Top 10 Countries with the Most Wildlife in Africa

Africa is no doubt a region with a diverse wildlife population, and as an African, I can attest to that. There are many wildlife destinations, safaris, national parks, and reserves in different parts of the continent.

Some countries in Africa have more diverse and sometimes unique wildlife living in their jungles. In this article, we will cover the top 10 countries with the most wildlife in Africa.

The Top 10 Countries with the Most Wildlife in Africa

1. Kenya

Kenya is a country located in East Africa. The country is blessed with different wildlife, including the big five, such as lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalos.

In Kenya, you will find 25 national parks, 16 national reserves, six marine parks and reserves, and several private conservancies. Wildlife is found throughout every inch of the country.

The number of wildlife in Kenya is made up of over 390 species of mammals, 1100 species of birds, and several species of reptiles and amphibians.

The most popular place to see wildlife in Kenya is the Maasai Mara National Park. This national park, which is named after the Maasai people, is one of the largest wildlife reserves in Kenya.

The Maasai Mara is famous for its great annual migration, where over one million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras traverse the plains in search of food and water supplies. This migration takes place between June and September and attracts many tourists.

Best Places to See Lions in Kenya

The best place to see lions in Kenya is the Mara Naibosho Conservancy. There are over 100 lions living in the Conservancy. This makes Mara Naibosho one of the top places with the most lions in the world.

Other great places to see lions are Meru National Park, Loisaba Conservancy, Nairobi National Park, and Amboseli National Park.

Best Places to See Leopards in Kenya

Leopards can be difficult to spot due to their elusive behaviour, but they can be seen in Nairobi National Park and Amboseli National Park. Both of these parks are small and suitable for leopards.

Other places to spot leopards are the Maasai Mara, Loisaba Conservancy, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, and Meru National Park.

Best Places to See Elephants in Kenya

Elephants are the largest of the Big Five. They can be seen throughout Kenya, but the best places to spot them in Kenya are Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Amboseli National Park, and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant and Rhino Sanctuary.

Other good locations to spot elephants are Mara Naboisho Conservancy, the Maasai Mara, Loisaba Conservancy, and Meru National Park.

Best Places to See Rhinos in Kenya

If you want to spot rhinos in Kenya, then the best place to look is Ol Pejeta Conservancy. In this conservancy, you will find the last two remaining northern white rhinos in the world and a good population of black rhinos and southern white rhinos.

Other places to look are Nairobi National Park, Meru Rhino Sanctuary in Meru National Park, Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

Best Places to See Buffaloes in Kenya

The top choice to spot buffalos in Kenya is Lake Nakuru. Other places include Hell’s Gate National Park, Maasai Mara, Meru National Park, Nairobi National Park and Amboseli National Park.

2. Tanzania

The second African country with the most wildlife is Tanzania. This country contains 20 percent of the total large mammal population in Africa.

Tanzania has 17 national parks, marine parks, and reverse that are spread across 42,000 square kilometres, which is approximately 38 percent of the country.

What kind of wildlife will you find? There are approximately 310 mammal species, 960 bird species, amphibians, and reptiles throughout Tanzania. Some of these animals are the black rhino, hawksbill, green turtles, red colobus monkeys, wild dogs, baboons, lions, chimpanzees, African bush elephants, and Pemba flying foxes.

The most popular wildlife destination in Tanzania is the Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti is home to over 2 million animals, including 4000 lions, 1000 leopards, 550 cheetahs, and 500 bird species.

All animals categorised as the Big Five can be found in Serengeti and other locations like Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, Selous Game Reserve, and Tarangire National Park.

It is also fun to know that the Serengeti’s name comes from the Maasai word “Siringit,” which means “endless plains.”

3. South Africa

South Africa is a top choice when it comes to wildlife travel. The country is famous for its national parks that are home to the Big Five.

There are over 297 species of mammals and 849 species of birds in South Africa. This includes the Big Five and many other wildlife.

Kruger National Park is the oldest and most popular wildlife destination in South Africa. It was first established in 1898 to protect the local wildlife in the region.

You will find over 1600 lions, 1000 leopards, 4420 Nile crocodiles, 5000 warthogs, 3100 hippopotamus, 10,000 giraffes, 37,000 African buffalo, 13000 African bush elephants, and many others in just Kruger National Park alone.

There are 19 national parks in South Africa, and these parks are full of wildlife. Some of these national parks are Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Camdeboo National Park, and Addo Elephant National Park.

4. Botswana

This list will not be complete without mentioning Botswana. This country is made up of 90% savanna, which is ideal for wildlife.

Botswana is popular for the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta. Both of these destinations are home to one of the largest populations of wild animals in Africa.

This southern African country has become a popular ecotourism destination in Africa. It may also interest you to know that 17% of Botswana’s land area is covered by three national parks: the Chobe National Park, the Nxai Pan and Makgadikgadi National Park, and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Botswana has one of the largest elephant populations in Africa. The growing wildlife in the country can be attributed to the ban on commercial hunting in 2014.

Wild animals you will find in Botswana include lions, meerkats, warthogs, leopards, zebras, rhinos, African buffalo, cheetahs, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs.

5. Namibia

Namibia is another great travel destination for wildlife. This country is located in southwest Africa and has a large cheetah population.

You will be surprised to learn that Namibia is among the least populated countries in the world, with an estimated population of 2.9 million people. The English language is also spoken here alongside other languages like Afrikaans, Oshiwambo, and German.

