Tanzania Safari Animals; Fact, Tanzania is one of the most magical African safari destinations and it is famously known as wildlife paradise and a great country to adventure a dazzling array of animals and bird species as well as scenic landscape. Ranging its beautiful adventure from the great wildebeest migration and the snow clad of Mountain Kilimanjaro to Ngorongoro Crater’s ‘’ Garden of Eden’’, there are many visitors to experience in Tanzania. Those are planning a visit to Tanzania Safari Tour – are thinking of the animals to see during their visit. Well, here is a list of the most spotted Tanzania Safari Animals together where to find them;
The Big Five
The Big5 mammal species includes Lions, Leopards, Elephant, Buffalos and Rhinos.
The best places to see the Big 5 in Tanzania include;
Ngorongoro Crater
Serengeti National Park
Selous Game Reserve
Wildebeest – The wildebeest is known as large antelope with box-like head and curving horns. It is one of the most populous and main attractions on Tanzania Safaris. They prefer inhabiting in woodland floodplains, open grasslands and dense bush lands.
More fact, wildebeest are the largest land mammal migrations on earth where more than 2 million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. They migrate looking for greener pastures and water.
They are best watched in only Serengeti National Park
Burchell’s Zebra – These are herbivorous animals and are commonly found in many national parks and reserves. They are inhabitant of grasslands and savannas. There white coats are marked with black or dark brown stripes. Note, each zebra’s stripes are unique, like a fingerprint which help them camouflage in herds.
There are three species of zebras found in Africa; the plain zebra, the mountain zebra and the Grevy’s zebra.
The best places to see Zebra in Tanzania includes;
Katavi National Park
Serengeti National Park
Milkumi National Park
Ruaha National Park
Tarangire National Park
Roan & Sable Antelope – This type of antelope is one of the largest African antelopes that inhabits of wooded savanna and tall grass and live in herds of 15 to 20 individuals.
Both antelopes are grazers of medium length grasses.
They are best spotted in places;
Katavi National Park
Ruaha National Park
Selous Game Reserve
Cheetah – They famously known as the fastest animal on earth, especially when they are on hunt. Cheetah has the palest of coats that range from white -yellowish to tan with spots all over, except their bellies.
They are habitats of savannas, open fields, scrub forests and grasslands.
Cheetah is a shy animal like leopards and their primary prey includes; Thomson and Grant’s gazelles. Tanzanian cheetahs are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ‘’IUCN’’ and are being threatened by hunters, habitat loss and cub mortality.
They are best seen in places like;
Ngorongoro Crater
Serengeti National Park
Katavi National Park
Nile Crocodile – It is one of the most dangerous predators in the African animal kingdom. They can weigh of over 450 kgs and reaches up to 4 meter in length.
They are habitat of rivers, large freshwater lakes, dams close to rivers, freshwater swamps, coastal estuaries and mangrove swamps.
Nile crocodiles have the ability to eat up to half of its body weight in one feeding.
These water species, can be seen in places;
Serengeti National Park
Lake Manyara
Ngorongoro Crater
Tarangire National Park
Grumeti River
Leopard Tortoise – The Leopard tortoise is the largest type of tortoise commonly found in eastern and southern Africa and can weigh up to 13 kgs.
They are one of most spotted animals in Tanzania.
Their high domed shell offer protection from predators and the sun, allows them to be active throughout the day.
They are well-developed front and rear legs enables them to move faster and easier.
They are also able to climb, float and swim.
They have a life span of up to 100 years.
The best places to see leopard’s tortoise in Tanzania; They are seen in all parks in Tanzania.
African Wild Dog – The African wild dog is one of the most endangered wild animals in Tanzania.
They are inhabitant of Miombo woodlands and open plains and are highly skilled predators, hunting animals like impala and young wildebeest.
African wild dog lives and hunt in highly social packs controlled by an Alpha mating pair.
The best places to see these African wild dogs in Tanzania;
Selous Game Reserve
Ruaha National Park
Serengeti National Park
Giraffe – Best places to see giraffe in Tanzania include;
Serengeti National Park
Selous Game Reserve
Ruaha National Park
Tarangire National Park
Lake Manyara
Spotted Hyenas– They are famously known for their distinctive laugh, intelligent and accomplished predator that can be spotted in most African habitats. They are divided into three species; spotted, brown and striped. The spotted hyenas have good hearing and perfect night vision and can run for miles without tiring. They largely live in groups called ‘’clans’’ led by a dominant female species.
The best places to adventure spotted hyenas in Tanzania include;
Ngorongoro Crater
Serengeti National Park
Selous Game Reserve
Ruaha National Park
Lake Manyara
Tarangire National Park
African Rock Python – One of the most impressive animal sightings on a safari.
They can grow to around 3.5 long and weigh in at 50kgs. They are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa and inhabit forest, savanna, grassland, semidesert and rocky areas.
African Rock Python feed on any warm- blooded animals/bird and can swallow them whole. These reptiles are solitary creatures and seek out their own kind only during the breeding season.
They are best seen in all parks in Tanzania.
Monkeys, Olive Baboons, Chimpanzees – They are omnivores – feed on thongs like grasses, roots, seeds, leaves, fruits, insect, fish, shellfish, rodents, birds, vervet monkeys and small antelopes.
The best places to see them in Tanzania includes;
Mahale National Park
Serengeti National Park
Tarangire National Park
Selous Game Reserve
Rauha National Park
Lake Manyara
Hippopotamus – They are found in the east African countries. They rank the 3rd largest land mammal, after elephants and rhinos, hippo spend up to 16hours in waterholes and rivers and are very territorial in the water.
They are not territorial whilst out of water. Their skin is coated with an oily substance which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood.
Hippos are aggressive, temperamental and unpredictable, which makes them Africa’s most dangerous animal.
They are best seen in all Tanzania’s game parks with water bodies. Some of them are;
Serengeti National Park
Lake Manyara National Park
Katavi National Park
Selous Game Reserve
Ruaha National Park
Greater and Lesser Kudu – They are known as shy animals and prefer woodland and bushlands which helps them to avoid predators. They feed on shrubs, leaves, shoots, foliage and fruits
They are best spotted in places like;
Serengeti National Park
Tarangire National Park
Lake Manyara
Ruaha National Park
Selous Game Reserve
Thomson’s Gazelle – Are medium sized antelopes and commonly seen in East Africa. They have striking ridged horns that curve backward.
They are inhabitant of open plains and savannas and grasslands .
They are herbivorous animals and feed on shoots, leaves and grasses.
they are best spotted in Serengeti National Park.
Visit Tanzania on wildlife Safari whereby you can choose to combine it with a visit to Uganda’s gorilla through Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi National Park can be accessed by both air or road. Fly from Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro International Airport to Entebbe Airport -then from there, you can use a domestic flight Aero link to fly you to Kihihi Airport which lands within 1:15hours.
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