November 29

Best Places To See Endangered Animals In Africa

4  comments

By Jemma Brewitt on November 29, 2017

Africa is a haven for the world’s most exquisite animals, but unfortunately many of them are vulnerable or critically endangered. With many conservation initiatives, some numbers have increased with the help of game reserves and parks protecting these precious creatures. If you’re animal lover or safari fanatic you’ll be desperate to catch sightings of these rare species. We’ve put together a list of some of Africa’s endangered animals and the best places to see them in their natural habitat:

Endangered cheetah in Africa
Image credit: Sally Hilton

1. Black rhinos

Between 1960 and 1995 the black rhino population dropped by 98%. With less than 2,500 black rhino in the world many conversation initiatives have been frantically trying to increase numbers and save these exquisite animals. Since then numbers have increased, however the black rhino is still considered critically endangered today with poaching continuing in the pursuit of their precious horns.

Best places to see the black rhinos: 

Close up of two endangered rhino touching horns
Image credit: Gurveer Sira
Endangered Rhinos running towards the camera on a road
Image credit: Alex van Rijckevorsel

2. Grevy’s zebras

Over the past 30 years grevy’s zebra populations have plummeted by 54% to a population of 2,680. The grevy’s zebras are found mainly in Ethiopia and Kenya. Although similar to the plains zebra, the grevy’s zebra can be distinguished by its narrow stripes, taller body, white belly, rounded ears, brown muzzle and black dorsal stripe. The major threats faced by these animals are reduced water sources, hunting, disease, habitat fragmentation and competition for natural resources.

Best places to see the grevy’s zebras:

Endangered Grevy's zebra in Africa
Image credit: Bernard Dupont
Grevy's zebra with a black background
Image credit: Nick Dale

3. African wild dog

The wild dog is one of Africa’s most endangered mammals with its largest population remaining in Southern Africa and East Africa. These social animals are found in packs of 10 to 40 individuals. They are very loyal creatures and this hasn’t helped their declining population. If one dog gets caught in a snare, the rest will remain near the injured dog and in turn get caught in snares themselves. Their major threats are accidental and targeted killings by humans, diseases, habitat loss and competition with larger predators.

Best places to see the wild dogs:

An endangered African wild dog running
Image credit: Sabi Sabi East Lodge
An endangered African Wild dog looking at the camera
Image credit: Jaci’s Tree Lodge

4. African mountain gorillas

One of the rarest great apes in the world are the African mountain gorillas. The major threats to these spectacular animals are habitat loss, killing for bushmeat and trophy hunting. Mountain gorilla populations are found in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Labelled as critically endangered, the African mountain gorilla populations are slowly rising, however their situation is still dire.

Best places to see the mountain gorillas:

Endangered Mountain Gorilla resting
Image credit: Nick Dale

5. Rothschild’s giraffes

There are nine giraffe sub-species which all have very similar body structures. Therefore the best way to distinguish a Rothschild’s giraffe is to examine its spots. At first glance this giraffe looks like a Maasai giraffe, however upon closer examination the Rothschild’s giraffe can be identified by the lack of markings on the lower half of its leg. The main threats to this sub-species are habitat loss, poaching and population segregation.

Best places to see the Rothschild’s giraffes: 

Endangered Rothschild's giraffe in Africa
Image credit: Bernard Dupont

6. Chimpanzees

Our closest relatives, sharing 98% of our DNA, are endangered and populations have already been lost in four African countries. This is mainly due to deforestation, diseases and from hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicines. These highly social animals are found in central Africa, mainly in Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon.

Best places to see chimpanzees: 

An endangered chimpanzee in the greenery
Image credit: Anil Varma

Chimpanzee mother and her baby in black and white

7. African penguins

Although normally seen in the snow on the extremities of the globe, African penguins prefer the warmth of the African beaches. These birds, dressed in their suits, grace the Western Cape of South Africa and sadly are endangered too. Their population began to decrease with the increase of industrial fishing, environmental change, oil spills and human disturbances.

Best places to see African penguins: 

Penguins at Boulder´s Beach
Image credit: Namaste South Africa
Endangered African penguins mate for life
Image credit: Paul Mannix

8. Cheetahs

The fastest mammal on earth, the cheetah, currently has a vulnerable status.  With only 7,100 in the wild, conservationists believe the species should be declared endangered. These cats have been pushed out of 91% of their historic habitat. Cheetahs used to roam nearly the whole of Africa and parts of Asia however today are constricted to six African countries: Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique (50 cheetah remain in a pack in Iran too).

Best places to see cheetahs:

Three young cheetahs strolling in the savannah
Image credit: Phinda Private Game Reserve
Endangered cheetah sits atop a safari vehicle
Image credit: Harald Pieta

9. Pangolins

This Jurassic-looking animal rolls itself into a ball as a defense mechanism and is one of the most fascinating animals in Africa. Unfortunately, pangolins are victims of illegal wildlife crime for their meat and scales and are one of the most trafficked mammals in Asia and increasingly in Africa putting them on the vulnerable to critically endangered list. Sightings of this intriguing animal are rare as they are solitary and nocturnal creatures.

Best places to see pangolins: 

Endangered pangolin is held by a ranger, Africa
Image credit: Adrian Steirn
Endangered pangolin curls up and peeks at the camera
Image credit: Twalu Kalahari Reserve

10. Blue crane

This tall, ground-dwelling bird is South Africa’s National Bird. In the last two decades their population numbers have plummeted and they have disappeared completely from certain provinces in South Africa. The blue crane is cherished deeply by the Xhosa people who associated its blue feathers with deeds of valour and meritorious conduct. Their major threats are natural habitat loss and damage to their ecosystem, direct poisoning, mining, agriculture and development.

Best places to see blue cranes: 

A blue crane lifting its wings
Image credit: Bernard Dupont

A close up of a blue crane in South Africa

Here at Rhino Africa we support the efforts of the Wildlife ACT. Their conservation efforts focus on many of the listed endangered animals above and in particular the black rhino and wild dog. To find out more about this initiative read here.

Featured image: Jochen Weissenberger


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About the author 

Jemma Brewitt

Jemma's love for nature and culture grew while growing up on her family's dairy farm in the Natal Midlands. Since then she has been a ski lift operator in the Sierra Nevada, an Au Pair in London, an English teacher in Vietnam and is now writing about her favourite continent - Africa.

  • Hi there

    the best place in Africa where i saw packs of wild dogs was in Manna Pools in Zimbabwe of course that was in 2002, but was a phenomenal sight, and also as it happens the only place in Africa where I saw cheetah.

  • Very sad to read about all those endangered species. The wild dog is in Botswana now which is brilliant but the rhino is very rare there.

    So impressed with all the work done to try to save these animals. Thanks for sharing.

  • You should highlight the rhinos in Botswana….they have been moved there from South Africa and other places where they are being killed and are being well protected in the Okavango and elsewhere. I saw a rhino and calf in the Moremi reserve this week.

    • Hello Diana, thank you for sharing with us 🙂 . Yes, Botswana is certainly another place to add to the list. It’s a real privilege to be able to see rhinos and their calves with your own eyes!

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