Dromedary Camel

Originating from the Sahara desert and Arabian peninsula, Dromedary Camels have only one hump. The hump stores up to 80 lbs of fat, which a camel can break down into water and energy when food and water are not available. These humps give camels their legendary ability to travel up to 100 desert miles without water. The size of the hump varies with nutritional status and leans and decreases in size when malnourished.

Their coat is long around the throat, hump, and shoulders ranging in color from brown, white, to even black. They have long limbs and leathery padded feet that help them adapt to arid desert climates. Their lips are thickened to allow them to eat coarse and thorny plants. They also have the same double row of eyelashes, self-closing nostrils and lack of perspiration as Bactrian camels to allow them to live in hot, windy and sandy habitats.

The male is the dominant member of the family group and directs the family from the back while the females take turns leading. They form groups of 2 to 20 individuals.

Dromedaries tend to travel by walking single file and they love rolling in sand and rubbing against trees. To reduce the stress on plant communities, ease competition with other herbivores, and reduce intake of plant toxins, camels only eat a few leaves from each plant and spread out their foraging.

Dromedary camels are no longer considered wild and are semi domesticated, free range animals in their natural habitat.

Want to know an easy way to remember the difference between a Dromedary Camel and a Bactrian Camel? The letter D for Dromedary on its side has 1 hump, where the letter B for Bactrian on its side has 2 humps – just like the camels!

The Dromedary Camels of African Safari Wildlife Park

Want to take a spin on one of our camels while at the Park? Come say hi and ride our male Dromedary Camels: Gabe and Clyde at the Camel Ride Station (Rides operate daily 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM)! Let Gabe and Clyde take you on one BUMPY ride!

Diet: Dromedary Camel are herbivores. They eat primarily thorny plants, dry grasses and saltbush; however, they will eat almost anything that grows in the desert.