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Wildlife & Animals in Tanzania

Tanzania Safaris Tanzania

Tanzania offers excellent wildlife viewing. If it’s your goal to tick off the Big Five, you’re in luck. Elephant, buffalo and lion are easily seen. If you’re visiting the Ngorongoro Crater, you’ll probably spot black rhino too. Although common, leopards are very secretive. This makes any encounter with the most elusive of the big cats extra special.

  • Abundant
  • Common
  • Occasional
  • Rare
  • None
Elephant
Abundant
Giraffe
Abundant
Hippo
Abundant
Buffalo
Abundant
Zebra
Abundant
Wildebeest
Abundant
White Rhino
None
Black Rhino
Rare
Lion
Common
Leopard
Occasional
Cheetah
Occasional
Hyena
Common
Wild Dog
Rare

Wildebeest Migration

The wildebeest migration is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife spectacles. At least 2 million hooved animals – mainly wildebeest, but also zebra and gazelle – move around the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. Highlights of this 800km/500mi circular trek include the wildebeest calving on the Southern Serengeti plains and the dramatic Mara River crossings in the north.

Wildlife Highlights

Tanzania is home to more than 30 meat-eating mammals. There are cats, wild dogs, jackals, hyenas and many smaller carnivores, such as mongooses and genets. Small cats include caracal, serval and African wild cat. Wild dogs are mostly found in the southern parks, but bat-eared fox and black-backed jackal are more widespread. Getting out at dawn offers the best chance to see many of these fabulous creatures.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The Dry season (June to October) is the best time for wildlife viewing. The Wet season (November to May) is more beautiful and tourist numbers are lower. The best time for seeing the wildebeest calving is January to February (Southern Serengeti) and June to October for the wildebeest migration (Western and Northern Serengeti). The parks in the Southern and Western circuits are less accessible in the long rains (March to May) and some lodges close during that period.


Wildlife Rating per Major Park

Recommended Wildlife Books

  • A Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Tanzania
    This lavishly photographed book covers 133 mammal species.
    Charles Foley et al.
  • The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals (book and app)
    Definitive guide for serious Africa wildlife enthusiasts.
    Jonathan Kingdon
  • The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals
    Not a field guide but a fascinating intro to mammal behavior.
    Richard D. Estes
  • Field Guide to East African Reptiles
    Great for identifying lizards, snakes and other reptiles.
    Stephen Spawls et al.
  • East African Wildlife
    One-volume guide to common mammals, birds and reptiles.
    Philip Briggs

Wildlife Photos

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