the African wilderness. The sounds of lions, hyenas and birds’ songs make your night so attracting. Falling asleep in the bush is a thought–provoking experience which offers you an opportunity for commencing a morning drive, birding or hot air balloon safari straight away.

Shopping and fashion in Serengeti. Yes, absolutely, shopping in Serengeti before you for a memory or a gift for those who didn’t come with you in your trip. The Serengeti shop have got collections which include Serengeti apparel, Serengeti home and accessories and Serengeti kids’ apparel. Apart from this, we have a traditional fashion including the famous Maasai style which you can wear during your tour in the Serengeti National Park.