Wildlife in Africa | Types of African Animals

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.

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.

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:

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:

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 in Africa and their estimated number of human deaths per year are:

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

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.

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

Animals in Africa FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What are other animals native to Africa?

Greater Kudu
Common Ostrich
African Civet
Dik-Dik
Wildebeest
Great Wild Crane
Mantled Guereza
Hartebeest
Warthog
Spotted Hyena
Okapi

What is an unusual animal one wouldn't expect to find in Africa?

There is a penguin colony in South Africa. The west coast near the Cape has cold Antarctic currents.

What are some of Africa's world records with regards to animals?

Four out of five of the world’s fastest land animals: The fastest is the cheetah, with speeds of 70mph. The wildebeest, lion and Thomson’s gazelle all run at about 50mph.
The world’s biggest frog: The Goliath frog is in Cameroon. It can grow to one foot long.
The world’s smallest butterfly: The Dwarf Blue Butterfly has a wingspan of only 0.5″ and is in South Africa.
The world’s largest and smallest chameleons: Both in Madagascar, which contains about half of all chameleon species in the world.
The only place you can find shoals of fresh water sardines: They are in Lake Tanganyika.
The world’s largest and heaviest beetle: The Goliath beetle can grow to 5 inches in length and weigh up to 0.25lbs. It lives in tropical Africa.
The largest primate, the Gorilla: Males weigh up to 200kg.
The largest cat, the Lion: It is also the largest of all African carnivores and an apex predator in any African ecosystem.
The second largest reptile, after the saltwater crocodile: The Nile crocodile grows to 5m or 20ft in length on average.
The largest seal colony in the southern hemisphere: Cape Cross in Namibia.

What are some extinct animals in Africa?

Animals in Africa that went extinct recently are the Northern White Rhino (2018) and the Western Black Rhino (2006). The next most recent extinct animal was the Bubal Hartebeest (1923).