1. Photos From My Serengeti Safari
By Olivia McConney
2. Day 1: Wild Animals
The picture is in the wet season. You can tell because the grass is
very green and the trees have leaves spread out on it, not just 1
or 2 from an occasional rain.
Blue skies with occasional clouds scattered in the sky. Clouds
contain water which rains down, waters the grass which is then
eaten by the animals in the area.
Tall tree with lots of branches and leaves to shade the below area.
This keeps the water from evaporating from the grass.
During December and January there are the most zebra births. The
newborns have fresh grass because of the short rainfall.
Zebras with stripes on their bodies for camouflage from
predator.
Climate Alert:
Rainfall can be from about 508mm to 1,200mm.
3. Day 2: Animals Drinking from Water Source
DuringFebruary wildebeest kill many newborns that are feeding from
the short grass plains.
Wildebeest with horns to kill prey.
Water which animals drink. Water carries seeds from plants to
different areas which then grow a new plant in that area.
During the month of April the wildebeest are evenly spread out
across the plains because of the heavy rainfalls nurturing the
grass.
This picture is during the rainy season because there is water
covering the grass, not just in 1 or 2 spots.
4. Day 3: Sausage Tree
Climate Alert:
The evenings between June and October are the coldest.
During March the clouds roll in from the south and bring with them
heavy rainfall.
The branches provide shade for the area below and provide a place
for animals to sleep when it gets hot.
Lions sleeping in the trees because it is to hot to sleep on the
ground.
Lions can go for 4 to 5 days without water if necessary.
Thick bark protects tree from fires which pass through the
area.
If the lion has lighter fur it is in a hot climate but if it has
darker fur it is in a cooler climate.
5. Day 4: Maasai People
Each person in the Maasai tribe has a job. Women make the houses,
supply water, milk the cattle, collect firewood, and cook. The
warriors provide security and the boys herd the livestock.
During July morning temperatures drop as well as in August.
Only the Maasai people are allowed to live in Serengeti but only if
they follow the traditional beliefs and life of their culture. Also
the number of people who live in Serengeti along with their cattle
are limited.
Maasai people rely on meat, milk, and the blood from cattle for
food. They do not kill the cattle when getting the blood as cattle
are seen as how much you are worth but they do stick a pin in the
cattles neck and collect the blood, then patch up the wound on the
cattle with mud.
The number of cattle people have is limited because the cattle
would eat all the grass which would decrease the number of impala.
With no impala the lions would turn on the humans for food.
In the mornings the elder announces what everyone is to do that
day.
Maasai houses are made of mud, grass, sticks and cow
dung.
6. Day 5: The Impala
These are the female impala; they do not have horns.
Impala are found where there is a significant source of
water.
The animals start migrating to the Grumeti Controlled Area during
June because of the ending of rain.
Impala eat grass shoots during the wet season but when it is dry
they usually eat herbs and shrubs.
Animals start heading back home during November because of the
rains coming to Serengeti National Park.
Young impala are killed by jackals and small cats. When they are in
fear of danger they perform a jumping move and criss cross over the
predator. When they do their kick with their hind legs they release
a scent which makes it easier for them to stay together.
7. Day 6: Elephant by Sausage Tree
This picture was taken somewhere between December and June because
that is the only time that Kigelia Africana grow.
Elephants tend to tear up trees because they find more nutrients in
the trees the grass.
Elephants spend 16 hours of the day eating and eat as much as 495
pounds of food everyday.
Elephants have big ears to cool themselves off when it gets really
hot. Unfortunately elephants have very poor hearing.
Elephants can break down trees which are up to 4 years old.
Elephants are herbivores and eat any type of vegetation.
8. Day 7: Cheetah
A cheetahs fur helps it to camouflage into its surrounding.
Cheetahs have a tear mark running from the eye to the mouth which
helps it shield away the sun.
Cheetahs can run 75 mph so that they can catch food.
Since the cheetah runs so fast they have large noses which help
them take in oxygen.
Tall grasses help hide the cheetah while it hunts down other
prey.
9. People Who Helped Me Take the Pictures (Resources)
http://www.africanskimmer.com/wp-content/gallery/serengeti/tanzania_serengeti_acacia_.jpg
http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/serengeti-national-park-tza116.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1022/538662472_cceea502f6.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Maasai_tribe.jpg
http://win.co.tz/catalog/images/serengeti-national-park-swala.jpg
http://reisverslagen.tomsweb.net/tanzania/Olifant2.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/68/215829967_392811feb1.jpg
