jungle safari animals

Jungle Animals

An in-depth look at 13  iconic jungle species from around the globe.

Jungle animals are some of the most diverse and numerous of any habit on the planet. Before we look at some iconic jungle species it’s worth taking a moment to understand exactly what we mean by the term ‘jungle’.

What exactly is a jungle?

Nearly everyone has an idea about how they’d define the biome, and usage of the term ‘jungle’ has evolved significantly over the past fifty or so years.

Prior to the 1970s, all tropical forests were generically referred to as jungle, whether they were rainforests, cloud forests, or mangroves. Since then the terms ‘tropical forest’ and ‘rainforest’ have more or less completely replaced the term ‘jungle’ to describe humid tropical forests.

These days ‘jungle’ is used to describe the ground level of densely forested tropical areas where there is tangled vegetation and underbrush. Plants such as shrubs, grasses, vines, and moss thrive in jungles, which makes it very difficult for humans to penetrate on foot without cutting a path through.

Put simply, a jungle is a forested area that combines warm temperatures with dense, ground-level vegetation.

Is there a difference between a jungle and a rainforest?

Rainforests and jungles are similar in many ways – they are both warm, tropical forest habitats filled with thick vegetation – but there are also some key differences.

Jungles don’t have as much skyscraping vegetation, so unlike rainforests don’t have a thick canopy. In a rainforest the canopy block sunlight reaching the forest floor, so restricts vegetation growing on the forest floor, and holds in the moisture and humidity.

Because jungles have a much sparser canopy they are drier and lighter than rainforests and have much more vegetation growing at ground level.

13 Iconic jungle animals

Like rainforests, jungles tend to be areas unhampered by humans, so can provide one of the most exhilarating places (if difficult) places to spot wild animals in their natural habitat. Here’s our pick of 13 of the most iconic jungle animals:

One horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis)

Found: india and nepal.

one horned rhino

Whilst Africa’s  rhinos are beasts to be extremely wary of, north-east India is home to the relatively approachable one-horned rhino. The expansive flat grasslands of Kaziranga National Park is fringed with jungle   has a population of over 1,600 Indian one-horned rhinos, comprising over two-thirds of the world’s total.

The extra twist with rhino-spotting in Kaziranga is the option of an elephant-back ride around the park, which allows you to get within a couple of meters of the very relaxed rhinos.

Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica)

Found: india.

asiatic lion

Today’s Asiatic lion exists only in India’s Gir National Park and the surrounding areas. The habitat in the park is dry scrub land and open deciduous forest, which could certainly be described as jungle. There are around 300 Asiatic lions in Gir National Park and perhaps only 500 left in the whole world.

Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)

Found: indian sub-continent.

A sloth bear in grassland

Sloth bears live in a range of dry and moist forests across the Indian subcontinent, seeking out trees, boulders, and shrubs to provide shelter. They are omnivorous but tend to stick to a diet of ants, termites, and fruits. Not yet endangered, sloth bears are listed by IUCN as vulnerable due to habitat loss.

Elephant (Loxodonta)

Found: west and central africa and south asia.

African forest elephant on the edge of the jungle

Whilst African elephants thought of as being found out in the open on the African savannas, there is a second elephant species in Africa known as the African forest elephant. As with their Asian elephant cousins, African forest elephants are significantly smaller than African savanna elephants, to allow them to move with suprising ease through the dense jungles and rainforests of West Africa and the Congo Basin.

African forest elephants and Asian elephants have similar diets of fruits, seeds, and young leaves, and a more varied diet than the African savanna elephant due to the richness of their habitat. They are considered vital to their respective jungle environments as distributors of seeds, as they spend their days foraging.

Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

A Bengal tiger lounging in the jungle shade

Bengal tigers are native to India and Nepal. These stunning cats are the most common tiger, accounting for around half the world’s tiger population.  Bengal tigers are found predominantly in subtropical and elevated forests across the subcontinent, as well as thriving in the Sundarbans mango region on the India/Bangladesh border.

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

Found: west and central africa.

Mother carrying baby chimpanzee on back

These great apes are found in a number of habitats across Central and West Africa. Chimpanzees actually have the widest range of all great apes, living in tropical rainforests and grasslands, as well as being jungle-dwelling animals.

Sharing around 99% of their genes with humans, these animals are our closest living relatives, and quite possibly the smartest animals on Earth other than Man.

Three-toed sloth ( Bradypodidae bradypus )

Found: central and south america.

3 toed sloth hanging in the rainforest canopy

Sloths have an incredibly low metabolic rate and need only a few leaves and twigs for nutrition, along with a very slow digestive system leading to their sluggish pace. In combination, the sloth’s anatomical structure differs from other mammals in having very long arms with very short shoulder -blades, which allows them a large reach without the effort of too much movement, and adds to their languid style of movement.

The three-toed sloth is, in fact, the slowest mammal in the world , moving at the hair raising speed of up to 2.4 meters per minute on the ground. When they’re up in their favored rainforest canopy they’re able to pick up their speed to around a 4.6 meters per minute.

Jaguar (Panthera onca)

A stunning jaguar walks towards the camera

Jaguars are found in South and Central America, preferring wet lowland habitats, swampy savannas, and tropical rain forests. They are known to almost anything they can catch, including deer, crocodiles, snakes, monkeys, deer, sloths, tapirs, turtles, eggs,  frogs and toads , and fish. The jaguar has the strongest bite of all the cat family – with a bite-force 1.4M kg per m² its bite is twice as strong as a lion’s.

Learn more about jaguars.   How are jaguars different from leopards?

Gorilla (Gorilla)

A western lowland gorilla gives the camera the eye

Although the most numerous of all gorilla subspecies, the western lowland gorilla (pictured) is still an endangered species . They inhabit the remote, dense tropical rainforests of Angola, Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea.

Their remote and secluded habitats make it difficult to accurately estimate their numbers, but conservationists put the total population at almost 100,000 . This number is known to be decreasing, however, with the animals threatened by poaching, disease, climate change, habitat degradation, and destruction.

Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)

Found: democratic republic of the congo.

An okapi’s head and hindquarters

Despite having zebra-like markings the rare and unusual looking okapi is actually a member of the giraffe family. Their striking striped hindquarters camouflaged them and help them disappear into the forest.

Living in the dense tropical rainforests of Central Africa they use their long, sticky, giraffe-like tongues to graze on leaves, ferns, grasses, and fruit.

Black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya)

Found: south america.

Black howler monkey

The black howler monkey is so named because of the loud howl it makes when marking its territory. Their call has been described as a strong wind blowing through a tunnel, and can be heard up to 3 kilometers away, carrying across the jungle vegetation.

Sulawesi bear cuscus (Ailurops ursinus)

Found: indonesia.

Sulawesi bear cuscus

The Sulawesi bear cuscus is actually an arboreal marsupial rather than a bear but is so named for it’s dark, thick bear-like fur. As with most marsupials newborns are underdeveloped and carried in a pouch on the mothers’ belly until they can navigate the Indonesian jungle themselves.

Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus)

Found: south east asia.

Siamang chilling in the canopy

Growing up to 1.5meters long siamangs are the largest species of gibbons in the world. They have long, shaggy black hair and a mostly hairless face, and are known for their loud whooping call made using an inflatable throat pouch. As with black howler monkeys, these calls are used to mark territorial boundaries between groups.

What did you think of these iconic jungle animals? Have you had the opportunity to see any of these creatures in the wild? Let us know in the comments section below!

Discover more of our wildlife posts…

The smallest animals in the world, the 17 most impactful invasive species, 13 iconic jungle animals, what are the most dangerous animals, the smallest mammals in the world, 13 of the world’s rarest animals, the 11 fastest land animals on earth, game drive guide: everything you need to know, the largest birds of prey in the world, top countries for safaris.

• Botswana safaris
• Kenya safaris
• Namibia safaris
• South Africa safaris
• Tanzania safaris
• Uganda safaris

Safari basics

• Safari animals
• How to find the right safari company
• When to go on safari
• What to take on safari
• Safari clothing – what to wear
• Safari rules & etiquette
• Wildlife spotting tips

Most read articles

• All about the ‘big five’ animals
• Collective nouns for animals
• Safari movies to watch before you go
• The world’s fastest land animals
• Apex predators
• 10 Fascinating African tribes
• The biggest animals in the world
• 17 Epic hybrid animals
• The world’s ugliest animals
• Why are flamingos pink?

Africa’s best game reserves

• Chobe National Park, Botswana
• Etosha National Park, Namibia
• Kruger National Park, South Africa
• Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
• Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
• Okavango Delta, Botswana
• Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

30 African Safari Animals You Need To See (With Pictures)

Africa’s natural beauty is unmatched, luring you to gaze at the passive stride of a lioness that you forget to breathe and marvel at a giraffe’s tripod bent to water.

The continent’s jungles, savannahs, forests, and other natural habitats contain mysteries that even a wise man cannot understand.

Therefore, seeing one-tenth of these African animals would bring about an incredible safari escapade.

It would be impossible to find all of Africa’s wildlife species, prompting us to compile a list of thirty African safari animals you need to see, including lions, elephants, zebras, and antelopes, among others.

Each animal we will consider has its scientific name, geographical range, conservation status, and photo highlighted, with a description that features the best places to find them.

So come along with us as we explore the beautiful world of these animals you can see on an African safari.

African Safari Animals You Should See

• Scientists Name: Panthera Leo
• Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Lions are endemic to Africa, occluding in savannahs, scrublands, grasslands, grassy plains, open woodlands with bushes, and bordering rivers.

Between 300 and 1,500 mm of annual rainfall, Savannahs constitute most African lion habitats.

Some populations reside in West African tropical moist forests and montane forests.

Sadly, Africa’s lion population has declined substantially by fifty percent in only twenty years. 1

However, one can still find lions in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa, and Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

• Scientific Name: Panthera pardus
• Conservation Status: Not Extinct 

The leopard resides across sub-Saharan Africa and is aboriginal to many African nations.

These spotted cats inhabit the Cape Provinces of South Africa, Somalia, Ethiopia, and West Africa, occurring in mountainous forests, grasslands, and savannahs.

Leopards are among Africa’s “Big Five” safari, attracting many tourists; Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park and South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve are some of the most prominent leopard centers in the continent.

The Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded leopard sightings as the animals drink the park’s thermal waters.

