Download - Click on the picture to begin your adventure.

As you find your way over lion As you find your way over lion inhabited plains, across inhabited plains, across crocodile infested waters, over crocodile infested waters, over mountain peaks ruled by mountain peaks ruled by silverback gorillas, and through silverback gorillas, and through dense jungles occupied by man-dense jungles occupied by man-eating pythons, you and your eating pythons, you and your partner will use what you have partner will use what you have learned about animal learned about animal characteristics, habitat, and characteristics, habitat, and diet to help you and your diet to help you and your partner explore and survive!partner explore and survive!

If you survive, you will be an If you survive, you will be an honorary Junior Explorer and honorary Junior Explorer and share what you have learned share what you have learned with the class.with the class.

Exploring African WildlifeExploring African Wildlife

Our class is traveling on a field trip to the amazing continent of Our class is traveling on a field trip to the amazing continent of Africa.Africa.

Click on the picture to begin your Click on the picture to begin your adventure.adventure.

Sahara DesertSahara Desert You and your partner are crossing the Sahara You and your partner are crossing the Sahara Desert. The Sahara is the largest desert in the Desert. The Sahara is the largest desert in the

world. It is over 3,000 miles. Temperatures reach world. It is over 3,000 miles. Temperatures reach over 120 degrees and there is no shade. There is over 120 degrees and there is no shade. There is

no water or food. no water or food.

Click on photo to continue.Click on photo to continue.

To help you cross this dangerous desert you must To help you cross this dangerous desert you must choose an animal that can survive in the desert.choose an animal that can survive in the desert.

Which animal will you choose? Which animal will you choose?

Click on the photo for your choice.Click on the photo for your choice.

ChimpanzeeChimpanzee

warthog

camel

ChimpanzeeChimpanzeeCChimps are mammals. They are mainly found in rain himps are mammals. They are mainly found in rain

forests and wet savannas. While they spend equal time on forests and wet savannas. While they spend equal time on land and in trees, they do most of their feeding and land and in trees, they do most of their feeding and sleeping in trees.sleeping in trees.They eat fruits, leaves, blossoms, and berries. Their diet They eat fruits, leaves, blossoms, and berries. Their diet consists of up to 80 different plant foods. consists of up to 80 different plant foods.

Good try! Sorry, not the right animal. Click on the photo to make another choice.

CamelsCamelsCamels are mammals that live in dry areas. The Camels are mammals that live in dry areas. The camel's hump contains fat (and NOT water). The camel's hump contains fat (and NOT water). The camel can go without food and water for 3 to 4 camel can go without food and water for 3 to 4 days. Camels are very strong mammals with days. Camels are very strong mammals with wide, padded feet. They have thick leathery wide, padded feet. They have thick leathery pads on their knees and chest. Camels have pads on their knees and chest. Camels have nostrils that can open and close, protecting nostrils that can open and close, protecting them from the desert environment. them from the desert environment. Bushy eyebrows and two rows of Bushy eyebrows and two rows of long eyelashes protect their eyes long eyelashes protect their eyes from sand. from sand. Their mouth is extremely tough, Their mouth is extremely tough, allowing camels to eat allowing camels to eat thorny desert plants. thorny desert plants.

Good choice. Click on the photo to continue your adventure.

WarthogWarthogThe warthog is a peaceful but fierce-looking wild hog. It The warthog is a peaceful but fierce-looking wild hog. It lives in savannas and sparse forests in Africa. Warthogs lives in savannas and sparse forests in Africa. Warthogs are omnivores (eating plants and meat). They eat grasses, are omnivores (eating plants and meat). They eat grasses, roots, bark, berries, and carrion (dead animals that they roots, bark, berries, and carrion (dead animals that they find). find). When they are in danger, they run and hide under trees.When they are in danger, they run and hide under trees.


SavannaSavannaYou and your partner are now crossing the Serengeti You and your partner are now crossing the Serengeti

Savanna. Africa's great savannas or grasslands are a place Savanna. Africa's great savannas or grasslands are a place dominated by sky and rolling dominated by sky and rolling grasslandgrassland. The grasses often . The grasses often

grow 3 to 6 feet tall.grow 3 to 6 feet tall.For 5 months each year, very little rain falls. Ponds and For 5 months each year, very little rain falls. Ponds and

streams dry up and grasses are easy to catch on fire. For streams dry up and grasses are easy to catch on fire. For the rest of the year. 30-50 inches of rain can fall. Animals the rest of the year. 30-50 inches of rain can fall. Animals need to survive both the drought (dry) season or the rainy need to survive both the drought (dry) season or the rainy

season. season.

Click on the photo to continue.

