20 Most Iconic Safari Animals, Ranked by Population Numbers
These 20 safari animals are what travelers most hope to see on an African safari beyond the ‘Big 5‘ of lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and buffalos. But which animals can you actually see and where to find them? This ranking, including the latest population numbers, will give you a clearer idea of your chances of spotting them in the wild.
How many African safari animals are there?
When someone mentions safari animals in Africa, most people picture the continent’s largest mammals and bird species. But did you know Africa is actually home to over 1,100 species of mammals, more than 2,000 species of birds and 2,500-3,000 species of reptile?
Where can you see African animals in the wild? In national parks. Africa has 268 national parks across 29 countries. Kenya has the highest number of national parks with 23, followed by Zambia with 21 and South Africa with 19.
Beyond national parks, there are hundreds of privately owned game reserves across the continent that offer game drive and close encounter with wild animals. South Africa alone has 42 game reserves that are open to the public.
From the savannas of Tanzania and Kenya to the wetlands of Botswana, safari destinations across the continent offer an incredible variety of wildlife waiting to be discovered. So let’s discover them.
Common Ostrich (2,000,000)
Its enormous size, comically fast running, and inability to fly make the ostrich a fascinating oddity among birds. If you have seen the classic The Gods Must Be Crazy from the 1980s, you know what I am talking about.
Towering at up to 9 feet, the ostrich is the world’s largest bird with a bare neck, long powerful legs, and fluffy black-and-white (males) or brown-gray (females) plumage. Its large, round eyes and tiny wings give it a prehistoric look.
The Amboseli region in Kenya has the highest number and density, with about 726 ostriches, although it experienced some decline after droughts.
Lake Natron in Tanzania, one of the world’s pink lakes, follows with around 331 ostriches and shows the fastest recent population growth.
Magadi/Namanga area in Kenya and West Kilimanjaro in Tanzania also have notable populations with positive growth trends.
South Africa is a major center for ostrich populations, but in parts of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, ostriches live also in larger numbers.
Wildebeest (1,550,000)
With a boxy, muscular frame, shaggy mane, and curved horns, wildebeests resemble a cross between a cow and a horse. Their grayish-brown coats and jerky gallop make them unforgettable in the great migrations
They are not iconic because of how they look like. To be honest, they are not the most beautiful animals in the world. But the sheer size of the herd migrating across the Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara is a famous spectacle.
The peak season for the Great Migration is July-August, but experts say that February is even better since it is calving season during that time.
Loita Hills in Kenya and Liuwa Plains in Zambia are the places to be between October to December to see larger herds of wildebeest, says Jamie Mehrotra, global head of sales at Extraordinary Journeys, a luxury travel company offering customized, private safari tours across Africa.
Cape Buffalo (564,000)
Stocky and dark with heavy, crescent-shaped horns that meet in a boss over the forehead, the cape buffalo has a hulking presence and an unpredictable stare, often caked in mud or dust. Known for their unpredictable nature and power, they are one of the ‘Big Five’ safari legends.
Based on the latest numbers from 2022, the estimated population of savanna buffalo is 564,000, excluding 75,000 privately managed in South Africa.
Cape Buffalo is the most abundant subspecies, making up 90% (510,000) of the population, mainly in Southern and East Africa.
Central African Savanna Buffalo accounts for over 34,000 individuals, mostly in Zakouma National Park in Chad and Garamba National Park in DRC.
West African Savanna Buffalo has approx. 20,000 individuals.
Forest Buffalo’s population size is hard to determine, living mostly in Central Africa.
Plains Zebra (500,000)
These horse-like grazers are instantly recognizable by their bold black-and-white stripes, each pattern unique like a fingerprint. Their upright manes and expressive eyes make them one of Africa’s most photogenic animals.
But did you know that there are three zebra species? The plains zebra, the mountain zebra and the rarest, the Grévy’s zebra.
According to the latest estimate IUCN, the total population of plains zebra is 500,000, out of which only 150,000-250,000 are mature individuals. Their numbers have been declining, reaching now “Near Threatened” status on the Red List.