3. Elephant

• Scientific Name: Loxodonta africana
• Conservation Status: Endangered 

African elephants are considered endangered by the IUCN; still, they are indigenous to the continent, inhabiting the Sub-Saharan arid regions and Sahelian scrub.

They also reside in the continent’s jungles in tropical rainforests, mopane, and miombo woodlands.

African elephants primarily have populations in Central Africa.

Still, they exist in the Chobe National Park in Botswana, the Amboseli National Park in Kenya, East Africa, and the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa.

Also See: List of Animals with Big Heads (with Pictures)

4. Rhinoceros

• Scientific Name: Rhinoceros
• Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

The black rhino species is endemic to Africa, living in its eastern and southern regions.

Rhino populations inhabited eleven countries, but most wild rhinos today, from the estimated six thousand, occupy only four countries — Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, and Kenya.

They roam the open savannahs and grasslands and naturally exist in Etosha National Park, Namibia, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Uganda, Nairobi National Park, Kenya, and Kruger South Africa.

Black rhinos have a size worthy of making them major African wildlife, growing up to 5.2 feet, and weighing 1,760 to 3,080 pounds.

• Scientific Name: Syncerus caffer
• Conservation Status: Near Threatened 

Various species of the African buffalo occupy every part of the continent. The Cape buffalo inhabits Southern and East Africa, while the forest buffalo occurs in Central and West Africa.

These species are enormous, measuring up to 5.6 feet in shoulder height and weighing up to 1,900 lb.

They live in savannahs, swamps, mopane grasslands, and densely covered habitats.

Some wildlife parks include Masai Mara National Park in Kenya, Chobe National Park in Botswana, and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. 

6. Hartebeest

• Scientific Name: Alcelaphus buselaphus
• Conservation Status: Least Concern

The hartebeest is an antelope species native to the black continent.

It is a large-sized species with a prominent hump, a large chest, and a long face that distinguishes it from other antelope species.

Hartebeests are primarily grazers, with grasses making their menu, but they mostly occupy wooded grasslands, dry savannas, and open plains in Central, West, southern, and southeast Africa.

The hartebeest roams in their natural habitats in the Kruger and Bontebok National Parks in South Africa, Etosha National Park in Namibia, and Camp Linyanti in Botswana. 

• Scientific name: Tragelaphus eurycerus

The bongo is another antelope species native to African jungles, with white-yellow stripes and black-and-white markings on its reddish-brown coat.

Bongos exist in tropical forest mosaics with dense undergrowth around West and Central Africa.

The Aberdare National park in Kenya is one major spot to find the bongo.

• Scientific name: Okapia johnstoni
• Conservation Status: Endangered

The okapi, a zebra look-alike, is the only extant member of the Giraffidae family along with the giraffe.

However, the okapi is not as tall as a giraffe, measuring only four feet and eleven inches.

It occupies canopy forests but is essentially solitary, with wildlife populations in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Ituri Rainforest, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

9. African Wild Dog

• Scientific Name: Lycaon pictus

The African wild dog is a threatened species now mostly located in the southeast of Africa, with only over 6,000 individuals left. 2

These wild dogs primarily inhabit Africa’s savannas and dry regions, preying mainly on antelopes.

African wild dogs have a strong sense of socialization to form packs of about thirty dogs.

The best places to find the African wild dog include woodlands, scrublands, and mountains, and they are open to the public in their natural habitats in:

• Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa
• Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe
• Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana
• Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania
• South Luangwa National Park in Zambia

Also See: Different Types Of Wild Dogs (Species List With Pictures)

• Scientific Name: Hyaenidae

Hyenas occupy Africa’s savannas, sub-desserts, grasslands, forest edges, and woodlands and hold an apex position on the food chain.

Hyenas control prey populations and prevent the spread of diseases, primarily by consuming animal remains that could rot and cause diseases.

They have unparalleled bone-crushing abilities, helping them fight off potential competitors. 3

Hyenas may not be among the most beautiful animals, but they attract visitors around Kruger National Park and Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa. 

11. Wildebeest

• Scientific Name: Connochaetes taurinus

The antelope’s imposing appearance is why the Afrikaans named it the wildebeest.

However, it is never too fearsome to the African wild cats, wild dogs, and hyenas that constantly prey on it.

Wildebeests are among the jungle animals in southern Africa that also occupy grassy plains and open woodlands that support their grazing routine in Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya are some of the best places to watch the wildebeest.

12. Warthog

• Scientific Name: Phacochoerus africanus

The common warthog is a plump, hooved wild pig with little fur, a mane through the spine to the middle of its back, and upper tusks that protrude upwards from the mouth.

Warthogs, commonly called Pumba by many safari guides, are among Africa’s highly-watched safari animals.

They reside in grasslands, savannas, and woodlands in sub-Saharan Africa, across western, eastern, central, and southern Africa.

The Kruger National Park, South Africa, and Meru National Park, central Kenya, are famed for housing the warthog. 

13. Vulture

• Scientific Name: Accipitridae (Old World vultures); Cathartidae (New World vultures) 

About eleven vulture species from the Accipitridae and Cathartidae families reside in Africa, popular among many as a scavenger and keystone species in most of the continent’s ecosystem.

Sadly, about seven of eleven African vulture species are critically endangered, with West Africa losing about ninety percent of the native White-backed vulture. 4

However, vultures spread across the black continent in west, north, east, central, and southern African cliffs and tall trees.

The Kruger National Park in South Africa and Comoé National Park have vultures, and one might be fortunate to find one while visiting.

Also See: African Birds: 30 Amazing Safari Bird Species, With Pictures

14. Marabou Stork

• Scientific Name: Leptoptilos crumenifer

While most storks are beautiful, the marabou stork has a reputation for horror due to its black cloak, large, fleshy pouch, and featherless features.

However, even the world’s most unattractive creatures attract large fanbases, explaining why the marabou stork ranks among Africa’s safari animals you should see.

Marabou storks are also large birds, reaching four feet, eleven inches in height, and 6.5 feet in wingspan length.

The IUCN ranks these birds as ‘Least Concern,’ with a stable population to support their evaluation.

Therefore, one can find the marabou stork in the west, east, central, and southern Africa.

One can find the marabou stork in Ben Lavin Nature Reserve and the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary in South Africa. 

• Scientific name: Beatragus hunteri

The hirola is the world’s rarest antelope, native to Kenya and southwest Somalia.

White spectacles around its eyes, a white tail through to the hocks, and lyre-shaped horns are distinctive features that distinguish the hirola from other antelope species.

The hirola occupies parched environments with relatively low annual rainfall.

However, it is a primary grazer, enjoying grasses with more leaves than stems. Hirola populations exist in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya.

16. Giraffe

• Scientific Name: Giraffa camelopardalis
• Conservation Status: Vulnerable 

Everyone wants to watch the world’s tallest living terrestrial and largest ruminant creature.

Giraffes occupy semi-arid savannah and savannah woodlands and are highly distinguished by their extremely long necks and legs.

Some best places to find the Giraffe in its natural habitat include:

• Africa’s Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda
• Etosha National Park in Namibia
• Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
• Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya
• Kruger National Park in South Africa
• Kouré in Niger

Also See: Amazing Long Neck Animals (List With Pictures)

• Scientific Name: Equus  

Three zebra species reside in Africa, but the common zebra is the most popular. They all share black-and-white striped coats, but patterns are unique to each species.

The common zebra ( Equus quagga ) occupies much of southern and eastern Africa, the mountain zebra ( Equus zebra ) in southern Africa, and the Grévy’s zebra ( Equus grevyi ) in east Africa.

Zebras are herbivores and inhabit grasslands, savannahs, shrublands, woodlands, and mountainous areas.

The best places to find Zebras in their natural habitats include:

• Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana
• Lewa Conservancy in Kenya
• Klein Karoo in South Africa

18. Hippopotamus

• Scientific name: Hippopotamus amphibius

Hippos are famed for their round and cute appearance and a fearsome reputation for being the world’s deadliest land mammal, killing an estimated 500 people annually in Africa.

They weigh up to 2,750kg, with large tusks and speeds reaching 30 km/h. Hippos are everywhere in the black continent, occurring in Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa.

The hippo’s history with man implies that encountering it in the wrong place might not end well.

However, the South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Parks in Zambia, Okavango Delta in Botswana, and Selous in Tanzania are among the best places to view the hippopotamus.

19. Common Ostrich

• Scientific Name: Struthio camelus

The common ostrich is the world’s largest and heaviest extant bird . However, such feats make the bird incapable of flight due to its immense weight.

However, the common ostrich makes up for its lack of light with speed, running up to forty-three kilometers per hour.

They are also impressive with using their long, powerful legs as defensive weapons.

A mature ostrich can grow to a height of nine feet and weigh up to 160 kilograms, a size worthy of ranking among African Safari animals one should see.

Many zoos feature ostriches in captivity, but the Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda and the Kruger National Park in South Africa are nice places to find the common ostrich in their natural settings. 

20. Shoebill

• Scientific Name: Balaeniceps rex

The bird’s large, striking shoe-shaped beak earns it the distinguished name. However, its enormous bill is just one of its features.

The shoebill is one of the world’s largest birds, growing up to four feet, eleven inches, thus becoming one of the five most captivating birds in Africa, according to birdwatchers.

The shoebill can be found in the Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, Kasanka National Park in Zambia, and a few wildlife centers in the continent present views of shoebill storks.

21. Leopard Tortoise

• Scientific Name: Stigmochelys pardalis

The leopard tortoise is one of the smallest wildlife Africa’s safari offers. However, the leopard markings on its shell account for the most prominent feature.

The leopard tortoise has populations scattered across Africa’s semi-arid shrubland of the Sahara, from Sudan to the cape of South Africa.

The tortoise’s leopard markings are not its only distinctive feature, but its ability to swim is unique as it is the only Testudinidae with such an ability.

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Mountain Zebra National Park in South Africa are wonderful destinations to find the leopard tortoise. 

22. Meerkat

• Scientific Name: Suricata suricatta

Mongooses are popular for killing snakes, and here is the meerkat, an animal belonging to the same family — Herpestidae.

The meerkat is a small mongoose native to Southern Africa, inhabiting arid, open habitats containing little woody vegetation in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa.

