Tanzania’s vast savannas, woodlands, and crater landscapes are home to some of Africa’s most fascinating herbivores. These plant-eating animals play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem by controlling vegetation growth, dispersing seeds, and providing food for predators.
From massive elephants to swift gazelles, here’s a closer look at the herbivores we encountered from our recent safari to Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Serengeti National Park.
African Elephants: The Movers and Shakers
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
The African elephant is the largest land animal and a keystone species in Tanzania’s parks. These giants are ecosystem engineers, knocking down trees to create clearings and digging water holes that benefit other animals. Tarangire National Park is especially famous for its dense elephant population, with large herds roaming the baobab-dotted landscape.
Encounters with elephants in Tarangire were one of the primary factors that led us to visit Tanzania in October. We picked a time at the end of the dry season when the elephants were gathering around the rivers in Tarangire. Of course, we also wanted to see whale sharks, so we had to wait for their return to Mafia Island.
Giraffes: Towering Over the Bush
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
With their long necks and distinctive spotted coats, giraffes are some of the most recognizable herbivores in Tanzania. They primarily feed on acacia trees, using their long tongues to strip leaves from thorny branches. The Serengeti provides an ideal habitat for giraffes, where they move gracefully between woodland and open plains.
A group of giraffes is called a tower, and for some reason, the vast majority of the towers we saw contained three animals. Our guide said that their social structure is as complex as elephants, with massive towers forming at certain times of the year. Another fun fact we realized is that there are no giraffes in the Ngorongoro Crater. The crater contains every other animal, including free-roaming black rhinos, but giraffes can’t make it down the steep trails that lead to the crater floor.
Cape Buffalo: The Unpredictable Grazer
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Often found in large herds near water sources, Cape buffalo are known for their unpredictable temper and powerful build. They can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and have few natural predators, except for lions. Ngorongoro Crater’s lush grasslands provide ample food for these formidable herbivores, which can be seen wallowing in mud or resting under the shade of acacia trees.
Like elephants, old male cape buffalo leave the protection of the herd to live out their days as lone bachelors, kind of like grumpy old men. That analogy becomes even more relevant when they take shelter near the tented camps for protection. More than just grumpy, stumbling across sleeping buffalo can be very dangerous, which is one of the reasons we had Massai warriors escort us around camp after dark.
Wildebeest: The Endless Migrators
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
No herbivore is more synonymous with Tanzania’s vast landscapes than the wildebeest. Over a million of these antelope embark on the Great Migration each year, covering hundreds of miles in search of fresh grazing land. The calving season sees thousands of baby wildebeest born in a short span, creating a feast for predators. Another dramatic moment of the Great Migration is when the herds cross over the Mara River between Kenya and Tanzania.
We didn’t see the Great Migration, but the herds that live in the central Serengeti have a fascinating nightly migration from the relative safety of the highlands to the fertile savannah. We woke to their gnus as they crossed in front of our tented camp and drove the massive herds on our morning driving safari.
Zebras: The Serengeti’s Striped Travelers
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Zebras are an essential part of the Great Migration, moving in massive herds alongside wildebeest and gazelles. Their black-and-white stripes are thought to confuse predators and help regulate body temperature. Tarangire and the Serengeti are prime spots to witness these social herbivores grazing in the open plains.
Every animal in the herd has a role, and our guide told us the zebra’s role was to lead. When our jeep split a line of animals crossing the dirt roads, the wildebeest would stop and wait for a zebra to cross first before they would follow.
Grant’s and Thomson’s Gazelles: Speed and Elegance
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Both Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles are common across Tanzania’s national parks. Thomson’s gazelles are smaller, with a distinctive black stripe along their sides, while Grant’s gazelles are larger and can go without water for long periods. These graceful herbivores are often seen darting across the plains, evading predators like cheetahs.
As cute as the gazelles were, we still could enjoy it when the predators won. We saw a cheetah devore an entire gazelle in under ten minutes – not only the fastest runner but also the fastest eater. We also spent an afternoon with a leopard that caught two gazelles and dragged them over a mile to her tree. She was exhausted but didn’t eat until she returned with her cub.
Hippos: Grass-Loving River Dwellers
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Though they spend most of their time in water, hippos are actually herbivores. They emerge from rivers and lakes at night to graze on grasses, sometimes traveling miles to find food. The hippo pools of Ngorongoro and Serengeti are prime spots to observe these massive creatures during the day.
The first thing you notice about a hippo pool is the smell. Hippos eat about 90 pounds of vegetation every night. In the mornings, they return in mass to their pools to digest and poop their night’s work. Hippos have an amazing pooping ritual where they back up to the river bank, do their business, and swirl their tail like a propeller to clean up. It’s too cute to get too grossed out.
Impala: The Jumping Masters
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Impalas are one of the most agile herbivores in Tanzania, capable of leaping great distances to escape predators. They are often seen in mixed herds, browsing on shrubs and grass in the Serengeti and Tarangire. Their reddish-brown coats and lyre-shaped horns make them one of the most striking antelopes in the region.
We saw that impalas from two distinct types of herds. A breeding herd had one and only one alpha male with up to twenty or more females. A bachelor herd was only males without females. That was a particularly horny bunch of antelope.
Dik-Diks: The Tiny Bush Antelopes
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Dik-diks are one of the smallest antelope species, standing just over a foot tall. They are shy, elusive herbivores that rely on their small size and speed to evade predators. Ngorongoro’s dense vegetation provides excellent cover for these tiny creatures, which feed on leaves, shoots, and fruit.
Dik Diks were easily our favorite antelope. Their diminutive size made them look almost like dogs. They also mated for life in a tightly formed couple. We always saw them in pairs, and our guide said that often when one partner died, the other lost their will to live. Perhaps sad, but definitely romantic.
The Vital Role of Tanzania’s Herbivores
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Herbivores are the backbone of Tanzania’s ecosystem, shaping the landscape and supporting the delicate balance of predator-prey relationships. Whether they are migrating wildebeest, towering giraffes, or tiny dik-diks, these plant-eaters help sustain the incredible biodiversity of Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti.
Our safari through these parks offered an unparalleled opportunity to witness the beauty and diversity of Tanzania’s herbivorous wildlife.
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 amazing adventures through activity-driven transformational and experiential travel.
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