Tanzania’s wildlife

Wildlife Guide

Who you’ll meet in the wild — and where and when to find them.

Simba

Lion

Tanzania holds the largest lion population in Africa. Prides rest on the Serengeti kopjes through the heat of the day.

Where: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire
When: All year

Tembo

Elephant

In the dry season, hundreds gather along the Tarangire River beneath the baobabs.

Where: Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Ruaha
When: Best June – October

Nyati

Buffalo

One of the Big Five, best seen in large herds on the crater floor and in Katavi.

Where: Ngorongoro, Katavi, Serengeti
When: All year

Twiga

Giraffe

The Masai giraffe is Tanzania’s national animal, easy to spot browsing on acacia.

Where: Tarangire, Serengeti, Manyara
When: All year

Punda milia

Zebra

Hundreds of thousands travel with the wildebeest on the Great Migration.

Where: Serengeti, Ngorongoro
When: Calving January – March

Nyumbu

Wildebeest

Over a million wildebeest move in a great circle through the Serengeti each year.

Where: Serengeti
When: Calving Feb, river crossings Jul – Oct

Heroe

Flamingo

Lesser and greater flamingos turn the soda lakes pink.

Where: Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Lake Natron
When: Best November – June

Korongo

Grey crowned crane

A golden crown and a graceful dance make it one of East Africa’s most beautiful birds.

Where: Ngorongoro, Serengeti
When: All year

Mbuni

Ostrich

The world’s largest bird, striding across the open grasslands.

Where: Serengeti, Ngorongoro
When: All year

Nyani

Olive baboon

Large, playful troops are a joy to watch, especially the young ones.

Where: Manyara, Tarangire, Mahale
When: All year

Swala tomi

Thomson’s gazelle

Small and quick, with a black stripe along the side — a favourite of the cheetah.

Where: Serengeti, Ngorongoro
When: All year

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