Animals in Africa: A Guide to African Wildlife

Africa has several different types of habitats from jungles and forests to grasslands and deserts. The second-largest continent after Asia, it is home to many beautiful and dangerous animals of various sizes, both diurnal and nocturnal.

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These include mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects, with many being unique to Africa. Because of its biodiversity, it is a popular location for animal researchers as well as safari enthusiasts. It contains over 1,100 different mammal species, plus over 60 carnivore species, 100,000 insect species, 3,000 freshwater fish species, and over 2,600 bird species. Its populations of insects comprise 15-20% of all insects in the world.

The Official National Animals of Africa

Since Africa is made up of several countries containing their own culture and languages, as well as different types of habitats, there aren’t official African animals that represent the entire continent. Hence, each country has its own official national animal, with some countries having more than one national animal or sharing the same national animal as that of other countries.

The Oryx is the National Animal of Namibia

National animals are often categorized according to type, especially if a country has more than one. For example, the Leopard is the official national animal (land mammal) of both Rwanda and Somalia, while the American Fish Eagle is the national bird of Namibia and Zambia, and the Oryx is the national animal of Namibia. South Africa’s official national animal is the Springbok, its national bird is the Blue Crane, and its national fish the Galjoen.

Where To Find The Top Wildlife in Africa

The top wild animals in Africa are those that people most often seek out in safaris, with many being animals native to Africa. These safari animals are housed in national parks, game reserves, and other sanctuaries for both human safety as well as to avoid their becoming part of the extinct animals in Africa. Among the best-known African animals are the “Big Five” which are the Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhinoceros, and Buffalo. All of them can be seen in South Africa and are native animals:

Animal Groups – Crash of Rhinoceroses — Rhinos are one of the “Big Five” African Land Animals
Henk Bogaard/Shutterstock.com

Lion: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park bordering South Africa, Namibia and Botswana; Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park during the wildebeest migration.
Leopard: South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park.
Elephant: Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and Botswana’s Chobe National Park.
Rhinoceros: White Rhinos in South Africa’s Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park and Kruger National Park; Black Rhinos in Namibia’s Etosha National Park and Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Buffalo: Tanzania’s Katavi National Park and Botswana’s Chobe National Park.

Other top wild animals in Africa and where to find them are:

Animal Groups – Zeal of Zebras — Zebras are found in the Serengeti or Masai Mara region

Giraffe: Masai giraffes in the Serengeti region; Rothschild’s giraffe in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park.
Cheetah: Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and Namibia’s Okonjima Game Reserve.
Hippopotamus: Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park and the Okavango Delta in Botswana.
Crocodile: Nile crocodiles can be seen in the Mara River of East Africa during the annual migration of wildebeests and zebras.
Zebra: The Serengeti region or the Masai Mara during migration season; Grévy’s Zebra in northern Kenya’s Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
Wild Dog: Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, South Africa’s Madikwe Game Reserve, and Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park.

The Most Dangerous Animals In Africa Today

Land animals in Africa are popular attractions for safari enthusiasts, although they are not always treated with caution and respect. Many dangerous African animals are among the most dangerous in the world after human beings, whether hostile or poisonous. Fortunately, most dangerous African animals can be safely seen in national parks and game reserves. The top 10 most dangerous animals native to Africa and their estimated number of human deaths per year are:

Strongest animal bite – hippopotamus — Hippos are highly aggressive and unpredictable, and often charge other animals or even humans.

Mosquito: Causes diseases including Malaria, Yellow Fever, Zeka Virus, West Nile Virus, and Dengue Fever; 1,000,000 deaths.
Hippopotamus: Territorial and weighs up to 1,500kg, making it the third-largest animal after the elephant and rhino; 3,000 deaths.
African Elephant: Largest land animal; weighs up to 7,000kg and is unpredictable; tramples victims; 500 deaths.
Nile Crocodile: Aggressive, fatal attacks; 300 deaths.
Lion: Apex predator; kills locals during their daily lives or on the fringes of game reserves; 200 deaths.
Cape Buffalo: Nicknamed “widowmaker” and “black death”; fearless, aggressive, and unpredictable; will stalk and kill humans if alone; tramples and gores victims to death; weighs up to 1,000kg; 200 deaths.
Great White Shark: Most aggressive shark towards humans; charges at prey up to 40km an hour before taking a large bite; humans die from blood loss in 20 percent of cases; 2 deaths.
Rhinoceros: Weighs up to 2,800kg and second largest animal after the elephant; irritable, and charges with long, sharp horns up to 64km an hour when threatened; unknown.
Puff Adder: Not the most venomous snake but causes the most fatalities due to its wide habitat range, camoflauge colors and aggressiveness; 20 percent fatality rate from untreated bites; unknown.
Black Mamba: Largest venomous snake in Africa, growing up to 2.5m; one of the world’s fastest snakes, moving at 20km an hour; highly aggressive; one of the most venomous snakes in the world with a 100% fatality for untreated bites; unknown.

