This is our animal A-Z, where you will find photos of the most common animals and birds as well as information
about their habitat and characteristics.
Click the name of the animal for a shortcut, or scroll down to see them arranged alphabetically.
| Baboon | Nyani |
| Large, powerful mammals with well-developed social skills and great intelligence. Large herds of up to 100 baboons can be spotted, lead by an aggressive and strong male. Females bring stability to the group. Baboons are mainly herbivores, but can also prey upon birds and smaller animals. Baboons are notorious for stealing food at lodges and campsites, so watch out! Back to top |
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| Nyati | Buffalo |
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The African buffalo have a shoulder height of about 2 meters, and strong muscles. The lion is the only one among the predators which can fight the buffalo, but even lions are often forced to resign. The buffalo is easily distinguished from other animals because of its dark black color and its characteristic horns. It habituates on all areas of the savanna, but it prefers swamped areas with grass and wetland in the highlands and mountains. Buffaloes are known to gather in large herds of hundreds of animals, but they can also wander about independently. The old males are especially drawn to “going solo”. Back to top |
| Chameleon | Kinyonga |
| Changes its color according to the surroundings. The characteristic eyes can rotate in all directions, and it uses its extremely long tongue to catch insects. The tongue is sticky, so the insects have no chance of escaping once caught. Back to top |
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| Duma | Cheetah |
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The world’s fastest mammal. Over short distances it can reach a speed of 110 km/h. With an amazing acceleration, the cheetah runs towards the prey and bites into its throat. To separate the leopard and the cheetah, look for these features:
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| Colobus monkey | Mbega |
| The Guereza (Colobus guereza) can be identified by a heavy, black body with a naked, slate-gray face surrounded by a white brow and full beard, a white mantle, long tail, broad white ring around the callosities, and an indistinct white thigh spot. The tail tuft varies in length and degree of business, from a simple terminal tuft to a long flowing brush 3/4 the length of the tail. Subspecies can be distinguished by the amount of white on tail and length of the mantle. Colobus monkeys can be observed in Arusha National Park. Back to top |
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| Mamba | Crocodile |
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The largest living reptile in the world. In Kenya and Tanzania you can find the Nile-crocodile, with a length of up to 5 meters. Crocodiles prey on mammals, snails and fish. When mammals approach the water, the crocodile drag them into the water and drown them. The crocodile can also hit the mammals with its tail with an incredible force, often breaking the mammal’s neck. Back to top |
| Dikdik | Dika |
| Dikdiks are very unique creatures with pointed, mobile snouts, large ears, round eyes, long hind legs, and short undeveloped tails. The elongated nose is essential for nasal panting (often called breathing), which helps the animal survive harsh, dry temperatures and prevent water loss. All dikdiks have large pre orbital glands right below the inside corner of the eye which secrete dark sticky substances used to mark territory boundaries. Mature dikdiks reach a height of thirty-five to forty-three centimeters. Most females are slightly heavier than males weighing about ten pounds (five kilograms) as adults. A male’s average weight is four kilograms. Their bodies are approximately fifty-five to seventy-seven cm. long with a tail length of four to six centimeters. Only male dikdiks have tiny, sharp horns. Although the dikdik is one of the most beautiful animals to see in Africa, it is very difficult to spot one. They dart in and out of bushes really fast, and do not enjoy human company very much! Back to top |
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| Pofu | Eland |
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The largest antelope, weighing about 800 kg. Recognized by its waddle and its characteristic twisted horns. The eland is a shy animal, and will escape in a hurry whenever it feels threatened. Back to top |
| Elephant | Tembo |
| The African elephant is the largest, and can be distinguished form the Indian elephant by its large ears, which it uses as a heath regulator. Elephants are often spotted in large groups of females and babies, while the males are chased away as soon as they are old enough to manage on their own. Males appear in the mating season only, the rest of the time they wander about alone or in small groups. Females gather food and protect their babies against predators. The pregnancy period is 22 months, which is a record among mammals, and they can reach the age of 60. Elephants are herbivores (plant eaters) and in one day only they can consume up to 230 kg grass and 150 liters of water! The most fascinating feature of the elephant is its tusk and its trumpet. The trumpet is very muscular, and can tear up a tree by its root! The trumpet has many purposes: breathing and smelling, gathering food, drinking and showering. Both sexes have tusks, which can grow up to several meters. Back to top |
