Glossary

acacia: several varieties of acacia trees are found in Africa and most have thorns on their limbs

archaeology: the search for and the study of the remains of early human ancestors

baobab: these unusual-looking trees have massive, often hollow, trunks and spindly branches

browser: an animal that eats leaves, bushes and trees

burrows: holes or tunnels dug in the ground by animals so that they can have a safe place to live or hide

camouflaged: looking like part of the natural surroundings or blending into the environment

carnivore: an animal that eats the meat of other animals

cholera: a disease caused by improperly treated water

fossil: the remains of an animal or plant from long ago embedded in the earth's crust

fronds: the leaves of ferns or palms

grazer: an animal that eats grass

grooming: the picking and cleaning out of the fur of an animal by another animal of the same species

habitat: an animal's home area including water, food, shelter and climate

herbivore: an animal that eats plants

hydrofoil: a wing-like structure that lifts the hull of the boat out of the water so that it can travel faster than normal

kanga: colorful, patterned cloth that African women wear wrapped around themselves

kopje: the rock outcrops in the Serengeti

malaria: a disease in which there is fever and chills, transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito

migration: the regular movement of animals from one area to another area at certain times of the year to take advantage of better food supplies

monogamous: a mating system where one male stays with one female

Muslim: a believer in Islam; a religion

outcrop: a rock formation that shoots up above the soil

parasite: an organism that grows and feeds on a different organism, doing nothing to help it survive

predator: an animal that hunts to kill and eat other animals, called prey

prey: an animal that is hunted by a predator

pride: a group of lions

safari: a Swahili word meaning "trip"

scavenger: an animal that eats dead animal or vegetable matte

species: a group of closely related organisms

territory: an area where an animal lives that is defended by that animal against others of the same species

thatched: plant stalks used for roofing

tsetse: a bloodsucking African fly that has a bite that can cause sleeping sickness

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