SAADANI NATIONAL PARK

sadani is "Where the Bush meets the Beach" Saadani is the only wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania bordering the Indian Ocean. Gazetted in 2005, it encompasses a well-preserved ecosystem including the former Saadani game reserve, the former Mkwaja ranch area, the Wami River as well as the Zaraninge Forest. Many villages are dotted around the boundaries of the park. Saadani village itself once was an important harbor-town and slave-trading centre in East Africa. Nowadays it is a small Swahili village of about 800 inhabitants whose livelihood is mostly fishing. Bird watchers will be treated to not-often-seen migratory birds that love the shore. The coastal vegetation zones range from seashore full of palm trees, through the tidal mangrove forest that form a buffer between ocean and land, to the Wami River shore where the huge sycamore fig is found. Its semi open woodlands closely resembles the Selous game reserve, while the vast grassy area close to the tourism office is named ‘Serengeti Ndogo’ (Small Serengeti) and lives up to the expectations.Saadani is a one of a kind paradise where beach life meets wilderness. This gives you not only the opportunity to plunge into the Indian Ocean straight after your safari, but also to be submerged in a unique display of both marine and mainland flora and fauna in a naturally fascinating setting.
Location:Sadaani National Park is on the north coast roughly 100kms northwest of Dar-es- salaam and a similar distance Southwest of the port of Tanga.
Weather condition: • Dry season: July – September • Wet season: November – May • Less rainy in December – February • Best time to visit: June – September. Getting to Saadani • The park is accessible by road or air. By road: 1. Dar es Salaam – Chalinze – village of Mandera (good tarmac road, 160 km. About 2-3 hours drive) then from Mandera village drive to Mvave Gate – Saadani National Park tourism office (rough road,65 km about 2 hours drive). 2. From Tanga town via Pangani to Mkwaja Gate (earth road 120 km, about 3-5
hours drive). 3. From Dar es Salaam drive north to Saadani via Bagamoyo
By air: Charter flights from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar or Tanga or Arusha and other majortowns.
Accommodation Inside the park: There are park owned guest houses known as bandas, rest house, tents and campsites. Booking for bandas, rest house, tents and campsites please contact the Park. Currently there is one private owned lodge known as Sanctuary Saadani Safari Lodge. Outside the park: There are several lodges and camps that are privately owned.
What to do
•Game drives
•Boat trips to wami river
•Guided walking
•Bird watching
•Sun bathing on the Saadani beach
•Visiting the Saadani fishing village which used to be a buzzing trading centre.

Attractions.
Saadani is where crabs meets elephant and the roar of a lion might interrupt your tanning. This is one of the few breeding sites for green turtles. To the southern part experience salt harvesting processes (salt pans) in the hands of the locals. All the usual suspects, such as zebra, buffalo, elephant, warthog, giraffe, wildebeest and waterbuck are present. But you also stand a high chance of capturing different types of hartebeest, the big-eyed Rondo Galago and the elusive sable antelope on camera during your game drive or wilderness walks. Lion, leopard and spotted hyena might be harder to find, but this makes a sighting an even greater joy. Remember The vast grassy area is named ‘Serengeti Ndogo’ (Small Serengeti) and lives up to the expectations. Taking a boat on the Wami River will definitely add to the fun; here you are as close as one likes to get to hippo, crocodile and flamingo. Bird watchers will also be treated to not-often-seen migratory birds that love the shore, such as different kinds of sandpiper, Eurasian oystercatcher and the common greenshank. On the beach you get to enjoy even more special sightings: breeding green turtles – Saadani’s beaches are one of Tanzania’s best breeding sites – with dolphins and humpback whales putting on their show in the Indian Ocean beyond. Brief history and climatic conditions • Saadani started as a Game Reserve in 1962, it became the 13th national park of Tanzania in 2005. • The park ecosystem covers 1,100 km2 (around 15 km shoreline). From south to north it stretches 69 km. • Height: the majority of the park is at sea level. Although the highest point is 350 m, most elevations don’t go beyond 40 m. • Tides: spring tides of up to 1.5 m can flow inland. • The park has a tropical, hot climate with an average temperature of 25-27°C all year round (30 °C daytime, 20-24 °C night-time).

