Africa is home to an incredible variety of exotic animals. But some of these creatures are more dangerous than others.
For example, the Nile crocodile is responsible for hundreds of human deaths each year along riverbanks. And the black mamba, with a single bite, is one of the deadliest snakes in the world.
1. Crocodiles
Crocodiles are large reptiles that live both on land and water. They are apex predators and have a very vicious bite. They are found in every bigger lake and perennial river outside of semi-desert areas.
A crocodile can hold its breath underwater for about an hour, allowing it to remain hidden and ambush land animals such as zebras and wildebeest. They are also skilled scavengers and it is not uncommon for them to steal kills from land predators like leopards and hyenas. These conflicts typically result in a tug of war between the two predators over carrion.
These apex predators are slow over short distances on land but fast in the water where they can move at up to 18 mph. They are highly territorial creatures and use a variety of sounds to mark their territory such as slapping the water with their snout, blasting water out through their nostrils and bellowing.
2. Puff Adder
The puff adder is responsible for more snake bite fatalities than any other snake in Africa and its venom is highly cytotoxic. It has large hinged front fangs that penetrate deeply and deliver a powerful bite. Death from a bite can occur very quickly due to cardiovascular collapse and asphyxiation.
Puff adders (Bitis arietans) are found throughout Africa except the rainforest and Sahara regions. They can grow to a length of 1 m and have a varied camouflage pattern of dark chevrons on a light tan or brown background.
They lie completely still and are well-camouflaged when threatened, resulting in many fatal attacks from people who unwittingly step on them. They are ambush and pursuit predators that prey on rodents, birds, frogs, toads and other reptiles. They also consume grass, shrubs and rocky ground covers. They are not aggressive by nature, but they will defend their territory and attack when provoked.
3. Black Mamba
Black mambas (Dendroaspis polylepis) are renowned for their speed and venom, but unlike the Hollywood version they don’t seek confrontations. Instead they use threat displays and their infamous speed to get away.
They are diurnal and prefer arid habitats such as savannah, woodland, rocky hills, and in some areas dense forest. They sleep in hollow trees, rock crevices, burrows, or empty termite mounds.
These nimble snakes rarely attack animals larger than themselves, but when they do it’s with a vicious bite. Their venom is potent and before the advent of antivenin, a single bite was typically fatal within an hour. A Black Mamba’s fangs are front fixed and can flare out to make the snake look bigger to predators. There have been several cases of humans surviving black mamba bites thanks to the use of antivenin.
4. Cape Buffalo
The Cape Buffalo may be a herbivore, but they are very aggressive and downright vengeful. They are renowned for their ability to stalk and ambush their prey and are responsible for the deaths of thousands of people every year, mostly big game hunters who want to take home a trophy.
Their long, curved horns can impale or gore with ease and their body weight is enough to crush anything in their path. They also have a rock hard shield called a boss that covers the area of the skull where their horns emerge which they use to defend themselves against predators and each other in battles for dominance.
A buffalo’s charge is nothing to mess with; it’s virtually impossible to outrun one when they start charging at full speed and they can hit speeds of 56 km/h in just a few strides.
5. Great White Shark
Few creatures strike fear in humans as much as the great white shark - the world’s largest predatory fish. But despite being portrayed as mindless killers in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, attacks on humans are rare and typically occur when the shark mistakenly perceives a seal, its usual prey, as a threat.
With a snout to match their mighty size, great whites are opportunistic scavengers that feed on whale and basking shark carcasses as well as other smaller sharks and fish. They also snatch seals from the water and consume them whole.
Their streamlined torpedo-like bodies allow them to cruise quickly for long periods of time before bursts of speed in pursuit of prey. They have 300 teeth but do not chew their food – instead, they rip it into mouth-sized pieces that they swallow whole. Their external ears are able to detect even the slightest vibration in the water.
6. Lion
While many believe that hippopotamus or elephants hold this title, lions are responsible for an estimated 70 deaths a year across Africa. They are also a significant threat to other animals including herds of buffalo and even other lions.
These magnificent predators are one of the largest in the world and hunt prey using both ambush and pursuit tactics. They are a highly aggressive animal when cornered and strike repeatedly, releasing neurotoxic venom.
Unlike other big cats, lions are social and live in groups called prides that contain up to 30 lions. They communicate with other members of their pride via roaring and can track other lions over long distances. Despite being natural hunters, they sometimes attack people. One of the most famous instances of this occurred during the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway in 1898 when two male lions killed over 100 railroad workers in nine months.
7. Elephant
Although they appear docile and friendly due to children’s stories, elephants are very dangerous creatures. Their colossal size enables them to kill people through crushing and trampling. These creatures are prone to attacks especially when their habitats are threatened or poaching takes place. Older bulls and young males are particularly aggressive and have been known to attack humans without being provoked. They are also more likely to attack people with babies.
Nile crocodiles are another of Africa’s most dangerous animals. These cunning predators lurk in the water and attack their prey by dragging them into the water to drown before feasting on them. They can easily grab a human from as far as 15 feet away. Their venom has a 100% death rate if untreated. Their bites are extremely painful and can cause asphyxiation very fast.
8. Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus is responsible for more human deaths than any other large land animal in Africa. This is largely due to the fact that hippos are extremely territorial and aggressive, especially when they have young calves. They will charge anything that comes close to their territory which includes cattle grazing nearby, people either on land or even boats traveling along the riverbanks.
Male hippos will fiercely defend their stretch of river or lake from intruders and will attack any unsuspecting human boater, while female hippos can also become aggressive when their young are threatened. This is mainly because they feel that it is their responsibility to protect their offspring from predators like crocodiles and lions. Hippos have an incredible bite force that is 1800 pounds per square inch which makes them a very dangerous animal indeed.
9. Bats
Often thought of as docile animals from the pages of children's books, hippos are responsible for an estimated 3,000 deaths every year in Africa. They are territorial and aggressive beasts on land and water, and male hippos will even mob predators who chase their offspring, resulting in severe injuries.
They are a dangerous animal to come across due to their quick speed and the ability to blend in with their surroundings. Their potent venom can result in death within just minutes, and a bite is often followed by hours of intense pain and nausea. They live in open savannas, woodlands, and rocky hills throughout Africa. A popular theory is that Cleopatra's death was due to a bite from this deadly snake. A bite from an Egyptian cobra can also be fatal if not treated properly.
10. Mosquito
When people think of the most dangerous animals in Africa, they often picture large, carnivorous apex predators like lions or sharks. But size is deceiving: it’s actually the small mosquito that kills the most people every year worldwide. These pests detect carbon dioxide on humans’ skin and then bite them, transferring viruses, bacteria, parasites and more. The Anopheles mosquito spreads malaria, while the Culex and Aedes species transmit yellow fever, Zika, West Nile virus and encephalitis. They also carry lymphatic filariasis (better known as elephantiasis) and chikungunya.
Hippos may look bumbling and harmless, but their huge size and canine teeth make them Africa’s most dangerous mammal. They ferociously defend their territory, and have been known to attack and drown humans who encroach on their watery domain. A single hippo bite can exert 2000 pounds per square inch of pressure—more than the weight of a fully grown lion!