Mongooses have a distinctive banded pattern, big eye circles, thin tails, and sharp, curved foreclaws that support digging.

They dig burrows in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in South Africa.

• Scientific Name: Tragelaphus
• Conservation Status: Least Concern 

The kudus are two large-sized antelope species found in East and Southern Africa.

The most distinctive feature differentiating both species is size, with the greater kudu measuring over five feet and the lesser kudu within the four-foot range.

They inhabit savanna near Acacia and Commiphora shrubs, relying on thickets for protection.

Therefore, these antelopes are found in the Addo Elephant National Park and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve in South Africa, Chobe National Park in Botswana, and Etosha National Park in Namibia.

• Scientific Name: Canis aureus

Jackals are dog relatives of the genus Canis. Three jackal species exist — black-backed, golden, and side-striped, all occurring in different parts of Africa, especially the eastern and southern countries.

The black-backed jackal inhabits savannas and wooded areas; the golden jackal occupies dry environments, including deserts, open savannas, and arid grasslands.

The side-striped jackal lives in damp savannas, marshes, bushlands, and mountains.

Visiting the Kruger National Park, Shongweni Resources Reserve, and the wildlife parks offers the intriguing sights of jackals in South Africa.

The Tsavo West National Park in Kenya, Chobe National Park in Botswana, and Etosha National Park in Namibia are other nice places to find a jackal.

25. Cheetah

• Scientific Name: Acinonyx jubatus

Watching the world’s fastest land animal stalk its prey and initiate its signature high-speed chase is a dream sight to anyone willing to enjoy the untamed beauty of the African safari.

Therefore, some of the best places to watch a cheetah in your next safari escapade include:

• Okavango Delta in Botswana
• Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa
• Phinda Private Game Reserve in Tanzania
• Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda
• Kafue National Park in Zambia
• Scientific Name: Aepyceros melampus

The Impala is one of the most elegant antelope species, featuring a graceful stride, plush, glossy, reddish brown coat, and slender, curved horns.

While you might love to admire them, it will be more thrilling to watch them jump clear of obstacles, leaping up to ten meters long and three meters high.

Such a sight lies in the Lake Mburo National Park and Katonga Wildlife Reserve in Uganda, Kruger National Park, Hluleka Nature Reserve in South Africa, and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. 

27. Waterbuck

• Scientific Name: Kobus ellipsiprymnus

It would help if You never get tired of seeing antelopes if you visit Africa for its safari.

The waterbuck is among the many antelope species you may find, especially if you cruise through Chobe National Park in Botswana, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Kruger National Park in South Africa, or Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya.

Waterbucks are large, robust antelopes with reddish-brown to shaggy gray coats that become darker with age.

As the name suggests, the waterbuck depends on water, thus inhabiting areas close to water sources.

28. Kori Bustard

• Scientific Name: Ardeotis kori
• Conservation status: Near Threatened

Kori bustards are very large birds — the heaviest flying bird native to Africa. Male kori bustards weigh between seven and eighteen kilograms.

The male kori bustard’s wingspan ranges from seven feet seven inches to nine feet.

Even though they have large wings, they do not frequently fly unless necessary.

Therefore, there is much to admire in this feathered giant, bringing you to the Etosha National Park in Namibia and the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, where it occupies sparsely wooded savannas and open grasslands. 

29. Nile crocodile

• Scientific Name: Crocodylus niloticus
• Conservation status: Least Concern

Some insects and amphibians might be insignificant during a safari escapade, but not large reptiles and apex predators like the Nile crocodile.

The crocodile occupies various habitats, including rivers, lakes, and marshes, and earns a fearsome reputation for its size, fearlessness, and extremely powerful bite.

One can find the Nile crocodile in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, among others. 

30. Grey-crowned Crane

• Scientific Name: Balearica regulorum
• Conservation status: Endangered

The large, attractive bird, growing over three feet in height, with plush blueish-gray plumes and a golden crest, would be one of the most majestic creatures to see on one’s African safari.

The grey-crowned crane primarily inhabits dry savannas in Sub-Saharan Africa but could occur in cultivated areas and grassy flatlands in Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa.

The Amboseli and Lake Nakuru National Parks in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania.

Also See: Beautiful Birds With Mohawks (With Pictures)

Frequently Asked Questions

What animals feature on africa’s top safari.

Africa’s safari features several animals, but lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants, and buffalos are the continent’s top-five safari animals.

Some of the world’s most popular animals, including zebras, cheetahs, giraffes, and antelopes, also feature on an African safari. 

Would you see a tiger on an African safari? 

While Africa is home to some of the world’s largest wild cats, including lions and cheetahs, it is very unlikely to find a tiger that is not in captivity in Africa.

However, one can find the tiger in a zoo or special reserve; the Laohu Valley Reserve, Tiger Canyon, Jugomaro Predator Park, and Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa are some places to find the world’s largest wild cat.

What is the most common animal on the safari?

The lion tops most people’s wishlists of animals to find on a safari. Without a doubt, it is one animal almost everyone coming on a safari would want to see, thanks to the beast’s title as the king of the jungle and the continent’s top carnivore. 

What is the largest safari animal?

Lions, giraffes, hippos, and buffalos are in contention for Africa’s largest safari animals, but they do little to match the African bush elephant ( Loxodonta africana ).

The mammal can grow up to 13 feet and weigh almost 23,000 pounds, more than any other safari animal.

What African habitats support wildlife?

Most African habitats support wildlife, including savannas, rainforests, semi-deserts, wooded grasslands, deserts, and plains, because they have the perfect climate and terrains to support specific animals.

One might never get enough of Africa’s scenic terrains and the breathtaking explorations of its safari.

However, various challenges, including habitat degradation, human activities, and climate change, pose considerable threats to the survival of several African safari animals, driving some of these species to extinction.

Therefore, it will be more helpful for all to support conservation efforts to ensure the continuity of the continent’s beauty of undomesticated animals.

References & Notes

• Bauer H., Chapron G., et al. 2015. Lion (Panthera leo) populations are declining rapidly across Africa, except in intensively managed areas . PNAS.
• Alexis Valdes. 2018. Painted Ferocity: The Social Behaviors of African Wild Dogs, Threats to Survival, and Resulting Conservation Initiatives [pdf] . Liberty University.
• Binder W., Valkenburgh V. B. 2000. Development of bite strength and feeding behavior in juvenile spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) . Journal of Zoology.
• White-backed Vulture  Gyps africanus . BirdLife International.

Related Posts:

• African Birds: 30 Amazing Safari Bird Species, With Pictures
• 310+ Unique Monkey Names (Famous, Cute, Funny, Creative)
• Black And White Birds (30 Species, With Pictures)
• Types Of White Birds (30 Beautiful Species, With Pictures)
• 20 Most Beautiful Birds In The World & Where To Find Them
• Types Of Yellow Birds (31 Stunning Species, With Pictures)

About The Author

Jake Wilson

Related posts.

7 Interesting Animals in Jamaica

10 Common Dangerous Animals In Ohio

What Does A Black Wolf Symbolize?

What Is A Female Wolf Called? – Unveiling Wolf Terminology and Behavior

A Guide To Animals That Are Not Mammals

10 Common Dangerous Animals In Thailand You Need to Avoid

Go Wild! The Ultimate Guide To Safari Animals And What You Can Expect While On The Prowl

Table of Contents

*This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Learning, Surviving And Thriving On Your First African Safari

First of all, way to go! Look at you, making African safari plans as your next holiday getaway. How adventurous and worldly of you!

However, seeing safari animals for the first time, live, in person and right there in front of you with no zoo glass in between is a life-changing event that you need to be prepared for in more ways than one.

Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered!

Below you’ll find a beginner’s comprehensive guide to all things “safari.”

Grab your backpack and binoculars and let’s get movin’!

Nants Ingonyama Bagithi Baba!

Does that ring a bell?

If you’re not familiar with what a safari is, then just think Lion King — only safer, and with no animals talking.

A safari technically means a journey, usually by vehicle, in Africa. Believe it or not, even the word “safari” means journey in Swahili.

Let’s Get Into It

So, when did these journeys first start?

Well, as it turns out, many years ago the first safaris were focused on trading and traveling (aka journeying) through the land.

While it is true that they had guides to get them through the wilderness safely, the main purpose wasn’t to see safari animals like it is today.

It’s safe to say that safaris have always been a profitable business model that has a tendency to attract a wide array of people from many countries and distant lands.

Go Here; Trust Us

African safaris to add to your bucket list.

• Czech Republic
• Falkland Islands
• Latin America
• New Zealand
• North America
• South Georgia
• Kilimanjaro
• Adventure Travel
• Archaeology
• City Guides
• Itineraries
• Portrait Photography
• Tips and Advice
• Travel Photography
• Travel Stories
• Unhelpful Guides
• Wildlife Photography
• Work With Me

46 Amazing African Safari Animals – A Photo Guide

Contents (click to view)

If you’re a wildlife or animal lover, going on a safari in Africa will be a dream come true. You’ve probably watched nature documentaries and the Lion King and wondered what it might be like to go to Africa and see these amazing creatures for yourself. Maybe you’re wondering what African animals you will actually see on safari?

To answer all your questions, here’s my personally researched list of the top African animals and birds you might see on a safari. Every single one of these animals was photographed by me on just five African safaris – in Kenya , Botswana , South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda – so you can rest assured that this isn’t propaganda from a safari tour company, this could really happen to you too!

THE BIG FIVE AFRICAN ANIMALS

The Big Five are considered the top most exciting African safari animals. The name comes from big game hunters, who considered these five animals the most difficult and dangerous to hunt and kill.

Now the term is used by tour operators to describe the top five animals to see on safari – though it’s falling out of use now, as it’s considered outdated and inaccurate. There are WAY more than five amazing African animals to look out for, as this exciting list will show you!

1/ African lion

The African Lion is the King of Beasts, the number one, Africa’s top carnivore, and right at the top of most people’s wishlists of animals on safari.

These iconic predators are the second largest big cats in the world after tigers, and the only cats that live in groups, known as prides. Pride family units usually contain mostly females with their young, as well as one or two males. Only the males have a mane, the females don’t, which is how you can easily tell them apart.

The females do most of the hunting, and they hunt mostly large mammals like antelopes, zebras and wildebeest. They usually hunt in the morning and evening which is your best time to spot them; during the day they quite often rest in the shade and are harder to see.

In Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park and Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park the lions climb trees, which is rare as most lions stay on the ground.

Top places to see lions on an African safari

• Botswana – Okavango Delta
• Kenya – Maasai Mara National Park, Tsavo National Park, Laikipia Conservancy
• Namibia – Etosha National Park
• South Africa – Kruger National Park
• Tanzania – Serengeti National Park , Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park has tree-climbing lions
• Uganda – Queen Elizabeth National Park (especially the famous tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector), Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park
• Zambia – Kafue National Park, South Luangwa National Park (especially Lion Camp)
• Zimbabwe – Mana Pools National Park, Matusadona National Park

Read more: 40 Safari Photography Tips For Stunning Wildlife Photos

2/ African leopard

Leopards are, in my opinion at least, the most beautiful of all the African cats, with their stunning spotted coats and piercing green eyes. Unlike lions, leopards are solitary safari animals so you will rarely see more than one at a time; they hunt alone, preying on anything and everything from antelopes and baboons to rodents, birds, fish and even eating carrion.

Leopards are usually nocturnal so your best chance to see one will be in the early morning or evening, and they are strong, powerful animals who love to climb trees, so when you’re on your African safari make sure you look up!

Top places to see African leopards on safari

• Botswana ‐ Okavango Delta. Khwai Reserve
• Kenya ‐ Masai Mara National Park, Tsavo National Park, Meru National Park
• South Africa ‐ Kruger National Park
• Tanzania ‐ Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater
• Uganda – Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Zambia ‐ South Luangwa National Park

3/ African elephant

Elephants are another of the Big Five, and a big favourite amongst animal lovers thanks to their intelligence and grace. Seeing a herd of elephants calmly crossing the road just metres from your safari vehicle is one of the greatest thrills of any trip to Africa, and if you’ve never seen them before it’ll be a truly heart-stopping moment.

African elephants come in two types: savannah elephants and forest elephants. Forest elephants are smaller and hairier, and live mostly in West Africa. The type of elephant you will see on your African safari is the African savannah elephant, or bush elephant, which is the largest land mammal, with the biggest males reaching up to almost 4 metres in height. They move around in big family groups led by a female, foraging daily for bark, roots, leaves, and herbs. An elephant can eat 150 kg of food a day!

Top places to see African elephants on safari

• Botswana – Chobe National Park , Okavango Delta
• Kenya – Tsavo National Park , Masai Mara National Park, Amboseli National Park, Samburu National Park, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
• Namibia – Etosha National Park, and you can see desert elephants in Kaokoland and Damaraland regions
• South Africa – Addo Elephant Park, Kruger National Park
• Tanzania – Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park
• Uganda – Murchison Falls National Park , Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Zimbabwe – Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park

Read more:  19 Easy Wildlife Photography Tips for Beginners

4/ Rhinoceros

The name rhinoceros comes from Latin and means ‘nose horn’, though the word is often shortened to ‘rhino’.  There are two species of rhino that you might see on your African safari: the critically endangered black rhino, and the southern white rhino, which is more common.

Confusingly both types are actually grey – the ‘white’ rhino is said to get its name from the Afrikaans word ‘weit’ meaning wide, referring to the animal’s square-shaped mouth. Rhinos can weigh over 1000 kg and live to an age of about 40-50 years old. A rhino’s skin can be up to 5 cm thick!

Rhino numbers have been decimated over the course of the last century due to poaching, and there are now fewer than 30,000 left. But you should still stand a reasonable chance of seeing one, particularly if you visit a game reserve or rhino sanctuary. It’s quite rare to see a rhino in the wild – I did see one in Kruger National Park in South Africa but it was a veeeery long way away!

Top places to see rhinos on safari

• Kenya ‐ Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Nakuru National Park, Meru National Park, Masai Mara National Park
• Namibia ‐ Etosha National Park
• South Africa ‐ Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Kruger National Park, Pilanesberg National Park
• Uganda – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Tanzania – there are just a few left in Serengeti National Park
• Zimbabwe ‐ Hwange National Park

Read more:  A Visit To Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Uganda

5/ Cape buffalo

Last on the Big Five list is the African or Cape buffalo, which might not seem as exciting as a lion or a leopard, but is actually one of the most dangerous safari animals in Africa due to its enormous strength and extremely bad and unpredictable temper.  This is why buffalo have never been domesticated like cows.

Buffalo can reach up to 1.5 metres tall and weigh 750 kg, and both males and females have horns, though on the males the horns are fused together in the middle while on the females they are more on the sides of the head like normal cow horns.

You’ll easily see buffalo moving around in huge herds, and they can also often be found wallowing in lakes and watering holes. If you’re staying in a campsite in one of the national parks they sometimes wander into the camps at night to graze, so be careful when moving around after dark.

Top places to see Cape buffalo on safari

• Botswana – Chobe National Park
• Kenya – Amboseli National Park, Maasai Mara, Ol Pejeta Conservancy
• Namibia – Etosha National Park
• South Africa – Kruger National Park
• Tanzania – Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater
• Uganda – Queen Elizabeth National Park, especially the Kazinga Channel , Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park
• Zambia – South Lungwa National Park
• Zimbabwe – Hwange National Park

ANIMALS FROM AFRICA: OTHER CARNIVORES

The cheetah is the fastest land mammal in the world, accelerating from 0 to 60 miles an hour in just three seconds and reaching a top speed of 75 miles an hour.  To be able to do this they’re much smaller and lighter than lions and leopards. They can’t keep up this speed for long though, which is why they stalk their prey through the long grasses, trying to get close enough before they pounce.

Seeing a cheetah on the hunt is one of the dream sights of any African safari. And while there are no guarantees, it is possible, because unlike leopards, cheetahs are daytime hunters. I saw the one above on the prowl in the Serengeti in Tanzania – it was one of the most thrilling moments of the trip, even though it didn’t catch anything.

Top places to see cheetahs on safari

• Botswana – Okavango Delta, Linyati Reserve, Kwando Reserves
• Kenya – Maasai Mara National Reserve, Samburu National Park, Kora National Park, Meru National Park
• Namibia – Etosha National Park, Several Cheetah Conservancies
• South Africa – Phinda Private Game Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Tanzania – Serengeti National Park, Selous Game Reserve
• Uganda – There are very few cheetahs in Uganda; Kidepo Valley National Park is the only place to see them
• Zambia – Kafue National Park

The hyena is not one of the Big Five, but is sometimes referred to as being one of the ‘ Ugly Five ‘. There are three species of hyena (spotted, striped and brown) but the spotted is the most common and can be found all across sub-Saharan Africa. Unlike most mammals the females are actually bigger and heavier than the males, weighing up to around 80 kg, and it’s the females that dominate the pack.

Hyenas are not endangered because they are extremely intelligent and adaptable, eating just about anything, from large animals like zebras and antelopes to birds, fish and lizards. But although they have a reputation for being scavengers, these African safari animals also hunt in packs and actually kill most of their food, which they eat in its entirety, even the skin and bones.

Top places to see hyenas on safari

• Botswana – Okavango Delta, Savuti Reserve (Chobe National Park), Kalahari and Makgadikgadi (rare brown hyenas)
• Kenya – Maasai Mara National Reserve, Ambroseli National Park
• Namibia – there are brown hyenas in the southern Namib desert
• South Africa – spotted hyenas are not so common in South Africa but can be found at Skukuza in Kruger National Park and in Kalahari Gemsbok National Park
• Tanzania – Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park
• Uganda – Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth , Murchison Falls or Kidepo National Parks
• Zambia – Liuwa Plains

There are three species of jackals in Africa: the common jackal, black-backed (aka silver-backed) and the side-striped jackal. Jackals are closely related to dogs, and like the hyena they’re omnivorous, hunting small rodents, insects and reptiles but also scavenging whatever they can find.

Unlike other types of wild dogs, however, they don’t move around in packs but tend to operate alone or in pairs.  You’re most likely to spot one out looking for food on its own in the morning or evening, or if you see a buffalo or wildebeest carcass there may well be a jackal nearby.

Top places to see jackals on safari

The three different species of jackal prefer different types of habitat.  You’re most likely to see silver-backed jackals on your African safari because they prefer open savannahs and are more active during the day than other kinds of jackal. Jackals can be found throughout sub-Saharan, east and southern Africa, including in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.

9/ Mongoose

The mongoose is one of Africa’s smallest carnivores, and is part of the same family as the much-loved meerkat. There are 34 different kinds of mongoose, including the banded mongoose, Egyptian mongoose (the largest kind, reaching up to 60 cm), and the smallest, the 17 cm-long dwarf mongoose.

Mongooses (the plural is mongooses, not mongeese) are active during the day and mainly eat small rodents, reptiles and insects. They live in burrows and some, like the banded mongoose, are social creatures and live in large communities, just like their meerkat relatives.

Top places to see mongooses on safari

You can find mongooses in most parts of Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. They live in a variety of habitats ranging from forests and woodlands to savannah areas.  Look out for the telltale holes in the ground that are their burrows.

Read more:  The Amazing Animals Of Uganda: A Photo Guide

TOP ANIMALS IN AFRICA: HERBIVORES

Zebras are one of the most photogenic animals on safari – with their eye-catching stripes they really do look great in photos! There are three species of zebra – plains, Grevy’s and mountain – but the one you will most likely see on your safari is the plains zebra.

Zebras are closely related to horses – and scientists think they evolved stripes to confuse predators and make it hard to pick out a single individual from the herd. Every single zebra’s stripes are unique, like a fingerprint, and help them to recognise each other. While they may look calm, zebras can actually be quite aggressive and a well-placed kick from a zebra can kill a lion.

Recently, scientists discovered that plains zebras in Botswana make their own annual migration of up to 1000 miles between Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and the Chobe and Okavango Rivers, so if you love zebras and want to see them in huge numbers, Botswana is a great place to go.

Top places to see zebras on safari

• Botswana – Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
• Kenya – Maasai Mara National Park, Tsavo National Parks, Lewa Conservancy (Grevy’s Zebra)
• South Africa – Mountain Zebra National Park, Kruger National Park
• Tanzania – Serengeti National Park , Ngorongoro Crater
• Uganda – Lake Mburo National Park
• Zambia – North Luangwa National Park, South Luangwa National Park

Read more: Leroo La Tau In Botswana: See The Incredible Zebra Migration

11/ Giraffe

With their glorious patterned skins and long necks, giraffes are the tallest living land animals, reaching around 5.5 metres in height. Giraffes are herbivores and their favourite food is the leaves of the acacia tree. There are four recognised species of giraffe in Africa – Maasai, Southern, Northern and Reticulated giraffe.

