Habitats hub

Savanna Animals

Which animals live in the savanna? Compare African grazers, browsers and predators, and learn how rainfall, vegetation and seasonal movement shape their lives.

Species listed: 20
Diet mix: 8 herbivore · 8 carnivore · 4 omnivore
Updated: October 2026

20 species · 8 herbivore, 8 carnivore, 4 omnivore

Measured spread

How much this hub varies

Computed from the 20 species listed here, using the published figure on each profile.

Measure	Smallest listed	Largest listed
Body mass (adult max)	Naked Mole-Rat70.87 g	African Elephant5.9 t
Body length (max)	Naked Mole-Rat10.2 cm	African Elephant7.32 m
Lifespan in the wild (max)	Honey Badger10 yr	African Elephant70 yr

IUCN status across the hub: 8 Least Concern · 5 Near Threatened · 4 Vulnerable · 2 Endangered · 1 Varies By Species
Habitats represented: Savanna (20)

Overview

What animals live in the savanna?

African savanna animals include elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, ostriches and secretarybirds. They use different foods and parts of the landscape: a giraffe feeding among tree branches occupies a different niche from a zebra grazing below it.

Savannas are grass-dominated habitats with scattered trees or woodland and pronounced wet and dry seasons. They occur beyond Africa too, including parts of South America and northern Australia. This collection brings together profiles from several regions; its animals should not be read as one community living side by side.

Start here

Featured species

3 entry points into this cluster — each profile has range, diet, behavior, and conservation detail.

African bush elephant walking across grassland in Masai Mara, Kenya

African Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

Gazelle

Gazella/Eudorcas/Nanger

Species directory

All 20 animals in this hub

Flagship species appear first. Open any card for range maps, diet, behavior, and conservation status.

Male African lion resting on a rock in Namibia

Vulnerable

Mammalia·Savanna

Lion

Panthera leo

Endangered

Mammalia·Savanna

African Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Plains zebra walking across open grassland

Near Threatened

Mammalia·Savanna

Zebra

Equus quagga

Tall giraffe standing above dry grass and shrubs

Vulnerable

Mammalia·Savanna

Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis

Near Threatened

Reptilia·Savanna

Ball Python

Python regius

Vulnerable

Mammalia·Savanna

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

Common warthog standing in dry grassland with curved tusks

Least Concern

Mammalia·Savanna

Common Warthog

Blue wildebeest with curved horns and shaggy mane

Least Concern

Mammalia·Savanna

Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

Field guide

Ecology & context

Adaptations, threats, and comparisons — background for readers who want more than the species directory.

Grazers and browsers on the same plain

Herbivores do not all eat the same vegetation. Grazers crop grasses; browsers take leaves and shoots from shrubs or trees. Some species use both foods.

Zebra and wildebeest are examples of grass-eating mammals. Their herds can share open plains with smaller gazelles.
Giraffe feeds mainly on woody vegetation, reaching foliage above the grazing layer.
The white rhinoceros is a grazer with a broad mouth. The black rhinoceros is a browser with a more grasping upper lip.
Gazelles also differ. Thomson's gazelle commonly feeds on short grass, while Grant's gazelle uses more leaves and stems. The gazelle profile compares their diets.

The San Diego Zoo rhino account explains how those two African rhinos use different foods in similar habitats.

Savanna carnivores and other hunters

Lions, cheetahs and spotted hyenas are familiar mammalian carnivores. Open grassland does not remove the value of cover: lions also use brush and woodland when hunting or sheltering young.

Predation also happens at a smaller scale. Secretarybirds walk through grassland hunting insects and other animals. A snake is a carnivore rather than an example of a plant-and-animal feeder; its prey depends on the species. The animal profiles identify which species each broad common name represents.

Wet seasons, dry seasons and movement

Rain changes where fresh grass and temporary water are available. Some wildebeest and zebra populations make long seasonal journeys, but migration is not a rule for every savanna animal or every population. Browsers, grazers and predators respond to different resources, so they need not move together.

Fire and grazing also influence how much grass and woody vegetation grows. A savanna can include short feeding lawns, tall grass, thickets and wooded patches. Those differences help explain why two species associated with the same biome may use different parts of it.

Sources

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: savanna habitat, lions and secretarybirds
National Geographic Education: grassland biomes and seasonal climate
African Wildlife Foundation: Thomson's gazelle and Grant's gazelle

Common Questions

FAQ about Savanna Animals

Select a question to reveal the answer.

Are savannas and grasslands the same?

A savanna is a type of grassland, usually with scattered trees and strong rainfall seasons. Temperate grasslands have a different climate and animal community. Compare this collection with grassland animals.

Which savanna animals are herbivores?

Zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, white rhinos and gazelles all eat plants. Their food choices differ, from grasses close to the ground to leaves in tree canopies.

What threatens savanna wildlife?

Conversion to farms or settlements can remove habitat, and fencing can interrupt seasonal movement. For gazelles, the African Wildlife Foundation identifies hunting and habitat fragmentation as specific concerns. Those pressures differ from the poaching threats faced by elephants and rhinos.

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