Africa's diverse ecosystems teem with a wide variety of grazing animals, each playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of nature. From the vast savannas to the dense woodlands and wetland ecosystems, these herbivores have adapted to thrive in their respective environments.
Between antelopes, buffalo, and rhinos, there is a wide variety of animals in Africa that have horns. It can sometimes be tricky to tell them apart from each other-but if you’ve ever wondered what’s the difference between a gazelle and an antelope, or if the okapi is related to zebras, we have the answers for you.
Sadly, much of Africa’s biodiversity is threatened by issues like poaching, drought, and habitat loss. As a conservation and rescue organisation, IFAW is working in Africa and around the world to mitigate these threats and protect wildlife. Learn more about our work or how you can get involved.
Top 10 Wild Animals Native To Africa
Iconic Grazers of the African Plains
The Serengeti is a living mosaic of wildlife where Africa’s most iconic species, lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, and countless antelope- move across wide savannas, riverine forests, and acacia-studded plains. Its rhythms are driven by the Great Migration, when millions of wildebeest and zebra sweep through the ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water, creating spectacular river crossings and predator encounters that define safari memories.
Seasonal shifts change where and how animals congregate, making each visit different. Dry-season visibility favors predators and concentrated waterholes, while the wet season brings newborns, lush green landscapes, and abundant birdlife.
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Here is a list of some of the most fascinating animals in Africa that have horns, from the tiny royal antelope to the massive white rhino. Not all these horned animals are mammals-some reptiles in Africa are known to have horns, too, including the Saharan horned viper and Jackson’s horned chameleon.
Here are some of the most well-known African grazing animals:
- Wildebeest: Both male and female wildbeeests have horns. Wildebeests have high, sloping shoulders with a hump, short necks, manes, and beards. There are two wildebeest species, the common wildbeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and the black wildbeest (Connochaetes gnou).
The common wildebeest’s horns point out to the sides and curve upwards, towards each other. The black wildebeest’s horns point more towards the front and also curve upwards. Both species are found in southern Africa, and the common wildebeest is also found in parts of East Africa. The IUCN categorises both species as least concern.
- Gazelles: Two well-known gazelles found in East Africa are Thomson’s gazelles (Eudorcas thomsonii)-known colloquially as ‘tommies’-and Grant’s gazelles (Nanger granti).
Thomson’s gazelles have light brown coats with dark stripes running along their sides and white underbellies. Male Thomson’s gazelles have thin, ridged horns that point backwards and are mostly straight, but curve forward a bit at the tips. Thomson’s gazelles are classed as least concern by the IUCN, but their numbers are declining. Climate change-induced droughts pose a major threat to these animals.
Grant’s gazelles look similar, but they often do not have dark markings on their sides, and instead they have white fur on their rumps. Grant’s gazelles also have much longer horns than Thomson’s gazelles, and they are curved in a lyre shape. Females have shorter and thinner horns, and the oldest males have the thickest horns. The IUCN classes Grant’s gazelles as least concern, but they also have a declining population and experience similar threats.
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- Eland: Elands (genus Taurotragus) are the largest antelopes in the world. There are two species, the smaller common eland (Taurotragus oryx) and the larger giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus).
Both males and females have horns that are straight and point backwards with spiral ridges. Female common elands have larger horns than males, but males’ horns are thicker. Male elands have prominent dewlaps-loose flaps of skin that hang down from their necks. The common eland, found across southern, Central, and East Africa, is classed by the IUCN as least concern. The giant eland is classed as vulnerable and is found in small pockets of Central and West Africa.
- Oryx: Oryx (genus Oryx) are large antelopes recognised by the dark markings on their faces and legs. There are four species of oryxes: the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), scimitar oryx (Oryx dammah), East African oryx (Oryx beisa), and South African oryx (Oryx gazella).
Except the scimitar oryx, all oryx species have long, backwards-pointing horns that are almost perfectly straight. The scimitar oryx also lacks dark markings and has a very pale coat, aside from the tan colour around its neck. Both male and female oryxes have permanent horns. The scimitar oryx is found in North Africa, and the IUCN classes it as endangered. There are only 140 to 160 scimitar oryx remaining in the wild, largely due to poaching. The East African oryx, also known as the beisa, is endangered. This species is also frequently hunted. The Arabian oryx is classed as vulnerable, and the South African oryx-also known as the gemsbok-as least concern.
- Waterbuck: Only male waterbucks have horns, though females sometimes have small horn bumps. Their long horns grow backwards and gradually curve forwards in a crescent shape. The IUCN classes waterbucks as least concern, though their population is declining. Their numbers are strong in protected areas, but in much of their former range, they have sadly gone extinct due to hunting.