The largest population of plains zebras, approx. 260,000 individuals, live in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
Less than 100,000 live in Botswana. Plain zebras migrate from the Okavango Delta to the Makgadikgadi Pans from November to March, then return by April, along with another herd that moves from the Chobe River to Nxai Pan between December and March, says Pearl Jurist Schoen, head of sales Africa at Extraordinary Journeys, a luxury travel company offering customized, private safari tours across Africa.
Kenya, Namibia, and South Africa also home to large numbers of zebras. In Kenya, the latest estimates suggest less than 100,000, while in Namibia and South Africa, less than 50,000 individuals.
Warthogs (500,000)
With large heads, curved tusks, wart-like facial growths, and sparse hair over a bristly body, warthogs often look comical as they trot with tails up.
The beloved movie, the Lion King in 1994 made them adorable and loveable. But in real life, they are quick and tough when threatened.
Warthogs live across sub-Saharan Africa. They are widespread but unevenly distributed in West Africa, East Africa, and southern Africa.
Half of the total population of warthogs live in southern Africa, approx. 250,000. The largest density is in Nakuru National Park in Kenya.
According to the latest estimate of IUCN, there are approx. 22,000 warthogs in South Africa.
Gemsbok (373,000)
These desert antelope are elegantly marked with black-and-white facial patterns and long, straight horns. Their tan coats help them blend into the arid savanna landscapes they call home. They look like a mythical creature stepping out of the shadows to catch one look at them.
Gemsboks live in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. There numbers are vast and stable, roaming the bushland and the grassland in Kalahari and Karoo.
African Savanna Elephants (300,000)
Towering and wrinkled, with massive ears shaped like the African continent, these giants have long, curved tusks and powerful trunks used for eating, bathing and socializing. Their emotional intelligence, majestic appearance and complex family bonds make elephant encounters deeply moving.
The best estimate is that there are approx. 330,000-350,000 African Savanna Elephants living in herds across the African continent.
In South Africa, the wild elephant population was estimated at 44,326 in 2020, with Kruger National Park home to 31,527 elephants and Addo Elephant National Park with over 850 elephants
More than half of the savanna elephants live in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA)—the world’s largest conservation area—spanning Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. A major aerial survey in 2022 recorded 227,900 elephants in KAZA, a 7% increase from 2016.
Safari tours in Botswana to see elephants is a popular tour of Go2Africa, a certified B-corp travel company with over 25 years of experience. The tour also includes a visit to Kalahari, Moremi Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta.
Chimpanzees (150,000–250,000)
Intelligent and expressive, chimps have black hair, pinkish faces, and long arms for swinging through trees. Their social gestures, like hand-holding and hugging, mirror our own in uncanny ways. Due to their sometimes uncanny human-like behavior, they are fascinating to watch in the wild.
WWF estimates that about 150,000 to 250,000 individuals live in the wild, primary in the Congo basin. However, chimpanzees have already disappeared from four African countries.
Central Chimpanzee: 115,000 individuals live in Gabon, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Western Chimpanzee: 21,000 to 55,000 individuals live in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana.
Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee: less than 6,500 individuals live in Nigeria and Cameroon.
Eastern Chimpanzee: 50,000 to 80,000 individuals live in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda is often called as ‘the primate capital of the world’ since it is home to 13 primate species. Praveen Moman, founder of Volcanoes Safaris, told me in an email interview that there are over 1,500 chimpanzees living in Kibale Forest and Kyambura Gorge. Chimpanzees are agile, very curious and very fast, but they can be more aggressive than gorillas.
Hippopotamus (115,000-130,000)
Bulky and barrel-shaped, hippos have enormous mouths with tusk-like teeth, nearly hairless grayish skin, and tiny ears. You wouldn’t expect from its size, but they are deceptively fast, both in water and on land.
The largest Common Hippo populations are in Zambia (37,100 hippos), Tanzania (20,000 hippos) and Uganda (10,000 hippos).
The best chance to see hippos in Africa is by visiting South Luangwa National Park and Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia, Selous Game Reserve (now part of Nyerere National Park) in Tanzania, or Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, where the majority of the country’s hippo population lives.
You will also surely see them in the Okavango Delta, in Botwana if you join a mokoro tour.
