Africa Scary Stuff

Beware, animals! Scary stuff you may run into in Africa.

Big cats, scorpions, snakes, rhinos and hippos to name just a few - Africa is teeming with dangerous animals. But hey, that's what makes it such an interesting place to visit!

Big Cats
If like us you're avid watchers each time the BBC's Big Cat Week comes onto our screens, you'll know all about the lions, tigers, leopards and cheetahs of the Masi Mara and will probably be planning a Safari as part of your gap year. We say "good on ya", but don't get too close to them!

Rhinocerossssees.. erm, Rhinos
The Rhino actually dates back from the Miocene era millions of years ago and sadly have been hunted to near extinction - only 5 species still exist, and they are all endangered. There are 2 Rhino species in Africa - the White Rhino (which is actually grey .. go figure!) and the Black Rhino (erm, grey again). Both species have 2 horns and are quite good at charging - which is where the "scary" part comes in.

Baboon!
Sorry, we just had to include this animal so we could write "Baboon!". Baboons are not too dangerous to humans, although they are pests to agriculture so are treated as vermin.

Gorilla
Most gorillas live in inaccessible regions in various dense forests in tropical Africa. The male Gorilla can grow up to 6 feet tall and can weigh up to 350 pounds - probably good that their habitats are inaccessible then! If you visit some of Africa's National Parks, you stand a better chance of seeing one in the flesh and it's a lot safer than meeting one in a jungle!

Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus is the third-largest living land mammal, after elephants and white rhinos and can weigh up to 3 and a half tons. The hippo is an aggressive animal - old scars and fresh, deep wounds are signs of daily fights that are accompanied by much bellowing, neighing and snorting. With the long, razor-sharp incisors and tusklike canines, the hippo is well-armed and dangerous.

African Elephant
The African elephant is the largest living land mammal and one of the most impressive animals on earth. They are generally out going and form small family groups consisting of an older matriarch and three or four offspring, along with their young. Interestingly, elephants make low-frequency calls, many of which, though loud, are too low for humans to hear. These sounds allow elephants to communicate with one another at distances of five or six miles.

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