Kenya is known for its wildlife, and many children meet the animals first in a picture book, in a park or as a gift. Here are seven safari animals, a plain fact about each, and how our crocheted version looks.
Lion
Lions live in family groups called prides. Adult males grow a mane, and the mane is what children remember. Our lions have a long, shaggy mane of brown yarn strands around a tan face with a dark nose.
Giraffe
The giraffe is the tallest animal on land. Its long neck reaches leaves high in the trees, and each giraffe has its own pattern of patches. Kenya is home to more than one kind of giraffe, including the Maasai giraffe. Ours have brown spots, two small horns called ossicones and a round muzzle, in yellow, cream, tan and orange.
Elephant
Elephants are the largest animals on land. The trunk is used for smelling, drinking and picking things up, and the tusks are long teeth. Ours come in grey, caramel brown, slate blue and other colours, with white tusks.
Rhino
Kenya has both black and white rhinos, and their horns are made of keratin, the same material as our fingernails. Ours are light blue or brown, with cream horns.
Zebra
Every zebra has its own stripe pattern, a little like a fingerprint. Ours are crocheted in black and white stripes and stand on four legs.
Hippo
A hippo spends the day in water or mud to stay cool and comes out in the evening to eat grass. The name comes from Greek words meaning river horse. Our hippo is navy with ringed eyes, and in our photo it wears a magenta dress.
Monkey
Monkeys use their long arms and legs to climb. Ours have long arms and legs too, with a face and ears in a second colour.
Not only safari
We also crochet farm and pet animals such as rabbits, pigs, cows, dogs and ducks, and others such as octopuses, sharks and turtles. You will find them under Farm and pet animals and More animals in the shop.
Here is a game for a child. Pick one animal in each photo on this page and say what it eats. A library book or a ranger at the park can check the answers.
