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A dual header image featuring, on the left, three adult baboons lined up facing right, with their heads lowered - the middle one nursing a baby, and the right one grooming, and on the right, an aerial view of a sea turtle gliding through crystal-clear turquoise waters.


Animals You'll Meet on Safari

 

Whether you’re a first-time traveler or a seasoned adventurer, embarking on a safari is one of the most thrilling ways to experience the natural world. The animals you might encounter during your safari in northern Tanzania, number in the thousands. We summed up a few of the most common species you can look for.

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Primates

 

Tanzania's primates are a diverse and fascinating group, ranging from the powerful baboons to the playful vervet monkeys and the elusive colobus monkeys. Found in a variety of habitats, from dense forests to savannas, these primates are crucial to the ecosystems they inhabit, often acting as seed dispersers and contributing to forest regeneration. Their behaviors and social structures provide a captivating glimpse into the complex world of wildlife in Tanzania.

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A close-up image of an olive baboon walking to the right across a large rock, turning its head to the right.

Olive Baboon: 

Nyani

  • Habitat: Olive Baboons are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, including savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and even near human settlements. They are commonly seen in Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, and Lake Manyara National Park.

  • Characteristics: Olive Baboons are medium to large primates with an olive-colored coat that gives them their name. They have long, dog-like muzzles, sharp canine teeth, and powerful limbs. They are highly social animals, living in large troops that can include dozens to over a hundred individuals. Troops have a complex social structure, with dominant males leading and protecting the group.

  • Diet:Olive Baboons are omnivores, meaning they have a highly varied diet. They feed on fruits, seeds, leaves, flowers, and roots, but they also eat insects, small mammals, and even bird eggs. They are opportunistic feeders and will often raid crops or scavenge near human settlements.

A close-up image of a yellow baboon sitting to the left on a fallen branch, arms in front, with its head turned to the left.

Yellow Baboon: 

Nyani Njano

  • Habitat: Yellow Baboons are primarily found in savannas and light forests. While they are more common in southern and central Tanzania, they are also found in some northern areas like Tarangire National Park.

  • Characteristics: Yellow Baboons have a yellowish-brown coat, which distinguishes them from the Olive Baboon. They are highly intelligence and are slightly smaller than Olive Baboons but share a similar social structure, living in large, hierarchical troops.

  • Diet: Yellow Baboons are also omnivores. They primarily eat fruits, seeds, and leaves but will also consume insects, small vertebrates, and even fungi. They are known to dig for roots and tubers and sometimes raid agricultural crops.

A close-up image of a vervet monkey positioned to the right in a tree, gripping thin branches, with its head turned to the right.

Vervet Monkey: 

Tumbili Ngedere

  • Habitat: Vervet Monkeys are found in a wide range of habitats, including savannas, woodlands, and areas near water bodies like rivers and lakes. They are highly adaptable and are often found near human settlements and agricultural areas.

  • Characteristics: Vervet Monkeys have a grayish-green coat, black face, and white fringe of hair around the face. They are small to medium-sized monkeys with a highly social nature, living in troops of up to 50 individuals. Vervet Monkeys are known for their agility and are highly adept at climbing trees.

  • Diet: Vervet Monkeys are omnivores, with a diet that includes fruits, leaves, flowers, seeds, and insects. They also eat bird eggs and small vertebrates when available. Vervets are known for their ability to adapt their diet based on seasonal availability, making them successful in various environments.

A close-up, frontal view of a blue monkey moving through a tree, its head slightly turned to the left, surrounded by green leaves.

Blue Monkey: 

Kima

  • Habitat: Blue Monkeys prefer forested areas, particularly montane and riverine forests. In northern Tanzania, they are commonly found in the forests of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, and Arusha National Park.

  • Characteristics: Blue Monkeys have a dark blue-gray coat with a distinctive white patch on their throats and chests. They are primarily arboreal, spending most of their time in the trees. They are relatively shy and tend to avoid human interaction, making them more elusive than some other primates.

  • Diet: Blue Monkeys primarily feed on fruits, leaves, and flowers. They are also known to eat small invertebrates like insects. Their diet is heavily dependent on the availability of fruit in their forest habitats, and they play an important role in seed dispersal.

A close-up image of a black-and-white colobus monkey sitting to the right on a bare branch, with its head turned right and its tail draped down the opposite side of the branch.