GOMBE NATIONAL PARK

Gombe National Park

Gombe, designated as a game reserve in 1943, was upgraded into a national park status in 1968. The park is located 16 km north of Kigoma town on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania. It covers an area of 56 square kilometers and is a fragile habitat for chimpanzee. Gombe gained its popularity after the research of Dr Jane Goodall which is believed to be the longest running study of primates in the world.
How to get there
By boat: Board public boat (up to four hours) or motor boat (two hours). The motor boat can be booked through or directly at the park information center located in Kigoma town.
TO GET TO KIGOMA:
By air: scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam and Mwanza cities or from Arusha by chartered flights.By rail: from Dar es Salaam or by ferry from Mpulungu in Zambia.By road: from Dar es Salaam, Arusha or Mwanza.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Chimpanzee can be trekked throughout the year. However, for plants/insects and better chimpanzee spotting, the best time is during wet season (November to mid May) and for the best photo taking (May to October).
TOURISM ACTIVITIES
CHIMPANZEE TREKKING– This activity is conducted from 0630 – 1830 hrs. WALKING SAFARI –Short walks along the shores of Lake Tanganyika or to HIKING TO JANE’S PEAK VIEW POINT • This view point offers a spectacular view of the park and Lake Tanganyika. While at the view point one can hear chimpanzee calling and screaming. The hike takes about two hours from kasekela.

BIRDING
Over 200 birds species fly around, varying from the African crowned eagle that hunts monkeys, to the iconic fish eagle, three kinds of kingfisher and the bright Peters twins pots. Another remarkable character is the palm-nut vulture; a near-vegetarian common to Lake Tanganyika that prefers fruits over carcasses.
FILMING: Hugo van Lawick in 1988 filmed people of the forest – the chimps of Gombe.
.MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS CHIMPANZEE The Chimpanzee are Sharing more than 98% of our genes, it’s a look of recognition from our closest animal relative. COLOBUS, RED-TAILED AND BLUE MONKEYS THE MAJORITY OF THE PARK’S MAMMALS ARE PRIMATES, most of them forest species. Likely to be seen, in addition to the famous chimpanzees, are the colorful red-tailed and blue monkeys. KAKOMBE AND MKENKE WATERFALL LAKE TANGANYIKA The longest and deepest lake in Africa which harbors about 350 species of fish, most of them endemic. The lake shore offers sun bathing and sunset viewing opportunities.
ACCOMMODATION:
Inside the park: Rest house and one luxury tented camp. Outside the park: In Kigoma town

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

Lake Manyara NP is a small park at the base of the Rift Valley escarpment. Its groundwater forest offers a nice change of scenery from the more savannah dominated parks. Although the park is known for tree-climbing lions, big cats aren't that easily seen. Elephants are very prolific and are the main attraction. Size:(330 km²) or( 130 mi²) Altitude:(953-1445 m) or( 3127-4741 ft) Pros and Cons • Very relaxed elephants to view at close quarters • Stunning scenery • Superb birding and seasonal flamingo flocks • Close to Arusha and on route to Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti • Has species less common or more difficult to see in other northern parks • Rarely visited in the morning • Gets crowded in the afternoons during peak season (June and July and October to April)
WILDLIFE This park is known for its large elephant population. The big cats are present, but not seen that easily. The forest patch is home to habituated troops of olive baboon and blue monkey. Buffalo, giraffe and several antelope species are easily encountered on a drive. More about Manyara's wildlife Sc
enery (surrounding)
Lake Manyara is a shallow alkaline lake at the base of the Western Rift Valley escarpment. The park entrance leads to a beautiful groundwater forest. Other habitats include the grassy floodplain, rocky escarpment and acacia woodland, all of which can be covered in a half-day visit Getting there By road, charter or scheduled flight from Arusha, en route to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
What to do
Game drives, night game drives, canoeing when the water levels is sufficiently high. Cultural tours, picnicking, bush lunch/dinner, mountain bike tours, abseiling and forest walks on the escarpment outside the park.
When to go
Dry season (July-October) for large mammals; Wet season (November-June) for bird watching, the waterfalls and canoeing.
Accommodation
One luxury tree-house-style camp, public bandas and campsites inside the park. One luxury tented camp and three lodges perched on the Rift Wall outside the park overlooking the lake. Several guesthouses and campsites in nearby Mto wa Mbu.

ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK. About Arusha National Park Though very accessible, Arusha NP isn't on many safari itineraries. This is mainly because it doesn't offer a chance of seeing the Big Five. The park is at the base of Mount Meru, which is good for climbing. It has a range of habitats including forest - home to black-and-white colobus monkeys - and is excellent for birding. Size: help(552 km²) or( 212 mi²)Altitude:(1340-1839 m / )or(4396-6033 ft) Pros and Cons • Very scenic with different habitats, including forest • Views of Mount Kilimanjaro • Excellent birding with about 400 species, including forest birds • Close to Arusha and accessible for a day trip • Canoeing safari is offered • Off the beaten track and not crowded • Most of the major safari animals aren't present or aren't easily seen Wildlife Game viewing in Arusha NP is more low-key than in the other parks in Northern Tanzania. Animals that are easily seen include buffalo, giraffe and several antelope species. More exciting are the black-and-white colobus monkeys that live in the forest, and the large number of bird species. Several lakes often host flocks of flamingos. Further north, rolling grassy hills enclose the tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes, each one a different hue of green or blue. Their shallows sometimes tinged pink with thousands of flamingos, the lakes support a rich selection of resident and migrant waterfowl, and shaggy waterbucks display their large lyre-shaped horns on the watery fringes. Giraffes glide across the grassy hills, between grazing zebra herds, while pairs of wide-eyed dik-dik dart into scrubby bush like overgrown hares on spindly legs. Although elephants are uncommon in Arusha National Park, and lions absent altogether, leopards and spotted hyenas may be seen slinking around in the early morning and late afternoon More about Arusha NP's wildlife Scenery (surrounding) The park's appeal is mainly its scenery. The habitat diversity spans from montane rainforest to moist savannah to alpine moorland. The most prominent landmark is Mount Meru. Other highlights are a massive extinct volcano and several scenic lakes, with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background on a clear day. Getting there an easy 40-minute drive from Arusha. Approximately 60 km (35 miles) from Kilimanjaro International Airport. The lakes, forest and Ngurdoto Crater can all be visited in the course of a half-day outing at the beginning or end of an extended northern safari. What to do Forest walks, numerous picnic sites; three- or four-day Mt Meru climb - good acclimatisation for Kilimanjaro. When to go To climb Mt Meru, June-February although it may rain in November. Best views of Kilimanjaro December-February. Accommodation Two lodges, two rest houses, camp sites, two mountain huts inside the park; more lodges at Usa River outside the park and many hotels and hostels in Arusha town.

