Endangered Wildlife in Africa & Where to See These Rare Animals

Published on 13 May 2018, Last updated on 08 September 2024.

By Andrew Hofmeyr in African Animals & Conservation.

Discover the best places to see endangered wildlife in Africa and find out more about these rare animals.

African Elephant

Loxodonta Africana is the largest known terrestrial animal. Known for their tight-knit family groups and their considerable – up to 6 tonne – weight, elephants are synonymous with Africa. Sadly, these giants of the African bush are listed as vulnerable due to a combination of poaching for horn, habitat loss and encroachment. Luckily for us, as a flagship species, elephants are well protected and there are plenty of places where they can still be seen in the wild; alive and free.

African Elephant by African Budget Safaris

Best places to see elephants in Africa:

Gorilla, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda by Derek Keats

Mountain Gorilla

Critically endangered, Gorilla beringei has felt the full force of unrest in central Africa. Ravaged by war, poaching, and habitat loss, and human encroachment, these great apes are an icon of the struggle for wildlife in Africa. Adult male gorillas or silverbacks weigh in at about 180kg; not bad for a vegetarian! Sadly, the mountain gorillas are limited to a few isolated groups in East Africa.

The best places to see gorillas are:

Penguins at boulders beach by Kostos Limitsios

African Penguin

Aren’t they cute! Sad but true, these little rockstars are perched precipitously on the edge due mostly to dwindling fish stocks and habitat loss. Spheniscus demersus or the African penguin makes its home on the shores of Southern Africa. It’s not every day that you get to see a penguin on a beach while wearing a bikini (or swimming trunks) and basking in the sunshine but there you have it! Penguins in Africa, and another great reason to travel.

Best penguin spots in Africa:

Boulders Beach, Cape Town, South Africa

African Lion

Pantera leo. In the past 21 years, the population of the African lion has declined by more than 40%. This is largely due to habitat destruction, encroachment, and prey depletion. For the undisputed King of the jungle (or savannah for those in the know), life is perilous. The good news is that while the lion is listed as vulnerable; in four countries, here in southern Africa, populations are marginally on the rise. No campfire in the African bush would be complete without the cavernous roar of the mighty lion.

These are the best places to see lions in Africa:

Painted Wolf (African wild dog)

Lycaon pictus has had a bit of a rough ride. These dogs have massive ranges and so have suffered tremendously with the carving up of the wilderness into fenced parcels. They are currently listed as endangered animals and in need of protection. To help change the negative connotations around their natures and behaviour, the name was changed from wild dogs to painted wolves. They are incredibly social and can be found in packs of 10 to 40 individuals. It is something rare and spectacular to see these wild dogs in the wild.

Best places to see African wild dogs:

Rhino

Earlier this year we witnessed the death and therefore the extinction of the last male northern white rhino. Here in southern Africa, we are blessed with both black and white rhinos. While the white rhino is merely near-threatened, the black rhinoceros is a critically endangered animal. Since 1960 we have lost 97.6% of these creatures. The main reason is mankind. Diceros bicornis is big, near-sighted, and fiercely protective of their young.

While their location is often a closely guarded secret, your best chance of seeing rhinos in Africa are:

Endangered Pangolin by Tikki Hywood Trust

Pangolin

The pangolin is a small ground-living mammal that is covered with fish-like scales. They are shy and truly remarkable for a number of reasons. Recently they have become famous for all the wrong reasons as the most trafficked animal in the world. Last year all eight species of pangolin won a small victory when they were listed from vulnerable to critically endangered. In southern Africa, you are likely to come across the ground pangolin, Smutsia temminckii. While these diminutive creatures are widely distributed, only the very luckiest ever encounter them in the wild, making them truly the jewel in the crown of safari spotting.

Pangolin, endangered animal by Adrian Steirn

For the best chance to see a pangolin in Africa:

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus is the fastest land animal on the planet. The cheetah is unmistakable, savannah yellow with black spots with clear tear lines running from their eyes. These cats need large ranges and open spaces to really stretch their legs, and they too have suffered from habitat loss and are today listed as vulnerable. Once ranging across the African continent, today they are limited to only 6 countries in Southern Africa.

Best places to see cheetahs in Africa:

Etosha National Park, Namibia
Masai Mara, Kenya
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Kafue National Park, Zambia
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa/Botswana

Find out about more endangered animals in Africa - from the Ethiopian Wolf and the chimpanzee to the Rothschild's giraffe and Grevy's zebra.

Andrew Hofmeyr Senior Safari Blogger

Andrew Hofmeyr is a seasoned travel writer with over 10 years of experience. He’s travelled widely in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe, with favourites including Bali, the Drakensberg, and the Amatole Mountains. His writing covers conservation, wildlife, and travel advice, with work featured in Wild Magazine and the Kingdom of Eswatini Tourism. He also conducts insightful interviews with global experts.

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