You will often see them gracefully feeding, wrapping their long tongues around the branches to pull off the leaves. Giraffes are quite sociable and hang around in groups – and a group of giraffes is called a ‘tower’.

If you’re very lucky, you may get to see giraffes fighting. The pair in the picture above are not courting, they’re both males and they’re about to beat each other up, which they do by bashing each other with their heads. This is known as necking and is a way for males to assert dominance over each other.

Top places to see giraffes on safari

• Kenya – Meru National Park, Maasai Mara
• South Africa – Kruger National Park, Wildlife Reserves
• Tanzania – Selous Game Reserve, Arusha National Park
• Uganda – Murchison Falls National Park (there are over 1000 here).
• Zambia – South Luangwa National Park

Hippos are the largest land mammal after elephants, weighing up to three tonnes, and surprisingly they cannot swim! Instead, they walk along under the water, where they are able to hold their breath for up to five minutes.

Although they look peaceful, hippos are actually the most dangerous mammal in Africa, responsible for the deaths of an estimated 300 people every year. They’re quite aggressive too, and you’ll sometimes see them grunting loudly or showing their teeth to intimidate rival males.

Hippos spend their days lounging in the water in lakes and ponds, and come out of the water at night to graze on grass.  So you’re most likely to see them on a boat trip , or in a watering hole in one of the many national parks or game reserves. If you’re staying in a campsite near a river or lake, they sometimes even wander into the camps at night, so be careful!

Top places to see hippos on safari

• Botswana – Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park
• Kenya – Maasai Mara National Reserve
• Tanzania – Selous Game Reserve, Katavi National Park, Serengeti
• Uganda – Murchison Falls National Park , Queen Elizabeth National Park, especially the Kazinga Channel.
• Zambia – Zambezi River

Read more:  A Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel, Uganda

13/ Warthog

If you’ve seen the Lion King you’ll probably remember the character of Pumbaa – he’s a warthog. Warthogs are related to pigs, and as their name suggests they are medium-sized, pig-like animals with warty growths on their faces. These are not actually warts, but patches of thick skin to protect the animal’s face when it gets into fights.

There are two types – common warthogs and desert warthogs – and you may see both on your African safari. They live in burrows, normally occupying abandoned holes dug by other animals like aardvarks. Warthogs are sometimes thought of as quite aggressive – and they can be – but they are actually herbivores and more often than not will run away at any sign of danger.

Top places to see warthogs on safari

Warthogs are found in all national parks and reserves throughout southern and east Africa. Top places to see these animals include the Masai Mara in Kenya, the Serengeti in Tanzania, Chobe National Park in Botswana , Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda and South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.

Read more: Behind The Scenes On Safari In Tanzania

The hyrax looks a bit like a plump, grumpy, guinea pig-sized rodent – and despite its cuddly appearance, is actually closely related to elephants and manatees. There are two types of hyrax: rock hyraxes, of which there are two species, and tree hyraxes, which have three species. All the species live in Africa.

Hyraxes are herbivores grazing on vegetation, bark, and fruits. Although they have a fluffy coat, they’re not very good at thermoregulation, so you will often see them sunbathing to keep warm. They also have specialised rubbery footpads for climbing up rocks and trees, and are known for their distinctive, high-pitched calls.

Top places to see hyrax in Africa

Hyraxes live in rocky terrains, savannas, and forests, and are commonly spotted in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Namibia. Look for them in national parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, where rocky outcrops provide ideal habitats for these amusing little African animals.

15/ Porcupine

There are about 30 species of porcupine in the world, but the one you’re most likely to see on your African safari (if you’re lucky) is the crested porcupine or African crested porcupine. While the name ‘porcupine’ comes from the Latin for ‘quill pig’, porcupines aren’t related to pigs and are in fact the largest and heaviest of all African rodents.

Porcupines are most famous for their quills, which are made of keratin and can reach up to a foot (30 cm) in length. When threatened, they raise them up and shake them to make an intimidating rustling noise. If the attacker doesn’t back down, they can release their quills, which can embed into the skin and are tipped with hooks, making them difficult to remove. However contrary to popular belief, porcupines can’t ‘shoot’ or ‘fire’ their quills at a predator.

Top places to see porcupines on safari in Africa

Porcupines are hard to spot as they’re typically nocturnal, but sometimes they can be active during the day, like the one I saw in Kenya (above). They live in a range of habitats including forest, deserts and rocky outcrops, and can live in rocky terrain up to 3,700 metres (12,100 feet) above sea level. Keep your eyes peeled for them in countries like Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, and Botswana.

16/ Tree squirrel

You’ll probably have seen tree squirrels in your own country, and African tree squirrels (also known as the Smith’s bush squirrel) are very similar, with brown fur and long, bushy tails. Squirrels are rodents, related to chipmunks, marmots and prairie dogs, and they’re primarily herbivores, mainly eating nuts, fruit and seeds, though they will eat some insects as well.

African tree squirrels aren’t particularly afraid of humans so you’ll commonly see them in trees around your lodge, where you’ll regularly hear their chattering calls or see them running up and down the trees and walls or foraging food on the ground.

Top places to see squirrels on safari in Africa

You don’t need to look hard for these guys as they’re very common, especially in wooded and urban areas. Commonly found in countries like Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, and Uganda, these squirrels thrive in environments offering ample tree cover and a variety of food sources.

AMAZING AFRICAN SAFARI ANIMALS: PRIMATES

17/ mountain gorilla.

Gorillas are one of Africa’s rarest and most thrilling animals to see on safari. There are fewer than 1000 mountain gorillas left in the world, and they all live in a small area of forested mountains on the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gorillas live in family groups of around 10 individuals, and scientists have spent years gradually training some of these families to accept the presence of humans so that they can study them – a process called habituation.

Gorillas are the largest primates in the world, with the biggest males reaching over 1.5 metres tall and 180 kilos.  Just like humans, they communicate with both gestures and vocalisations and have 16 different types of call, including short barks, roars or hoots. Mountain g orillas mainly eat leaves and shoots, but have also been known to eat insects, and they can spend a quarter of their day eating.

Top places to see gorillas on safari

You won’t see gorillas on a regular African safari – you have to buy a special permit and hike into the forest, where you will be able to spend up to 1 hour in their company.  Here are the only places you can see these animals in the wild:

• Uganda – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
• Rwanda – Volcanoes National Park
• Democratic Republic of the Congo – Virunga National Park

Read More:  Gorilla Trekking In Uganda – The Real Inside Story

18/ Chimpanzee

Chimpanzees are our closest animal relatives (they share 99% of our DNA), and are incredibly intelligent. They can learn and understand words,  show emotions including empathy, regret, and friendship, they can recognise faces, remember things, and they can make tools.

There are around 300,000 chimpanzees in the forest of equatorial Africa, living in large groups of up to a few hundred animals led by an alpha male. Chimps spend their day in the treetops resting, grooming, and eating; they also sometimes come down to the ground to feed, drink or hunt. At night they sleep in nests that look like large birds nests made of leaves.

Top places to see chimpanzees on safari

Chimpanzees can only be found in central and western Africa. There are none in the south. The best place to see them in the wild is Uganda’s Kibale Forest, but you can also find them in Kalinzu Forest and Kyambura Gorge near Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo Forest (Murchison Falls National Park), and Semuliki Wildlife Reserve. Gombe National Park in Tanzania is the first park in Africa specifically created for chimpanzees.

If you want to find out more, I wrote about chimpanzee trekking for Lonely Planet .

Read More:  Chimpanzee Trekking In Uganda: A Breathtaking Wildlife Adventure

Baboons are the world’s largest monkeys. Like most monkeys they climb trees to sleep, eat and keep lookout, but they tend to spend most of their time on the ground, making them particularly easy to spot. They’re also not afraid of humans and often approach urban areas to scavenge. They frequently come into conflict with farmers by eating crops.

Baboons live in groups, called troops, of around 50 members. Since they’re not really afraid of humans, having a big troop of baboons surrounding your safari vehicle can be pretty intimidating!

Top places to see baboons on safari

There are five types of baboons living in different parts of Africa. You can see olive baboons in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, yellow baboons in Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Botswana, and Chacma baboons in South Africa and Zambia.

20/ Colobus monkey

There are over 100 species of monkeys in mainland Africa, so they’re not hard to spot! Commonly-seen types include vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, patas monkeys and the ones above, which are black-and-white colobus monkeys.

Monkeys are divided into New World Monkeys (those from the Americas) and Old World Monkeys (those from Africa and Asia). The main difference between the two is that New World Monkeys have prehensile tails which they can use to grip things, while none of the monkeys in Africa and Asia have this skill.

Most monkeys are omnivorous, meaning they eat everything from leaves, fruit and grass to insects, birds and small rodents. Apart from baboons, most monkeys in Africa spend the majority of their time in the trees, so you’ll need to look up and keep your eyes peeled if you want to spot them.

Top places to see colobus monkeys on an animal safari

You can see monkeys in every African safari country – in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania you’re most likely to see vervet and colobus monkeys. There are only 2 species of monkey in South Africa.

Read more:  Things To Do In Entebbe, Uganda

21/ Vervet monkey

Another type of monkey commonly spotted on African safaris is the vervet monkey. Vervet monkeys are easily recognisable by their distinctive black faces and grey fur, and the males, surprisingly, have bright blue balls. No, that’s not a joke.

Vervets are native to southern and central Africa and are known for their adaptability, thriving in a wide variety of habitats. They have impressive problem-solving skills and engage in grooming rituals to strengthen social bonds. Their omnivorous diet includes fruits, leaves, insects, and small vertebrates.

Top places to see vervet monkeys in Africa

You can spot vervet monkeys in savanna and forest habitats and national parks across central and southern Africa, including in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Uganda.

AFRICAN ANIMALS: ANTELOPES

There are over 70 antelope species in Africa, of which 21 alone live in Kruger National Park and 16 live in the Serengeti in Tanzania, so it would be impossible to list them all here!

