Even-toes
Animals with hooves are either odd-toed or even-toed. The odd-toed ones are horses, rhinos and tapirs. The even-toed ones are cattle, antelope, pigs, giraffes, camels, sheep, deer, and hippos. Oh, and whales, dolphins and porpoises, but that’s a whole other evolutionary story because, as you’ve probably spotted, whales, dolphins and porpoises don’t have hooves.
Horses have one toe at the front giving the appearance of a single large hoof, while antelopes have split or cloven hooves.
We’re out on a safari drive in the Masai Mara in Kenya. We have the familiar red and black chequered blankets worn by the Masai on our knees because it’s getting cold into the evening. The light is beautiful.
There’s a herd of Impala in the grassland, with an impressive male and his harem of females.
They have even-toes. They are ideal food for lions, cheetahs, and leopards.
I’m hoping to see them next.
More adventures on safari in Kenya
The double-jointed ankles of the African Harrier Hawk It's the tiny head which first strikes me; and then the bare face with the orange skin. It's an African… read more
Zebras at sunset and a vision of heaven My guide, Johnson, here at Governors' Camp in the Masai Mara, has been brilliant. He's responded to my every wish,… read more
The Village Weaver As we head back to camp, I can see birds bathing in the pools of water left by the ruts… read more
Go on, bat those eyelashes at me I love how playful and how brown and fluffy the young Zebras are here in the Masai Mara. They're still… read more
Lion’s mane Isn't this big male Lion's mane fabulous? Lionesses prefer male Lions which have a dark bushy main. It's a sign… read more
Cheetahs in the Masai Mara Gladys is driving us towards a pair of Cheetahs. "Oh yes! There". We're an excited group of four. A pair… read more
Black-Backed Jackals Those cunning tricksters, the Black-Backed Jackals are back. Their ears are so pointy, and so are their noses. What a… read more
Pied Kingfisher This is my first view of a Pied Kingfisher. They are massive compared with the Common Kingfishers we see in… read more
Topi There's a fast antelope called a Topi here. They often like to stand on hillocks, looking like sentinels. The only… read more
African Wattled Plover No sweat. That's the problem with being a bird. Humans have sweat gland which act to produce water which cools… read more
Plunge pools, Superb Starlings and sundowners Here at Mara Ngenche Safari Camp the luxury is embarrassing. A beautiful two-room tent with outside shower and private plunge… read more
Close to Lionesses I've already had the experience of a male Lion getting uncomfortably close to me on this safari. This time it's… read more