How to identify: Reddish-brown coat, lighter belly, black tail stripe; males have lyre-shaped horns.

Male vs female: Males have horns; females are hornless and slightly smaller.

What it eats: Grazes and browses (grass + leaves).

Where to look: Open grassland edges; Athi-Kapiti plains side; along main loops

Something unique: Known for high, stiff-legged ‘pronking’ leaps when alarmed.

How to identify: Bold black-and-white stripes; stripes differ per individual like fingerprints.

Male vs female: Males are slightly larger with thicker neck/crest.

What it eats: Grazer (mostly grass).

Where to look: Open plains and short grass near water

Something unique: Stripes may confuse biting flies and help with heat control.

How to identify: Jagged ‘leaf-like’ patches; long eyelashes; slow, graceful gait.

Male vs female: Males are heavier with larger ossicones; often darker with age.

What it eats: Browser (acacia leaves, shoots).

Where to look: Acacia woodland and bushy edges

Something unique: Can deliver powerful kicks; heart adapted for high blood pressure.

How to identify: Heavy body, broad horns; often in herds; ‘boss’ horn shield in mature males.

Male vs female: Males have thicker horn boss; females lighter, narrower horns.

What it eats: Grazer (grass).

Where to look: Near water and thicker grass; river lines

Something unique: Notoriously tough—often stands its ground when threatened.

How to identify: Facial ‘warts’, curved tusks; sparse mane; tail held like an antenna when running.

Male vs female: Males have larger tusks and facial pads.

What it eats: Grazer + roots/tubers; opportunistic omnivore.

Where to look: Open plains; near burrows; roadside verges

Something unique: Uses abandoned aardvark burrows for shelter.

How to identify: Dog-like muzzle, olive-grey fur, large troops on the ground and in trees.

Male vs female: Males are much larger with bigger canines.

What it eats: Omnivore (fruit, seeds, insects, small animals).

Where to look: Wooded edges; near picnic sites and gates (keep food secured)

Something unique: Highly social with complex hierarchies and communication.

How to identify: Grey coat, black face with white fringe; long tail; agile leaps.

Male vs female: Males have a blue scrotum (often visible).

What it eats: Omnivore (fruit, leaves, insects).

Where to look: Riverine trees; picnic sites; woodland

Something unique: Uses distinct alarm calls for different predators.

How to identify: Grey-blue coat, white throat patch; more arboreal than vervets.

Male vs female: Males larger; both sexes have similar coloration.

What it eats: Fruit + leaves; also insects.

Where to look: Denser riverine/woodland pockets

Something unique: Prefers forested pockets and moves quietly through canopy.

How to identify: Sloping back, spotted coat, strong jaws; ‘laughing’ vocalizations.

Male vs female: Females larger and dominant; external genitalia look similar (hard to sex in field).

What it eats: Meat—scavenges and hunts.

Where to look: Open plains at dusk/night; near carcasses

Something unique: Crushes bone with immense bite force.

How to identify: Large cat; males may have mane; pride behavior around kills or shade.

Male vs female: Males larger; mane (variable).

What it eats: Carnivore (antelopes, zebra, etc.).

Where to look: Open plains and thickets; often near prey concentrations

Something unique: Cooperative hunting and social pride structure.

How to identify: Black ‘tear marks’ from eyes to mouth; small head; long tail for balance.

Male vs female: Males slightly heavier; often in coalitions; females often solitary with cubs.

What it eats: Carnivore (gazelles, small antelope).

Where to look: Open plains with visibility; termite mounds as lookouts

Something unique: Designed for speed: flexible spine, non‑retractable claws for grip.

How to identify: Rosette spots (not solid like cheetah); long tail; often in trees with kills.

Male vs female: Males larger with broader head/neck.

What it eats: Carnivore (wide prey range).

Where to look: Thick bush, riverine woodland; dusk/night

Something unique: Strong climber; often drags prey into trees.

How to identify: Hooked upper lip (browsing); two horns; more solitary than white rhino.

Male vs female: Males more massive neck/shoulders; females often with calf.

What it eats: Browser (shrubs, twigs).

Where to look: Rhino Sanctuary zones; bushy areas

Something unique: Poor eyesight but great smell/hearing; very protective mothers.

How to identify: Wide, square mouth (grazer); long head; larger than black rhino.

Male vs female: Males larger with thicker neck; females often with calf.

What it eats: Grazer (short grass).

Where to look: Open grassland in sanctuary; near water

Something unique: Despite size, can move surprisingly fast in short bursts.

How to identify: Huge barrel body; nostrils on top; yawns show big canines.

