Animals of the Savanna

©Africa Focus.2000

People of the Savanna

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When most people think of African animals, the animals of the Savanna are the ones that come to mind. Lions, giraffes, leopards, elephants and rhinoceroses all live on the grasslands. Savanna animals have to be on a constant search for water, especially during the dry season. The savanna is where people go on a safari to see the wild animals in Africa.

Go on Safari!

	Click to learn more about the Rhinoceros.	African Savanna Herd Animals
Rhinoceros live in groups of 3 or less and can weigh up to 500 pounds. They eat leaves and grass. They love to roll in the mud! Rhinos have very bad eyesight.
	Mor about the Cape Buffalo		More about Giraffes.
The cape buffalo is a dangerous animal that can weigh up to 350 pounds. They live in large herds in grassy areas, and they must have water nearby.		Giraffes can grow up to 20 feet tall, with a neck that is 8 feet long. They eat the leaves from the top of trees with their long tongues. They live together in herds.
	Grevy's zebra		Elephant African Elephant
Zebras live in large herds of 100 or more. They eat the coarse grass of the savanna. They can see, hear and smell very well to help them avoid enemies like the lion.		The African elephant is the largest mammal that lives on land. They weight 15,000 - 20,000 pounds. They eat grass, fruit and the bark of trees. The female elephants live in herds with their calves and the males live in bachelor herds or alone.

Cheetahs are the fastest mammal in the world. They can run up to 70 miles an hour to catch their prey. That is as fast as cars go on the highway! Click to learn more about the cheetah.

Leopards are very good at catching their prey. They climb trees and wait to catch monkeys, wild dogs, and antelopes. They like to live alone.

Africa's Big Cats
Cats hunt for food at night. Their eyesight is six times better than a humans in the dark. Their whiskers are very sensitive and help them feel their way around at night. Big cats can roar, but they can't purr. Small cats purr but can't roar.

Lions can grow to about ten feet long. The male lion has a big shaggy mane around his face. The female lion is smaller without the mane. Lions live in groups called prides. Most other cats like to live alone.

Lion, lion

©1997 The Learning Company, Inc

Other Interesting Savanna Mammals

Meerkats live in large groups called colonies. They are small animals that are about a foot long. When they are guarding their burrows, they stand on their hind feet to see around them. They eat insects, small mammals like mice, and small birds.

The dwarf mongoose is about the size of a squirrel. It eats mostly insects.
Dwarf Mongoose Dwarf mongoose

Image courtesy of Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo. ©Jim Schulz - CZS 2001

The African wild dog used to be found all over Africa below the Sahara desert, but it is getting hard to find packs of wild dogs because they are endangered. They live in large groups and range across a large area of land. They are meat-eaters and prey on impalas and gazelles.

Animal Printouts to Color
African Elephant	Grants Gazelle	Meerkat
Cheetah	Leopard	Mongoose
Giraffe	Lion	Zebra
Other Interesting Savanna Animals
Warthog	Animals of the Savanna	Hyena
Find information for many African animals here from the African Wildlife Foundation.
Go visit the Honolulu Zoo and learn more about savanna animals.

©Africa Focus.2000
	People of the Savanna	Back to the Savanna Page

Other Interesting Savanna Mammals
	Meerkats live in large groups called colonies. They are small animals that are about a foot long. When they are guarding their burrows, they stand on their hind feet to see around them. They eat insects, small mammals like mice, and small birds.
The dwarf mongoose is about the size of a squirrel. It eats mostly insects. Dwarf Mongoose Dwarf mongoose
Image courtesy of Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo. ©Jim Schulz - CZS 2001	The African wild dog used to be found all over Africa below the Sahara desert, but it is getting hard to find packs of wild dogs because they are endangered. They live in large groups and range across a large area of land. They are meat-eaters and prey on impalas and gazelles.

People of the Savanna

Back to the Savanna Page

Go on Safari!

African Savanna Herd Animals

Africa's Big Cats

Other Interesting Savanna Mammals

Animal Printouts to Color

Other Interesting Savanna Animals

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