The African savanna is one of the most spectacular places on Earth — home to the world's most iconic wild animals!
The Big Five and Beyond
Africa's savannas and grasslands are home to an incredible diversity of large mammals, birds, and reptiles. The "Big Five" — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros — are the most famous, but there are thousands more amazing species to discover!
🦁
Lion
King of the Savanna
Live in family groups called prides — the only truly social wild cat
Females do most of the hunting while males protect the pride's territory
A lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles away and serves as a territorial warning
🐘
Elephant
Largest Land Animal
The largest land animal on Earth — African elephants can weigh up to 13,000 pounds
Have been observed mourning their dead and returning to the bones of deceased family members
Communicate through low-frequency rumbles that travel through the ground up to 6 miles
🦒
Giraffe
Tallest Animal
The tallest animal on Earth — up to 18 feet tall with a 6-foot neck
Their heart weighs 25 pounds and must pump blood 8 feet up to reach their brain
Sleep only about 30 minutes per day — the least of any mammal
🦓
Zebra
Stripe Identifier
Every zebra's stripe pattern is completely unique — like a fingerprint
Live in large herds for protection — confusing predators with a mass of stripes
Have excellent night vision, helping them watch for predators in the dark
🐆
Cheetah
Fastest Land Animal
Can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds — faster than most sports cars
Unlike other big cats, cheetahs cannot roar — they purr, chirp, and yelp instead
Black tear-mark lines below their eyes reduce sun glare during daytime hunts
🦏
Rhinoceros
Armored Giant
Their horn is made of keratin — the same material as human hair and fingernails
Have very poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell and hearing
Leave piles of dung at territory boundaries to communicate with other rhinos
🦛
Hippopotamus
River Horse
Spend up to 16 hours a day submerged in water to keep cool in the African heat
Despite their size, hippos cannot actually swim — they walk on the riverbed
Secrete a reddish oily fluid from their skin that acts as a natural sunscreen and antibiotic
🐾
Meerkat
Desert Sentinel
Immune to certain venoms, including that of scorpions — a regular part of their diet
Groups take turns as a lookout, standing upright on a high point to watch for predators
Live in complex underground burrow systems with multiple rooms and entrances
🌍 The Great Migration
Every year, over 1.5 million wildebeest travel 1,800 miles in a giant circle across the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya. They follow the rains in search of fresh grass, crossing crocodile-filled rivers along the way. It is considered one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth.
Safari Animal Facts
5 miles
The distance a lion's roar can travel — used to mark territory and communicate with the pride
13,000 lb
Maximum weight of an African elephant — the largest land animal on the planet
70 mph
Top speed of a cheetah — making it the fastest land animal on Earth over short distances
1.5 million
Wildebeest participate in the Great Migration each year across East Africa
Learn More with Lumi Academy
Interactive lessons, quizzes, and games on safari animals and hundreds of other subjects — one flat price for your whole family.