‘Antelope’ is a term used to describe any deer-like animal, and includes things like impalas, gazelles, springboks, elands, kudus and many more – though unlike deer which shed their horns every year, antelopes keep them all the time. You will definitely see hundreds of of antelopes on your African safari, and below are just a few of them.

22/ Wildebeest

Wildebeest (which are sometimes also known as gnus) may look like cows but they are actually a kind of antelope. The Afrikaans called them ‘wild beasts’ for their powerful build and sharp horns, and you certainly wouldn’t want to cross one, but these African safari animals are no match for the lions, leopards and hyenas that rely on them for prey.

The famous wildebeest migration is one of the greatest spectacles in nature, and if you’re lucky enough to see it on your trip to Africa you really will be in for the experience of a lifetime.

Every year, more than two million wildebeest, followed by large numbers of zebras, antelopes and predators, migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya and back again, in search of grazing grounds and water. This is a constant cycle of movement, and many safari companies track the migration to make sure you have the best chance to see it.

Top places to see wildebeest on an Africa safari

The absolute best places to go are the Serengeti or Masai Mara during the migration, but if that’s not possible then you can also see wildebeest in plenty of other places, including…

• Botswana – Chobe National Park
• Kenya –  Maasai Mara, Amboseli National Park
• South Africa – Kruger National Park, Pilanesberg National Park, Golden Gate National Park
• Tanzania – Selous Game Reserve
• Zambia – South Luangwa National Park
• Zimbabwe – Hwange National Park

Read more: Which Is The Best Botswana Safari Lodge? My Favourites With Photos

Impalas are one of the most graceful and elegant antelopes, with their glossy, short coats and long, elegantly curving horns up to a metre long. They’re a key prey for lions and hyenas, so they practise safety in numbers and congregate in herds hundreds strong.

Impalas are amazing jumpers, able to leap a distance of 10 metres or clear an obstacle three metres high. When running away from predators they often jump clear over bushes and shrubs rather than running round them.

Top places to see impala on safari

You can see impala all over east and southern Africa, including Kenya (Masai Mara), Tanzania (Serengeti and Selous Game Reserve), Botswana (Okavango Delta), South Africa (Kruger National Park), Zambia (Luangwa Valley), Zimbabwe (Zambezi Valley and Lake Kariba) and Nambia (Etosha National Park)

The topi is a larger and more heavyset type of antelope, reaching up to about 126 centimetres (50 inches) in height. It’s well-known for its interesting colour patches – safari guides often say the topi looks like it’s wearing blue jeans and yellow socks – as you can see in the photo above.

Both sexes have horns, which are elegantly ridged and curved in a lyre-shape. Topi are sociable, moving in herds of anything from about 15 to many dozens. They also co-exist peacefully with other herbivores like impala, wildebeest and zebras.

Where to see topi in Africa

Topi are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and are commonly found in the savannas of East Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. They are popular prey for hunters like lions, hyenas and cheetahs.

25/ Thomson’s gazelle

The Thomson’s gazelle, a petite and elegant antelope, sports a tan coat with distinctive black stripes on its flanks and face, and a white belly. The males have long, straight horns while the females’ horns are much smaller.

Well-known for their speed and agility, ‘Tommies’, as they are affectionately nicknamed, graze on a diet of grasses in the East African savannas. Displaying intricate courtship rituals, males engage in spirited displays of jumping and chasing to win over mates.

Top places to see Thompson’s gazelle in Africa

Thomson’s gazelles thrive in the vast grasslands of East Africa, notably in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. They prefer habitats with open plains, where they can use their swift running and leaping abilities to escape predators.

26/ Grant’s gazelle

Grant’s gazelles look similar to a Thomson’s gazelle, and at first can be hard to tell apart. The main difference is that the Grant’s doesn’t have the distinctive black stripe on its flanks, and is a little larger – in fact it’s one of the largest types of gazelle. It was named after a 19th-century Scottish explorer named James Grant, who is buried in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Like many types of antelopes (including Tommies and impala), Grant’s gazelles live in herds made up either of females with young, and groups of bachelor males. At breeding time, the males compete for the females, and the winning male will get to mate with all the females in his herd or ‘harem’, while the loser males get nothing.

Top places to see Grant’s gazelle on an African safari

Grant’s gazelles can mainly be be found in the expansive savannas of East Africa, including Kenya’s Maasai Mara, Tanzania’s Serengeti, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia.

27/ Bushbuck

The bushbuck, a medium-sized antelope about 90 cm (35 in) tall at the shoulder, is an elegant creature with a coarse reddish-brown coat marked by pretty white spots and stripes. Only the males have horns.

While many African antelopes move about in herds, bushbucks prefer a solitary lifestyle, though they’re not aggressively territorial and are happy to graze near other individuals. They are herbivores, eating a diverse diet including leaves, fruits, and grasses. Remarkably agile, bushbucks navigate dense vegetation adeptly, and have exceptional jumping abilities.

Top places to see bushbuck in Africa

You can find bushbucks in woodlands and savannas across central and southern Africa, especially in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. They are not nearly as skittish and shy as some other antelope species, and can even become quite time. In Botswana I regularly saw them in the gardens of the lodges I stayed in, where they were happy to graze near people.

28/ Hartebeest

Hartebeests are one of the fastest antelopes, capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 mph.  Their name means ‘tough ox’, and you can recognise them by their short, twisted horns on both males and females, long faces, and pointy ears. Hartebeest are very social safari animals and often group together in herds of up to 300.

Top places to see hartebeest on safari

With an estimated 360,000 hartebeest living in Africa, you should have no trouble spotting some of these animals on safari. Look out for them in any savannah national park or reserve, including the Serengeti in Tanzania, Masai Mara in Kenya, and parks in Uganda, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

29/ Waterbuck

Another type of antelope you may see on your African safari is the waterbuck. Its name comes from the fact that when threatened it will often run and hide in water, sometimes submerging almost completely until the threat has gone away.

The waterbuck is recognisable by its shaggy coat and very long, impressive horns, which only the males have, and which can grow up to a metre long. The horns are so long and sharp that sometimes males fighting for territory can end up killing each other. A waterbuck’s skin gives off an oily secretion, thought to be for waterproofing, but which is also quite strong-smelling.

Top places to see waterbuck on safari

As the name suggests, you’re most likely to see waterbuck close to lakes and rivers, in groups of up to about 30.  Their territory is more towards east Africa and the east side of Southern Africa, in places like Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Kobs are quite similar to impala but less common, and are found only in central and west Africa and Uganda. They’re identified by their ringed horns which curve backwards, and their short reddish coat. Only the males have horns.

Kobs prefer flat or gently rolling countryside, close to water – but these are also ideal locations for farming so these safari animals frequently come into conflict with humans. They used to be common in Kenya and Tanzania but are now almost extinct in those areas due to habitat loss.

Top places to see kobs on safari

The best place to see kobs on safari is in Uganda, where the kob is so iconic it even appears on the Ugandan coat of arms.

Read more: 28 Top Things To Do and See in Uganda

The lechwe, also known as the red lechwe or southern lechwe, is one of the most semi-aquatic of all antelope species. They are proficient swimmers and can easily navigate through water – a skill they sometimes use to thier advantage to escape predators like wild dogs and lions.

Thanks to their russet-toned coat and the males’ large, elegantly curving horn, they are easy to recognise. Specially adapted to living in marshy or swampy terrains, these herbivores predominantly graze on aquatic plants.

Top places to see lechwe on safari

Since lechwe prefer wetlands, the best place to spot them is marshy habitats like the Okavango Delta in Botswana or water-rich environments in Zambia, Namibia, Angola, and Zimbabwe.

32/ Dik-dik

It’s a common misconception that the dik-dik is the world’s smallest antelope, but that award actually goes to the royal antelope. Nevertheless, the dik-dik is still very tiny, coming in at about 30–40 centimetres (12–15.5 in) at the shoulder and weighing about 3–6 kg (6.5–13 lb). The name dik-dik comes from the repetitive sound the females make when threatened.

Female dik-diks are larger than males, and only the males have horns. Known for their monogamous lifestyle, dik-diks form lifelong pairs and often mark their territories by rubbing their scent glands on twigs and branches, and by leaving droppings in dung piles, which they revisit over and over.

Top places to see dik-diks in Africa

To see dik-diks you’ll need to go to east Africa, where you can spot them in arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. You’ll need to be quick though – with their sandy coloured coat they are very well camouflaged in the bushes, and they run away quick when humans come near.

From one of the smallest to the biggest! Standing almost 180 cm (6 ft) at the shoulder and weighing up to 1,200 kg (2,650 lb), the majestic eland is the world’s largest antelope. Males are bigger than females, with dramatic spiral horns like the two magnificent chaps in the photo above, and they live in herds led by a dominant male.

There are two species of eland, the common and the giant, though despite the names the common eland is only slightly smaller. The name ‘eland’ comes from the Dutch word for ‘elk’ or ‘moose’, and was given to it by the first Dutch settlers who came to the Cape of Good Hope and thought it look a bit like the large herbivores they knew back home.

Top places to see elands on an African safari

Elands can be found across central and southern Africa, including Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Although their populations are decreasing, the eland is still considered as Least Concern by the IUCN.

The kudu is an absolute icon, a truly magnificent head-turner of an antelope, standing over 5 feet (1.5 m) tall at the shoulder, and with spectacular widespread twisted horns, huge ears, and a drizzle of white-paint stripes trickling down its sides. There are two types, the greater and lesser kudu, which look similar with the lesser kudu being a bit smaller.

Kudu also have a distinctive white v-shaped band across their face, which my guide said helps to reflect the bright sunlight away from their eyes, acting a bit like sunglasses. Like impalas, kudus move in herds of females with a single dominant male, and the rest of the males move in bachelor herds, though some can also be solitary.

Top places to see kudu in Africa

Kudus are found in southern Africa where they prefer woodlands and bushy savannas where there’s plenty of cover. Look out for them in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia,

ANIMALS OF AFRICA: REPTILES

35/ nile crocodile.

The Nile crocodile is both Africa’s largest crocodile and one of its deadliest predators. Nile crocodiles can grow to around six metres long and weigh up to 750 kilos. While they mostly eat fish they will attack anything that comes within striking distance, whether that’s small hippos, wildebeest, birds, other crocodiles, or even people. It’s estimated that about 200 people are year are killed by crocodiles in Africa.

