Africa is home to the largest land animals on Earth. On a Tanzanian safari, you can see most of them in a single trip: elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, eland and more. This guide ranks Africa’s giants and explains where to find them.
Africa’s largest animals at a glance
| Animal | Typical adult weight | Record | Where in Tanzania |
|---|---|---|---|
| African savanna elephant | 3–6 tonnes | Largest land animal | Tarangire, Ruaha, Nyerere |
| White rhino | 1.8–2.5 tonnes | Largest rhino | Not wild in Tanzania |
| Hippo | 1.3–2 tonnes or more | Among the heaviest land mammals | Most rivers and lakes |
| Giraffe | 0.8–1.3 tonnes | Tallest animal | Serengeti, Tarangire, Arusha NP |
| Black rhino | 0.8–1.4 tonnes | Critically endangered | Ngorongoro Crater |
| Cape buffalo | 0.5–0.9 tonnes | Heaviest wild cattle in Africa | Most parks |
| Nile crocodile | Up to 0.5 tonnes or more | Largest reptile in Africa | Grumeti, Mara, Rufiji rivers |
| Common eland | 0.4–0.9 tonnes | Largest antelope | Ngorongoro, Serengeti |
| Ostrich | 60–150 kg | Largest bird | Serengeti, Ngorongoro |
Weights vary with sex, age and region. The figures above are general ranges.
African elephant
The largest land animal on Earth. Bulls are much bigger than females and can reach around 3–4 metres at the shoulder. Tarangire is famous for large herds in the dry season. Read our guide to elephants in Tanzania.
Hippo
Hippos spend the day in water to protect their skin from the sun and come out at night to graze. They are among the heaviest land mammals and are fast and dangerous on land. See our hippo guide.
Giraffe
The tallest animal in the world, with males around 5 metres or more. Tanzania’s national animal is the giraffe, and the Masai giraffe is the local subspecies. Read about giraffes in Tanzania.
Rhinos
The white rhino is the larger of Africa’s two rhinos, but Tanzania’s wild rhinos are black rhinos. The Ngorongoro Crater is the best place to see them.
Cape buffalo
Heavy, strong and often in large herds. Buffalo are one of the Big Five and easy to see in the Serengeti and the crater.
Nile crocodile
Large males can exceed 5 metres. They lie in wait in the Grumeti and Mara rivers during the migration and in the Rufiji in Nyerere.
Eland
The largest antelope, with spiral horns and a heavy dewlap. Despite their size, eland can jump high fences. Read about antelopes and gazelles.
Ostrich
The largest and heaviest bird in the world, and the fastest runner of any bird. Common on the Serengeti plains.
Where to see the most giants
A northern circuit covers elephants in Tarangire, rhinos and buffalo in the crater, and giraffes, ostriches and hippos in the Serengeti. The Northern Loop includes all of them. For crocodiles and hippos from a boat, try Nyerere & Ruaha.
Frequently asked questions
The African savanna elephant, which is also the largest land animal on Earth. Large bulls can weigh around 6 tonnes or more.
The giraffe. Adult males can stand around 5 metres tall or more.
Tanzania’s wild rhinos are black rhinos. White rhinos are found mainly in southern Africa and Kenya.