For wildlife, there are the top three spots, which are Etosha National Park, Waterberg National Park, and Cape Cross Seal Reserve.

The Etosha National Park is the most popular. It is located around the vast Etosha Pan, a salt flat that attracts a plethora of wildlife. Animals like elephants, lions, rhinos, and more can be seen in the waterholes around the pan.

Cape Cross Seal Reserve is a seal reserve that has one of the largest colonies of Cape fur seals in the world.

The Waterberg Plateau Park is famous for its plateaus and wildlife. Other destinations include Bwabwata National Park, Skeleton Coast National Park, Kaokoland Nature Reserve, and Namib-Naukluft National Park.

6. Uganda

If your travel is all about viewing wildlife such as gorillas and chimpanzees, then Uganda is the best spot for you. This African country is home to 345 species of mammals and 1020 species of birds.

A good portion of Uganda is covered with dense forests where wildlife thrives. There are 10 national parks and 13 wildlife reserves and sanctuaries throughout Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the most popular destination due to the population of wildlife in the region. Here you can trek through the dense forest and come across mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Animals found in Uganda include lions, giraffes, zebras, gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, and buffalos.

7. Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa that is teeming with wildlife. This African country is known for the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls which is the fourth-longest river in Africa.

There are 10 national parks in Zimbabwe, with the most popular being Hwange National Park. This park is home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, along with other wildlife.

Other notable national parks in Zimbabwe include Kazuma Pan National Park, Gonarezhou National Park, Chizarira National Park, Chimanimani National Park, Mana Pools National Park, Victoria Falls and Zambezi National Park, Matobo National Park, Matusadona National Park, and Nyanga National Park.

Wild animals that can be found throughout Zimbabwe are African buffalos, elephants, black rhinoceroses, southern giraffes, African leopards, lions,

8. Zambia

Zambia is another African country with diverse wildlife and many parks and safari areas. This country borders Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south and Namibia to the southwest.

The most famous park in Zambia is the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. This park got its name from the Lozi language phrase for the Victoria Falls, “The Smoke Which Thunders.” Mosi-oa-Tunya Park borders the Zambezi River and is home to wildlife such as African elephants, giraffes, zebras, Cape buffalos, crocodiles, hippos, impalas, and more.

Another destination that is teeming with wildlife is the South Luangwa National Park. Luangwa is known for its walking safaris and abundant wildlife. This makes it a popular spot for wildlife photographers to capture both hippos and crocodiles in the rivers and leopards and lions in the woodlands.

Notable places with wildlife in Zambia include Lake Bangweulu, Kafue National Park, Nsumbu National Park, Bangweulu Wetlands, Nyika National Park, Lake Mweru-Luapula River system, and many others.

Wildlife in Zambia includes lions, spotted hyenas, African leopards, Cape wild dogs, baboons, southern white rhinoceros, African buffalo, warthogs, south-central black rhinoceros, and others.

9. Rwanda

Rwanda has grown to become a top wildlife travel destination in Africa. This country is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is the best place to see mountain gorillas in their large numbers. You can trek through the lush bamboo forests to see these large creatures up close.

Nyungwe Forest National Park is also home to chimpanzees and Ruwenzori colobus. The Ruwenzori colobus is a primate that is found throughout Rwanda.

Other notable protected areas are Akagera National Park, Busaga Forest Reserve, Mukura Forest Reserve, and Gishwati Forest Reserve.

10. Madagascar

This list will not be completed without mentioning Madagascar. This island country was made popular due to the Penguins of Madagascar movies and their sequels.

In Madagascar, you will find most of the unique animals that cannot be found in any other part of the world. These are lemurs and other land animals like the Fossa. Approximately 90% of wildlife found in Madagascar is endemic, meaning it can only be found on the island.

There are over 100 species of lemurs, 300 species of birds, more than 260 species of reptiles, and 266 species of amphibians throughout Madagascar.

The country has 5 nature reserves, 21 wildlife reserves, and 21 national parks. Some of the popular destinations include Andohahela National Park, Zahamena National Park, Ranomafana National Park, Masoala National Park, and Marojejy National Park.

Some lemur species found throughout Madagascar are ring-tailed lemurs, sifakas, koala lemurs, ruffed lemurs, bamboo lemurs, aye-aye, dwarf lemurs, and mouse lemurs.

Conclusion

Africa is a continent that is full of biodiversity and beautiful woodlands that are home to some of the most unique animals on the planet. It is every wild travel enthusiast’s dream to see the animals in their natural habitat.

If you have read to this point, you now know the best countries to explore wildlife in Africa. In this article, we have covered the top countries in Africa where you will find the most wildlife.

In summary, the top 10 countries with the most wildlife in Africa are Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda, and Madagascar.

Although we stopped at 10, there are other countries with a large wildlife population. Some of these other countries are Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

FAQs

Which country in Africa has the most wildlife?

Kenya is the best safari destination in Africa due to its spectacular landscapes and biodiversity. But Tanzania has the most wildlife in Africa.

What country in Africa has the most lions?

The African country with the highest population of lions is Tanzania. There are over 4000 lions found in Serengeti National Park alone.

What are the top 5 wild animals in Africa?

The Big Five animals in Africa are the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo. These animals can be found in many countries throughout Africa.

What is the safest country in Africa to see wildlife?

The safest country to see wildlife in Africa is Botswana. This country is ranked one of the safest African countries for safaris.

Is it safe to go on a safari in Africa?

Yes, going on a safari is generally safe, especially when you go with reputable tour operators and follow the guidelines provided by park authorities.