Reference guide
Tanzania Wildlife Checklist — What to Spot on Safari
From the Big Five to the Little Five, here is your printable checklist for a Tanzania safari.
The Big Five
The Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino — were originally the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. Today, they are the five most sought-after sightings on safari.
- Lion (Simba) — Easiest: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Ruaha
- Leopard (Chui) — Hardest of the five. Best: Serengeti, Ruaha
- Elephant (Tembo) — Easy. Best: Tarangire, Ruaha, Serengeti
- Buffalo (Nyati) — Easy in Ngorongoro, Katavi, Serengeti
- Rhino (Kifaru) — Hardest. Only in Ngorongoro Crater (black rhino) and Mkomazi (reintroduced)
The Little Five
The Little Five are small animals named after the Big Five. Spotting all five is a fun challenge for repeat safari-goers.
- Antlion — Larva that digs pit traps in sand
- Buffalo weaver — Red-billed or white-billed weaver bird
- Elephant shrew — Tiny mammal with a trunk-like nose
- Leopard tortoise — Patterned shell resembling leopard spots
- Rhino beetle — Large beetle with horn-like projections
The Ugly Five
The Ugly Five celebrate Africa's less glamorous but equally fascinating wildlife.
- Hyena — Remarkable social structure and hunting ability
- Wildebeest — The engine of the migration
- Vulture — Essential scavengers that prevent disease
- Marabou stork — The "undertaker bird" of Africa
- Warthog — Endearing, tough, and surprisingly fast
Special Species to Seek
- Wild dog (Mbwa mwitu) — Endangered, spectacular hunters
- Cheetah (Duma) — The fastest land animal
- Hippo (Kiboko) — Deadlier than you think
- Giraffe (Twiga) — Tallest mammal on Earth
- Zebra (Punda milia) — 400,000 in the Serengeti migration
- Chimpanzee — Mahale and Gombe only
- Tree-climbing lion — Lake Manyara and Ishasha
- Serval — Elusive cat with huge ears
- Aardvark — Nocturnal, rarely seen
- Pangolin — Critically endangered, incredibly rare
The Bottom Line
A checklist is fun, but do not let it distract you from the moment. Some of the best safari memories come from unexpected sightings — a mongoose family, a dung beetle rolling its prize, or a lilac-breasted roller on a branch.
Read our Big Five guide or plan your spotting safari with us.
Plan Your Tanzania Safari
Ready for your adventure? Book your safari with Trail Safari Explorers.
Read our timing guide,cost guide, or planning guide.
Read our Big Five guide,wildlife viewing guide,photography guide, or safety guide.
Explore Serengeti National Park,Ngorongoro Crater,Tarangire National Park, or check travel resources.