MFAHAMU MNYAMA KAKA KUONA

MFAHAMU KAKA KUONA /PANGOLIN ni jina maarufu la mnyama ambaye kwa kimombo anajulikana kama (pangolin )au (scaly anteater).Jina kaka kuona linatokana na uhadimu wake wa kutokuonekana kwa imani huchukuliwa kwamba kuonekana kwake ni bahati kwa namna moja au nyingine .Kaka kuona huonekana kwa adimu hii ni kutokana na maumbile yake ambayo hufanana na sehemu ambazo hupenda kuishi.kwa mfano hupenda kukaa kwenye miti yenye magome yenye kufanana na magamba yake hiyo humfanya kutamblika kwake kuwa kwa adimu kumtambua.kaka kuona amekuwa mnyama maarufu sana katika nchi za Asia ambapo hutumiwa kama kitoweo, dawa,urembo,ambapo dawa maarufu ambayo hutoka kwake ni dawa ya kuongeza nguvu za kiume(manspower) amekuwa mnyama ambaye ni dili sana kwa nnchi hizo hivi karibuni wamekamatwa watu katika nchi ya burundi wakiwa wakisafirisha mifuko iliyojaa magamba ya kaka kuona yenye thamani ya 1.4billion.kaka kuona pia hupatikana kwenye misitu ya mvua yaani rain forest kwa mfano kaka kuona aina ya kaka kuona mwenye mkia mrefu (long -tailed pangolin) hupenda kukaa kwenye misitu minene yenye miti mirefu.hupatikana misitu ya KILIMANJARO.MLIMA KENYA MLIMA.aina nyingine ni (giant pangolin)ambaye hupendelea sehemu zilizo wazi ambamo huchimba vishimo vidogo.kaka kuona pia ni wanyama ambao ni wazuri kwa kuogelea na ni wapandaji wazuri kutokana na mkia mzuri wenye kuweza kusaidia wakati wa kupanda juu.kaka kuona yupo imara zaidi wakati wa usiku.na humchukua siku 65 mpaka 139 wakati wa kubeba mimba muda wa kaka kuona wa kuishi hautambuliki lakini aina ya( indian pangolini huishi mpaka miaka 19) PANGOLIN is famous name is also called scaly anteater, any of seven species of mammals characterized by a body covering of pointed overlapping scales instead of fur. Pangolins are native to China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Africa. Sharp rakelike front claws are used to gather food and dig burrows. The scales are yellowish to dark brown in color. They are made from fused hair and attach to the skin at their bases. Scales are absent from the underbelly, which is sparsely covered with hair. For protection while sleeping or when frightened, the pangolin rolls into a tight ball and raises its scales. A female will also roll up around her young. This behavior gives the pangolin its name, which comes from the Malay peng-goling, meaning “the roller.” The long-tailed pangolin and the tree pangolin are arboreal and live in the canopy of rain forests in West Africa. Others, like the giant pangolin, are terrestrial and prefer an open habitat where they dig burrows. When on the ground pangolins are mostly bipedal, walking on their hind legs with the head and body parallel to the ground and counterbalanced by the tail. All pangolins are good swimmers and agile climbers because of the prehensile tail. Natural enemies of the pangolin include pythons, leopards, lions, tigers, and humans. The pangolin is toothless and eats only ants and termites. It has a long, thin, sticky tongue, which can extend more than 30 cm (12 in) from the mouth. The pangolin inserts its tongue into ant or termite tunnels and withdraws it. Most pangolins are active at night, although a few species are seen during the day. Pangolins live alone or in pairs. Mating occurs in late summer and early autumn. Gestation ranges from 65 days to 139 days, depending on the species. Usually one young, with soft scales, is born at a time. The pangolin’s lifespan in the wild is not known, but an Indian pangolin lived for 19 years in

MOUNT KENYA

Mount Kenya, extinct volcano in central Kenya, located just south of the equator. With an elevation of 5,199 m (17,057 ft), Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. Mount Kenya was created by massive, successive eruptions of a volcano 2.5 million to 3 million years ago. Mount Kenya originally had a summit crater, but erosion wore the cone away, leaving a series of snow- and glacier-covered peaks, and valleys containing frozen lakes. But in the last 150,000 years the volcano’s glaciers have been losing ground to warmer climate. As recently as the late 19th century, seven of these glaciers melted completely away. The several that remain are retreating rapidly. Mount Kenya features an array of ecosystems and climatic zones. Grasslands and low trees grow on the basal plateau of the mountain. Rising above the basal plateau, a ring of dense rain forest covers the mountain slopes up to about 3,200 m (about 10,500 ft). Above this rain forest, alpine zone vegetation covers the mountain to about 4,600 m (about 15,000 ft), where it dwindles to mosses and lichens living on the snow-encrusted rocks. From the crowned eagle and mountain buzzard that inhabit the upper mountainous regions to the elephants, rhinoceroses, forest hogs, and Sykes monkeys that live in the dense forest areas, many animal species gain sustenance from this varied vegetation. The numerous rivers radiating from the central cone and the volcanic soils create a fertile environment. The lower slopes of Mount Kenya are cultivated by the Kikuyu and the related Embu and Meru peoples. The Swahili name given to Mount Kenya by the Kikuyu, Kirinyaga, translates to “mountain of whiteness.”