- Bontebok: The bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus) is an antelope found in South Africa, Lesotho, and Namibia, recognisable by its chocolate-brown coat and the white fur on its face, rump, and belly. Both male and female bonteboks have ridged, backwards-growing horns that are slightly curved downwards and then upwards at the tips. The IUCN classes this species as least concern. However, hybridization between the bontebok and the closely related blesbok is threatening their survival.
- Hartebeest: Also known as the kogoni or kaama, the hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) is a large antelope with horns that protrude diagonally upwards, curve forward, and then curve backwards at the tips, giving them a hooked appearance. Their coats are light tan to chocolate brown in colour. Both male and female hartebeests have these oddly-shaped horns. Hartebeests are found across sub-Saharan Africa, and the IUCN classes them as least concern. However, their population is decreasing, and they have gone extinct in North Africa and the Middle East, where they once roamed.
- Southern Lechwe: Also known as the red lechwe, the southern lechwe (Kobus leche) is a reddish-brown antelope found in the wetlands of south-central Africa. Only male southern lechwes have horns, which are very long and spiral-ridged. They point backwards and then curve upwards. Southern lechwes are classed as near threatened by the IUCN and have a declining population. They’ve been eliminated from large portions of their range due to poaching.
Other Notable Grazing Animals
Beyond the antelopes and wildebeests, several other animals contribute to the vibrant grazing ecosystem of Africa:
- Zebras: Witness the iconic black and white stripes of Zebras as they participate in great migrations across open grasslands in Southern and East Africa. Observe these social animals in large herds as they navigate their shared habitats. The visual spectacle of hundreds of zebras galloping together in unison is a sight straight out of a nature documentary. Their unique stripes make each individual zebra distinctive and their constant grooming behaviors reveal close social bonds.
- Rhinos: The two African rhino species are the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) and black rhino (Diceros bicornis), which are actually both grey. Male rhinos are territorial and use their horns in fights to determine the dominant male. Female rhinos also have horns. All rhino horns are made of keratin, the same material as human hair and fingernails. However, their horns are considered valuable in many countries and are trafficked in the ivory trade. Poaching has led to the near extinction of the critically endangered black rhino and northern white rhino subspecies.
- Hippopotamus: The hippopotamus, a semi-aquatic mammal known for its aggressive nature, can be spotted in regions of South Africa and East Africa near rivers and lakes. Despite their seemingly docile appearance, hippos are considered one of Africa's most dangerous animals due to their territorial behavior and formidable strength. Witnessing the social dynamics of a hippo pod as they wallow together in muddy waters provides insights into their tight-knit communities. Their gaping jaws and powerful bites make them a formidable foe to any creatures straying too close.
- Giraffe: Marvel at the elegance of Giraffes with their long necks and status as the largest land mammal in sub-Saharan and Southern Africa. Witness these graceful creatures roaming across East Africa as part of their daily routines. Their towering height allows them to feed on the highest branches in the savanna. Seeing newborn calves taking their first steps on spindly legs beside their protective mothers is an endearing sight.
Conservation Efforts
Sadly, much of Africa’s biodiversity is threatened by issues like poaching, drought, and habitat loss.
IFAW is dedicated to protecting rhinos in Africa. We support teams of rangers who work to prevent wildlife crime like poaching across the continent. At a policy level, we advocate for the legal protection of rhinos and work to reduce demand.
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As a conservation and rescue organisation, IFAW is working in Africa and around the world to mitigate these threats and protect wildlife. Learn more about our work or how you can get involved.
Table of African Grazing Animals and Their Conservation Status
| Animal | IUCN Conservation Status |
|---|---|
| Springbok | Least Concern |
| Scimitar Oryx | Endangered |
| East African Oryx | Endangered |
| Arabian Oryx | Vulnerable |
| South African Oryx | Least Concern |
| Common Wildebeest | Least Concern |
| Black Wildebeest | Least Concern |
| Common Eland | Least Concern |
| Giant Eland | Vulnerable |
| Hartebeest | Least Concern |
| Southern Lechwe | Near Threatened |
| Nile Lechwe | Endangered |
| Lesser Kudu | Near Threatened |
| Thomson’s Gazelles | Least Concern |
| Grant’s Gazelles | Least Concern |
| Walia Ibex | Vulnerable |
| Bontebok | Least Concern |
| Bongo | Near Threatened |
| Okapi | Endangered |
| Royal Antelope | Least Concern |
| African Bush Elephant | Vulnerable |
| Cheetah | Vulnerable |
| Giraffe | Vulnerable |
