Animals of the African Grasslands

More than a third of Africa is tropical grassland called savanna, home of the huge grazing herds and animals that prey on them.

King of the hunters is the lion. Lions live in groups or prides of up to thirty, each with its own hunting area. Cubs are born in hiding, away from the pride. While the mother hunts, they are in great danger from other hunters like hyenas. At ten weeks, they are welcomed lovingly into the pride where other lionesses may help to suckle them. As they grow older, the pride can continue its long hunting trips. Cubs learn the art slowly. First kills may be stolen by older companions. Males are often driven from the pride at an early age. Then, they must became kings in their own right.

Ostriches are the watchdogs of the savanna. They take snatches of sleep of only quarter of an hour at a time. Their great height allows them to spot approaching danger in the far distance. Other animals, like antelope, graze near them, relying on them to raise the alarm. Ostriches, the biggest of all birds lay the biggest eggs. Yet, compared with the size of their parents ostrich chicks are very small. Elephants, too, heaviest of all land animals, have very small babies. They go on growing to the end of their lives. A 50-year-old bull can weigh over six tonnes. African bush elephants are bigger than their relatives of the tropical forest, and cows never grow as big as bulls.