16 of the most fascinating animals of Zambia

Hippos live in the rivers, lakes, and mangroves of sub-Saharan Africa. As well as in Zambia, you can find them in Guinea, Chad, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa. 

The name hippopotamus comes from Greek and means ‘river horse’, a reference to the fact that these animals spend most of their time in water, though they can’t swim or float. Instead, they walk along the bottom of the riverbed, keeping their nostrils out of the water so they can breathe. When they do dip their heads underwater, they can hold their breath for up to five minutes.

Hippos are the third-largest land mammals. Only elephants and white rhinos are bigger. They measure up to five metres (16.5 feet) long and up to 1.6 metres (5.2 feet) tall. They weigh up to 4,500 kilograms (9,920 pounds).

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists hippos as vulnerable. The main threats they face are poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict.

3. Thornicroft’s giraffes

Thornicroft’s giraffe is a subspecies of giraffe only found in Zambia. Like other giraffes, it’s a tall animal with a long neck, though there are two ways to distinguish a Thornicroft’s giraffe from other subspecies. First, it’s smaller than other giraffes, and second, the distinctive brown pattern on its coat doesn’t go below its knees.

The Thornicroft’s giraffe lives in forest, savannah, and shrubland habitats. Since 1938, it has only been found in protected areas. This means local people and development are not currently significant threats to its survival. Nevertheless, the IUCN classifies the Thornicroft’s giraffe as vulnerable because it’s at risk of extinction in the wild, with just 420 mature individuals left. This is mainly because all Thornicroft’s giraffes live in a confined area, which puts them at risk of disease.

4. Black mambas

The black mamba snake, which measures an average of 2.5 metres (8.2 feet) long, has olive green-grey skin and a large black mouth from which it gets its name. Highly venomous, a bite from this snake can kill you in just 20 minutes. Despite their fierce reputation, though, black mambas tend to be shy and will only attack when disturbed or cornered. Instead, they tend to slither away from threats at speeds of up to 19 kilometres per hour (12.5 miles per hour). 

The black mamba lives in the savannahs and rocky hills in Zambia. You can also find this snake in other African countries, including Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Côte d'Ivoire. It’s listed by the IUCN as least concern because it isn’t threatened or endangered and has a stable population.

5. Long-crested eagles

The long-crested eagle is a bird of prey found in Zambia. It has brown-black feathers and an impressive crest on the top of its head. When flying, its wings look white from underneath. It usually lives at the edge of forests and close to a water source, but can also be found in mixed farmland and at the edges of sugarcane plantations.

Long-crested eagles are listed by the IUCN as least concern with an increasing population. They can be seen flying and hunting rodents throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa in countries including Zambia, Sudan, Senegal, and South Africa.

6. Short-snouted sengis

The short-snouted sengi is also known as the short-snouted elephant shrew. They live in arid and semi-arid habitats and spend their days hunting ants and termites in wooded bushlands, dense grasslands, and shrublands. Interestingly, these animals vary in colour depending on where they live. They can be reddish-yellow, yellow-brown, or grey. The average short-snouted sengi is 21 centimetres (eight inches) long with an equally long tail.

The short-snouted sengi is classified by the IUCN as least concern as it faces no major threats to its survival. It can be found in Zambia and other sub-Saharan African countries, including Botswana, Angola, and Kenya.

7. Witte’s banana frogs

Witte’s banana frog is also known as De Witte’s spiny reed frog and De Witte’s leaping frog. These tiny amphibians have brown and black stripes along their backs and tend to measure just 33 millimetres (1.3 inches) long. Witte’s banana frog lives in Zambia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania. You’re most likely to find it in the flooded grassland, marshes, and temporary pools in which it breeds.

According to the IUCN, Witte’s banana frog is classed as least concern and doesn’t face any significant threats to its survival.

8. Leopard tortoises

The leopard tortoise is named after its shell, which has markings similar to those of a leopard. It is the largest tortoise in Africa, measuring up to 70 centimetres (27 inches) in length and weighing up to 40 kilograms (88 pounds).

The leopard tortoise lives in savannahs and shrubland habitats throughout southern and East Africa. It eats plants and plays an important role in seed dispersal. This reptile escapes from hot and cold temperatures by sheltering in the abandoned burrows of foxes and jackals. It also digs its own burrows to lay eggs.

