Game Watchers With Go Places Magazine: The Big Cats Of East Africa
There is only one law of the wild in East Africa’s game parks & reserves, the commanding law of the jungle as we know it, ‘only the fittest survive’… Predators rule and their unsuspecting prey, however big or small, are always on the look out and on constant alert, as one wrong move could mean certain death! East Africa’s BIG CATS primarily hunt on the vast savannahs where their prey is more easily available, but if you watch closely over the many watering holes and rivers, there also seems to be another underlining law – one of respect, as animals whether herbivore or carnivore, come together to peacefully quench their thirst (well apart from the crocodiles ofcourse…).
Witnessing a kill on your safari game drives is a truly exhilarating experience and awakens your most innate of primal instincts, and is not so cruel if you think about it, because it would happen even if you weren’t there. Welcome to the law of the jungle, welcome to Africa, where the BIG CATS rule!!
The Lion
Popularly known as the ‘king of the wild’ the Simba or Lion is the largest of the big cats in Africa, with some males weighing upto 250kg!! They have a lifespan between 10 to 14 years in the wild and males are easily distinguishable from females by their beautiful manes. Lions are unusually social compared to other big cats, with a pride consisting of related females, offspring and a small number of males. Lions are apex predators but also expert scavengers too, where lionesses in the pride generally hunt. They are nocturnal animals that mostly sleep during the day and are active during the night.
The Leopard
The African Leopard has relatively short legs as compared to the other big cats, a large elongated and muscular body and can weigh up to 100kg. Easily distinguishable from other cats by its rosette shaped spots (as compared to the single spots of a cheetah). Leopards are opportunistic hunters that have a broad diet, and strike in short bursts with lightning fast speed and great strength. They often carry their prey up trees to avoid other predators or scavengers.
The Cheetah
The elegant and aerodynamic cheetah is characterized by its slender body, deep chest, spotted coat, small rounded head, black tear like streaks on the face, long thin legs and a long spotted tail (no spots on the underbelly of the cheetah). Cheetah mainly prey upon antelopes and gazelles and can reach average speeds of upto 64km/h during their hunts.
The Serval Cat
Also known as the wild cat, the Serval Cat is the smallest of the big cats with a body slightly larger than a domestic cat. It is characterized by a small head, large ears and a golden-yellow to buff coat spotted and striped in black. A solitary animal, servals have little social interaction during the mating season. They prey on rodents, small birds, frogs, insects and reptiles, and some types of grass.