Male vs female: Males larger with bigger tusks.

What it eats: Grazer (night).

Where to look: Rivers/pools; look for eyes/ears above water

Something unique: Among Africa’s most dangerous animals—give wide berth.

How to identify: Armored scales, powerful tail; eyes above waterline.

Male vs female: Males larger; hard to sex at distance.

What it eats: Carnivore (fish, mammals, birds).

Where to look: Rivers and still pools; sunny banks

Something unique: Ambush predator with explosive acceleration.

How to identify: Large dewlap; faint stripes; clicking knee tendons when walking.

Male vs female: Males heavier with thicker neck; both sexes have spiral horns (males thicker).

What it eats: Browser + grazer.

Where to look: Open plains and bush edges

Something unique: Can jump high despite size.

How to identify: Sloping back, long narrow face, ringed horns curving outward then inward.

Male vs female: Males have thicker horns; females slightly slimmer.

What it eats: Grazer.

Where to look: Open grassland plains

Something unique: Often posts sentinels while the herd feeds.

How to identify: Bold black side stripe; tan back with white belly; short tail.

Male vs female: Males have thicker, longer horns; females smaller horns.

What it eats: Grazer/browse mix.

Where to look: Short grass plains

Something unique: Famous for high-speed zig‑zag escapes.

How to identify: Pale coat, white rump; long horns with distinct rings; no strong black stripe like Thomson’s.

Male vs female: Males have longer, thicker horns; females slimmer.

What it eats: Browse + graze; can go long without drinking.

Where to look: Drier open plains; bushy edges

Something unique: Highly adapted to arid habitats.

How to identify: Grey-brown shaggy coat; white ‘target’ ring on rump (common waterbuck).

Male vs female: Males have long ridged horns; females hornless.

What it eats: Grazer.

Where to look: Near watercourses; taller grass

Something unique: Oily coat helps with water resistance and scent.

How to identify: Rich brown coat with white spots/stripes; prefers dense bush near water.

Male vs female: Males have spiral horns; females usually hornless.

What it eats: Browser (leaves, shoots).

Where to look: Thickets and riverine cover

Something unique: Freezes and slips into cover rather than running far.

How to identify: Small size, arched back; short horns on males; ‘duiking’ into shrubs when alarmed.

Male vs female: Males have short straight horns; females usually hornless.

What it eats: Browser (leaves, fruit).

Where to look: Bush edges; woodland; near tracks at dawn/dusk

Something unique: Can live close to humans if cover is available.

How to identify: Pig-like snout, large ears, powerful digging claws.

Male vs female: Hard to distinguish in field; males slightly larger.

What it eats: Ants and termites.

Where to look: Nocturnal; open plains—look for burrows and tracks

Something unique: Its burrows provide shelter for many other species.

How to identify: Reddish sides with distinctive black ‘saddle’ on back; upright ears.

Male vs female: Similar; males slightly heavier.

What it eats: Omnivore/scavenger (small prey, carrion, fruit).

Where to look: Open areas, road verges, scavenging spots

Something unique: Often follows larger predators to scavenge.

How to identify: Huge body, long neck/legs; males black-and-white, females brown-grey.

Male vs female: Male black plumage; female drab.

What it eats: Omnivore (plants, seeds, insects).

Where to look: Open plains

Something unique: Powerful kick; lays very large eggs.

How to identify: Long legs, crest ‘quills’ behind head; walks with purposeful stride.

Male vs female: Similar; females slightly smaller.

What it eats: Carnivore (snakes, rodents).

Where to look: Open grasslands

Something unique: Kills prey with rapid stomping strikes.

How to identify: Lilac chest, turquoise wings; long tail streamers; acrobatic display flights.

Male vs female: Similar; males slightly longer tail streamers.

What it eats: Insects, small lizards.

Where to look: Perches on acacias along roads

Something unique: Display flight includes rolling turns (name source).

How to identify: Golden crown of stiff feathers; white wings with chestnut patches.

Male vs female: Similar; males slightly larger.

What it eats: Omnivore (insects, seeds).

Where to look: Wetlands, grass near water

Something unique: National bird of Uganda; performs graceful dances.

How to identify: White head/chest, chestnut body; loud ringing calls.

Male vs female: Females larger.

What it eats: Fish and waterbirds.

Where to look: Near watercourses

Something unique: Grabs fish with talons; often steals from other birds.

How to identify: Bald head, large bill, hanging throat pouch.

Male vs female: Similar; males slightly larger.

What it eats: Scavenger, fish, small animals.

Where to look: Open areas; near carcasses/urban edges

Something unique: Excellent thermal soarer—rarely flaps.

