As a result, a collection of owls is known as a ‘parliament’. The owl, long considered to be an intelligent bird, is personified in the attributes of studiousness, intellect and a ‘sharp’ mind. Let me highlight a few examples to better explain what I mean. These tend to reflect the personified traits we superimpose onto the different species, which not only offers the English speaker a rich and evocative range of collective nouns to keep in their literary arsenal, but is also indicative of the collective consciousness of the English people as a whole. Instead, most of the species in the animal kingdom also possess their own collective noun. Most languages have two or three terms at best to describe these gatherings, but in English, there are hundreds! Although we have terms which can be applied fairly universally, such as “group”, “pack” or “herd”, the English language does not stop there. Take, for instance, the terms we assign as collective nouns to groups of animals. Start planning your safari to see them for yourself.Sometimes, I can’t help but marvel at how creative the English language can be. Memories, dazzles, towers, crashes, confusions, obstinacies and bloats! We’ve got them all at Rhino River Lodge. While this may sound a little funny, coming across a bloat of hippos out of the water is no joke as hippos are widely considered to be the most dangerous animal in Africa. Spending their days lazing in the water, and nights grazing on the river banks, a group of hippos is fittingly called a ‘bloat’. Considering their bulky bodies, stubbornness and tendency to stay in large, protective herds, this is a prime example of a collective noun that takes its inspiration directly from the characteristics of the animal being described. In its wild condition it is something like a thunderbolt, an earthquake and a cyclone.” BuffaloĪ group of buffalo is aptly referred to as an ‘obstinacy’ of buffalo. Described by entertainingly by Ambrose Bierce as “an animal of South Africa, which in its domesticated state resembles a horse, a buffalo and a stag. This probably originates from the noise and confusion that happens in large migratory movements of wildebeest, like the Serengeti’s great migration, but we think it could also refer to the rather comical appearance of the animal. The term for a group of wildebeest (also known as gnu) is a ‘confusion’ of wildebeest. It is particularly apt for black rhinos as at they generally come crashing through the bush towards you and then crashing right back away again as soon as they investigate what you are. RhinoĪ personal favourite here at Rhino River Lodge, the term for a group of rhinos is a ‘crash’. A group of giraffe is called a ‘tower’ of giraffe, as their heads can often be seen sticking high above the trees on the horizon. Giraffe are another iconic African species and always a firm favourite with our guests. Zebra are one of the most strikingly beautiful animals in the African bush and it’s not difficult to see why a group of zebra is called a ‘dazzle’ of zebra. Sometimes the most interesting animals on safari aren’t the large predators, but the more common species that manage to capture our imaginations. This is in reference to their strong family ties, intelligence, and reputedly long memories. ElephantsĪ group of elephants is called a ‘memory’ of elephants. While many are common and well-known (like herd, flock, or pride), there are many lesser known but fantastically descriptive terms used to describe African animals. One of our favourite bits of information to share are the collective nouns used for some of the species.Ī collective noun is the name given to a group of animals. On an African safari, if you have a knowledgeable game ranger, you are likely to learn all sorts of new and interesting information about the animals you see.
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