BY OLIVIA MCCONNEY

Photos From My Serengeti Safari

Day 1: Wild Animals

Tall tree with lots of branches and leaves to shade the below area. This keeps the water from evaporating from the grass.

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.

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.

Zebras with stripes on their bodies for camouflage from predator.

Climate Alert:Rainfall can be

from about 508mm to 1,200mm.

During December and January there are the most zebra births. The newborns have fresh grass because of the short rainfall.

Day 2: Animals Drinking from Water Source

Water which animals drink. Water carries seeds from plants to different areas which then grow a new plant in that area.

Wildebeest with horns to kill prey.

This picture is during the rainy season because there is water covering the

grass, not just in 1 or 2 spots.

During February wildebeest kill many newborns that are feeding from the short grass plains.

During the month of April the wildebeest are evenly spread out across the plains because of the heavy rainfalls nurturing the grass.

Day 3: Sausage Tree

The branches provide shade for the area below and provide a place for animals to sleep when it gets hot.

Thick bark protects tree from fires which pass through the area.

Lions sleeping in the trees because it is to hot to sleep on the ground.

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.

Lions can go for 4 to 5 days without water if necessary.

If the lion has lighter fur it is in a hot climate but if it has darker fur it is in a cooler climate.

Day 4: Maasai PeopleDuring July morning temperatures drop as well as in August.

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 cattle’s neck and collect the blood, then patch up the wound on the cattle with mud.

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 houses are made of mud, grass, sticks and cow dung.

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.

In the mornings the elder announces what everyone is to do that day.

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.

Day 5: The Impala

The animals start migrating to the Grumeti Controlled Area during June because of the ending of rain.

Animals start heading back home during November because of the rains coming to Serengeti National Park.

Impala are found where there is a significant source of water.

Impala eat grass shoots during the wet season but when it is dry they usually eat herbs and shrubs.

These are the female impala; they do not have horns.

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.

Day 6: Elephant by Sausage Tree

Elephants have big ears to cool themselves off when it gets really hot. Unfortunately elephants have very poor hearing.

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 can break down trees which are up to 4 years old.

Elephants are herbivores and eat any type of vegetation.

Elephants spend 16 hours of the day eating and eat as much as 495 pounds of food everyday.

Day 7: Cheetah

Cheetahs can run 75 mph so that they can catch food.

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.

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.

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