By Contributing Writer
Africa is a continent that has a varied selection of wildlife. While the majority of these animals are readily visible in the open grasslands or plains areas, others are hidden. Traveling to Africa to see animals is an experience you aren't going to forget any time soon. However, in order to fully appreciate these animals, you must understand some of the things that make each animal special.
Elephants
African elephants, which live 60 to 70 years, are the largest land mammal in the world. According to the San Diego Zoo, wild elephants live in the savannah and woodlands (some smaller species live in tropical and subtropical rain forests) and eat only vegetation; however, each elephant eats 220 to 440 pounds daily.
Lions
Lions, which stand roughly 4 feet tall and weigh 330 to 500 pounds, are the largest carnivore in Africa. Female lions take care of the hunting for the pride, or group of lions.
Rhinoceros
There are two types of African rhinoceros: white and black. This distinction is made not by the color of the animal, but by the lip size---the white rhino has a wide prehensile lip, while the black rhinoceros has a more narrow prehensile lip.
Mountain Gorilla
Mountain gorillas are on the endangered species list, despite the fact that they have no known predators. These animals are very peaceful creatures that eat mainly vegetation; however, they are hunted by humans for food.
Naked Mole Rat
The naked mole rat lives in a small portion of eastern Africa, including Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya; however, these rodents aren't rats and they aren't moles--they are more closely related to porcupines or chinchillas. These animals are devoid of fur and live underground using their long teeth and small eyes to create tunnels.
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