Our Wildlife

Zambia is remarkably biodiverse. Experts count around 240 species of mammals, 153 reptiles, 78 amphibians, some 409 fish species, and about 753 bird species (plus many invertebrates) across its ecosystems.

Its varied habitats, including miombo woodlands, mopane savannah, wetlands, floodplains, rivers, forests support this rich fauna.

Below is a curated summary of notable or iconic species, grouped by class.

Big & Iconic Mammals

African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Still one of Zambia’s top safari draws. Found in Kafue, Luangwa, Lower Zambezi, and other parks.


Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita)
Present in Kafue, South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi, and other reserves. They live in prides, often in

African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus)
Elusive yet widespread. They often ambush prey and are adapted to both woodland and riverine habitats.

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
Common in rivers, lakes, and floodplains (e.g. Luangwa, Zambezi).

African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer)
Large herds, especially along water sources. Frequently seen in Kafue and other parks.

Giraffe (Thornicroft’s Giraffe, a Zambian subspecies)
In South Luangwa especially, the local subspecies Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti is a highlight.

Zebra (Burchell’s / Crawshay’s / regional subspecies)
Common in many parks; appear in large herds, often mixed with wildebeest.

Cookson’s Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus cooksoni)
A subspecies of blue wildebeest native to the Luangwa Valley, sometimes seen wandering.

Rhino (White & Black)
White Rhino has been reintroduced in certain areas such as Mosi-oa-Tunya NP.

Black Rhino: nearly extirpated, with limited reintroduction efforts (e.g. in North Luangwa).
Kafue National Park

Carnivores & Smaller Predators

Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
A common predator and scavenger, often in competition with lions.

African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)
Rare and scattered, but present in protected areas like Lukusuzi / Luangwa.

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Rare in Zambia, but present occasionally, particularly in northern Kafue.

Caracal (Caracal caracal), Serval, African Wildcat
Small-medium felids that are harder to spot, but present in woodland and savannah zones.

Jackals (Side-striped Jackal)
Occur in Kafue and other regions.

Genet, Civet, Mongooses
Several species — nocturnal, elusive, frequently seen near water or in bush.

Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis)
Known for its fearless behavior and presence across a range of habitats.

Otters (African clawless otter, Speckle-th

  • Impala (Aepyceros melampus) — common at many parks.
  • Kafue National Park
  • Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
  • Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)
  • Roan Antelope, Sable Antelope
  • Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest
  • Oribi
  • Puku
  • Lechwe (including Kafue Lechwe, Black Lechwe)
  • Sitatunga — a swamp antelope adapted to wetlands
  • Steenbok, Duikers (forest types), Reedbuck

Small Mammals, Bats, Insectivores, and Others

  • Elephant Shrews (Order Macroscelidea) — e.g. Four-toed elephant shrew.
  • Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)
  • Hyraxes — rock hyrax, tree-oriented types in rocky terrain
  • Rodents — many species of squirrels, rats, mice, dormice
  • Bats — many hundreds of species (fruit bats, insectivorous bats)
  • Pangolin (Manis temminckii) — rare and elusive
  • Bushpig, Porcupines, Hares / Rabbits

Birds

Birdlife in Zambia is outstanding. Over 500+ species are recorded in major parks alone (e.g. Kafue has > 515 recorded)

  • African Fish Eagle — Zambia’s national bird, iconic along rivers and lakes.
  • Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) — in swampy wetlands such as Bangweulu; a sought-after species.
  • Pelicans, Storks, Herons, Ibises — abundant in wetlands
  • Raptors: Fish eagles, Fish owls, Hawks, Eagles, Kites
  • Smaller birds: Sunbirds, Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Paradise Flycatchers, Chat species, etc.
  • Endemic or near-endemic species like Chaplin’s Barbet in Kafue.


Reptiles & Amphibians

Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) — widespread along rivers, lakes, swamps.

  • Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) — widespread along rivers, lakes, swamps.
  • Monitor Lizards — e.g. Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus), Savannah monitor (Varanus albigularis)
  • Snakes: Black Mamba, Spitting Cobra, Boomslang, Puff Adder, Gaboon Viper, Python natalensis, etc.
  • Chameleons and other smaller lizards
  • Amphibians: Frogs and toads are numerous, especially in wetter habitats; Zambia supports many species adapted to seasonal wetlands.

Fish & Aquatic Life

With its rivers, lakes, and wetlands, Zambia hosts diverse fish fauna: tilapia species, catfish, cichlids, and more.

The aquatic ecosystems also support otters, crocodiles, hippos, and many aquatic birds.

Invertebrates & Other Fauna

Insects: Butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, ants, termites, moths — many species.

Arachnids (spiders, scorpions, etc.)

Mollusks, freshwater snails, etc.

Many insect species play vital ecological roles (pollinators, decomposers) though they get less attention in safari contexts.

Conservation Notes & Threats

Many species are threatened by poaching, habitat loss, and fragmentation. Elephants and rhinos are among the most impacted.

Some species have been reintroduced (e.g. white rhino in Mosi-oa-Tunya; cheetah in Bangweulu) to restore historic ranges.

Protected areas like Kafue, Luangwa, Lower Zambezi, Bangweulu, Kasanka, etc., are major strongholds for Zambia’s fauna.