ELEPHANT/TEMBO

Elephants have four teeth, all molars, which have jagged ridges for grinding leaves, stems, and roots. A single tooth can weigh more than 5 kg (11 lb) and measure 30 cm (12 in) in length. The first pair of molars is located toward the front of the mouth. When these front molars wear down, they drop out in pieces as the two molars in the back shift forward. Two new molars then emerge in the back of the mouth to replace those that have moved forward. Elephants replace the back molars six times throughout life. When the last set of molars wears out—anywhere between 40 and about 60 years of age—an elephant can no longer chew food and dies of starvation, a not uncommon death among elephants. Elephant tusks are actually a pair of elongated teeth. They are the largest and heaviest teeth of any living animal. The tusks are used for digging for roots and water, stripping the bark off trees for food, fighting each other during mating season, and, in savanna and forest elephant cows, warding off predators of baby elephants such as lions and tigers. In a calf, the first incisors are replaced within 6 to 12 months of birth. The second set, which become the tusks, grows at the rate of about 17 cm (about 7 in) per year throughout life. Tusk growth is determined by genetics and nutrition, and over the years, normal wear and tear scales down their length. A bull tusk from a savanna or forest elephant typically weighs 20 to 45 kg (50 to 100 lb) and is 1.8 to 2.4 m (6 to 8 ft) in length. The tusks of an adult Asian bull average 1.5 m (5 ft) in length and 30 kg (70 lb) in weight. Ivory hunters prefer to target savanna and forest elephants because their tusks are more massive than Asian elephants, and both bulls and cows have tusks. E.Skin Elephant skin is wrinkled and about 2.5 cm (1 in) thick, with a sparse covering of bristle-like hair. Despite its thickness, the skin is subject to infection by lice, ticks that carry blood-borne diseases, and the larvae of the warble fly, which bore into the elephant’s body and cause swelling and bleeding. Elephants frequently cover themselves with dust, bathe in water, and take mud baths to protect their skin. F.Senses Elephant eyesight is poor, and the eyes are small in relation to the enormous head, which can turn just slightly from side to side. This limited movement results in restricted side vision, and an elephant must move its whole body to broaden its range of vision. Its other senses—hearing, smell, taste, and touch—are acute. The most sensitive organ is the trunk, which is frequently at work picking up scents of food and danger from the ground and air. Elephants can smell water at great distances and can hear certain sounds from more than a mile away. Sexual maturity among bulls begins at about 11 to 12 years, but during mating season older bulls drive the younger ones away; bulls typically do not mate until around age 30. When a bull is about 20 to 25 years of age, the large glands on both sides of its head begin to swell and secrete an oily, testosterone-rich fluid. The bull's behavior becomes erratic and often aggressive toward other bulls and humans at this time. This event, known as musth, occurs annually throughout the bull’s lifetime, lasting for several days or several months depending on the animal's age and overall health. Cows begin breeding at about nine years of age and typically come into estrus, or heat, every 16 weeks, at which time they are receptive to mating. While pregnant, a cow’s estrus cycle halts and she does not mate. Soon after a cow gives birth, her estrus cycle begins again and she mates even if she is nursing. There is no breeding season for elephants—mating occurs throughout the year. Elephants do not mate for life. Bulls and cows form temporary pairs prior to mating, and after a brief courtship, the bull mounts the cow from behind, copulating for less than a minute. Mating may continue for several days. Usually, one bull mates with several cows, guarding them from the advances of other bulls. Cows give birth to single calves 20 to 22 months after conception, the longest gestation period known for any animal. Cows may give birth alone or surrounded by other cows. A newborn elephant is about 1 m (about 3 ft) high and weighs about 120 kg (about 260 lb). The calf is initially helpless and unable to control its leg muscles and trunk. After one to two hours, the calf is able to stand and suckle, obtaining milk from its mother’s paired mammary glands, which are located between the front legs. Between three and four weeks, calves begin to experiment with feeding themselves; it may take six months before a calf can master the skill of drinking with its trunk. By the age of nine months, calves spend almost half of their time feeding on vegetation. They are weaned at about three or four years of age upon the birth of a younger brother or sister. In captivity, cows have borne calves until they are 60 years of age, at intervals of about four years. One or more female elephants, known as allomothers, often assist in the rearing of a calf. Allomothers stay near the calf, for example, while the mother moves away to forage for food. The more allomothers in a family, the greater the chances of the calf's survival. By age ten, a calf will weigh 900 to 1,300 kg (2,000 to 3,000 lb). It will attain most of its height between the ages of 20 and 25, but unlike other mammals, will continue to grow at a slow rate throughout life

ZEBRA SERENGETI

Burch ell’s zebras and blue wildebeests roam Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, one of the last places in Africa where large animal migrations still occur. During the wet season herds with numbers in the thousands populate the southeastern plains of the park. In the dry season the animals migrate westward into the woodland savanna of the Serengeti and northward to the grassland areas of neighboring Kenya. Serengeti National Park is an important tourist attraction for Tanzania, one of the world’s least developed countries.

