| Animal |
Ecology |
Activity |
Spoor |
 Lion Panthera Leo |
Savannah and plains with variety of hoofed animals. | Spend 20 hours a day resting, hunting early morning and at night. |  |
| "King of African carnivores" Average weight: Male: 189kg Female: 126kg |
Typical pride numbers about
14 with 1-4 males, the rest of the adults being female. Typically three cubs per litter after 14-15 week gestation |
||
| Animal |
Ecology |
Activity |
Spoor |
 Elephant Loxodonta africana |
Most versatile herbivore. Eat about 150kg per day | Feeds for about 16 hours per day, and sleeps for the rest. |  |
| Largest animal. Average weight: Male: 5000kg Female: 3000kg |
Matriarchal clan society consisting of mother with her offspring and daughters offspring. Males live separately, alone or in bachelor herds, herd is typically 9-11 elephants. Gestation period is 22 months. | ||
| Animal |
Ecology |
Activity |
Spoor |
 White Rhino Ceratotherium simun |
Most abundant in well watered savannahs, swamps, floodplains | Spend about 12 hours feeding, the rest walking and resting. |  |
| Largest land mammal after elephants | Females and young associate in groups, males are territorial and essentially solitary. Gestation period is 15-16 months, only one calf born at a time. | ||
| Animal |
Ecology |
Activity |
Spoor |
 Cape Buffalo Syncerus caffer |
Most abundant in well watered savannahs, swamps, floodplains | Spend about 12 hours feeding, the rest walking and resting. |  |
| Massive build
with short powerful limbs. Average weight: Male: 425-870kg Female: about 576kg |
Extremely sociable, living in large mixed herds. Herds can average up to 450 on large plains. Gestation period 11.5 months. | ||
| Animal |
Ecology |
Activity |
Spoor |
 Leopard Panthera pardus |
Broadest habitat tolerance of any African carnivore. Least specialised and most adaptable of the large cats | Lies up during day and part of the night in trees or dense undergrowth, becoming active at dusk. Ranges about 25km's per night when necessary |  |
| The embodiment
of feline beauty, power and stealth. Wide head with short powerful
jaws. Prey includes all forms of animal protein from beetles to
antelope three times its own weight. |
The leopard hunts and lives alone, associating with another adult only long enough to mate. Each defends a core territory, ranging from 9-63km's. Gestation period is 90-100 days, typically 1-3 in litter every two years. Ranks just above cheetah in predator pecking order. | ||
| Animal |
Ecology |
Activity |
Spoor |
 Spotted Hyaena Crocuta crocuta |
Most abundant large carnivore in areas where antelope and zebra abound. Found almost everywhere south of the Sahara | Spends large part of day lying down, the rest hunt and foraging. Can travel up to 40km per day. |  |
| Large dog-like
carnivore with sturdy build, high shoulders, and long muscular limbs.
More carnivorous than other hyenas. Eats everything but rumen contents
and horn bosses of biggest antelope. Bones, horns, hooves, and even
teeth are digested within 24 hours. Male: 56-63kg Females: 67-75kg |
Lives in large clans, defending territory from other carnivores. Clan members compete more than most social carnivores. Females are larger than males and dominate them. Gestation period 4 months, litter of 1-4 young. Mature at three years. | ||
| Animal |
Ecology |
Activity |
Spoor |
 Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus |
Range includes sparsely vegetated subdesert. Specialised as predator on gazelle and springbuck on plains, and impala, lechwe and reedbuck in wetter savannah | Seldom active at night, and rests during heat of day. Travels 4-7 km's per day |  |
| A cat with a greyhound
chassis. Built for speed it is light boned with long thin legs,
and short neck. Male: 35-65kg Female: about 10kg's less than male. |
Ranges may be up to 800 square km's. Adult males may associate in coalitions, while females rear their young to the age of 1.5 years before separation. Females usually settle within their mother's home range. | ||
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