10 Safari Animals You Shouldn’t Miss: A Guide to Africa’s Best

African safaris are spectacular and can be downright life-changing. For the best experiences, travelers typically head to Botswana, Kenya, and Mozambique, among others. But what are the must-see animals when you’re on safari in these magical countries?

Our animal experts came up with a top 10 safari animals list. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

Masai Ostrich

The flightless Masai ostrich is thrilling to see on a safari. They stand between eight and nine feet tall and tip the scales at 320 pounds. Although they cannot fly, Masai ostriches are quicksilver sprinters that can reach speeds of up to 44 miles per hour, which is fast for a giant bird!

Masai ostriches have the largest eggs of any living avian species and they practice communal nesting. All expectant parents deposit their eggs in a giant nest minded by the population’s dominant female. She doesn’t have an easy job because jackals, hyenas, and birds of prey love ostrich eggs. But they have help. Males do their best to protect the nests and their territories. Over centuries, they even learned to mimic lion roars to scare away prowling predators.

Though the IUCN currently classifies the species as Least Concern, seeing Masai ostriches on safari is becoming less common because their numbers are declining. Human encroachment is the main culprit.

Cheetah

Many people are surprised to learn that cheetahs rank among the smaller safari animals. However, they are the fastest land animals on Earth and can reach 80 miles per hour in three seconds! Cheetahs are often seen on safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, and South Africa.

Cheetahs are most active during the day, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon. Unlike lions, cheetahs are solitary. On occasion, males travel together in packs called “coalitions.” Cheetahs can have between 2,000 to 3,000 spots and weigh between 40 and 160 pounds.

Super lucky safari participants are sometimes able to catch a cheetah hunt. Typically, they prey on impalas, gazelles, and wildebeests. Like house cats, cheetahs get much of their water from food and can survive on one drink every four days.

Sadly, only 10,000 to 12,000 cheetahs remain in the wild. Loss of habitat and resource competition are to blame for their decline.

Lion

The undisputed “king of the jungle,” lions are one of the most anticipated safari sightings. These regal golden felines have long captured the human imagination and they’re the only big cats to live in social groups called prides.

A pride of lions can be as small as two and as large as 40, but the average group numbers between 13 and 16. Like human families, prides are composed of related individuals.

Many folks are surprised to learn that females do most of the hunting. On average, lady lions kill between 15 and 20 large animals a year, and they’re significantly more successful when they group hunt. When lions aren’t feasting on a large catch, they feed on smaller animals.

Many people enjoy spotting lions on safari. However, it’s becoming less common. African lions have been driven from 90 percent of their historical range, and only about 20,000 are left in the wild. Since the 1990s, populations have declined by 43 percent, putting them in the IUCN’s Vulnerable category.

Zebra

Native to Africa and cousins to horses and donkeys, zebras are iconic safari animals. These striped ungulates are herbivores and a major prey target of big cats, especially lions. But zebras don’t go down easily. They are capable fighters, and their kicks can be lethal!

Zebras inhabit the grasslands, woodlands, shrublands, and even mountainous regions of eastern and southern Africa. Three zebra species live in Africa, and they’re all on the IUCN Red List. Grévy’s zebras are Endangered, mountain zebras are Vulnerable, and plains zebras are Near Threatened.

Contrary to popular belief, zebras don’t have white and black fur. Instead, they have black skin with intermittent white fur stripes. Scientists believe zebras’ unique coloration naturally protects them from biting flies. To communicate, zebras bare their teeth, widen their eyes, and vocalize through huffing, puffing, and braying. Zebras also practice social grooming.

Baboon

Baboons are old-world primates who’ve been around for over two million years. Five major baboon species live in the savannas, semi-arid regions, and tropical forests of Africa. Baboons travel in “troops,” and they’re omnivores who dine on fruits, plants, and small animals.

During the day, baboons eat, groom, and spend time hanging out with their families. Females handle the bulk of childcare duties, and mothers help each other clean, feed, and teach the young ones. Males are typically on protection duty and on the lookout for Nile crocodiles, leopards, and hyenas. When night falls, they retire to treetops and sleep.

African Leopard

African leopards are the smallest big cats. They’re also solitary and only convene for mating and child-rearing. These graceful felines enjoy superior hearing and vision, preferring to hunt at night.

Leopards are adaptation masters. Depending on their location’s camouflage needs, leopards’ colors vary from pale yellow to black. Additionally, their diets are broad. They eat everything from dung beetles to elands. A famous study detected remnants from 92 different species in one leopard’s refuse!

Leopards can be found in a variety of habitats including tropical rainforests, tree-lined savannahs, mountain highlands, and barren deserts. While some of their habitats have shrunk due to deforestation and urban development, the animals have adapted to a growing human presence in some regards, and have been known to live and hunt in urban areas.

Like too many safari animals, African leopard populations are shrinking. Overall, increased human-leopard conflict is accelerating the decline.

Cape Buffalo

They may be herbivores, but their imposing size and unpredictability make Cape buffalo one of the more dangerous safari animals. Individuals weigh up to 1,500 pounds and charge when they feel threatened. On average, these giant cow-like animals trample between 100 and 200 people annually and have earned themselves an ominous collective nickname: “Black Death.”

Cape buffalo have herds numbering in the thousands. They are also strong swimmers and regularly cross large rivers in search of food.

Poachers are a lethal problem for Cape buffalo. Killed for their horns and head-bone plates, they’re sought-after game trophies. In addition to humans, Cape buffalo naturally fall prey to lions and large crocodiles.

Rhinos

The second-largest land mammal, rhinos are gigantic herbivores with tiny brains and poor eyesight. The behemoths do have excellent olfactory nerves and can “out-smell” most animals, however.

There are five species of rhinos, and two live in Africa: white and black rhinos. White rhinos, which are actually gray, are the biggest and can weigh over 6,000 pounds.

Rhinos travel in groups called “crashes,” communicate through grunts, snorts, and honks, and love to roll around in the mud. The wet dirt cools them off, serves as an insect repellent, and scrubs their skin of unwanted parasites.

As is the case for far too many species on this safari animals list, rhinos are poaching targets. Their horns are sold on the black market and can cost as much as gold.

Waterbuck

Waterbucks are a special treat to spot in the wild. This large antelope species isn’t endangered, but individuals avoid humans which helps their survival. Plus, their heightened need for hydration keeps them close to lakes and rivers off the beaten path of most safaris.

Typically, waterbucks travel in groups of up to 30; however, adult males and females don’t travel together. Instead, they convene for mating and then part ways. You can easily differentiate between ladies and gents because males don massive spiraled horns that curve backward, then forward.

African Elephant

Elephants are incredible, brilliant animals. These gentle giants enjoy deep familial bonds and are one of the most sensitive species on the planet. Not only do they enjoy music and communicate over long distances, but they also mourn their dead and attempt to help other elephants — and sometimes humans — who appear hurt or needy.

African elephants migrate seasonally and live in matriarchal family herds. Adult male elephants, called bulls, typically fly solo outside of mating season. However, you can sometimes stumble upon a bachelor group while on safari. Bulls usually leave their mothers’ herds between the ages of 10 and 19. The largest land mammals, elephants can eat 300 to 400 pounds of grass and roots a day.

Elephants are currently facing several threats. Poachers target these majestic animals for their ivory, habitat loss is leading to population fragmentation, and human-elephant conflict is on the rise.