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East Africa icons 

land of the giants

photos by Alessandro Bee

videos by Stefano Tatti

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

L'Africa orientale ospita alcuni dei più importanti eden naturalistici al Mondo, dall'ecosistema Serengeti-Masai Mara al cratere di Ngorongoro, dalle savane semidesertiche di Samburu alle pendici del Kilimanjaro...

East Africa is home to some of the most important naturalistic Eden in the world, from the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem to the Ngorongoro crater, from the semi-desert savannahs of Samburu to the slopes of Kilimanjaro...

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

I parchi dell'Africa orientale offrono straordinarie emozioni naturalistiche e incontri ravvicinati con le specie più iconiche del continente.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

The parks of East Africa offer extraordinary naturalistic emotions and close encounters with the most iconic species of the continent.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

L’elefante è il più grande animale terrestre e può pesare diverse tonnellate.

 

I maschi di elefante della savana (Loxodonta africana), possono raggiungere i 4 m di altezza. È quello maggiormente diffuso in Africa, prevalentemente in regioni caratterizzate da savane e aree semidesertiche.

 

L’elefante di foresta (Loxodonta cyclotis) vive invece  nelle zone umide dell’Africa centrale, caratterizzate da dense foreste pluviali. Con i suoi circa 2,5 m di altezza, è più piccolo di quello della savana.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

The elephant is the largest land animal and can weigh several tons.

 

The male of the savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana), can reach 4 m in height. The savannah elephant is the most widespread in Africa, mainly in regions characterized by savannas and semi-desert areas.

 

The forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), lives in the wetlands of Central Africa, characterized by dense rain forests. At around 2.5m high, it is smaller than the savannah elephant.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

Come altri animali africani di grossa taglia, tra cui rinoceronti ed elefanti, nell’ultimo secolo i leoni hanno subito una drastica diminuzione del proprio numero e il loro areale di distribuzione si è ridotto del 90%.

 

Dei circa 200.000 esemplari che vivevano liberi in Africa 100 anni fa, ne sono rimasti solo 20.000.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

Like other large African animals, including rhinos and elephants, lions have suffered a drastic decrease in their numbers in the last century and their distribution area has decreased by 90%.

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Of the approximately 200,000 lions that lived free in Africa 100 years ago, only about 20,000 remain.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

La migrazione di gnu e zebre  nell’ecosistema Serengeti-Masai Mara, è uno dei più imponenti fenomeni migratori al Mondo. È uno spettacolo che si ripete ogni anno seguendo il ritmo delle stagioni e delle piogge.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

The migration of wildebeests and zebras into the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem is one of the most impressive migratory phenomena in the world. It is a show that repeats itself every year following the rhythm of seasons and rains.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

Simili al passato, i percorsi seguiti da gnu e zebre sono, in una certa misura, diversi ogni anno, determinati dall’entità delle piogge, dal periodo dell’anno in cui piove e dalla conseguente disponibilità di cibo.

Similar to the past, the paths followed by wildebeests and zebras are almost different every year, determined by the extent of the rains, the period of the year in which it rains and the consequent availability of foods.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

"Adoro la fauna africana. Mi piacciono tutti i cuccioli ma quelli di zebra sono particolarmente teneri. Con le loro strisce sono così uguali e allo stesso tempo così diversi gli uni dagli altri".  (Ekaterina Bee)

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

"I love African wildlife. I like all cubs but the zebra ones are particularly tender. With their stripes they are so equal and at the same time so different from each other". 

(Ekaterina Bee)

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

Gli elefanti sono fortemente minacciati dall’azione dei bracconieri, che li uccidono per impossessarsi dell’avorio delle zanne.

 

L’avorio è costituito da dentina e sostanze cartilaginee unite a sali di calcio e la forma, dimensione e consistenza delle zanne può variare a seconda della popolazione e dell’ambiente in cui l’animale vive, in quanto legato a fattori come il clima e l’alimentazione.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

Elephants are heavily threatened by poachers, who kill them for taking possession of the ivory tusks.

 

Ivory is made up of dentin and cartilaginous substances combined with calcium salts and the shape. Size and consistency of the tusks can vary depending on the population and the environment in which the animal lives, as it is linked to factors such as climate and food supply.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

Il ghepardo (Acinonyx jubatus) è l'animale terrestre più veloce e può raggiungere, per un breve tratto, i 110 km/h. Ha un corpo perfettamente adattato per la corsa e la sua sagoma è inconfondibile.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the fastest terrestrial animal and can reach, for a short distance, 110 km/h. It has a body perfectly adapted for running and its shape is unmistakable.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration

Le leonesse partoriscono generalmente tra i due e i quattro piccoli, dopo un periodo di gestazione di circa centodieci giorni.

 

Alla nascita i cuccioli nascono con gli occhi chiusi e pesano un paio di chilogrammi. Gli occhi si aprono dopo due o tre settimane e i denti da latte spuntano poco dopo.

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The lionesses generally give birth between two and four cubs, after a gestation period of about 110 days.

 

At birth the puppies born with their eyes closed and weigh a couple of kilograms. The eyes open after two or three weeks and the milk teeth pop up shortly.

Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
Africa, african wildlife, african icons, elepgant, lions, leopard, big five, Alessandro Bee, Masai Mara, Serengeti, flamingos, Nakuru, Rift Valleym wildbeests, great migration
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