Tanzania’s large landscapes– spanning Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Tarangire National Park– are home to a few of Africa’s many fearsome and interesting predators. From the iconic huge felines to the often-overlooked scavengers, these predators play an essential role in the fragile balance of the environment.
The Elusive Leopard: Masters of Stealth
Picture Credit: Jenn Coleman. Leopards flourish in all 3 regions, though they are most frequently identified in the Seronera location of the Serengeti and the thick woodlands of
Tarangire. These solitary hunters are understood for their unequaled stealth, typically transporting their kills into trees to keep them safe from scavengers. Their rosette-patterned coats supply ideal camouflage among the high turfs and tree canopies. We did see a leopard take down a gazelle. She stealthily crawled through tall turf, so perfectly camouflaged that we misplaced her the majority of the time. We saw her creeping closer and more detailed, however could not see the final strike. All we saw was that a person less antelope escaped than we had actually
originally spotted. The Mighty Lion: King of the Savannah
Image Credit: Jenn Coleman. Lions are the undeniable rulers of Tanzania’s national parks, especially in the Serengeti, where large prides stroll the plains.
Unlike other big cats, lions are extremely social, forming groups of associated women and their cubs, led by one or more dominant males. They focus on searching wildebeest, zebras, and buffalos, using teamwork to take down victim. We were able to see the complexities of a lion hunt in person in Ngorongoro. We were seeing a lion pride rest by a spring, then as if by a silent command, they left en masse to hunt the herds grazing in the valley. They expanded in a near ideal semi circle, uniformly spaced behind high lawns. We didn’t see them attack, however they were as collaborated and
exact as a military parade. Cheetahs: Speed Demons of the Plains
Image Credit: Jenn Coleman. The open meadows of Serengeti National Park supply the best searching premises for cheetahs, the fastest land animals in the world.
Unlike other big felines, cheetahs rely on speed rather than strength, reaching speeds of as much as 70 miles per hour simply put bursts to ferret out gazelles. Their slim bodies, long legs, and distinct black “tear marks” help them master high-speed pursuits. We did see a cheetah with her meal, however didn’t see her catch it. When we resided in San Diego, we would go to the cheetah enrichment activities at the Wild Animal Park. The cheetahs put everything they had into that brief sprint, and could hardly afford to come up empty. Of all the big cats, it seems like cheetahs have the cards stacked versus them.
The Secretive Serval: Tanzania’s Small Identified Cat
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos. While lesser-known than leopards or cheetahs, servals are interesting medium-sized felines found in grassy areas of Serengeti and Tarangire. With their long legs and big ears, they specialize in searching rodents, birds, and even fish. Their outstanding vertical jumps enable them to snatch birds mid-air.
Caracals: The Acrobat Hunters
Image Credit: Deposit Photos. Caracals are amongst the most evasive carnivores in Tanzania. Though seldom seen, they populate the meadows and savannas of
Tarangire and Ngorongoro. Identifiable by their tufted ears and muscular construct, these felines are professional hunters that can jump over 10 feet to capture air-borne prey. Regrettably for us, both caracals and servals were too evasive to spot. Cheetahs are the largest small feline, however the one we saw was extremely skittish. She ate quickly and vanished into the turf. Forecasting her nervousness to even smaller sized felines, it’s no surprise these little appeals are still on our animal sighting dream list.
Spotted Hyenas: Opportunistic Hunters and Scavengers
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman. Often misinterpreted as simple scavengers, spotted hyenas are knowledgeable hunters that remove a large part of their own victim. Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park are prime areas to witness their matriarchal clans in action. Their effective jaws can crush bones, allowing them to gain access to nutrients that other predators leave behind. We didn’t see hyenas take down their own victim, however we watched them clean up a bad giraffe who passed during the night.
They were extremely capable in opening the carcass and accessing the 
prime cuts for themselves. Vultures: The Clean-up Crew of the Savannah Picture Credit: Jenn Coleman. No list of Tanzania’s carnivores would be total without mentioning vultures– nature’s ultimate recyclers. These scavengers play an essential function in the ecosystem by taking in carcasses, preventing the spread of illness. The Serengeti is a fortress for several vulture types, consisting of lappet-faced, white-backed, and
Rüppell’s griffon vultures. Black-Backed and Side-Striped Jackals: The Clever Opportunists
Picture Credit: Deposit Photos. Jackals may be smaller than lions and hyenas, however they are remarkably resourceful predators. Black-backed jackals are often seen trotting through Ngorongoro Crater, scavenging for leftovers from larger predators or hunting little mammals. Side-striped jackals,
a little more elusive, prefer wooded areas like those discovered in Tarangire. It wasn’t our day to cross either of the jackal types off our animals sighted list, the hyenas should have kept them at bay at the giraffe carcass. If we had time, we might have spent hours there and I think it would have been their turn at the table, but we needed to push on to the Seronera Airstrip to capture a flight to Mafia Island.
African Wild Pet Dogs: The Ultimate Group Players
Image Credit: Deposit Photos. One of the rarest predators in Tanzania, African wild dogs are highly smart and cooperative hunters. They are known for their amazing endurance and pack coordination, which enables them to chase after prey up until it collapses from fatigue. Though sightings are uncommon, they have been recorded in the Serengeti and parts of Tarangire.
Maybe it’s bad type that my desire to see wild canines originates from the music of my youth. It’s poetic to wish for singular company. More poetic anyhow than lions, nocturnal predators, sleeping outside a peaceful village. I can tell you from our nights in tented camps that lions are perfectly awake in the evening and the deep roars are far from tranquil.
Bat-Eared Foxes: The Insectivorous Carnivores
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos. Not all predators hunt big victim– bat-eared foxes are professionals in searching bugs, especially termites. Their large ears assist them identify underground movement, making them powerful nocturnal foragers. They are commonly discovered in the drier areas of Serengeti and Tarangire, living in sets or small household groups.
I believe we were skunked on bat-eared fox sightings for 2 reasons. Initially, they’re nocturnal and it’s hard to go on a night video game drive with all the predators on the prowl. Second of all, they prefer dry locations and we tended to prefer wetland, which brings in most of the prize animals.
Crocodiles: Silent Predators of the Rivers
Picture Credit: Deposit Photos. The rivers and watering holes of Serengeti and Tarangire are home to one of Africa’s many ancient carnivores: the Nile crocodile. These massive reptiles hide beneath the surface, waiting to ambush unsuspecting victim. With their effective jaws and death roll technique, they remove anything from fish to zebras that venture too close.
We have actually seen crocodiles and their American cousins, the alligators, frequently so just seeing them wasn’t high up on our wish list, although we saw the back part of one. That stated, watching these prehistoric predators hunt on the Mara River throughout the fantastic migration near the top of our animal dream list.
Predators and the Balance of Nature
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman. Tanzania’s carnivores are not simply thrilling to observe– they are crucial to keeping the delicate ecosystem of the savanna. Each predator, from the mighty lion to the smallest fox, adds to the circle of life, ensuring a healthy and thriving wilderness. Whether stalking prey in the high lawns of the Serengeti or scavenging in the Ngorongoro Crater, these carnivores define the wild heart of Africa.
Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. In a nutshell, we are a Huntsville-based Gen X couple sharing our stories of fantastic adventures through activity-driven transformational and experiential travel.