Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is 7,580 sq. miles of mostly grasslands (bushveld), woodlands (savannah), and rocky outcrops. As of 2009 there where 150 mammal, 500 birds, 340 trees, 115 reptiles, 50 fish, and 35 amphibians species on record.   I was able to go on a safari through this park and see many animals.  

So...here are some picture of the animals I saw and random facts I learn.

The South Africa Big Five - Lion, Elephant, Rhinoceros, Leopard, and Buffalo.

• Hunters put these animals in this group because they were the hardest to hunt on foot and the degree of danger involved.
• Sadly I was unable to see a leopard.  They are very good a camouflaging  themselves and therefore very hard to find.

Buffalo have 12 stomachs.

Elephants communicate over several kilometers using infrasonic (unable to hear by humans) sounds.

Lions eat only every third or fourth day.  They also can sleep up to 20 hours a day.





                       

White Rhinoceros have a square lip for grazing.

Other animals I saw...

 Chacma Baboons are omnivores.

Hippopotamus' can’t swim.

Dwarf Mongooses are the smallest of the African mongoose.

Warthogs have poor eyesight.

Plains Zebras run side to side when getting away from predators.

Giraffes have 7 neck vertebrae just like humans.

Antelope - horned mammals

Impala                                Nyala

Waterbuck                        Blue Wildebeest

Birds

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (top left)

Lilac-breasted Roller (top right)

Saddle-billed Stork (bottom left)

Hooded Vulture (bottom right)

Grey Heron (top left)

Tawny Eagle (right)

Helmeted Guineafowl (bottom left)