African Safari Cats
African Safari Cats : The majority of tourists going on safari in East Africa and throughout Africa include safari cats among the top safari attractions. The safari cats are divided into several categories, including huge cats, little cats, and more. The safari cats are mostly seen in the many nations of East Africa and in general Africa when on safari game drives, nature walks, and horseback rides, among other activities. After noticing different safari cats, both big and little cats, the safari cats tend to become endearing throughout all of East Africa.
East African big cat safaris.
Tourists enjoy the safari cat in East Africa when spotting the big cats that are three in number that is the lion, leopard, and cheetah. The early morning game drive is necessary to see the big cats since they are more active and not in their hiding spots at that time. The cats may already be in the park by then, making sightings simple. The large cats can also be observed in the late afternoon and at night when on a game drive.
The large cats are regarded as the single hunters, these do rely on their highly equipped bodies and the instincts to track down their prey.
Large cats, tiny wild cats, and domestic cats are all members of the Felidae family. Because they are carnivores, huge cats like lions, who may devour zebras, wildebeest, African buffalo, warthogs, giraffes, and many other animals, depend on meat for their diets. About the leopards, among other animals, they eat impala, bushbuck, duiker, chital, jackal, fox, genet, and cheetah. Finally, cheetahs feed on a variety of animals with hooves, including antelope, gazelle, impala, duiker, and others. Because they feed on domestic animals like cattle, goats, sheep, and other types of domesticated livestock, large cats are also critically endangered.
Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, and Akagera National Park in Rwanda are the four most significant locations in East Africa where big cats can be seen at their best. Tourists visit these locations to witness the incredible concert of the big cats.
Huge cats.
Cheetahs.
The quickest of the big cats, cheetahs are famed for reaching 100 kilometers per hour in about three seconds. They often live in scrub woods, savannahs, open plains, and desert regions. The cheetahs can run at speeds of up to 113 km/h (70 mph) in brief bursts, and this speed greatly aids them in capturing prey quickly. The male cheetah may weigh up to 54 kg (12 pounds), and males are smaller than females, which can reach a weight of about 34 kg (75 pounds). They are normally solitary creatures, which is characteristic to a considerable part of the females. But, occasionally you can discover male cheetahs in small groups.
Cheetahs hunt throughout the day to avoid rivalry with other large cat species and other predators, as is the case with them. Cheetahs have a distinct lifestyle and rely on the amount of water they consume when eating. As a result, they do not require additional water to support their survival.
The mother cheetah can proceed and take care of the baby cheetah until it is 24 months old in the most hidden tall vegetation, thus protecting the cub from the presence of the intruders. Cheetahs are known as the most social animal species in the big cats, with the females living in a more social life than the males.
Although other predators like lions and hyenas do steal the prey of the cheetahs, unlike other species, the cheetah stalks its prey before sprinting after it. The cheetah is known to depend on the small sized preys as their ideal prey.
Leopards.
Leopards are believed to be the peaceful large cat species, and they enjoy living in meadows, woods, deserts, marshes, and forests, among other places. They are covered with stunning patches known as rosettes. Leopards are extremely strong animals, capable of dragging and killing prey that is heavier than their own body weight. To escape scavengers and other predators like lions, hyenas, baboons, and others, leopards typically pull their food or prey up up the tree.
Leopards live a unique existence in nature because they practice camouflage. Because of this, they are referred to be nocturnal animal species since they can see seven times better in the dark than humans can. In East Africa, leopards are well recognized for being expert climbers and swimmers.
Although being a solitary animal species, leopards live in a way that each has its own area. Leopard moms are highly attentive and protective to their young ones, much like how every creature on the world does. Leopards stay with their young until they are two years old.
Lions.
The lion is a very social cat with the most complex pride; the pride members hunt together like a pack of wolves and all share in the raising of the cubs. In the lion’s pride, you can find siblings, half siblings, and occasionally even strangers. Lions are known as the most dangerous members and the most distinctive big cat that you should not miss out on spotting on a safari. Lions are such endangered animal species which roar and they can be heard about 8km (5miles) afar, being the most carnivous animal species the lions have got the short life span of roughly 12 years in the wild.
Lions are also referred to as the “king of the jungle,” but in East Africa, some lion species have a distinctive way of life, especially in countries where the climate is hot. These lions are known as “tree climbing lions,” and they are primarily found in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda and Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania.
The majority of the time that lions spend waiting for their daily prey to make their day is spent on grasslands, open forests, and savannahs. In spite of their size, lions can run at speeds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph) when pursuing their prey, which shows that they are among the fastest animal species outside of cheetahs. A male lion may weigh up to 181 kg, while a female weighs around 131 kg.
In particular, in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, and Murchison Falls National Park, tourists can spot these endangered animal species during the night game drive because they are nocturnal animal species. This makes a big cat safari in East Africa exceptional. Due to their position at the top of the food chain, lions can be hunted, killed, and then given to other animals such as buffalos and hyenas during hunting.
The Best time to visit East Africa for big cat safaris.
The greatest time for visitors to visit the nations of East Africa for big cat safaris is during the dry months of the year, from June to September. During that time, the bushes might be thin, making it easier for travelers to see the big cats in East Africa. Big cat safaris are not recommended during the rainy season since the parks’ foliage has grown thick and made it harder to locate large cats.
