The African bush has a way of humbling you. The longer you spend time in it - the more you realise how little you actually know.
Here are five fascinating animal facts that might completely change the way you look at wildlife on your next game drive at Isinkwe Lodge.
Despite being classified as big cats, cheetahs cannot roar like lions or leopards. Their vocal structure is different. Instead of a roar - they chirp, trill, purr and even make a high-pitched call that sounds surprisingly like a small bird. Mothers use this chirping sound to call their cubs, especially when they are still vulnerable to predators.
Most people assume hippos are strong swimmers. In reality - they do not swim in the traditional sense at all. They move through water by pushing off the riverbed and bouncing along the bottom. Their bodies are so dense that they naturally sink - which allows them to “walk” underwater rather than float.
Hyenas are often misunderstood. Popular culture tends to paint them as scavengers and comic relief - but in reality - they are highly intelligent and socially complex animals. Spotted hyenas live in structured clans that can include up to 80 individuals - each with a strict social hierarchy led by dominant females.
Their communication system is sophisticated. The well known “laugh” is not laughter at all but a signal that can communicate stress, excitement, submission or even social status. Studies have shown that hyenas can solve complex problems, cooperate strategically and remember the voices of clan members over long distances.
A zebra’s stripes are as unique as a fingerprint. Researchers can identify individual zebras simply by studying their stripe patterns. Scientists believe they serve multiple purposes - from confusing predators during a chase to helping regulate body temperature in the African heat.
When a herd runs together, their moving stripes create an optical illusion that makes it difficult for predators to single out one individual. Up close, the pattern also appears to deter biting insects such as tsetse flies.
African buffalo live in large herds - and decision making is not random. When it is time to move, particularly after resting, adult females will stand up and face the direction they would prefer to travel. Researchers have observed that the herd often follows the direction with the most “votes.”
This behaviour suggests a surprising level of social cooperation. Rather than relying on a single dominant leader, buffalo appear to use a collective decision-making process.
If you would like to witness these incredible animals in their natural environment - plan your visit with us.