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Serengeti National Park, park in northern Tanzania. Established in 1941, the park covers 14,800 sq km (5,700 sq mi) and consists mainly of flat, open grassland, with a few rocky kopjes (small hills) and some areas of woodland and bushy savanna in the western part of the park. The Serengeti is the only national park in Africa where seasonal migrations of plains animals take place. Serengeti National Park is inhabited by more than 200 species of birds and 35 species of plains mammals, including cheetahs, leopards, lions, and giraffes. Zebras, gnus (large African antelopes also called wildebeests), gazelles, and elephants did not exist in large numbers in the park until the 1960s, when the rising human population in the region caused a shortage of natural resources and forced many of these animals into the protected area. About 200,000 zebras, 2 million gnus, 1 million gazelles, and thousands of elephants now live in the park. The plains of Serengeti National Park are also home to black rhinoceroses. During the rainy season, from November to May, millions of animals graze on the park's southeastern plains. This area has few rivers and becomes excessively dry once the rainy season ends, so gnus, gazelles, and zebras migrate to the western savanna and as far north as the grasslands of Masai Mara Game Park, across the Kenya-Tanzania border, where they spend the dry season.

MASAI TRIABLE

Masai, East African nomadic people speaking Maa, an Eastern Nilotic language. The Masai (or Maasai) are nomadic to provide grazing and water for their cattle. Cattle are the center of Masai life, providing their food (milk, blood, and meat), their materials (skin for clothes and dung to seal their houses), and their only recognized form of wealth. Each family marks its cattle with a unique brand and ear slits to identify them. The Masai live in small clusters of huts (called kraals or bomas) made of sticks sealed together with cow dung; these kraals also include enclosures for the cattle. Masai males are rigidly separated into five age groups: child, junior warrior, senior warrior, junior elder, and senior elder. Both boys and girls undergo circumcision ceremonies, which initiate them into adulthood. Marriages are often arranged, and polygamy is practiced. The Masai believe in a supreme god, Engai, who blesses them with children and cattle. Prior to European colonization of Africa, the Masai herded their cattle freely across the Great Rift Valley of East Africa. They first encountered Europeans in the 1840s. During the 1880s and 1890s, the Masai experienced severe droughts, famine, and disease, including smallpox, which was probably due to European contact. The Masai cattle herds were decimated by rinderpest, a highly infectious febrile disease. The weakened Masai fought against the encroachment of the Europeans but were defeated. The Europeans wanted farmland, and acquired large portions of Masai land in the treaties of 1904, 1911, and 1912, which confined the nomadic Masai to reserves and gave the Europeans fertile land. Today the Masai, who number approximately 250,000, live in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Despite government efforts to settle them, most are still nomadic.

mount kilimanjaro/tanzania

Kilimanjaro, highest mountain in Africa, located in northeastern Tanzania, near the border with Kenya. Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano. Its two peaks stand 11 km (7 mi) apart and are connected by a broad ridge. Kibo, the higher peak, rises to 5,895 m (19,341 ft) above sea level, and the summit of Mawenzi is 5,149 m (16,893 ft) above sea level. Although Kilimanjaro lies 3° south of the equator, an ice cap covers the crater of Kibo year-round; this ice cap is pierced by several small craters. “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” (1938), one of the most famous stories of American writer Ernest Hemingway, is set in the region. Kilimanjaro has a number of different vegetation zones on its steep slopes. Coffee and plantains are grown on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro. The mountain was successfully scaled for the first time in 1889 by German geographer Hans Meyer and Austrian mountain climber Ludwig Purtscheller.if you want to do it please in touch with us for more information

SHOWCASE THE BEAUTY OF EAST AFRICA HERE

SHOWCASE THE BEAUTY OF TANZANIA HERE

GIRRAFE/TWIGA

Giraffe, the tallest living animal, instantly recognizable by its exceptionally long neck. Male giraffes average about 5.3 m (17 ft) high, but some grow to a height of almost 6 m (20 ft)—tall enough to span two floors of a typical office building. Giraffes live in tree-scattered terrain in Africa.

