African Animals

Africa is home to some of the world's most diverse wildlife; more than 1 million species can be found in this vast continent. Africa's 11 million square miles include a wide range of rich habitats, including deserts, rainforests, savannahs, valleys, and mountains.

Where in Africa is this camera located?
This live animal cam is in central Kenya's Laikipia County, within the boundaries of the Mpala Research Centre. Mpala's 48,000 acres are home to cattle ranches, wild lands, and an international research hub, where scientists come from all over the world do study Africa's animals.

This camera at Mpala pans about 120 degrees, showing the watering hole (also known as the hippo pool), the fever trees alongside it and slightly upriver to Basking Beach. For more views of the same area, check out Explore's other animal cams like our safari cam or the ones posted at the watering hole or river.

What kinds of animals visit the watering hole?

Elephants, Grevy's zebras, giraffes, and kudus are just a few of the many African animals that come to drink from the water's edge. Vervet monkeys and olive baboons sleep in the acacia trees lining the river bank, and many birds--like the rare African finfoot and the fierce African fish eagle--keep watch from the trees, while leopards and Nile crocodiles look on from down below.

What is the difference between olive baboons and vervet monkeys?
The long-faced olive baboon is the larger of the two primates; males weigh approximately 50 pounds while females weigh closer to 30 pounds. These adaptable animals are mostly found in places like this: savanna or semi-arid habitats where there is water close by and secure trees in which to sleep. Olive baboons live in "troops" that range in size from 12 to 130 animals and include both male and female animals. They are omnivores, and will eat fruits, grass, seeds, bark, and roots as well as birds, rodents and sometimes larger mammals like antelope young.

Vervet monkeys are smaller than baboons, with males weighing 9-18 pounds and females weighing 5-9 pounds. Here at Mpala, you will likely see the vervet monkeys in the yellow fever trees alongside the river. Keep an ear out! Vervet monkeys use at least 33 different types of vocalizations to communicate--they can even specify which type of predator is nearby! The warning sound will tell other monkeys to look down (for snakes) or up (for eagles).

Are zebras and Grevy's zebras the same species?
Grevy's zebras and common plains zebras are different species, and Kenya is one of the few countries to have both!

Grevy's zebras are larger and heavier than common plains zebras, with thinner and more concentrated stripes. Their ears are also more rounded than their common cousin's.

Importantly, Grevy's zebras are rarer and listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The primary threats facing Grevy's zebras are illegal hunting and competing with people and livestock for resources like water grass. Fortunately, the population here in Laikipia County is increasing, in no small part because local ranchers have tolerated their presence.

What is a kudu?
Kudus are a species of spiral-horned antelope--and their intricate horns are nothing short of spectacular! At full length, each horn can measure up to 75 inches long! Unique to male kudus, these horns take a full six years to grow, so the animal's age can often be estimated by the direction of the horn's tips.

Kudus live in groups of about 7-10 animals, known as clans. Each clan is made up of adult females and juveniles of both sexes. At age 2, male kudus will leave the clan and live with another male or in a larger group led by older males.

These herbivores primarily eat woody plants as well as wild fruits (including "kudu-berries") and, unlike other herbivores, do not compete with people's livestock for food. Kudus can go without drinking for long periods, but in the dry season they will eat a more varied diet to stay hydrated--and visit watering holes and river banks like this one!