Crocodiles are cold-blooded safari animals and spend many hours keeping warm by resting in the sunshine on the bank of a lake or river. While they may look sleepy and slow, they can spring into action in a split second should any unsuspecting prey come too close. The best way to spot crocodiles is to take a boat trip and look out for them on the shore or resting in the shallows by the water’s edge.

Top places to see Nile crocodiles on safari

• Kenya – Maasai Mara National Reserve
• Tanzania – Serengeti National Park
• Uganda – Murchison Falls National Park , Queen Elizabeth National Park, especially the Kazinga Channel
• Zambia and Zimbabwe – Zambezi River, Tributaries in Zambia

36/ Agama lizard

There are more than 30 different types of agama lizards, which are also known as rainbow lizards because of their stunning bright colours. Most of the year these safari animals are brown or grey, but in mating season the males develop these glorious colour patterns to attract a female. Different species turn different colours and the colour can be less bright if the animal is alarmed or has lost a fight with another male.

Males regularly show their dominance to each other by nodding, lashing their tails and opening their powerful jaws. Sometimes they fight, and you may see older males with damaged tails from previous combats. They mostly eat insects, waiting until one comes by and then snapping it up, using their sticky tongue to help hold onto it.

You’ll find agama lizards in rocky areas, either sunning themselves on the rocks or, if it’s too hot, sheltering in the shade. They’re quite small, up to about 30 cm long, but in mating season their bright colours make them easy to spot.

Top places to see agama lizards on safari

You can find agama lizards right across Africa, including in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.

37/ Monitor lizard

There are about 80 species of monitor lizard, native to Africa, Asia and Australasia, but the two you will most commonly see in Africa are the Nile monitor (sometimes called the water monitor) and the rock monitor. The one above is a Nile monitor, the largest lizard in Africa and one of the largest in the world.

Adept hunters and carnivorous by nature, these fearsome predators feed on fish, amphibians, and small mammals. In Botswana I even saw one hunt and kill a baby crocodile! Renowned for their adaptability, Nile monitors are excellent swimmers and climbers.

Top places to see monitor lizards in Africa

Nile monitor lizards prefer riverbanks, swamps, and wetlands, while rock monitors, as the same suggests, prefer rocky hillsides and drier habitats. Nile monitors can be spotted along the Nile as far north as Egypt and in east and southern Africa including Kenya and South Africa, while rock monitors are found more in central and southern Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Skinks are small lizards, with no clear neck and short legs – in fact some skinks have no legs at all and look more like snakes. Most skinks can shed their tails to escape predators and then grow them back in three to four months. They’re mainly insectivorous, eating flies, crickets, and other bugs.

In Africa there are over 70 species of skink. Unlike most reptiles, some species of skinks don’t lay eggs, but give birth to live young.

Top places to see skinks on safari

As cold-blooded animals, you’ll often see skinks basking on rocks, warming up in the sunshine. Different species of skinks can be seen all over Africa. I photographed the one above in Kenya.

TOP AFRICAN ANIMALS: BIRDS

There are over well over 2,000 species of birds in Africa so it would be next to impossible to list them all in this blog post! Here are just a few of the most iconic or noticeable ones that you might see on your African safari.

If you’d really like to know more about African birds, I’ve written a whole separate post called Top 50 African Birds: A Safari Photo Guide .

39/ Common ostrich

The ostrich is one of Africa’s most iconic birds. These huge creatures are the world’s largest bird – at up to three metres in height and 160 kilos they’re so big and heavy that they cannot fly. Instead, they are fantastic runners, reaching a top speed of over 40 miles an hour.

They have long, powerful legs which can cover up to five metres in a stride and kill a lion – or a human – with a single kick.  Ostriches hang around in small groups of up to about a dozen birds led by a dominant male and female. At breeding time, all the lesser females put their eggs in the dominant hen’s nest, where she and the alpha male take turns incubating them.

There is a famous saying that ostriches bury their heads in the sand, but this is not actually true. They do, however, cower down and press their heads and necks onto to floor, which may be where the saying comes from. As well as roaming wild, ostriches are also farmed around the world for their meat, eggs, feathers and skin, which is used to make leather.

Top places to see ostriches on safari

The main places to see ostriches are Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, where you can also visit ostrich farms and get up close to these amazing birds.

Eight of the worlds 19 species of stork live in Africa, including the yellow-billed, saddle-billed, and African open-billed stork. But probably the most common one you are likely to see is the Marabou stork, an enormous, prehistoric-looking bird that reaches up to 1.5 metres tall and has a wingspan of up to 3.7 metres – one of the largest in the world.

Marabou storks are scavengers, feeding on dead animal carcasses, scraps and even the faeces of other animals, and frequently coming into towns and cities to scavenge in bins and rubbish dumps.

Many storks prefer to live in open and wetland areas, eating fish, shellfish, frogs, small birds and small mammals. They are voiceless so they don’t squawk or caw, but communicate by clattering their bills. Their nests are very large and you will often see them on the tops of buildings or high up in trees.

Top places to see storks on safari

Many storks are migratory and head to Africa from Europe during the winter months. You’ll find them all across sub-Saharan Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. If you go to Uganda you will see them in and around the capital, Kampala.

41/ Hornbill

The hornbill is another creature you might be familiar with if you’ve seen the Lion King. Zazu , the king’s advisor, is a red-billed hornbill similar to the one above. There are 45 different types of hornbill, of which 24 can be found in Africa, and they’re easy to recognise because of their long, downward-curving bill which is often brightly coloured.

They’re also conspicuous because they’re relatively large birds, ranging from about 30 cm long to about 150 cm long depending on the species, and they’re quite noisy.

When hornbills breed, the female makes a nest in a hole in a tree, which she then seals up with her own excrement, leaving only a very narrow opening. The male must then collect food and feed her through the slot until the chicks are ready to fly.

Top places to see hornbills on an animal safari

Of the 24 types of hornbill found in Africa, 13 can be seen in open woodlands and savanna like the Masai Mara or the Serengeti; the rest live in dense forests and are harder to spot.  You will see different types of hornbills all across Africa, including in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa.

42/ Kori bustard

The kori bustard is the world’s heaviest flying bird – males can weigh up to 20 kilos and reach about 1.5 metres tall, while females are about half the size.

But although they can fly, they usually live on the ground and only take to the skies in cases of extreme danger. Kori bustards are omnivorous, eating mainly insects, small mammals, lizards, seeds and berries.

Male kori bustards mate with several females. Mating lasts only a few seconds and as soon as it’s over the male starts trying to attract another female. He’s also not involved at all in making the nest, incubating eggs or raising the chicks.

Top places to see kori bustards on safari

Kori bustards are found all across east and south Africa. They are most common in Kenya and Tanzania, but you can also find them in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa among others. They live in wide, open grasslands and lightly wooded savanna, so are quite easy to spot thanks to their size.

43/ Grey crowned crane

Reaching 1 metre tall, with its bright red wattle and eye-catching golden crest, the grey crowned crane is really a wonderful bird to see on your African safari. There are two subspecies: one, the crested crane, is the national bird of Uganda and appears on the country’s coat of arms alongside the kob mentioned above.  The other, the South African crowned crane, looks very similar but is only found in Southern Africa.

Crowned cranes love to dance. They have an extravagant courtship display where both males and females bow, jump, and flap their huge wings, but don’t worry if you’re not visiting during mating season – these birds put on this show all year round.

Top places to see crested cranes on safari

Since they’re the national bird of Uganda, that’s the obvious place to see them. However you can also see crested cranes in Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa, where they are often found hanging out with herds of cattle which they use as cover from potential predators.

44/ Secretary bird

With the head of an eagle and the legs of a stork, the secretary bird is one of the most bizarre-looking birds you might see on safari. It’s said to have been given its name by 19th century Europeans, who thought that with its black knee britches and tailcoat, and its long black quills at the back of the head, it looked like an office clerk or secretary. Another theory is that the name comes from the Arabic saqr-et-tair or ‘hunter bird’.

Secretary birds are related to other birds of prey like buzzards, vultures, and kites, and are famous for their unusual hunting technique. They stamp on their prey – usually snakes, small mammals or reptiles – to stun or kill them before swallowing them whole.

Scientists measured the force and discovered the deadly blow can transfer five times the bird’s own weight in a hundredth of a second.  The secretary bird appears on the coat-of-arms of both Sudan and South Africa.

Top places to see secretary birds on safari

Secretary birds prefer flat, open grasslands and savannah, making your chances of seeing one of these birds on safari quite high. Look out for them in Tanzania’s Serengeti, the Masai Mara in Kenya, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.

45/ Vulture

Africa is home to 11 different species of vultures, so you’ll have no trouble spotting them on your safari. Vultures are famously natures scavengers and cleaners – they feed on dead animals and the remains left over by predators and they’re responsible for clearing away up to 70% of Africa’s carrion.

Some vultures may also kill sick or wounded animals, or occasionally hunt fish or reptiles. Vultures are usually white, brown or black, and many species have a bald head and neck with a ruff of feathers around the collar.

Vultures are specially adapted to life as nature’s rubbish collectors. Their strong eyesight allows them to spot dead or dying animals from the air, while a unique balance of stomach acids helps them digest rotting meat without getting sick.

Top places to see vultures on safari

Vultures can be found in every country throughout the whole of Africa.

46/ Oxpecker

The oxpecker, also called the tick bird, rides on the backs of large mammals like buffalo, zebras and giraffes, feasting on ticks, fleas and lice. They can eat 100s of ticks a day, and when alarmed they also hiss, warning their host of approaching danger.

But this isn’t an entirely mutually beneficial relationship – oxpeckers also feed on the wounds and blood left by the ticks. There are two species of oxpecker – red-billed and yellow-billed.

Top places to see oxpeckers on safari

You’ll find oxpeckers anywhere in Africa there are large mammals for them to feast on. Look out for them taking a ride on a giraffe, buffalo, rhino or hippo – they make for great photos.

And there you have it! 32 amazing African animals and birds to see on a safari. Of course there are literally hundreds more, so keep your eyes peeled, you never know what you might spot!