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| Heroe | Flamingo |
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There are two flamingo species: the “common” flamingo and the “small” flamingo. They can both be found in the same environment as the pelican, which habituates in lakes where lots of fish can be found. Flamingos are often seen in colossal herds of several thousand, like a pink ribbon along the lake. You have a great chance of spotting this phenomenon at Lake Natron and other lakes along the Rift Valley. Back to top |
| Gecko | Mjusi |
| A small lizard often found in houses and hotels, where it crawls on the wall. It eats mosquitoes and other insects, and is of no harm to humans Back to top |
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| Swala twiga | Gerenuk |
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The Gerenuk is very selective about their food. They eat only the juiciest most nutritious plants (leaves, young shots of trees and thorny scrubs), this allows the Gerenuk to go long periods of time without water. Unlike any other antelope, the Gerenuk can stand on its hind legs for long periods of time, allowing them to feed on higher leaves. A minor adaptation in the skeleton and muscles of the limbs and vertebral columns enable this behavior. Throughout eastern Africa from Somalia to Kenya. It habituates from the flat thorn bush on the savanna to the dry desert. Back to top |
| Giraffe | Twiga |
| One of Africa’s most elegant animals. It feeds on acacia leaves and branches, which it gathers from the treetops. The Rotschild’s giraffe and the Maasai giraffe habituate Tanzania, both are on average 5-6 meters tall. The Maasai giraffe can easily be recognized by its star-shapes spots. Back to top |
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| Swala | Grant’s gazelle |
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Very common on the East African plains. At first sight, it can be difficult to separate it from Thompson’s gazelle, but Grant’s gazelle is lighter in color and it lacks the black ribbon on the side. Grant’s gazelle has longer horns than Thompson’s gazelle. Back to top |
| Hartebeest | Kongoni |
| Found in herds on open plains and scrublands of sub-Saharan Africa. They often mingle with herds of zebras or of other antelope. Hartebeests stand about 1.2 m at the shoulder. Their backs slope downward from heavy forequarters to narrow hindquarters, and their long faces are accentuated, in both sexes, by ringed, lyre-shaped horns that are united at the base. Back to top |
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| Kulasitara | Heron |
| Many species are found, e.g. Goliath heron, which is gray with a reddish head, neck and shoulders. Pictured to the left is the black-headed heron. Back to top |
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| Hippo | Kiboko |
| With a weight of 1,5 – 2,5 tons, a large head, heavy body and short legs, the hippo mainly habituates in floods, lakes and swamps. It spends most of the day under water, to protect itself from sunlight and heat. After sunset it leaves the water to look for food. A typical hippo-herd consists of 5-20 members lead by an old male, and each and every one respects the solid hierarchy established within the group. Young males often have to fight hard in order to get respect and a higher position in the group. Back to top |
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| Fisi | Hyena |
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Hyenas are carnivorous mammals that are among nature’s great scavengers. The spotted, or laughing, hyena, Crocuta crocuta, is about 183 cm long, including its 30-cm tail, and weighs up to 82 kg. Its coarse, woolly coat is grayish yellow with round dark spots, and it lives in Africa south of the Sahara. Its well-known calls include the evening howl for food and the eerie “laugh” during the mating season or when the animal is otherwise excited. Probably no other living mammal has such powerful jaws in relation to its size. This hyena is strong enough to carry the body of a gnu. It was once thought that carrion was the principal food of hyenas, but they are skillful at hunting and killing prey. Recent studies in Tanzania have shown that hyenas largely kill their own food, up to 93 percent of their diet in the Ngorongoro Crater. They can crush and consume the largest bones of such animals as cattle and buffalo. Traditionally, warring African tribes left their dead for the hyenas to eat. Hyenas shelter in holes in the ground or among rocks and in dense vegetation. One to six young are born in a litter Back to top |
| Impala | Swala pala |
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| Mbweha | Jackal |
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One of the smaller predators, with a shoulder height of about 40 cm. It preys on small animal, birds, eggs and insects, but it can also feed on leftovers from other predators. When a larger predator has caught an animal, the jackal keeps its distance till the lion or leopard is satisfied, and then it approaches the “table”. Back to top |
| Kudu | Tandala |
| Elegant and rare antelopes. The Great Kudu lives in forested mountains, while The Lesser Kudu habituates on the steppe. Both have characteristic white stripes along the spine. Males have enormous horns twisted twice, the female does not have horns. Back to top |
