Kopje cats of the Serengeti

Kopje, (pronounced “copy”), is a rock “island” found on the otherwise flat savanna of the Serengeti.

Kopje, an Africkaans word derived from the Dutch settlers of S. Africa, means, “a small rocky hill”.

Kopjes were formed when softer volcanic rock and ash that comprise the Serengeti region eroded . This exposed the underlying layer of ancient granite that forced its way upwards from below the earth’s crust at least 40 million years ago.”

Lion brothers on a boulder overlooking the Serengeti at sunset

Kopjes provide sun warmed boulders that lions, cheetah and leopards favor for resting and sleeping. They also provide a high vantage point for scanning the savanna for prey. Additionally the cracks and crevices in the rock hold rain water and serve as a limited water source.