LARGE ANIMALS OF AFRICA

 

elephant-AEF60035.jpg (77781 bytes)Elephant 
This heaviest of all land mammals can weigh up to 6000kg. Although generally placid, Elephants can be aggressive if threatened, particularly when young are in a herd. Elephants at Venetia Limpopo are important in keeping water holes open, so many animals are dependent on them for this role. Strict vegetarians, they live in herds ruled by a matriarchy of a senior cow with the bull joining the herd only during mating season.
GiraffeGiraffe
The tallest animal on earth, the giraffe can be up to 5 m tall. Preferring open brush areas at Venetia Limpopo with Acacia trees, giraffes are predominantly diurnal. Loose herds congregate with no apparent hierarchy. They do not need surface water, but do often frequent water holes within the Reserve.
hippo-AEJ60007.jpg (84555 bytes)Hippopotamus
Semi-aquatic and spending most of the day submerged, hippos are found in throughout Venetia Limpopo at larger water holes and at the reservoir. At the latter location, there is a small herd with a territorial dominant bull. Grazing at night up to 30 km away from water, hippos may be responsible for more human deaths in Africa than any other wild animal.
 

ostrichOstrich
This flightless bird is the largest bird in Africa.

 
rhinoherd.jpg (44366 bytes)Rhinoceros

Only the Black (not the White) Rhino occur in Venetia Limpopo. White is the larger, Rhinobut the Black is the more aggressive. The horns of the black Rhino are approximately the same size, while the fore-horn of the White is much larger. The White Rhino has a square upper lip to aid in grazing while the Black has a prehensile upper lip to aid in browsing.   The few Black Rhino prefer the more open veld habitat

 

 
WarthogWarthog
Warthogs favor open ground, grasslands, waterholes, and woodlands. Two pairs of prominent wartlike folds on the face gives them their name. Tusks may reach formidable length, curving high over the car-warthog.jpg (78598 bytes)snout, and both sets are razor sharp.They do not depend on water, but will drink if it is available and wallow. The prime food is grasses, especially new sprouts after a burn, but berries, tree bark, and other fruit is eaten. An occasional snake or small mammal or carrion is also relished.
ZebraZebra
Both Bircher's and Harman's Zebras occur in South Africa, but only the Bircher's is found in the Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve. This large mammal is a grazers and is gregarious. Bircher's  have "shadow" stripes and lack a dewlap. Where Harman's occur, this zebra is larger and prefers mountainous areas
and sand flats.