Each and every mainland on planet earth has its own unique scenery, climate, and animals. Many people travel to African Safaris and get see lions, gorillas, and giraffes up close, but did you know that there are some peculiar animals that can only be found in this beautiful continent? Get ready to have your mind blown by these strange and wondrous creatures.
African Civet
The African Civet is a medium-sized mammal with a raccoon’s face and a spotted cat’s body. The Civets are nocturnal and are most likely to come out and play during the nighttime. They follow an omnivorous diet and eat both plants and small animals. Just like skunks, they can emit a musk that’s less than pleasant – and that’s an understatement. Despite it being incredibly offensive, in the past, their scent was used in perfumes, diluted, of course. Since then a synthetic version of that scent was developed and it is still used in performs today.
Grey Crowned Crane
The Grey Crowned Crane is a large shorebird that can be found in Africa’s wetland. These birds will eat almost anything they can get their wing on, including seeds, grass, insects, and even some fish. These birds can get to around 3 to 4 feet in adulthood and their wings can spread up to 5 or 6 feet. Their unique hairstyle makes them stand out so in order to hide from predators they build nests in trees.
Guereza Colobus
Monkeys are one of the most abundant species on earth and funny-looking monkeys can be found in every continent. The Guereza Colobus has a hairline that makes it look like it’s sporting an unfortunate 90’s haircut. It spends almost all of its time in the trees and can jump 50 feet in the air, which is pretty useful if you’re trying to get from one tree branch to another. Just like cows, the Guerezas have two stomachs. They enjoy eating fresh leaves but can also digest old ones, thanks to their strong stomaches.
African Wild Dog
We are all used to seeing an incredible amount of variety when it comes to dog breeds, but we are sure you have never seen a dog quite like this. The African Wild Dog can be found almost anywhere in Africa from forests to semi-deserts to mountains and savannahs. Somehow, despite being able to survive in so many different environments it is considered an endangered species. It is hunted both by humans and lions. Its best feature is its ears which look like they belong to a different animal altogether.
Klipspringer
The Klipspringer looks like a smaller version of an antelope and that’s because, well, it is. Out of all of the different antelope species, they are the only ones who walk on the tips of their hooves, just like ballerinas. This walking technique isn’t only graceful but also useful – it helps them grip onto the surfaces they walk on. They are also one of the rare animals that mate for life. How romantic!