There are over a hundred of different species of animals There are over a hundred of different species of animals that live in the grasslands of the savanna. Many grazing that live in the grasslands of the savanna. Many grazing (eating) the rich grasses, scrubs, and leafy trees. (eating) the rich grasses, scrubs, and leafy trees. Which animal could you find grazing in the savannas of Which animal could you find grazing in the savannas of Africa? Africa? Click on the photo of your choice.Click on the photo of your choice.

Baboon spider

Black Colobus Black Colobus MonkeyMonkey

African Black Knife Fish

BLACK COLOBUS BLACK COLOBUS MONKEYMONKEY One of Africa's ten most One of Africa's ten most endangered monkeys, the black endangered monkeys, the black colobus can be found throughout colobus can be found throughout the rainforests between the rainforests between southwest Cameroon and the southwest Cameroon and the Congo River. They live in the Congo River. They live in the forest's high canopies (tallest forest's high canopies (tallest trees) and are renowned for trees) and are renowned for their jumping skills. They eat their jumping skills. They eat seeds, leaves, fruits, and seeds, leaves, fruits, and flowers.flowers.


Baboon SpiderBaboon Spider Baboon spiders or tarantulas, as Baboon spiders or tarantulas, as they are known outside Africa, they are known outside Africa, are the giants of the spider are the giants of the spider world. The baboon spiders are world. The baboon spiders are ground living animals and ground living animals and construct silk-lined burrows, or construct silk-lined burrows, or retreats under stones and rocks. retreats under stones and rocks. They are found in a variety of They are found in a variety of habitats such as dry, grassland habitats such as dry, grassland or savanna woodland. They are or savanna woodland. They are nocturnal. The baboon spider nocturnal. The baboon spider hides and drags their prey into hides and drags their prey into the burrow. They eat other the burrow. They eat other insects, small mammals, and insects, small mammals, and reptiles.reptiles.


African Black African Black Knife FishKnife FishThis fish is a nocturnal This fish is a nocturnal prowler found in the rivers prowler found in the rivers of Africa.of Africa.Being predators, they will Being predators, they will eat any type of live foods eat any type of live foods small enough to fit in their small enough to fit in their mouths, such as, live small mouths, such as, live small fish, snails, earthworms, fish, snails, earthworms, crustaceans, earthworms, crustaceans, earthworms, and mosquito larvae.and mosquito larvae.


Africa’s RainforestAfrica’s RainforestYou and your partner are hidden in the African Rainforest. You and your partner are hidden in the African Rainforest. You are surrounded by the tallest trees that you have ever You are surrounded by the tallest trees that you have ever

seen. Plants with thick leaves grow taller than you, because seen. Plants with thick leaves grow taller than you, because of the warm, moist air. The air is also alive with the sounds of the warm, moist air. The air is also alive with the sounds of over 1,000 species of animals that live in the rainforest. of over 1,000 species of animals that live in the rainforest.

Click on the photo to continue your journey.Click on the photo to continue your journey.

What do you and your partner spy lurking behind What do you and your partner spy lurking behind that tree?that tree?Click on the photo of your choice.Click on the photo of your choice.

African Elephant

African Crocodile

Okapi

African ElephantAfrican ElephantThe African Elephant is the largest mammal living in the The African Elephant is the largest mammal living in the savanna or grassland areas of Africa. Elephants have savanna or grassland areas of Africa. Elephants have few natural enemies except man, and they are in danger few natural enemies except man, and they are in danger of extinction due to loss of habitat and poaching (they of extinction due to loss of habitat and poaching (they are killed for their ivory tusks). African elephants are killed for their ivory tusks). African elephants average about 10 feet tall at the and, weighing roughly average about 10 feet tall at the and, weighing roughly 6 tons. 6 tons. Elephants eat roots, grasses, leaves, fruit, and bark. Elephants eat roots, grasses, leaves, fruit, and bark. They use their tusks and trunk to get food. These They use their tusks and trunk to get food. These herbivores spend most of their time eating. Bulls can herbivores spend most of their time eating. Bulls can eat up to 300-600 pounds of food each day. eat up to 300-600 pounds of food each day.


African CrocodilesAfrican CrocodilesAfrican Crocodiles are reptiles. Crocodiles are found in African Crocodiles are reptiles. Crocodiles are found in slow-moving freshwater rivers and lakes. Crocodiles are slow-moving freshwater rivers and lakes. Crocodiles are most at home in the water, but are able to travel on land. most at home in the water, but are able to travel on land. Crocodiles are carnivores, eating a wide variety of living Crocodiles are carnivores, eating a wide variety of living and dead mammals and fish. The larger species of and dead mammals and fish. The larger species of crocodiles can be very dangerous to humans.crocodiles can be very dangerous to humans.Crocodiles are ambush hunters, waiting for fish or land Crocodiles are ambush hunters, waiting for fish or land animals to come close, then rushing out to attack. As cold-animals to come close, then rushing out to attack. As cold-blooded predators, they can survive long periods without blooded predators, they can survive long periods without food, and rarely need to actively go hunting.food, and rarely need to actively go hunting.


