Meet the Zoo's African Species - National Zoo| FONZ

Smithsonian''s National Zoological Park/ Friends of the National Zoo

African Savanna:

Related Resources

Great Cats
Birds
Small Mammals
Tropical Ecosystems Research
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Adopt a cheetah, meerkat, or another African animal.

The National Zoo Store Online offers an array of books, educational games, and more related to the African Savanna.

Visit the Smithsonian's African Art Museum.

Meet the Zoo's African Species

Zoo Map

Mammals

African lion (Panthera leo)
You can see four African lions at the Great Cats exhibit. Fact Sheet | Meet the Lions

Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)
Three male cheetahs and one adult female live at the Cheetah Conservation Station. Fact Sheet | Meet the Cheetahs

Nile hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
See this huge, water-loving animal at the Elephant House. Fact Sheet

Pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis)
This close relative of the Nile hippopotamus, native to a small area in West Africa, can be found at the Elephant House. Fact Sheet

Western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Like all great apes, these gorillas are endangered. They can be found at the Great Ape House. Fact Sheet

Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi)
This large zebra is characterized by very distinct black and white stripes. Grevy's zebras live primarily in the semi-desert areas of Eastern Africa. Look for two male zebras at the Cheetah Conservation Station. Fact Sheet

Caracal (Caracal caracal)
These small cats, native to African savanna habitats, live in exhibits near the Police Station. Fact Sheet

Serval (Leptailurus serval)
These cats can be seen near the Great Cats exhibit. Fact Sheet

Scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah)
The long-horned antelope live in a yard at the Cheetah Conservation Station, between the maned wolves and the cheetahs. Fact Sheet

Speke's gazelle (Gazella spekei)
This small gazelle can be seen at the Cheetah Conservation Station, in the oryx yard, right near parking lot A. Article

Black and rufous giant elephant-shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi)
There are several of these vibrant animals—parents and their offspring—at the Small Mammal House. Fact Sheet

Banded mongoose (Mungos mungo)
Three of these striped carnivores can be seen at the Small Mammal House. Fact Sheet

Dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula)
Small carnivores, dwarf mongoose live in the Forest Carnivore area next to the Police Station. Fact Sheet

Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
These mongooses can be seen in the Small Mammal House. Fact Sheet

Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis)
These small, distant cousins of elephants live in groups in rocky outcroppings. See one in the Small Mammal House. Fact Sheet

Damara mole rat (Cryptomys damarensis)
Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
These mole rats can be found in the same exhibit at the Small Mammal House. Naked Mole-rat Fact Sheet

Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
Red-fronted lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufus)
Red-ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata ruber)
These primates, known as prosimians, are native to Madagascar. The ring-tailed and red-fronted lemurs can be seen at Lemur Island. Two red-ruffed lemurs live at the Small Mammal House. Lemur Fact Sheet

Birds
Except where otherwise noted, all birds can be seen in and around the Bird House.

Cattle egret (Ardeola ibis)
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