The name of this southern section of the Park means 'cold plains' in the Maasai language. This area is mainly 'mbuga' or swamp country with some open plains and some wooded areas.
Although cheetahs can be found throughout the treeless parts of Tarangire, they are most likely to be seen on the plains. The cheetah, which is sometimes mistaken for a leopard, is a lighter built animal and has dark 'tear marks,' which almost join the corners of the eyes to the mouth. Each cheetah has its own individual pattern of spots on its face, chest and banding on the tail. Other smaller members of the cat family that occur in the Park are caracals, servals and wild cats.
Female cheetah are solitary when not raising cubs, but males sometimes form groups of two or three. There is no marked birth season and up to six cubs are born in a secluded nest site. At six weeks old they start to accompany their mother and remain with her until 15 months old. During this time young cheetah rely on their mother for food while they develop hunting skills.
Cheetahs are specialized predators relying on a concealed approach to prey, followed by a short swift chase. Although chases can reach 100 kph they cannot be sustained beyond 300 meters because cheetahs overheat quickly. Cheetahs rely primarily on eyesight and do not hunt at night. Unlike lions they do not hunt cooperatively, and they lose many kills to these larger predators as well as to spotted hyenas.
Spotted hyenas are rarely seen in broad daylight in Tarangire, and are not, in fact, very common in the park. At night their whooping cry can sometimes be heard. Hyenas have the reputation of being scavengers but they frequently hunt and kill their own food, and it is not uncommon for lions to steal their kills. When a pack of hyenas has pulled down a zebra or wildebeest, it is only a matter of minutes before all evidence of their meal has disappeared.
Hyenas have a bear-like appearance with a sloping back, short broad muzzle and round ears. They live in clans varying in size from 10 to 100 animals, and occupy a recognized territory. The sexes are very difficult to tell apart, but females can be distinguished by their larger size and the presence of nipples.
The striped hyena is also found in the Park and is a smaller and lighter animal. It can be recognized by the pointed, upright ears, shaggy mane, bushy tail and black vertical stripes on the grey body.
If you see a large bird with grayish-brown plumage, it is probably a Kori bustard. The male bird, which at 12 kgs weighs considerably more than the female, is the heaviest bird in the world that can fly. However, it is mainly seen on the ground. During the breeding season the male has a spectacular display in which the white plumage around the neck and tail are raised as the male calls.
Bustards live on small reptiles and mammals, seeds and insects, particularly locusts. Senegal, crested and black-bellied bustards are also present in Tarangire.
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