Black-and-White Colobus Monkey: 

Mbega Mwekundu

  • Habitat: Black-and-White Colobus Monkeys inhabit dense forests, including montane and gallery forests. In northern Tanzania, they are often found in the forests of Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha National Park, and the Usambara Mountains.

  • Characteristics: Black-and-White Colobus Monkeys are easily recognizable by their striking black fur contrasted with long white fringes of hair along the sides of their bodies and a bushy white tail. They are strictly arboreal and rarely descend to the ground. Unlike many other primates, they lack thumbs, which is an adaptation that allows them to move quickly through the trees.

  • Diet: Their diet is primarily folivorous, meaning they mostly eat leaves, but they also consume fruit and seeds. They have a specialized stomach with multiple chambers that help them digest tough foliage.

A close-up, semi-rear view of a red colobus monkey sitting to the left on a small branch, with its mouth opened and surrounded by green leaves.

Red Colobus Monkey: 

Mbega Mweusi na Mweupe

  • Habitat: Red Colobus Monkeys are typically found in primary and secondary forests, often in areas with dense canopy cover. While more common in other parts of Tanzania, some populations are found in northern regions like the Usambara Mountains.

  • Characteristics: Red Colobus Monkeys have reddish-brown fur, with variations in color depending on the species and location. They are highly social, living in large groups that can exceed 50 individuals. They are known for their vocalizations and complex social interactions.

  • Diet: Like the Black-and-White Colobus, Red Colobus Monkeys primarily eat leaves, but they also consume flowers and unripe fruits. Their diet is high in fiber, and they rely on their specialized stomachs to ferment and digest tough plant material.​​​

 
Reptiles & Amphibians

 

Tanzania's reptiles and amphibians showcase a remarkable diversity, from vibrant chameleons and majestic Nile crocodiles to colorful frogs and elusive snakes. These creatures thrive in various habitats, including rainforests, wetlands, and savannas, playing key roles in their ecosystems as both predators and prey. Their unique adaptations and behaviors highlight the rich and dynamic nature of Tanzania's wildlife.​​

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A close-up, frontal view of a Nile crocodile resting on a muddy shore with its mouth open.

Nile Crocodile: 

Mamba

  • Habitat: Nile Crocodiles are primarily found in freshwater habitats like rivers, lakes, and marshes. In northern Tanzania, they are particularly common in the Mara River and around Lake Manyara.

  • Characteristics: These large, powerful reptiles can grow up to 5 meters (16 feet) long. They have a tough, scaly hide, a long, muscular tail, and strong jaws filled with sharp teeth. Nile Crocodiles are known for their ambush hunting style, lying in wait for prey near the water’s edge.

  • Diet: Their diet includes fish, birds, and mammals. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat almost anything they can catch, including large mammals like wildebeest that cross rivers during migration.

A close-up, frontal view of a monitor lizard approaching with its tongue extended.

Monitor Lizard: 

Kenge

  • Habitat: Monitor Lizards are often found near water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and swamps. They can also be seen in savannas, forests, and semi-arid regions throughout northern Tanzania.

  • Characteristics: These large lizards can grow over 2 meters (6.5 feet) in length, with a muscular build, sharp claws, and a forked tongue similar to that of snakes. Their skin is rough and covered with small, bead-like scales. Monitor Lizards are known for their intelligence and are often solitary creatures.

  • Diet: They are carnivorous, feeding on a variety of prey including small mammals, birds, eggs, fish, insects, and carrion. Some species are also known to raid nests for eggs.

A close-up image of a chamaleon positioned to the left on a branch, displaying bright green and red colors, with only its head, torso, and front paws visible.

Chamaleon:

Kinyonga

  • Habitat: Various species of chameleons are found in Tanzania, with a notable concentration in the forests of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro. They thrive in dense vegetation, including forests, woodlands, and even in gardens.

  • Characteristics: Chameleons are well-known for their ability to change color, which they use for communication, temperature regulation, and camouflage. They have zygodactylous feet (two toes pointing forward and two backward), independently moving eyes, and a prehensile tail. The Jackson’s Chameleon, with its distinctive three horns, is particularly notable in this region.

  • Diet: Their diet mainly consists of insects, including crickets, grasshoppers, and flies, which they capture with their long, sticky tongues. Larger species may also eat small birds and other lizards.

