Africa is famous for its wild animals and wide open lands. From the hot savanna to deep forests and dry deserts, the continent is home to some of the most powerful and unique animals on Earth.
African Animals
The Big Five
- Lion
- African Savanna elephant
- African leopard
- Black rhino
- Buffalo
Savanna & Grassland Animals
- Zebra
- Gazelle
- Impala
- Wildebeest
- Oryx
- Warthog
- Meerkat
- Spotted hyena
- Cheetah
- Common ostrich
- Vulture
Forest & Jungle Animals
- Gorilla
- Chimpanzee
- Mandrill
- Vervet monkey
- Aardvark
- Hornbill
Dry Region & Desert Animals
- African wild dog
- Ethiopian wolf
- Camel
- Black mamba
- Lizard
River & Wetland Animals
- Hippopotamus
- Crane
Common African Animals
- Lion – A large wild cat with a powerful roar.
- Elephant – The biggest land animal in the world.
- Giraffe – The tallest animal with a very long neck.
- Zebra – A wild animal with black and white stripes.
- Rhinoceros – A large animal with one or two horns.
Examples of African Animals
- The lion lives on the African savanna.
- An African elephant has large ears and a long trunk.
- The giraffe eats leaves from tall trees.
- A zebra has black and white stripes.
- The black rhino has two horns.
- A buffalo is strong and heavy.
- The cheetah is the fastest land animal.
- A hippopotamus spends much time in rivers.
- The gorilla lives in African forests.
- A chimpanzee is a very intelligent animal.
- The hyena hunts and also eats leftover meat.
- An impala can jump very high.
- The wildebeest moves in large groups during migration.
- A warthog has small tusks.
- The ostrich is the largest bird in the world.
- A meerkat stands on its back legs to look around.
- The mandrill has a colorful face.
- An aardvark is a gray-brown mammal that eats ants and termites.
- The oryx has long straight horns.
- A vulture eats dead animals.
- The crane is a tall bird with long legs.
- An Ethiopian wolf lives in the mountains of Africa.
- The African wild dog hunts in packs.
- A camel can live in very dry areas.
- The black mamba is one of Africa’s most dangerous snakes.
- A lizard moves quickly across hot sand.
These African animal names are common in books, wildlife programs, and everyday conversations about nature.
Last Updated on February 11, 2026
