Karl the Lion and the Savanna Scavenger Hunt

Series: Wild Adventures with Animal Friends  (Book 9)

Author: Zelda Lynn

Audience: Early readers, ages 6–11

Format: Paperback &  eBook

Length: ~100 pages

Setting:  Wide African savanna; ancient Baobab and acacia trees, a hidden oasis, Flamingo Lagoon, riverbank under the moon, a crystal-lit cave, and the wise tortoise’s Sunstone chamber.  

Release / Publication Date:   October, 2024 

Publisher: Zelda Lynn
ISBN / ASIN:    Paperback: B0DK93TLWB        eBook:B0DK7V6X7Z    

🦁 Karl the Lion
Brave and big-hearted, Karl leads the Savanna Seekers with courage and optimism, always reminding his friends that they can overcome any challenge together.

😄 Holly the Hyena
Quick-witted and hilarious, Holly keeps spirits high with jokes and laughter, turning tense moments into opportunities for joy and teamwork.

🐵 Barry the Baboon
Agile, clever, and great with his hands, Barry builds, carries, and solves puzzles from sneaking a pebble at Flamingo Lagoon to catching the shimmering fish.

🦅 Vince the Vulture
The team’s sharp-eyed scout from the sky. Vince spots oases, lagoons, dangers, and safe paths from above, always watching over his friends.

🦊 Fiona the Fox
Smart, observant, and steady, Fiona uses her keen senses to read clues, interpret plants and tracks, and guide the team at night and in the cave.

🐘 The Elephant Guardians
Wise protectors of the hidden oasis who test the team with a water riddle before allowing them to pass.

🦩 Flamingos at Flamingo Lagoon
Graceful and calm, they guard the nest where the special pink pebble and next clue are hidden.

🌳 The Ancient Acacia & Baobab Trees
Living “puzzle masters” their leaves, fruits, and questions challenge the team’s knowledge of savanna animals and healing plants.

🐢 The Ancient Tortoise
The wise guardian at the cave entrance who presents the final riddles and the maze challenge leading to the Sunstone

And throughout the journey, the Savanna Seekers meet meerkats, wildebeest, giraffes, rhinos, shimmering fish, and many more savanna neighbors who help shape their adventure

🧩 Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking
Riddles from owls, elephants, the baobab tree, and the ancient tortoise invite readers to think deeply, make connections, and remember facts about animals and habitats.

🤝 Teamwork & Friendship
Every challenge, from retrieving the pink pebble to building a river dam and navigating the cave maze, is only possible because each friend contributes unique strengths.

💚 Perseverance & Courage
The Savanna Seekers face long journeys, tricky puzzles, and dark caves. Kids see that staying brave, asking for help, and not giving up leads to growth and success.

🌿 Savanna Ecology & Animal Facts
Fun Facts highlight lions, hyenas, foxes, baboons, vultures, elephants, fish, and more teaching kids about behavior, habitats, and adaptations in a playful way.

🎉 Celebrating Community & Unity
The final celebration under the baobab tree shows the real “treasure” of the hunt: sharing stories, appreciating others, and valuing every creature’s role in the savanna.

Karl the Lion and the Savanna Scavenger Hunt is great for:

🌱 Science & Nature

• Lions, hyenas, baboons, vultures, elephants, flamingos, rhinos, giraffes, and more
• Savanna habitats: oases, lagoons, riverbanks, caves, baobab and acacia trees
• Animal senses (sight, hearing, night vision) and group behavior   

💬 Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

• Working as a team and valuing different strengths
• Facing fear (dark caves, tough riddles) together
• Celebrating others’ success and building community

🧠 Literacy & Critical Thinking

• Riddles and logic puzzles invite prediction and inference
• Sequencing events through each “stop” in the scavenger hunt
• Comparing Fun Facts to what happens in the story 

Extension ideas:  

· Make Your Own Scavenger Hunt:
Create a classroom or backyard scavenger hunt with simple riddles and nature clues.

· Savanna Map Project:
Have students draw a map of Karl’s journey - Baobab tree, oasis, Flamingo Lagoon, acacia tree, river, cave, and back again.

· Riddle Writing:
Let kids write their own animal riddles and challenge classmates to solve them..

Q1. What age group is this book for?  

Karl the Lion and the Savanna Scavenger Hunt is ideal for early readers ages 6–11 and works wonderfully as a read-aloud at home or in classrooms.

Q2.  Do I need to read the Wild Adventures series in order?
No.  Each Wild Adventures with Animal Friends book stands alone, though readers will enjoy recognizing familiar animal friends across different stories.   

Q3. What will children learn from  Christian’s adventure?  

Children see teamwork, perseverance, problem-solving, and community in action, alongside fun facts about savanna animals and habitats 

Q4. Which animals appear in this story?

Lions, hyenas, baboons, vultures, foxes, elephants, flamingos, meerkats, wildebeest, giraffes, rhinos, a wise tortoise, and more savanna creatures along the scavenger hunt path.

Q5. Does the book include fun facts and jokes? 

Yes!  Each chapter includes Fun Facts and Jokes that keep readers laughing while learning about savanna animals, trees, and life on the plains.

Felix the Fearless Dolphin: An Aquatic Adventure

Back to Bocas: Rodney’s Race Against Time

Christian the Fearless Chameleon: Colorful Camouflage