One of my favorite times in Kenya is during the rainy season. I’ve always enjoyed seeing how animals handle inclement weather. These Thomson’s gazelles stand firm as a torrential downpour pounds the dry Serengeti, bringing badly needed water to a parched landscape.
This smallish animal weighs about 40 pounds as a full-grown adult and can run 40 mph. Their number one enemy is the cheetah, which can easily outrun them but is often out-maneuvered by these nimble creatures at high speeds. Like all African wildlife, the Thomson’s gazelle’s habitat is decreasing as the human population grows and agriculture, settlements, and roads expand. You can learn more about these and other animals of the African savannah at the African Wildlife Foundation.