OkapiOkapiOkapi live in dense, moist Okapi live in dense, moist rainforest jungles near water rainforest jungles near water throughout Africa. They are known throughout Africa. They are known as the rainforest giraffe. The okapi as the rainforest giraffe. The okapi isn't nearly as tall as the giraffe. It isn't nearly as tall as the giraffe. It only stands about 1.5 meters (5 only stands about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. It's also a very hard to feet) tall. It's also a very hard to study because its stripes and dark study because its stripes and dark color help to hide it in the forest color help to hide it in the forest and its quick speed allows it to and its quick speed allows it to make a fast getaway whenever it make a fast getaway whenever it senses danger. The okapi is active senses danger. The okapi is active during the day, using fixed, well-during the day, using fixed, well-trodden paths through the jungle. trodden paths through the jungle. They are herbivores, eating the They are herbivores, eating the lush vegetation of the rainforest. lush vegetation of the rainforest. The long necks help them reach The long necks help them reach new leaves growing on taller trees. new leaves growing on taller trees. Good choice. Click on the photo to continue your

adventure.

Highland MountainsHighland MountainsYou and your partner are climbing steep, rocky peaks. You and your partner are climbing steep, rocky peaks. You are looking down at breath-taking waterfalls, and You are looking down at breath-taking waterfalls, and dangerous ravens. You are in the Highland Mountains dangerous ravens. You are in the Highland Mountains of Ethiopia.of Ethiopia.Some of the world’s largest mountains are found in Some of the world’s largest mountains are found in Africa. Africa. These spectacular mountains are formed by a chain of eight volcanoes. The mountains are home to The mountains are home to one the largest populations of different animals.one the largest populations of different animals.

Click on the photo to continue your adventure.Click on the photo to continue your adventure.

As you and your partner climb the Ethiopian Mountains, As you and your partner climb the Ethiopian Mountains, what animal do you think you might see?what animal do you think you might see?

Click on the photo of your choice.Click on the photo of your choice.

Wildebeest

Lions

Mountain Gorilla

WildebeastWildebeastThe wildebeest struggles for survival in the harsh The wildebeest struggles for survival in the harsh environment of the great African plains. These animals, environment of the great African plains. These animals, pursued by hungry predators, migrate clockwise from pursued by hungry predators, migrate clockwise from the Serengeti to the Mara Deserts, round and back again the Serengeti to the Mara Deserts, round and back again in a never-ending cycle in search of fresh pastures.in a never-ending cycle in search of fresh pastures.


African LionAfrican LionLions are found in savannas and grasslands, because of the animals they hunt for food.

Lions are the laziest of the big cats. They spend 16 to 20 hours a day sleeping. When resting, lions seem to enjoy friendship with a lot of touching, head rubbing, licking and purring. But when it comes to food, each lion looks out for itself. Adult males usually eating first, followed by the females and then the cubs.


Lions live in prides. Prides are close family units of about 15 lions.Lions use teamwork or cooperative hunting within the pride. Cooperative hunting enables lions to take prey as large as wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, young elephants, rhinos, hippos and giraffes, any of which can provide several meals for the pride.

Mountain Gorilla The Mountain Gorilla is the hairiest of gorillas; its long, thick black hair protects it from the cold of living high up in the mountains. Facial features like wrinkles around the nose – called nose prints - are different for each individual and are often used by human researchers for identification just like fingerprints for humans.Although strong and powerful, gorillas are gentle and shy. Gorillas have strong attachments to members of their own group. Groups are led by one silverback male, named for the silvery gray hairs that grow when the male gets older. The silverback protects and defends the group. He leads, deciding when and where to eat, rest and sleep.

It is perhaps surprising that mammals as large and strong as mountain gorillas are herbivores (vegetarians), which eat 142 different of plants and leaves that grow in the mountains, including bamboo, wild celery, thistles, stinging nettles, bedstraw and certain fruit. They rarely need to drink since they eat so many juicy things


Congratulations!Welcome Back. You and your partner are now

junior explorers.You and your partner have successfully explored and survived the African continent. Give each other a loud, high-five

You have learned about the many different habitats that make up the special landscape of Africa.

You have learned that Africa is home to many, many unusual and special animals. Some are friendly, some are strange looking, and some are dangerous.

Click on the photo to continue.

Try some fun activity pages to help you check your knowledge. Follow the directions to complete each page.

Good Luck

Click on the giraffe photo to open the pages and begin working.

When you have finished, print the page.

OR

You can print the pages first and fill in your answers while watching the Exploring African Wildlife powerpoint again.

To see the powerpoint again, click on the zebra photo.

Thank you for joining our exploration. I hope that you and your partner have enjoyed your adventure.

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