How to identify: Spotted dark body, bony ‘helmet’ on head; loud calls.

Male vs female: Males slightly bigger casque/wattles.

What it eats: Seeds, insects.

Where to look: Road edges, open ground

Something unique: Great tick-eater; popular with farmers.

How to identify: Bright blue head/wing panels, orange belly, white breast band.

Male vs female: Similar.

What it eats: Omnivore (insects, scraps, fruit).

Where to look: Picnic sites, open woodland

Something unique: Highly tolerant of human presence.

How to identify: White plumage; breeding adults show buff patches; follows animals for insects.

Male vs female: Similar.

What it eats: Insects, small frogs.

Where to look: Grasslands near grazers

Something unique: Famous for ‘hitchhiking’ on grazing animals’ insect flush.

How to identify: Dark iridescent ibis with long decurved bill.

Male vs female: Similar.

What it eats: Worms, insects.

Where to look: Wetlands and lawns

Something unique: Forages by probing soft ground with its bill.

How to identify: Straight thorn pairs with swollen bases; ants often present.

Something unique: Ant symbiosis: ants defend tree; wind through swollen thorns can ‘whistle’.

Where to look: Open savannah soils

How to identify: Smooth yellow bark, feathery leaves, paired thorns.

Something unique: Bark color from powdery coating; used as landmark tree.

Where to look: Riverine edges, wetter flats

How to identify: Opposite narrow leaves; small dark fruits.

Something unique: Valuable dense wood; fruits eaten by birds and mammals.

Where to look: Woodland pockets, rocky edges

How to identify: Large glossy leaves; pink star-like flowers; capsule fruits.

Something unique: Ornamental; oil from seeds historically used in cosmetics.

Where to look: Moist woodland pockets

How to identify: Leaves often aromatic when crushed; small green capsules in clusters.

Something unique: Many crotons have latex and aromatic compounds that deter herbivory.

Where to look: Bushland edges; disturbed ground

How to identify: Large spreading crown; figs on short stalks along branches.

Something unique: Keystone fruit source—feeds many birds and mammals.

Where to look: Riverine lines

How to identify: Multiple stems, feathery fronds; orange-brown dates.

Something unique: Provides nesting habitat and edible fruits.

Where to look: Wet spots and riverine patches

How to identify: Reddish-brown bark; straight thorns; small yellow flowers.

Something unique: Gum and tannins; classic savannah silhouette.

Where to look: Open savannah, plains

How to identify: Large dangling fruits; maroon flowers at night (bat-pollinated).

Something unique: Fruits not usually eaten fresh by humans; used traditionally in remedies.

Where to look: Riverine and moist valleys

How to identify: Needle-like or scale leaves; blue ‘berries’.

Something unique: East Africa’s only native juniper; fragrant wood.

Where to look: Higher, cooler woodland edges (where present)

How to identify: Thick fleshy leaves with toothed edges; tubular flowers.

Something unique: Stores water in leaves; flowers attract sunbirds.

Where to look: Sunny rocky spots; open bush

How to identify: Square stems; aromatic leaves; bilabiate flowers.

Something unique: Many sages are pollinator magnets; leaves used traditionally.

Where to look: Open edges and disturbed patches

How to identify: Rough aromatic leaves; multicolor flower heads.

Something unique: Often invasive—forms dense thickets.

Where to look: Roadside and disturbed edges

How to identify: Aromatic leaves; small white/purple flowers on spikes.

Something unique: Essential oils deter insects; used in traditional cooking/remedies.

Where to look: Sunny edges, disturbed ground

How to identify: Hairy leaves; net-like bracts around fruit; small passionflower blooms.

Something unique: Sticky hairs trap small insects; fruits eaten by birds.

Where to look: Scrubby edges

How to identify: Large lobed leaves; tall stems; sunflower-like blooms.

Something unique: Often used as green manure due to nutrient-rich leaves.

Where to look: Road verges and sunny disturbed areas

How to identify: Cylindrical ‘bottlebrush’ blooms; narrow leaves.

Something unique: Excellent nectar source for sunbirds and insects.

Where to look: Planted around edges/picnic areas

How to identify: Papery purple/pink bracts around tiny white flowers; thorny stems.

Something unique: Bracts (not petals) provide the color.

Where to look: Around facilities/gates (ornamental)

How to identify: Opposite rough leaves; tight flower clusters; small dark berries.

Something unique: Berries attract birds; can spread quickly.

Where to look: Edges and disturbed spots

How to identify: Five-petaled flowers with prominent staminal column.

Something unique: Many species are used for teas or fiber.

Where to look: Open bush and garden edges