Common Safari Animals

Safaris are a popular vacation activity due to their exotic nature and ability to combine rugged activities with luxurious amenities and hotels. Participating in a traditional safari allows tourists to view the animals in their natural environment as they are interacting, hunting and feeding, all of the things that can't be experienced in captivity. The list of animals that can be seen on a safari is extensive, but there are a few that are very common, and typically associated with the activity.

  1. Lions

    • According to National Geographic, large and intimidating mammals, lions can weigh up to 420 pounds (191kgs) and are the only cats to live and travel in packs, called prides. Though the prides are led by the males, the female lions do most of the hunting, working together to capture zebras, antelopes and similar large animals. Once found in Africa, Asia and parts of Europe, lions are now only found in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Gir Forest in India, where a very small population of Asian lions has survived.

    Zebras

    • National Geographic reports that though identifiable by their signature black-and-white striped coat, no two are exactly the same, distinctive in the same way as human fingerprints. Native to Africa, zebras are social animals who graze in packs and are herbivores, eating a diet mostly consisting of grass. Very large animals, zebras can weigh up to 1,000 pounds (455kgs) and reach a height of roughly 5 feet (1.5m). Zebras live in herds, generally made up of one male, multiple females and their young.

    Elephants

    • According to National Geographic, African elephants are the largest land animal on earth, weighing up to 14,000 pounds (6,363kgs) and reaching a height of 13 feet (4m) tall. Living on a diet of fruits, grasses and bark, elephants are herbivores that do not sleep much and instead prefer to roam the land in search of more food to sustain their large frames. They sometimes an eat up to 300 pounds (136kgs) of food in a single day. Female African elephants live in herds with their young, but the male elephants prefer to live on their own.

    Giraffes

    • National Geographic states that due to their long legs and necks, giraffes are the tallest animals in the world, growing up to 19 feet (6m). Preferring to travel in small groups, giraffes are herbivores that prefer to feed on leaves and grasses, particularly ones in tall trees that smaller animals are unable to reach. Though their long legs allow them to run at speeds up to 35 mph (56km/h), they are also a disadvantage when it comes to drinking water, as they have to crouch into a position that makes them vulnerable to animals such as lions.