African Forest Elephants (100,000)
African Forest Elephants are smaller and more elusive than their savanna cousins. They are rarer and harder to spot in their dense jungle habitat. They have rounded ears and straighter, downward-pointing tusks, with a darker, denser build adapted to life in thick forest.
According to IUCN African Forest Elephants primarily live in the central African range, with 72% of their population in Gabon and the Republic of Congo. Only 400 individuals remained in Cameroon.
Giraffe (97,000)
The tallest land animal, giraffes have long, spotted necks, tufted ossicones (horns), and large, doe-like eyes. Their graceful walk and long lashes give them an almost surreal elegance. Not to mention how their wide stance during drinking makes them look both awkward and endearing.
The latest estimate of the giraffe population dates back to 2015, when just over 97,000 giraffes lived in Africa. About 70% of them, approximately 69,000, were considered mature individuals. These numbers represent a 40% decline over the preceding 30 years.
The current giraffe population consists of four distinct species and is spread across 16 countries.
Only 6,000 Northern giraffe remained and they now live mostly in Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Central African Republic. The area where you can find them shrank significantly. One of the subspecies, West African giraffe has only 600 individuals.
The population number of Reticulated giraffe decreased significantly. Now, only 16,000 individuals live in the wild, 95% outside any protected area.
Southern giraffe numbers are estimated to be almost 50,000, living mostly in Angola, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Southern giraffe is a positive example of conservation efforts, as the population of one of its subspecies, the Angolan giraffe, has quadrupled from 5,000 to 20,000, while the population of South African giraffe has increased by 150% to 30,000 over the past 35 years.
It is not hard to guess where the Masai giraffe lives, mostly in Kenya and Tanzania. But a smaller population of little over 100 giraffes live in Akagera National Park in Rwanda. Its estimated total population size is approx. 45,000.
Nile Crocodiles (50,000-70,000)
These formidable reptiles have armored, scaly skin, long snouts filled with conical teeth, and eyes that peer just above the water surface. When motionless, they blend perfectly into riverbanks. Seeing them is both thrilling and terrifying.
The Nile crocodile is Africa’s largest predator and the world’s second largest reptile, surpassed only by the saltwater crocodile. Out of the five crocodile species in Africa, Nile crocodile is the most common one you can see.
According to the IUCN Red List, its population is around 50,000-70,000 mature individuals.
In contrast to popular belief, Nile crocodiles live beyond the Nile river. In Egypt, only around 4,000 mature Nile crocodiles live, mainly in Lake Nasser.
The largest total numbers are in Zimbabwe. There are estimated to be over 9,500 adults, mainly concentrated in Lake Kariba, Zambezi River, and the Runde River within Gonarezhou National Park.
In South Africa, the main population of over 4,000 adults lives in Kruger National Park, Limpopo and Olifants Rivers, and the Lake St Lucia estuarine system.
The Okavango Delta in Botswana has a stable population of about 4,000 individuals. You will surely see them, if you join a mokoro tour.
Roan Antelope (50,000-60,000)
With a horse-like build, backward-curving horns, and a distinctive dark mask across its pale face, the roan antelope has a striking reddish-brown coat and a proud, upright stance. Their rarity and striking facial markings make them a prized sighting for those wanting something beyond the usual.
According to latest estimates, the largest populations of roan antelope are in Burkina Faso (over 7,300), Cameroon (over 6,000), Zambia (over 5,000) and Tanzania (over 4,300).
Leopards (50,000-100,000)
Sleek and muscular, leopards have golden coats dappled with rosettes and intense, watchful eyes. Solitary and stealthy, they often rest in trees with their tails dangling below. Spotting one may feel like uncovering a safari secret.
It is commonly cited that there are more than 700,000 leopards in Africa, but experts reported this number to be flawed.
You have the best chance at seeing them in South Africa, mainly in the Western and Eastern Cape coasts, KwaZulu-Natal interior, Kruger National Park, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and the Kgalagadi region.
Leopard numbers in Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe remain notable but are declining due to habitat loss. North Africa hosts only a small population in Egypt’s Elba National Park.
Hyaenas (27,000–47,000)
With sloping backs, powerful jaws, and mottled coats, hyaenas are more dog-like than feline, yet they share traits with both. Their eerie laughter and social hierarchies make them stand out in the bush.
