The Big Five Kenyan Animals

Kenya is widely known for its animals. Kenyan animals are found in the game parks and reserves found in the country. Most tourists coming to Kenya come to see the ‘Big Five’ Kenya animals. The big five is a collective name for five of the most popular Kenya animals.

The Kenya animals in this group include; the Lion, Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard and Rhino. Of the five ‘Big Five’ animals, the Lion is the Kenyan animal that most tourists while on safari want to see. The sight of lion hunting is spectacular and thrilling.

The Lion

A Kenyan Lion

The lion is the largest Kenya animal in the cat family. The lion has some great hunting skills is highly regarded of. This is coupled with its majestic walking style and large size. The sight of a pride of lion is very enticing and will linger on your mind for a very long time.

The lion is a merciless predator. However, it is less ferocious to man unless when in danger or wounded. The lion lives in a pride that consists of 20-30 lions. From this, you can infer that this Kenyan animal is very social; with its fellow lions, not man. Lions are found in many of the game parks and reserves in Kenya.

The Buffalo

 The Buffalo is a big and not so good-looking Kenyan animal. In addition to its frightening look, the Buffalo is very ferocious and has a nasty temper. The Buffalo is one of the Kenyan animals that you should never dream of petting.

Kenyan Buffalo

The buffalo is characterized by thick upward curving horns on its forehead and its almost black fur. The buffalo is a social animal. One male seeks several females and forms a herd. Once the male ages, younger buffaloes depose it of its ‘Throne’ and makes it leave its herd. 

The deposed male is specifically dangerous as it can attack any person/animal even when unprovoked.The largest herds of buffalo are found in the Kenyan parks.

The Elephant

Kenyan Elephant

The Elephant is the largest Kenyan animal and the largest living mammal. The Elephant has a gigantic and imposing structure. This has made the elephant to lack any natural predator other than the poachers who kill the animal for its valuable tusks.

Its imposing size is further enhanced by its excellent sense of smell and considerably higher level of intelligence. This Kenyan animal is found in many of the game parks and reserves. The Amboseli and the Tsavo parks have significantly higher numbers of elephants.

The Leopard

Kenyan Leopard with cub

The leopard is another Kenyan animal of the cat family. This Kenyan animal is popularly known as the ‘silent predator’.This title is derived from the fact that the leopard is nocturnal (hunts at night) and has a spotty fur which acts as a camouflage while hunting.

The leopard is a very private animal. Once it hunts, the leopard climbs with its kill on its mouth to the tallest trees around and has its private dinner there. This is an adaptation against scavengers such as hyenas.

The Rhinoceros

This Kenyan animal looks like a ‘dwarf’ elephant. They are heavy and have a black or white skin. The skin color is a distinction of the species it belongs.

Kenyan White Rhino

Apart from the white skin color, the white rhino has a broad mouth that has adapted to grazing. They are often sited in groups. The Lake Nakuru national park is the home to the largest herd of the Kenyan white rhino.

The black rhino has an upward pointed lip that is adapted to browsing mode of feeding. The black rhino prefers the dry and thorny acacia. The black rhino has a very an excellent hearing and smelling sense but a very poor eyesight.

Black Kenyan Rhino

The Masai Mara reserve has the largest of the Black rhino herd in Kenya.