One of the most graceful of East Africa's antelopes is the impala. It has a rufous coat, which is dark above and blends into fawn with a black stripe bordering the white rump patches. Only males have horns. Both sexes have scent glands concealed in tufts of black wiry hair just above the heels. There are also sebaceous glands in the forehead with which adult males scent-mark bushes and trees by rubbing their heads against them. Impala stand about one meter at the shoulder and males weigh about 70 kilograms (154 pounds) while females weigh about 50 kilograms (110 pounds).

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The territorial male can be identified by his herding of females and frequent vigorous chasing of bachelors away from the females. From time to time top-ranking bachelors challenge territorial males, leading to serious fights. If the territory owner loses, he forfeits his place and he then becomes one of the bachelor males. The competition for females is so intense that few impala manage to hold a territory for more than three months at a time.

Being browsers as well as grazers, impala are seldom far from cover. They are constantly on the alert as they are a favorite prey for many of the large predators, particularly leopards. Alarmed impala seem to explode in all directions, in great soaring bounds, making it hard for a cat to single out a victim.

Another species which lives in groups is the Burchell's zebra. Although zebras are usually associated with open plains country, they are found in Manyara wherever there is a stretch of open grassland. Zebras live in either family units containing up to a dozen females and young, or bachelor herds of mainly immature males. Each family is controlled by a stallion, which defends it both against potential rivals and against predators. Foals are born in all months except the dry season.

The stripe pattern of every zebra is different, making individual recognition comparatively easy. Zebras are very conspicuous in broad daylight, but at night, dawn and dusk — the hours when most predation occurs — the stripes seem to blend together and zebras become as hard to see as grey or tan animals.

As you drive through the open grassy area you will pass through glades of doum palms, wild date palms and fever trees. The track to your left will lead you to the hippo pool.