Karibu Tanzania

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Field guide

The wildlife of Tanzania

From the Big Five of the Serengeti to whale sharks off Mafia and monkeys found nowhere else on Earth. Find out what lives here, where to see it and when.

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Species profiled

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Places to see them

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Found only here

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Showing 15 species

African Lion
Big Five
VU

Big cats

African Lion

Panthera leo

The largest social cat, living in prides and ruling the Serengeti plains.

Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area +7 more

African Elephant
Big Five
EN

Elephants

African Elephant

Loxodonta africana

The largest land animal on Earth, living in family herds led by a matriarch.

Tarangire, Nyerere +7 more

Masai Giraffe
EN

Ungulates

Masai Giraffe

Giraffa tippelskirchi

The tallest animal on Earth, and Tanzania's national animal.

Serengeti, Tarangire +7 more

Nile Crocodile
LC

Crocodilians

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

A huge ambush predator that waits at the river crossing.

Serengeti, Saadani +4 more

Hippopotamus
VU

Ungulates

Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

A huge, semi-aquatic grazer that spends the day in water and feeds at night.

Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area +6 more

Topi
LC

Antelopes

Topi

Damaliscus lunatus jimela

A glossy, purplish antelope that stands on termite mounds as a lookout.

Serengeti, Saadani +1 more

Black-backed Jackal
LC

Carnivores

Black-backed Jackal

Lupulella mesomelas

A clever, opportunistic scavenger and hunter, often in pairs.

Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area +4 more

LC

Primates

Olive Baboon

Papio anubis

A big, bold monkey that lives in large troops and eats almost anything.

Lake Manyara, Mikumi +5 more

African Fish Eagle
LC

Raptors

African Fish Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

A white-headed eagle whose ringing call is the sound of the African waterway.

Nyerere, Serengeti +5 more

Saddle-billed Stork
LC

Waterbirds

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

A tall wader with a striking red, black and yellow bill.

Nyerere, Serengeti +3 more

Nile Monitor
LC

Lizards

Nile Monitor

Varanus niloticus

A large, strong-swimming lizard often seen beside water.

Serengeti, Lake Manyara +4 more

Black Mamba
LC

Snakes

Black Mamba

Dendroaspis polylepis

Africa's fastest snake, shy but highly venomous.

Saadani, Nyerere +2 more

African Rock Python
LC

Snakes

African Rock Python

Python sebae

Africa's largest snake, a non-venomous constrictor.

Tarangire, Saadani +2 more

Sausage Tree
LC

Trees

Sausage Tree

Kigelia africana

A big tree that hangs sausage-shaped fruit as long as a person's arm.

Serengeti, Saadani +3 more

Red Mangrove
LC

Trees

Red Mangrove

Rhizophora mucronata

A coastal tree that grows on stilt roots in salty tidal water.

Jozani Forest, Zanzibar Stone Town +4 more

Conservation categories follow the IUCN Red List and can change as new assessments are published. Where and when you see a species depends on the season, the weather and luck: wildlife is wild, and we never promise a sighting.

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