My favourite travel tools and brands

To help you organise your trip, here’s a short list of some of the brands and tools I use over and over again when I’m planning my travels. You can see more on my Travel Resources page.

• Booking.com : A huge range of hotels to choose from, often with free cancellation. If you book hotels regularly you can earn discounts. I’m on Genius Level 3 which gets me 20% off!
• Expedia : Another great place to find hotels and Expedia also sell flights , car hire, and loads more all in one place.
• Skyscanner : The only place I ever go to search for flights and compare prices.
• Flight Centre : Booking a more complicated route? Let Flight Centre organise it for you (and deal with the drama when something goes wrong).
• Priority Pass: I love having access to 1,400+ airport lounges when I fly, allowing me to enjoy my time at the airport. With my link you get 30% off a standard membership or 20% off standard plus.
• Airalo: Say goodbye to ridiculous mobile roaming charges. Did you know you can now buy an e-SIM , install it in your phone before you leave home, and then use data abroad at local prices? Game changer.
• TourRadar: If you prefer group travel and organised tours, TourRadar has a huge range of fantastic tours from respected operators. They’re very helpful and have 4.5 stars on TrustPilot.
• Viator: Part of the TripAdvisor brand, Viator is another great place to search for group adventures and day trips.
• GetYourGuide: A great place to find local tours and day trips in your destination.
• Wex Photo Video: The UK’s best camera gear store. Quote my name – Bella Falk – to get £20 off your first purchase.
• Ellis Brigham: Looking for good quality backpacks, travel clothes and other gear? Ellis Brigham is where I buy almost all of mine.
• Rentalcars.com: Part of the Booking.com family and the world’s largest online car rental service, with 24/7 customer service.
• World Nomads Travel Insurance: I never ever travel without travel insurance and nor should you!

Read more African animals posts

If you enjoyed this, here are a few more wildlife posts you might like:

• Top 34 African Birds: A Safari Photo Guide
• 19 Easy Wildlife Photography Tips for Beginners
• 28 Top Things To Do and See in Uganda
• Behind The Scenes On Safari In Tanzania
• Gorilla Safaris In Uganda – The Real Inside Story
• 40 Safari Photography Tips For Stunning Wildlife Photos

Liked this African animals list?

Why not Pin It for later using the handy graphic below, or use the share buttons to share on your favourite social site. Every share helps support my blog and is very much appreciated, thank you!

Bella is a multi-award-winning travel writer, wildlife photographer and science and history documentary director from London. Among many awards and nominations she won Blogger of the Year at the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Awards 2023 and Best Photography at the Travel Media Awards 2020. Her work has been published by National Geographic, Wanderlust, and BBC Travel among others. Her films have been shown around the world including on the BBC, Discovery and PBS.

Further Reading...

Sweat And Leather At Chouara Tannery, Morocco

A Visit to Kibale National Park, Uganda

Using The Canon R5 For Wildlife Photography: A Full Review

Chobe safari lodge in botswana: a complete review with photos, what to wear on safari: my detailed safari packing list with photos.

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Passport & Pixels is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

An Introduction to Africa's Big Five Safari Animals

 TripSavvy / Vin Ganapathy 

If you're planning an African safari , you'll know that the term 'Big Five' is one of the most commonly used marketing slogans in the safari industry. Game reserves that host the Big Five will usually use this fact as their most significant selling point—but what does it mean? In the game reserves and national parks of Southern Africa , the Big Five represents safari royalty: the African lion, the African leopard, the African elephant, the Cape buffalo, and the rhino (either white or black).

The phrase was initially coined by early game hunters who recognized that these species were the most challenging and most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. This made them the biggest prizes, hence, the Big Five. Today, the phrase has come to represent the most sought-after safari sightings—although, in reality, this is a matter of personal preference. Some of the most endangered, beautiful, or charismatic African animals don't feature on the Big Five list, including the cheetah , the African wild dog, the giraffe, and the hippo.

African Elephant

The African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) is the world's largest and heaviest land animal, with the biggest individual on record weighing in at over 10 tons/22,000 pounds. They are found in 37 sub-Saharan countries and can survive in a wide range of different habitats, from lush wetlands to arid deserts.

African elephants are supremely well adapted to their environment, from their inch-thick skin (which protects them from the sharp thorns of the bush) to their enormous ears (which help to disperse heat and regulate body temperature). They can consume up to 50 gallons of water and 375 pounds of vegetation every day.

Elephants are very social animals. They live in matriarch-led groups that often number more than 100 individuals and communicate using a variety of low-frequency rumbles that can travel for many miles. Female calves usually stay with the herd throughout their life, while young males leave to form bachelor groups and eventually create herds of their own.

In the 1970s and '80s, the global demand for ivory led to a dramatic decrease in elephant numbers. A ban on all ivory trade has helped stabilize the population to around 600,000 in the last decade. However, poaching is still a major issue, especially in parts of Africa where there is political instability. The African elephant is listed as Vulnerable on the  IUCN Red List .

Where to See Elephants:   Chobe National Park , Botswana; Addo Elephant National Park , South Africa; Hwange National Park , Zimbabwe; South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.

African Lion

The African lion ( Panthera leo ) is the undisputed king of the sub-Saharan savannah and is the world's second-largest cat after the tiger. Although lions sometimes hunt during the day, they are typically more active at night which is why most daytime safari sightings are of cats sleeping in the shade. Lions can sleep for up to 20 hours a day.

Unlike other cats, lions are very social animals. They live in prides, usually consisting of one (or sometimes two) males, several females, and their cubs. Lionesses typically do the hard graft when hunting, often working together to bring down larger prey. They are ambush hunters, using their tawny coloring as effective camouflage.

In the wild, lions can live to around 14 years, although most prides experience a high rate of cub mortality, while males often die while fighting to protect their territory. Female lions can synchronize the birth of their cubs to help each other raise them. Cubs are born with rosette markings that fade over time.

Lions have few natural predators, although buffalo will often trample cubs. Predictably, man is the species' biggest threat.  Traditional hunting customs , big game hunters, and large-scale habitat loss have contributed to declining lion populations in Africa. The lion is also classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Where to See Lion: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa; Okavango Delta , Botswana; Maasai Mara National Reserve , Kenya, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania.

African Leopard

The African leopard ( Panthera pardus ) is the most elusive of the Big Five animals. Naturally shy and exclusively nocturnal, leopards spend the daylight hours hidden from view. They are excellent climbers, using trees to scan for prey and store fresh kills away from scavengers like lions and hyenas. If you're looking for a leopard, remember to look up.

Leopards are superbly camouflaged with a series of black spots or rosettes. They have large territories and seldom stay in the same area for more than a few days. Males range more widely than females and mark their presence by urinating and leaving claw marks. They are powerful and can take down prey much larger than themselves.

Their hunting prowess relies on their ability to run at speeds of over 35 miles per hour. They can also jump over 10 feet into the air and are excellent swimmers. Leopards are distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa and are one of the few big game species still found outside national parks.

White spots on the tip of their tails and the back of their ears make mothers visible to their cubs even in the long grass. As with the other Big Five species, leopards are threatened by humans. Encroaching farmlands have reduced their habitat, while farmers often shoot them to stop them from killing their livestock. They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Where to See Leopard: Londolozi Game Reserve, South Africa; Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana; South Luangwa National Park , Zambia; Samburu National Reserve, Kenya.

Cape Buffalo

Cape buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ) are found in water-rich game reserves and national parks throughout sub-Saharan Africa. There are four sub-species of Cape buffalo, the largest of which is the one most commonly seen in East and Southern Africa.

Cape buffalo are formidable creatures and have earned themselves a reputation as one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. They are often bad-tempered, especially when threatened, and are equipped with a fused set of deadly curved horns. Male buffalo can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds.

Despite their fierce reputation, buffalo are relatively peaceable with one another, sometimes congregating on the open grasslands in herds of over a thousand individuals. They are protective of their weaker members, often forming a defensive circle around sick or young animals when under attack from prowling lions.

Cape buffalo need to drink every day and are often found close to water. They eat tall, coarse grass and bushes, and as such cannot live in the desert. Cape buffalo continue to be one of the most sought-after trophy animals for big game hunters. They are exceptionally susceptible to domestic cattle diseases like rinderpest and bovine tuberculosis.

Where to see Cape Buffalo: Kruger National Park, South Africa; Chobe National Park, Botswana; Katavi National Park , Tanzania; Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.

White and Black Rhino

There are two rhino species in Africa: the black rhino ( Diceros bicornis ) and the white rhino ( Ceratotherium simum ). Both are at risk of extinction due to the poaching epidemic caused by the demand for rhino horns in Asian cultures. It is estimated that there are around 5,000 black rhinos and 20,000 white rhinos left in the wild.

Three subspecies of black rhino have been declared extinct, while the northern white rhino is now extinct in the wild. Conservationists are working tirelessly to protect the remaining sub-species, but their futures are far from secure. The black rhino is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Despite their names, there is no difference in color between the black and the white rhino. The easiest way to tell the species apart is to look at their lips—the black rhino's are pointed and prehensile, while the white rhino's are flat and wide. The Dutch word for "wide" is "wijd," and it is a mispronunciation of this word that gives the white rhino its name.

Black rhinos are usually solitary and have a reputation for being bad-tempered, while white rhinos often live in pairs. Black rhinos prefer desert and scrubland areas and are herbivorous browsers, while white rhinos graze on open savannah areas. It is thought that rhinos have roamed the African plains for 50 million years.

Where to See Rhino: Etosha National Park , Namibia; Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, South Africa; Lewa Wildlife Conservancy , Kenya; Mkomazi National Park, Tanzania

15 Animals to See on an African Safari

The Top 5 Places to See Lions in Africa

Fun Facts About African Animals: The Cheetah

Akagera National Park, Rwanda: The Complete Guide

Top 10 Unmissable African Safari Destinations

Forgotten Felines: The Seven Small Cats of Africa

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania: The Complete Guide

The Top 12 National Parks to Visit in Africa

The Best Places to Go in Southern Africa

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, South Africa: The Complete Guide

Top 5 Self-Drive Safari Destinations in Southern Africa

10 of the Best Private Game Reserves in South Africa

10 of the Best Places to Visit in Botswana

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia: The Complete Guide

12 Nocturnal Animals to Look For on an African Safari

Kruger National Park: The Complete Guide