The IUCN classifies the leopard tortoise as least concern. However, their numbers are declining in East Africa, where an unsustainable number of leopard tortoises are captured for the exotic pet trade.

9. Southern lechwes

The southern lechwe is an antelope species. It lives in the wetlands of south-central Africa in countries including Zambia, Botswana, and Angola. You’ll find it at the shallow edges of floodplains and swamps. While male lechwes have horns and dark coats, females have reddish-brown coats, white bellies, and no horns. 

The southern lechwe is classed by the IUCN as near threatened, and its population is decreasing. One of the main threats facing the southern lechwe is hunting, as these animals are poached for their meat. Droughts and human disruption of natural flooding patterns also pose threats to lechwes’ survival.

10. Nyasa lovebirds

The Nyasa lovebird is also known as Lilian’s lovebird. It’s the smallest parrot in mainland Africa, measuring just 13 centimetres (5 inches) long. It has an orange head and chest and otherwise green plumage. This lovebird lives in pockets of woodland and wet grassland in Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Malawi. It feeds on grass seeds, millet, wild rice, flowers, and fruit.

Nyasa lovebird numbers are decreasing, and the IUCN classifies this bird as near threatened. Habitat destruction is one of the primary threats affecting Nyasa lovebirds, and they are also captured and sold for the exotic pet trade.

Not a lot is known about the pointed long reed frog, so its range and numbers are just estimates. However, the IUCN classifies the pointed long reef frog as least concern, though its grassland habitats are increasingly being converted for agriculture.

12. Malbrouck monkeys

The malbrouck monkey has grey-brown speckled fur and a white-ringed, black face. Males are easily identified by their bright blue and red genitals. Highly adaptable, this monkey spends time in savannah, woodland, rural, and even urban environments, usually living in large family groups. They’re found across Zambia’s Kafue National Park, as well as in Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola.

As an omnivore, the malbrouck monkey feeds on fruits, seeds, flowers, and birds’ eggs, and it plays an important role as a seed disperser. The IUCN classifies the malbrouck monkey as least concern. Despite being hunted as a pest by farmers and being poached for its meat, its numbers are currently stable. However, if these threats get worse, these monkeys may become threatened with extinction.

13. Roan antelopes

The roan antelope is one of the largest African antelopes. They can stand up to 150 centimetres (59 inches) tall and weigh up to 280 kilograms (620 pounds). These antelopes can be aggressive and have even been known to kill lions with their strong, curved horns.

The roan antelope lives in forest, savannah, shrubland, and grassland habitats throughout Zambia. You can also find it in other African countries including Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Malawi.

Poaching and habitat loss mean that the roan antelope has been eliminated from large parts of its former range, but it is now recovering, surviving in and around protected areas. The IUCN lists the roan antelope as least concern. There are over 50,000 mature individuals in the wild.

14. Beira pygmy toads

The Beira pygmy toad is a difficult species to track down. As a result, little is known about this tiny amphibian. We do, however, know that the toad is found in two separate areas: a floodplain across part of Mozambique and southern Malawi and floodplains in central and southwestern Zambia. Its natural habitat is tropical or subtropical flooded, lowland grasslands.

The IUCN lists the Beira pygmy toad as least concern, and there are no known threats to its survival. 

15. Slaty egrets

The slaty egret is a small wading bird that lives in south-central Africa. It has slate-grey feathers, a rust-coloured patch on its throat, and long, yellow-green legs and feet. This bird lives in wetland habitats in Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa. Here, it wades through the water, looking for small fish, frogs, snails, and insects.

Its numbers are decreasing and, according to the IUCN, the slaty egret is classed as vulnerable. This is mainly due to habitat destruction, which is caused by flooding and human agricultural expansion. 

16. Oribis

The oribi is a small African antelope. It measures between 51 and 75 centimetres (20 to 30 inches) high and weighs around 14 kilograms (31 pounds). Males have spiky horns, while both males and females have tan-red coats with white markings. They can be found in the savannah and grassland of sub-Saharan Africa, residing in countries including Zambia, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mali.

Oribis like to live in tall grass, which provides food and much-needed cover from predators. These animals get enough water from the grass they eat so they don’t have to live near water sources.

While the IUCN reports that oribi numbers are decreasing outside of protected areas because of habitat destruction caused by farming and hunting, it lists this species as least concern.

IFAW works to protect animals in Zambia and around the world.

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