Famous for their colour changing abilities, chameleons are unique, weird and wonderful creatures. Despite their size, these little creatures can enhance the whole experience of a safari.

Chameleons don’t change colour for camouflage. Instead, their colour-changing abilities are used to regulate their body temperature or to communicate their intentions. If a chameleon is too hot, it will turn pale to reflect the sun’s heat. While, if a chameleon is too cold, it will turn dark to absorb more heat. Males may become bright to attract potential mates.

The chameleon’s ability to change colour is dependent on the wavelengths of visible light that is reflected by the skin. A chameleon’s outermost layer of skin is transparent. Beneath this is several layers of specialised cells called chromatophores which contain pigments. The pigments receive light which, is absorbed and reflected. The colour change is triggered by a signal from the nervous system.