Kenya: Tsavo East NP – Rock Hyraxes
The rocky outcrops that the Voi Safari Lodge sits on are full of tiny burrows and holes that are inhabited by rock hyraxes – that are super adorable and you can see them so close that you can almost pet them. Rock hyraxes are small, tailless, rodent-like animals with long bodies and stout legs, looking somewhat similar to marmots, but genetically closer related to elephants. Rock hyraxes are able to climb on steep rock surfaces because of physical adaptations on their feet – they can retract up the center portion of their feet into a concave dome creating a vacuum-like suction to solid surfaces. Rock hyraxes live in groups ranging from 2 to 26 individuals with a dominant male controlling the colony.
