Top 10 African Safari Animals & Where You’ll See Them
In our recent guide to the best safari in Africa, Xplore Our Plant outlined the top picks for safari experiences on the continent. In our guide, we highlighted Kruger National Park, Serengeti National Park and Moremi Game Reserve as the three best places to travel for safari.
There were numerous reasons for picking these locations. Accessibility was key, as was available accommodation and the quality of guides for safari tours. However, obviously on safari the wildlife takes centre stage, and all these three places have something very important in common:
They are all home to our top 10 African safari animals.
Forget just the ‘big five’ - we’re talking about all the heavy-hitters; the African safari animals people travel halfway across the world to see. But which African safari animals are these, and where is the best place to spot these African safari animals?
Elephants
The African elephant is the largest animal (by weight) to walk the Earth. Reaching up to four metres in height and weighing in at a staggering 6000kg, these are the African safari animals everyone wants to see. Charismatic, gentle but definitely dangerous when provoked too, African elephants are a must-see, and often a bucket list wildlife encounter.
Where to Find Elephants:
Famed for being endangered, there are still some thriving pockets of elephant populations in Africa. The parks we’ve listed in our introduction are some of the best anywhere on the continent, with Kruger National Park in particular home to over 12,000 elephants.
Giraffe
From the heaviest to the tallest, the giraffe is a towering example of how evolution can create some truly inspiring creatures. With long necks to reach the highest branches of the juiciest trees, these born survivalists can reach up to 5.5 metres in height. Kind natured and docile African safari animals, no safari is complete without a sighting of giraffes.
Where to Find Giraffe: Masters of disguise, giraffes blend seamlessly into their surroundings, making them tough to spot during the wet season. During the dry season though, with less foliage on trees and a need to drink, they are much easier to see. Kruger National Park is potentially the best place to see African safari animals, as well as Serengeti National Park.
Lion
King of the jungle, Queen of the plains, the mighty lion is perhaps Africa’s most veracious and well-known predator. Not the largest of big cats, that honour is reserved for the tiger, but still an imposing and captivating sight to behold - particularly when grouped together in an impressive pride. To see a thrilling lion hunt is entirely possible on safari, and a breath-taking experience if you’re lucky enough to witness this struggle between life and death. More often than not though, you’ll catch them lazing in the sun conserving energy. Still, no matter where you find a lion, they’re an African safari animal that leaves a lasting impression.
Where to See Lions: Serengeti National Park is without a doubt the best place to see lions as they hunt during the great migration. The Okavango Delta National Park in Botswana is another fantastic place to see these African safari animals.
Rhino
Perhaps the most persecuted of all the African safari animals, the critically endangered rhino has suffered immensely at the hand of mankind. These lumbering herbivores are protective of their space but gentle and timid in nature when left to their own devices. They’re known for their wide and soulful eyes, and to see one up close and personal on safari in Africa is a true treat. Armoured giants that scour the plains feeding on grass, fears are that populations will cease to exist in the future, and that safari travellers now may be some of the last to enjoy this incredible species in its wild and natural habitat.
Where to Find Rhino: Once more, we’re back to Kruger National Park if you’re looking to spot these African safari animals, with Kruger being home to the largest rhino population anywhere in Africa. Although, there are plenty of other great locations, such as Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Cheetah
The fastest land animal on Earth, the cheetah can clock in speeds of 75mph. It’s explosive speed is designed to chase down agile prey before they even have a chance to escape. Only around 7000 of the animals remain in the wild, making them tough to spot. However, should you catch sight of a cheetah, you’ll find yourself watching an animal that is surprisingly small. At a maximum weight of 70 kilograms, they are well below the larger cats that stalk the African plains. Graceful and sublime African safari animals, seeing cheetah while out on your travel adventures is a treat worth savouring.
Where to See Cheetah: The Masai Mara, neighbouring Serengeti National Park, is our recommended location for spotting these African safari animals.
Hippo
Hippo have a bit of a reputation. They’ve become known as truly dangerous animals, feared even above natural-born killers like lions. The hippo deserves some of this reputation. The most dangerous African safari animal, they kill around 500 people each year. Most of the time this is territorial, or if people are in their way. However, hippos are naturally aggressive which means sometimes it’s just bad luck. Safari-goers are in safe hands, as tours don’t get close enough to risk life or limb. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a thrill to see these large and dangerous creatures out in the open. Their massive teeth are a sight to see, as are there large groups of around 100 strong all found wallowing together.
Where to See Hippo: Never found far from water, the Okavango Delta National Park in Botswana is the ultimate destination for spotting these beloved African safari animals.
African Buffalo
Big, bold and beefy animals, the African buffalo, or cape buffalo, is one of the most impressive members of the bovine (cow) family. With large horns and a tenacious personality, they serve as formidable prey animals to lions and crocodiles. They cross the plains of Africa in huge numbers, making them one of the best African safari animals to witness purely because of the scale of their herds. Safari adventurers should be wary of these animals, however. Despite being distant relatives of the cow, they’ve never been tamed due to their natural aggression. While they aren’t predatory, they aren’t friendly either!
Where to Spot African Buffalo: For the best encounters with these African safari animals, visit Chobe National Park in Botswana. Here you’ll find herds up to 1000 strong.
Zebra
It looks like a horse and sounds like a horse, but a zebra is certainly nothing like the horses we know. Impossible to domesticate due to their wild temperaments, zebras are a fascinating and iconic species utterly unique to the African safari experience. Their distinctive stripes are known for being like fingerprints, with no two ever alike.
Where to See Zebra: Found in vast herds scouring the southern continent in search of grazing lands, their favourite stomping ground is Serengeti National Park where you’ll find 750,000 of them.
Crocodile
Crocodiles are one of the world’s oldest predators. Relics of an ancient world, they are the closest living relative of the mighty dinosaur. Massive killers that command an imposing presence as they lie dormant in the blistering sun, waiting to strike, there are few more exciting animals to see out in the wild than a fully-grown African crocodile. Safari travellers after the thrill of a lifetime can sit and watch watering holes in the dry season, waiting for these powerful animals to strike at their prey with stunning speed and accuracy.
Where to See Crocodile: The best place to see these African safari animals is undoubtedly the Mara River that borders Kenya and Tanzania. They’re here year-round, but most active during the Great Migration.
Leopard
African leopards are the most popular leopards in the world. Over 700,000 hunt on the plains of sub-Saharan Africa. Despite their high numbers, these animals are elusive and to spot one is exceptionally rare. Powerful and deadly carnivores, they prowl alone and at night. Their nocturnal nature and skills hiding make them a real challenge to spot, and the most difficult African safari animal to encounter.
Where to See Leopard: The old favourites, including Serengeti National Park and Moremi Game Reserve, are great places to see these African safari animals, with Kruger National Park in particular being noted as the best place in the world to see them.
