The fennec fox is the smallest of all the world’s foxes, but its large ears, measuring 6 inches (15 centimeters), appear to be on loan from a bigger relative.

Fennec foxes dwell in the sandy Sahara and elsewhere in North Africa… Their distinctive, batlike ears radiate body heat and help keep the foxes cool. - NatGeo

Explore more African wildlife.

The Family that Drinks Together, Stays Together

“An elephant calf is usually born into an extended family, headed by an older female elephant who serves as matriarch. Families are cohesive groups of females and their young. Adult males leave the herd at 14 years of age, and either range alone or join other bull elephants in ‘bachelor herds,’ rejoining females only at breeding times. The mother is responsible for providing the 250-pound newborn with milk. But when it comes to caretaking and protecting babies from predators, the whole herd pitches in.” Read more about Elephant life at PBS.

See more Elephant photos at Explore.org.

The Lilac Breasted Roller

This photo is from Charlie’s safari in the Serengeti of Tanzania, where Lilac Breasted Rollers abound. These birds are just over a foot tall at 14.5 inches, and feed “on grasshoppers, beetles, occasionally lizards, crabs, and small amphibians… Rollers get their name from their impressive courtship flight, a fast, shallow dive from considerable elevation with a rolling or fast rocking motion, accompanied by loud raucous calls.” 

Read more about these acrobatic, beautiful birds here and see more Serengeti photos at Explore.org.

The King of the Jungle is looking more like the Sun King here in the Serengeti. Check out more lion photos at Explore.org. 

Here are a few Big Cat Facts you may not know:

1. A lion’s roar can be heard from as far as 5 miles away.

2. A lion’s heels don’t touch the ground when it walks.

3. A lion may sleep up to 20 hours a day.

4. Even though the lion is sometimes referred to as the “king of the jungle,” it actually only lives in grasslands and plains. The expression may have come from an incorrect association between Africa and jungles or may refer to a less literal meaning of the word jungle.

See more lion facts at WWF here.

So long as we’re in East Africa, lets check out one of the most feared and dangerous African animals. No, not lions or crocodiles, but the bubbling, beautiful and burly hippo! Granted, mom is looking peaceful here with her pup… and we can just hear her saying, with the wiggle of an ear, that it better stay that way.

A travel writer for the Vancouver Sun points out, “Hippos, as we learned, are the most dangerous animals because of their short temper and territorial attitude - and the fact that they can run 35 km/h if charging you.” So just be careful where you pitch those tents and check out these gorgeous photos from the safety of your screen.