People come expecting the villain from The Lion King but leave intrigued by their strong female-led clans and complex behavior. They are one of the most underrated safari animals in Africa and a true pleasure to encounter them during a game drive.
Based on the most recent IUCN Red List data, the largest known populations are found in the Serengeti , with over 7,000 individuals in Tanzania and 500-1,000 in Kenya. Kruger National Park in South Africa is also home to approx. 1,300-3,900 individuals.
Rhino (24,000)
Stocky and tank-like, rhinos have thick, gray skin that folds like armor and one or two horns on their snouts. Despite their bulk, they’re surprisingly agile and wary, with poor eyesight but sharp hearing.
The rarest animals in the world is the Northern white rhino. Only two females, Najin and Fatu, are left and now living in Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya under protection 24/7 by armed guards.
By the end of 2023, the total rhino population was only 23,290 on the continent.
The majority of this population, about 12,968, is found in South Africa. You can join a rhino conservation safari, including a visit to Kwandwe Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s largest private reserves.
Other countries with significant populations include Namibia with 1,416, Kenya with 873, Zimbabwe with 417, and Botswana with 242. In other countries, the population totals less than 100.
Lion (20,000-25,000)
The ‘king of the jungle’ has a golden coat and, in males, a dark, flowing mane that frames the face. Lions exude power, whether lounging in prides or roaring across the plains. Everyone wants to hear that deep roar and see the ultimate symbol of African wilderness during a Big 5 safari tour.
A 2023 study by Oxford University estimates that the total population of wild lions in Africa ranges between 20,000 and 25,000, spread across 25 countries.
Tanzania is home to the largest population of lions, with approximately 14,000, according to recent estimates. In comparison, South Africa and Botswana each have about 3,000 lions, while Kenya and Zambia have populations of around 2,500.
Cheetahs (7,000–10,000)
Built for speed, cheetahs have slender, aerodynamic bodies, spotted coats, and distinctive black tear lines down their faces. Their gait is graceful, their speed unmatched in short bursts. They are the fastest animal on land. Watching them chase their prey is a rare sight that not every safari-goer gets to witness.
Cheetahs can be quite elusive since the current estimated population is distributed over 1.2 million square miles.
Botswana is home to one of the largest wild cheetah populations in the world, with an estimated 3,396 mature individuals. Most of these cheetahs live in a massive transboundary landscape that also stretches into Namibia, Angola, South Africa, and Mozambique. Surprisingly, about 75% of Botswana’s cheetahs live outside protected areas.
Tanzania hosts around 1,536 mature cheetahs, scattered across several regions. But the Serengeti–Mara landscape, shared with Kenya, holds the biggest population of approx. 1,250 cheetahs.
African Wild Dogs (1,490)
With large, rounded ears and patchy fur in black, tan, and white, wild dogs look both rugged and artistic. They move in tightly coordinated packs and are among Africa’s most efficient hunters.
African Wild Dogs are endangered according to IUCN Red List. Approx. 100 mature African wild dogs live in Mana Pools World Heritage Site in Zimbabwe. Other areas with larger populations are Samburu and Laikipia Districts in Kenya, Savé Valley Conservancy in Zimbabwe, and the Serengeti in Tanzania.
Mountain Gorilla (1,060)
Heavily muscled and covered in dark fur, mountain gorillas have broad chests, expressive eyes, and a gentle demeanor. Silverback males are especially striking with their silver-gray backs and massive builds.
Trekking to sit quietly near a silverback in the misty forests of Rwanda or Uganda is often a life-changing wildlife experience.
Volcanoes Safaris, one of the ethical tour operators offering gorilla trekking experiences, has been leading trips since 1997. Praveen Moman, founder of Volcanoes Safaris, told me in an email interview that there are over 1060 Mountain gorillas in four national parks: Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
The largest population of Mountain gorillas is in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, estimated to be around 650.
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Emese Maczko is a travel blogger behind Eco Lodges Anywhere. Having explored several destinations around Europe, the US, Indonesia, and Australia, and resided in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg, Emese possesses a keen understanding of diverse cultures and an appreciation for the beauty of each destination she visits. She advocates for sustainable travel and ecotourism.