A close-up image of a rock python with its head approaching, while the rest of its tangled body fades into the blurred background.

African Rock Python: 

Chatu

  • Habitat: This large, non-venomous snake is found in diverse habitats, including savannas, forests, wetlands, and rocky areas. In northern Tanzania, it can be found near water sources like rivers and lakes.

  • Characteristics: African Rock Pythons are one of the largest snake species in Africa, often exceeding 6 meters (20 feet) in length. They have a thick body with a patterned skin of brown, olive, and yellow, which provides excellent camouflage. These pythons are constrictors, using their powerful muscles to suffocate prey before swallowing it whole.

  • Diet: Their diet consists mainly of mammals, birds, and occasionally reptiles. They can take down large prey, including antelopes and even small crocodiles.

A close-up image of a puff adder slithering to the right over a sandy surface, with its neck raised and head forward.

Puff Adder: 

Kifutu

  • Habitat: Puff Adders are widespread across Tanzania and thrive in various environments, including savannas, grasslands, and woodlands. They are often found in areas with dense vegetation, where they can easily ambush prey.

  • Characteristics: Puff Adders are short, stout vipers with a distinctive zigzag pattern on their backs. They are known for their defensive behavior, often inflating their bodies and producing a loud hissing sound when threatened. Despite their lethargic appearance, they are capable of striking quickly when provoked.

  • Diet: They primarily feed on small mammals, birds, amphibians, and other reptiles. Their venom is potent and used to immobilize and digest their prey.

A close-up image of a green mamba coiled around a branch, its head centered, set against a blurred forested background.

Green Mamba: 

Koboko Wa Kijani

  • Habitat: The Green Mamba is typically found in coastal and lowland forests, but it can also be seen in wooded savannas and dense thickets in northern Tanzania.

  • Characteristics: This snake is highly arboreal, with a slender, bright green body that allows it to blend seamlessly with the foliage. Green Mambas are highly venomous, and while they are generally shy and avoid human contact, they can be very dangerous if threatened.

  • Diet: They primarily hunt birds, eggs, small mammals, and lizards. They are agile and swift, often ambushing prey from the trees.

A close-up image of a male agama lizard perched on a rocky surface, positioned to the right.

Agama Lizard: 

Mjusi

  • Habitat: Agama Lizards are widespread across northern Tanzania, commonly found in open habitats such as savannas, rocky outcrops, and near human settlements.

  • Characteristics: Male Agama Lizards are known for their striking colors, often displaying a bright blue body with an orange head during the breeding season. Females and non-breeding males are typically brown or grey. Agamas are diurnal and spend much of their time basking in the sun.

  • Diet: Their diet includes insects, especially ants and termites, as well as small invertebrates and occasionally plant matter.

A close-up image of a tree frog perched on a green leaf, positioned to the left.

Tree Frog: 

Chura

  • Habitat: Tree frogs are common in forests, woodlands, and areas near water bodies. In northern Tanzania, they are often found in the forests of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.

  • Characteristics: These small frogs are characterized by their vibrant colors, ranging from green and yellow to orange and red. They have adhesive toe pads that allow them to cling to leaves and branches. Tree frogs are nocturnal and are often heard rather than seen, with their distinctive, melodic calls filling the night air.

  • Diet: Their diet consists mainly of insects and other small invertebrates. They are excellent hunters, using their keen eyesight and quick reflexes to catch prey.

A dual close-up image featuring, in the upper section, a frontal view of a large turtoise approaching across a green grassfield, and below, a sea turtle swimming to the right, over corals on the bottom of a turquoise sea.

Tortoises and Turtles:

Kobe

  • Habitat: In northern Tanzania, tortoises are often found in arid and semi-arid regions, while turtles are more commonly associated with water bodies like lakes, rivers, and swamps.

  • Characteristics: Tortoises have domed shells and sturdy, elephantine legs, adapted for a terrestrial lifestyle. They are typically slow-moving and have a long lifespan. Turtles, on the other hand, have flatter, more streamlined shells and webbed feet or flippers, depending on whether they are freshwater or marine species.

  • Diet: Tortoises are primarily herbivorous, feeding on grasses, leaves, and fruits. Some species may also consume insects and small invertebrates. Turtles have a more varied diet, with freshwater species often eating aquatic plants, fish, and invertebrates, while marine turtles feed on seaweed, jellyfish, and small crustaceans.​​​​

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