Herbivores use several strategies to adapt to severe dietary conditions. These include selective feeding behaviour and/or an improved digestion of cellulose. A limiting factor for the cellulose digestion is the slow microbial fermentation. Camelids and ruminants developed independently from each other a highly specialised forestomach fermentation system. The aim of this paper is to examine the apparent adaptation strategies of the camel on a thornbush savannah pasture. Comparisons with domestic ruminants, cattle, sheep and goats will be given.