Africa straddles the equator which bestows a rich diversity of wildlife and landscapes on the world's second largest continent. Large predators roam the sweeping savannas among huge herds of grazing herbivores, while apes, monkeys and snakes inhabit its dark, dense forests. Widely regarded as the place where human life originated, Africa is home to many of the world's best loved and most fascinating animals, as well as to some of its most endangered. Yet it's also home to many species that are as familiar to us in the UK as they are to Africans.
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Shrike the Impaler
A fiscal shrike uses acacia thorns as butchers hooks.
A fiscal shrike uses acacia thorns as butchers hooks.
Blowing hot and cold
Plants on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya have to cope with extremes of temperature.
Plants on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya have to cope with extremes of temperature.
Deserted desert
Ancient art shows a Sahara fertile enough to support grazing animals.
Ancient art shows a Sahara fertile enough to support grazing animals.
Terrorising the troop
Expert night hunters, leopards can't be seen by terriified baboons.
Expert night hunters, leopards can't be seen by terriified baboons.
Savanna survival
Savanna and rainforest battle for supremacy of the plains.
Savanna and rainforest battle for supremacy of the plains.
Explore more places around the world
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