Meet the Most Dangerous Animals in Africa

Africa is home to some of the most beautiful animals on the planet, but it is also home to some of the most dangerous. Animals might be inclined to strike if they’re threatened, hungry, or if you’re just looking tasty enough.

While you might think Pumas resemble a larger version of your house cat, you certainly don’t want to try and pet these kitties. There have been over 100 cases of puma attacks on humans since the 1900s.

This bird may not look like much of a threat, but the Tawny eagle, like other eagles, is a large bird of prey that attacks with skill and intent. It’s considered one of the most competitive bird species in the world.

Now baboons might appear to be a rather unthreatened animal, but they are actually one of the most dangerous in the African animal kingdom. They are deceivingly strong and have incredibly powerful jaws.

Baboon spiders are not to be confused with baboon monkeys, but they are just as dangerous. You might already be terrified from just looking at the creature!

You might be relieved to hear that the Emperor Scorpion is not deadly to humans. Not every animal or insect in the animal kingdom will kill you. But, its bite will certainly be painful.

The zebra in the movie Madagascar voiced by Chris Rock had us all in love with these creatures. And they are certainly stunning beasts, but like many wild animals, they are also very dangerous. 

Termites are not so dangerous to humans as they are to their possessions. Termites are everywhere, and this includes the amazing continent of Africa. One or two might not be a problem, but in groups they can wreak havoc on your home.

The violin is a beautiful instrument but we’re not sure we can say the same for the Violin Spider. This little guy is only an inch long and delivers a somewhat painless bite.

The Caracal is a beautiful cat that might even appear to be cute. But, you should not be tempted to pet this thing because it is no housecat. They have sharp claws, extremely sharp hearing, and speedy agility. 

Any snake is scary, even when they aren’t typically an aggressive breed. But a rock python can be anywhere from 10 to 16 feet long so these guys are extra terrifying! 

Now we know ants aren’t probably the first thing that comes to mind when we’re talking about dangerous animals, but the Siafu Driver Ant is the most dangerous ant species. They have a short 10 week life span and they are fiercely protective of it.

Tarantulas are scary on their own. As are hawks and wasps. So the only thing more terrifying is when all three of those things are melded into one creepy creature. The Tarantula Hawk Wasp is considered one of the deadliest creatures alive!

This one might not come as a surprise as most of us already know the cheetahs are the fastest animals on earth. Their speed gives them the ability to also be effective hunters. 

We all know how dangerous Great White Sharks can be. One look at these incredible animals is enough to make us squirm. They have long been at the top of the oceanic food chain in South Africa. 

The Button Spider is tiny but their venom leaves a lasting impression. It can cause pain, nausea, disorientation, and even respiratory failure. If action isn’t immediately taken, a person can go into a coma or be permanently paralyzed. 

The African Leopard has a similar speed to the cheetah so you don’t want to find yourself in a race against them. In addition to being aggressive animals, they are unpredictable, making them a very dangerous species.

The Black Mamba is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous animals on planet earth. These black snakes can grow to be up to 14 feet long. Plus, their venom can paralyze you.

Now, these long neck birds probably look more awkward than dangerous, but they are known for their antagonistic nature. First of all, they can grow to be between 6 and 9 feet tall so they look right down on us mere humans.

Gorillas are dangerous for obvious reasons. If you’ve ever been to the zoo or seen the movie King Kong you can see that these animals are shockingly strong. Even scarier is that they are extremely smart as well. 

The Cape Buffalo is naturally a dangerous animal of Africa due to its sheer size. It’s considered among the most dangerous because when they charge, there is little room for escape. 

As much as this guy might resemble a piranha, he is a different beast. If this photo isn’t enough to scare you out of swimming in these waters, keep in mind that these bad boys are about 5 times the size of a piranha.  

You might be inclined to say “Awhhh” when you see a baby hippo but in all reality these animals are some of the most dangerous in the world. They have been known to take down entire boats with their enormous bites.

The name of this creature really tells you all you need to know. And it is accurately named because its venom is one of the most dangerous on earth.

Anyone who has seen The Lion King probably already has a healthy distrust of hyenas. These jumpy animals can live up to 20 years, and they have lots to accomplish in that time.

We are basically as insignificant as an ant to elephants. These giant creatures can weigh between 5,000 and 14,000 kg so all they would need to do is sit on us to take us out. 

Rhinos can be as short as 4 feet tall but weigh an average of 2,000 kg so you don’t want to come face to face with these brutes. Their downfall as a predator is that they have bad eyesight, but they make up for this in their alert nature.

Crocodiles are some highly skilled predators. If they get close enough to you, you can pretty much count yourself out. But, the Nile Crocodile is far larger than the one you’re probably thinking about in your head.

You probably didn’t expect to see a measly mosquito on this list, but what if we told you that this tiny creature was responsible for more than one million deaths every year. This is the Anopheles Gambia mosquito.

When we hear the word “dog” we think of our golden retriever at home, but that is far from the African Wild Dog. These pups are not nearly as friendly. They are very intelligent creatures and are fiercely protective of their large families.