A Guide to the Wildlife of East Africa

East Africa is home to a long list of impressive megafauna and smaller mammal species. Here are some of the most emblematic animals and where to see them.

Elephants

Elephants are among the most commonly spotted species on East African wildlife safaris. Tanzanian national parks like Tarangire are well known for their large elephant populations, as are Amboseli and Samburu in Kenya. Stay at Angama Amboseli to be right in the heart of the ‘land of giants.’

Giraffes

You can see multiple giraffe species all over East Africa. Maasai giraffes are present in Nyerere National Park and the Maasai Mara, while rarer reticulated giraffes are most common in Samburu and the Laikipia Plateau. Head to Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda to spot Nubian giraffes, too.

Wildebeest

Wildebeest can be seen across Kenya and Tanzania, and are the primary species to spot during the Great Migration. Head to the southern Serengeti between January and March to experience the wildebeest calving season – a fantastic alternative to the crowded river crossings of July–September.

Zebras

Zebras are present across several of the top East African safari destinations, including the Maasai Mara, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Akagera National Park. You can also see endangered Grévy’s zebras, which are endemic to northern Kenya, in the Lewa Conservancy.

Hippos

The best places to see hippos in East Africa include the Mara River, Lake Nakuru, Katavi National Park and the Rufiji River within Nyerere. Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda and Akagera in Rwanda are also great places to see this semi-aquatic species.

Gorillas

If you’re deciding between a safari in East Africa or Southern Africa, mountain gorillas might help make up your mind. These magnificent creatures reside in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You can seek them out on gorilla trekking expeditions through the lush foliage.

Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are another fascinating primate species that you can observe in the mountains of East Africa. Nyungwe National Park is the best place for this experience in Rwanda, while Uganda’s Kibale Forest National Park is home to several troops of habituated chimps. 

Rhinos

Rhinos are often the hardest Big Five species to spot, as both black and white rhinos are endangered. The best places to see them include the Solio Private Reserve, Lewa Conservancy and Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya, as well as the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.

Buffalo

You can see buffalo all over East Africa, but some of our favourite spots include Katavi National Park, Ruaha National Park, Meru National Park and Chyulu Hills. Murchison Falls in Uganda is also home to large herds of these impressive creatures.

East Africa’s wildlife includes many incredible predators, which star in some of the region’s most dramatic game viewing experiences. Here are a few essential species to spot.

Big Cats

Lions, leopards and cheetahs are the top three feline predators to see in East Africa. The Serengeti and the Maasai Mara are optimal locations for spotting these elegant animals.

Samburu and the Laikipia Plateau are especially good places to see leopards in Kenya. Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater is also famous for its abundance of big cats.

Servals are another feline species worth seeking out. While their small size means they’re not exactly ‘big cats’, these spotted and striped animals are fierce predators. You can see servals in the Maasai Mara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro as well as Amboseli, Tarangire and Lake Manyara.

Wild dogs

African wild dogs – sometimes called painted wolves – are East Africa’s quintessential canines. Although highly endangered, they’re often spotted in Samburu, Laikipia and Nyerere National Park. The latter boasts around 800 wild dogs – making it one of the best places to see them in all of Africa.

Hyenas

There are four different species of hyena, three of which can be found in East Africa. Spotted hyenas are the most common, and are especially abundant in the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara. 

Striped hyenas can be seen in Samburu, Meru and Laikipia, as well as northern Tanzania. Aardwolves – technically a type of hyena – are nocturnal, so you’ll need to embark on a nighttime game drive in Kenya or Tanzania for a chance to spot them.

There are dozens of endemic mammal species in East Africa and many more native birds, reptiles and aquatic animals. Highlights include reticulated giraffes and Grévy’s zebras, both of which are most common in northern Kenya; head to Lewa, Samburu, Meru or Laikipia for a chance to spot both.

The Zanzibar Archipelago, set off the coast of Tanzania, has a few of its own endemic species. Pemba flying foxes are native to Pemba Island, and Zanzibar red colobus monkeys can only be found on the main island (Unguja).

East Africa is a phenomenal destination for birdwatching, with well over a thousand different avian species.

Some of the most notable birds are lilac-breasted rollers, African fish eagles, kori bustards, secretarybirds, African sacred ibises, Rüppell’s griffon vultures, malachite sunbirds, martial eagles, whistling ducks, spur-winged geese, shoebills and hornbills.

Head to Lake Nakuru or Lake Manyara for the chance to see flocks of flamingos, and keep an eye out for East African ostriches while on safari in either Kenya or Tanzania.

East African reptiles can be just as fascinating as mammals, if you know what to look for. The region’s most interesting reptile species include Nile crocodiles, three-horned chameleons, agama lizards, leopard tortoises, pancake tortoises, hairy bush vipers, Egyptian cobras, black mambas and boomslangs.