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| Chui | Leopard |
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A rarely spotted predator, it hunts in the night and spends most of its day up in a tree where they can be hard to spot. The leopard preys upon smaller predators, antelopes, monkeys, cattle, dogs and goats. It is a remarkable climber, and can drag an animal up a tree even if the animal is heavier than the leopard itself! Typically, the hyena waits patiently on the ground for the leopard to loose its grip on the newly caught prey. The leopard lives alone, except in a shot mating period and when its babies are too young to take care of themselves. As soon as the young leopard is able to hunt by itself, it is left alone by its mother. Back to top |
| Lion | Simba |
| The second largest cat species in the world, after the striped tiger. A female lion weighs about 125 kg, a male weighs about 200kg. Lions hunt in groups, they surprise the prey or choose the weakest animal in a group. They can also steal a newly caught prey from other animals. The females take care of the hunting, while the males appear in time for the feast. The hunting often takes place at night, lions usually rest and sleep for 16-20 hours per day! The males can be easily distinguished from the female, males have a mane, some males are black manned. Back to top |
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| Kenge | Monitor |
| With about 2 meters length including its tail, it is smaller than the crocodile, but it lives in the same environment. The feed on crocodile eggs, toads, fish and snails. Monitors might look a bit intimidating, but they are fairly harmless. Back to top |
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| Oryx | Choroa |
| Among the largest antelopes, and one of wildlife’s fascinating beauties. Its straight horns can grow up to 1 meter in length. The oryx is quite an expert on surviving in the desert, it can tolerate a high body temperature and satisfies its need for water by eating grass and bushes Back to top |
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| Mbuni | Ostrich |
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More than 2 meters tall, weighing about 150 kg, the ostrich is the largest bird in the world. It can not fly, but has the ability to run very fast. Males are black and white, females are gray-brownish. In Tanzania, you will find the Maasai Ostrich, with a pale red neck and legs. Back to top |
| Pelican | Mwali |
| A common bird wherever there is water with lots of fish. At Lake Natron and other lakes along the Great Rift Valley, you can find the white pelican. Back to top |
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| Korongo | Roan |
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The same family as the sable antelope. Both are shy, but have lots of strength to defend themselves when attacked. The roan can be recognized by its horse-like mane and the black and white colored face. Back to top |
| Rock hyrax | Pimbi |
| Despite its looks, the rock hyrax is closer related to the elephant than any other animal! It resembles the guinea pig. It feeds on grass, roots and insects, and can often be found in small colonies in rocky areas. Back to top |
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| Kifaru | Rhino |
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There are two African rhinos: the white rhino and the black rhino. There is no difference in color, they are both gray! East Africa is originally habituated by the black rhino, but some white rhinos have been imported from South Africa. On average, a rhino weighs up to 1500 kg. In spite of its considerable size, it can run very fast, with a maximum speed of 50 km/h. They depend on audio-visual orientation, as their eyesight is limited. Even at a distance of only 20 meters, they are not able to spot a still standing animal or human. Rhinos have two horns, which have become a target for poachers. Horns are exported to Asia, the pulverized horns are known to reduce fever and other medical symptoms. In other countries, e.g. Yemen, horns are used in the creation of jewelry. In Tanzania, your greatest chance of spotting a rhino is in the Ngorongoro Crater. Back to top |
| Sable antelope | Pala hala |
| Adult males are glossy black, with a a face that is largely white except for a wide black blaze from forehead to nose and a black stripe from eye to muzzle. Females are lighter in color than males, tending to be brown rather than black. Back to top |
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| Ndege karani | Secretary bird |
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Often seen pacing through the grassland in search of snakes and other reptiles, which it kills with a powerful stamp of its foot. It also eats large insects such as locusts and the eggs and young of ground nesting birds. The crest of feathers behind this bird’s head is said to resemble the quill pens, which used to be carried behind a clerk’s ear. Secretary birds lay two large whitish eggs in a massive nest built of sticks and turf high in a flat-topped tree, often a considerable distance from the ground. These nests are used year after year, merely being renovated as the egg- laying season approaches. Back to top |
| Serval | Mondo |