Endangered Animals In Africa

An African Wild Dog at Savuti, Chobe National Park, Botswana.
Derek Keats / Flickr

Several species are endangered or vulnerable due to hunting and poaching, particularly large and dangerous animals which are prized as trophies. Endangered animals in Africa include the Black Rhino, White Rhino, Rothschild’s Giraffe, Grévy’s Zebra, (African) Wild Dog, Grey Crowned Crane and Okapi. Additionally, the Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and African Forest Elephant are vulnerable species.

Birds in Africa

There are many different types of birds in Africa. In fact, there are 2,341 species of native African birds, 25 of those species are endemic, meaning you can’t find them anywhere else. You can find birds all over the continent. A few iconic species include:

Shoebill: These massive birds are found in swamps and wetlands of Central and East Africa. Shoebills don’t migrate and spend their days hunting in papyrus swamps. You can find them in the Bangweulu Wetlands in north-eastern Zambia.
Guinea fowl: There are 6 species of guinea fowl in Africa. They are found across the continent in a variety of habitats.
Secretary bird: Found in sub-Saharan Africa, these birds of prey prefer to hunt on the ground. It is common to see them in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Common Ostrich: Perhaps Africa’s most well-known bird species. Breeding season is the best time to see large flocks of Ostriches, from March to September. They are found in the savannas, woodlands, and deserts of Southern Africa and across Western Africa to the horn of Africa. They can be seen in many African parks and games reserves, including Kruger National Park and Chobe National Park.
African Penguins: You can see African penguins along the southestern coast of Africa and surrounding islands. The best time to see them is from November to August. They are most active at dusk and dawn. A popular viewing destination for African pengiuns is Boulders Beach in Simons Town, South Africa.
Hornbills: There are 24 species of hornbill found in Africa. You can see arboreal and terrestrial species in African savannas, rainforests, and woodlands. Find Southern Ground Hornbills in Mapungubwe or Kruger National Park.

Types of African Fish

Africa is home to an abundance of freshwater and marine fish. There are hundreds of freshwater lakes and rivers in Africa. Some of the most notable are the African Great Lakes, a system of 7 lakes in East, South, and Central Africa. These lakes are known for their cichlid populations. One of the great lakes, Lake Malawi is an especially popular fishing destination, with over 1,000 species of fish. Fishing in Lake Malawi is best between September and April, but underwater viewing is best between May and October.

With Western Africa bordering the Atlantic Ocean, and Eastern Africa the Indian Ocean, you will easily find thousands of marine fish species. Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar are popular fishing destinations where you can catch several species of tuna, sharks, mackerel, marlin, barracuda, and more. The best time for deep-sea fishing off these coasts is between October and April. If you’re interested in viewing marine wildlife, Mozambique has a marine conservation area where you can enjoy manta rays, sharks, eels, and a variety of reef fish. October to March is the best time for snorkeling in Mozambique.

Snakes in Africa

A wide variety of snakes call Africa home. There are snakes in every type of habitat, from tropical, to desert, and aquatic. You’ll find both venomous and non-venomous snakes in Africa. Venomous snakes in Africa have three different types of venom- Cytotoxic, neurotoxic, and haemotoxic. Cytotoxins kill cells. They destroy the cells in soft tissue and internal organs. Neurotoxins affect neural pathways and can cause paralysis. Haemotixins destroy red blood cells and prevent blood from clotting.

Some of the deadliest snakes in Africa include:

Black Mamba: Africa’s longest snake, and one of the fastest snakes in the world. Black mambas are found in Southern and Eastern Africa. They live in savannahs and rocky hills.
Boomslang: One of the most venomous snakes in the world. Native to the savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa.
Bush Viper: Arboreal snakes found in the tropical rainforests of Western and Central Africa.
Cape Cobra: Only found in Southern Africa. They live in a varitey of habitats, like grasslands, savannahs, and deserts.
West African Carpet Viper: Endemic to the dry savannahs of West Africa. It is the most dangerous snake in Africa.
Eastern Green Mamba: Arboreal snakes native to the coastal regions of Southern and East Africa. They can be found in the dense vegetation of tropical rainforests.
Puff Adder: Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, typically in open forests, grasslands, and rocky savannahs.

A few nonvenomous snakes native to Africa:

Ball Python: Live north of the equator in Western and Central Africa. They are found near water in grasslands and forests.
Brown House Snake: Distributed throughout Southern Africa. These snakes are popular as pets.
Spotted Bush Snake: Found in a variety of habitats close to water sources. They have a large range, from Southern Africa northward into Central Africa, from east to west coasts.
African Rock Python: The largest snake in Africa. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, in a range of habitats near permanent bodies of water.

African Countries Animals Lists

Click any of the countries below to see a detailed list of animals located in that country!

African Animals

African Animals List