Lions
Probably the most famous creatures to live on the Serengeti are the lions. Male lions are known for their manes, the bushy growth of hair that surrounds their faces. The mane makes them look larger and more ferocious than they really are. But, in fact, the females are the more active and adept hunters. Lions travel in groups called prides. A pride consists of one leader male, several lesser males, and a group of females and their offspring. Lions are meat-eaters and can go days without eating and then gorge themselves on a killed antelope or other animal.
Giraffes
Giraffes are known for their long neaks. Their long necks help them eat the leaves near the tops of trees. Giraffes have long lips with which they pull leaves from the trees to eat. Surprisingly, they have no more bones in their neck than a mouse! Less famous is the beautiful webbed pattern on their fur, which is striking up close, but actually helps camouflage them from a distance. It is also fun to watch them run, because their long limbs make them so graceful.
Hyenas
Hyenas are related to dogs and have a lot of the same behaviors: they travel and hunt in packs. In fact a single hyena is not nearly as dangerous as a pack of them. In a pack, different hyenas perform different roles, like a football team. In this way they can take down much larger animals, such as musk ox and lions. Hyenas and lions are natural enemies because they eat the same foods. Often hyenas will scavenge an abandoned lion's kill. Hyenas are sometimes called laughing hyenas, but it's just because the call of one breed is reminiscent of our laughing. In reality, there's nothing funny about hyenas.
A web site dedicated to the Serengeti can be found by clicking here.