| Habituates in swamps, floods and lakes where it feeds on birds, small antelopes, lizards and insects. It is a long legged predator of the cat family, with a small head and ears pointing upwards. Back to top |
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| Bata maji | Stork |
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Pictured to the right you see Africa’s largest stork, the Saddle stork, with its characteristic black and white feathers and its multicolored bill. The most common stork in Tanzania is the Marabou stork. The Marabou stork’s head and throat is naked, and it has a waddle hanging from its throat. Many lodges have their own marabou colony. Back to top |
| Thompson’s gazelle | Swala tomi |
| These gazelles live in herds of up to 50 animals and they can be found all over Tanzania. Predators hunt them. Both males and females have horns and a black stripe along its ribs. Back to top |
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| Nyamera | Topi |
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Resembles the hartebeest, but it is darker and has amore shiny skin. The topi has dark spots on its legs, shoulders and head, it lives on open grassland, and you can often spot them in herds where a male is looking out for predators. Back to top |
| Vervet monkey | Tumbili |
| Different species can be found. To the right you see the most common, with a gray-yellowish fur, a black face and a black tail-tip. These monkeys live in large herds on the savanna.They are not picky about their meals, they can eat just about anything! Back to top |
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| Dai | Vulture |
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Notorious for snatching the food out of tourists hands at the Ngorongoro crater picnic site. A bald head, naked throat and a characteristic bill are among their features. Whenever an animals had caught a prey on the ground, the vulture will together with the marabou stork, the jackal and the hyena alert others. Back to top |
| Warthog | Ngiri |
| Naked swine of the savanna. Slimmer than other hogs, with level back and comparatively long limbs. A large head with flat face; prominent tusks, and “warts” (thickened skin and gristle) below eyes, and a mane of long hair. Gray skin, dark mane and tail tuft; white cheek whiskers, shaped like tusks. Harderian glands in eye sockets leave dark stains on male’s face. Common in virtually every park with savanna habitat. The warthog is a true savanna dweller that avoids dense cover and forest but depends on burrows to escape predators and temperature extremes, especially in infancy. Although warthogs dig quite well, using snout as shovel, most holes they use have been excavated by aardvarks. Back to top |
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| Kuro | Waterbuck |
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Waterbucks are large, thickset antelopes, the males standing at about 1.7m at the shoulder and weighing up to 270kg. The females are smaller and lighter. The color of the upper body varies from a dark brownish-grey to a greyish brown, grizzled with white and grey hairs. Only the males have the impressive backward-curving horns. They have coarse shaggy coats and a characteristic white ring on their rump. They are endowed with numerous glands over their body which produce a musky smell which taints the meat and is said to have a waterproofing and insect-repelling function. Back to top |
| Wild dog | Mbwa mwitu |
| A long-legged predator with large, round ears facing upwards. The fur is speckled in black, yellow and brown colors, the tip of the tail is white. Wild dogs hunt in herds. They are not among the fastest animals, but they are able to stalk and “wear out” their prey across great distances. They can even kill large animals like zebras and wildebeest! Wild dogs are also called hyena dogs, and they are among Africa’s most rare animals, only about 5000 wild dogs are left on the whole continent. Back to top |
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| Nyumbu | Wildebeest |
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Their humped shoulders and deep necks contrast with the more lightly built hindquarters and long slender legs, but this unusual build allows them to break into a run very easily. On the move, their plodding gait gives an impression of world weariness. Adult males stand about 150cm at the shoulder and have a mass of about 250kg. Females are smaller at 135cm and 180kg. Both sexes carry the unridged horns but those of the male are heavier. They are extremely gregarious and their social organization consists of territorial males, female herds and bachelor groups. This organization is, however, very fluid outside of the breeding season. They are predominantly active during the day. Famous for their annual migration between Serengeti and Maasai Mara, this movement is called “The race for life”, as many of them won’t make it across Grumeti River or the border. Back to top |
| Zebra (Punda mlia) | Punda milia |
| Often seen among giant herds of wildebeest and antelopes. A common zebra herd consists of one male and many females with their babies, often a group of 20 animals. Other herds are exclusively male. The most common species is the Burchell’s zebra, which can be found in large numbers all over East Africa. Back to top |
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