The giraffe is the better known of two species in the giraffe family. The other species is the okapi, an animal that was not even discovered by scientists until about 1900. Although much shorter than the giraffe, the okapi also has a long neck and eats leaves, and both animals have long tongues and skin-covered horns. The giraffe’s ancestors first appeared in central Asia about 15 million years ago, but the earliest fossil records of the giraffe itself, from Israel and Africa, date back about 1.5 million years.

Giraffes live in savanna and open woodland, habitats where the available food varies throughout the year. During the dry season, the animals eat evergreen leaves, but once the rainy season begins, they switch to new leaves and stems that sprout on deciduous trees. When there is a choice, male and female giraffes feed in different ways. Males concentrate on leaves from the highest branches, while the females arch their necks to eat closer to the ground. This behavior is so characteristic that a giraffe’s sex can be identified from a long distance away simply by its stance while eating. Male giraffes are also more inclined to wander into dense woodland, a habitat that females generally avoid.

Giraffes are not great travelers, despite their long legs. They cannot walk over swampy ground because their hooves quickly sink, and they very rarely wade across rivers. Giraffes on opposite banks of a river may never come into contact, unless the water level subsides.

Giraffes spend up to half their time feeding, and most of the remainder is taken up either by searching for food or slowly digesting what they have eaten. Giraffes are ruminants (animals that regurgitate partially digested food and chew it again) like sheep and cows. Giraffes are mostly diurnal (active during the day). Sometimes they doze during the daytime, often while standing. They normally lie down only at night, tucking their feet under the body and usually keeping the head upright. However, when a giraffe is sleeping—something it does for just a few minutes at a time—it curves its neck around and rests its head on or near its rump.

Although giraffes are social animals, their herds are less structured than those of most other mammals. A typical herd of giraffes contains up to ten members, and animals can leave or join it at any time. The giraffes are often so widely scattered that they seem out of contact with one another, but the animal’s keen eyesight can keep neighbors in view from great distances away. Giraffe herds do not have a leader, and individual giraffes show no particular preferences for others in the herd. Notable exceptions to this rule are young males, which often form bachelor herds, and females with calves, which often feed together.

One of the most striking elements of giraffe behavior is the duel between males fighting for mating privileges. Giraffe duels are among the most extraordinary in the animal kingdom. They start when two males approach each other and begin to rub and intertwine their necks. This behavior—known as necking—allows the opponents to assess each other’s size and strength. Often, necking alone is enough to establish seniority. If not, the rivals begin to exchange blows with their heads. Each giraffe braces its front legs and swings its head upward and over its shoulder. If a blow lands solidly—and many do not—the recipient may stagger under the impact, and in rare cases may even collapse onto the ground. More often the contest breaks off after a few minutes, and the loser simply walks away.

REPRODUCTION

Giraffe Birth

Giraffe BirthAfter a gestation period of 15 months, the life of a giraffe calf begins with an unceremonious drop to the ground. Within 20 minutes the calf has recovered from the experience and is able to stand on its own.

Female giraffes start to breed when they are about four years old, and they have a gestation period of almost 15 months—one of the longest in the animal world. Males start breeding at about age five, when they begin the ritual combat over mates. Giraffes are only weakly territorial, and a successful male will mate with receptive females whenever and wherever it finds them. Over a year later, when a pregnant female is ready to give birth, she makes her way to a calving area that she will use throughout her life. The moment of birth is dramatic, with the mother standing on all fours and the calf tumbling onto the ground. Remarkably, the calf is rarely injured by its fall.

Newborn giraffes are often on their feet within 20 minutes and are soon feeding on their mothers’ milk. They are about 2 m (6 ft) tall at birth, and double their height in their first year. They are weaned at one year and become fully independent by 15 months of age. Females are fully grown by age five and males by age seven.

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