Animals in Cameroon
Lion
Panthera leo
Cameroon has no law naming a national animal, but the lion is its national symbol and gives the football team its famous name, the Indomitable Lions. Wild lions still live in the northern savanna parks.
View details→Wildlife in Cameroon
Cameroon is often called Africa in miniature, because almost every African landscape fits inside its borders. More than 250 ethnic groups live here, speaking French, English and many local languages, and most people live in the south and west, around Douala and Yaoundé. The land runs from the dry Sahel near Lake Chad, through the savannas of the north and the cool Adamawa plateau, down to dense rainforest in the south and a short Atlantic coast, where Mount Cameroon rises to 4,040 meters. The north has one long dry season, while the south is wet most of the year, and the slopes of Mount Cameroon are among the rainiest places on Earth.
Farming, fishing and forestry shape daily life. Waza became a national park in 1968, the Dja Faunal Reserve joined the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1987, and Lobéké became part of the Sangha Trinational site, shared with Congo and the Central African Republic, in 2012. Protecting these places is hard: in 2012 poachers killed hundreds of elephants in Bouba Ndjida in a few weeks.
Visitors climb Mount Cameroon, relax on the beaches of Kribi and Limbe or head north to the savanna parks, though security problems in the Far North and the English speaking regions now limit travel. The wildlife follows these contrasts: big cats, giraffes and antelopes in the north, great apes and monkeys in the southern forests, and sea turtles and manatees along the coast.
Most Dangerous Animals in Cameroon
Cameroon has many animals that can hurt people, but most incidents happen to farmers and fishermen, not to visitors on guided trips.
The large plant eaters cause the most trouble. Elephants raid crops near the northern parks and the southern forests, and an elephant protecting its herd can charge, so never approach one on foot. Buffalo can attack without warning, and hippos are dangerous in rivers such as the Bénoué and on land at night, when they come out to graze. Nile crocodiles live in many rivers and lakes, so avoid swimming or washing in still water and keep away from the banks.
The big cats are less of a risk than people think. Lions in the north and leopards across the country usually avoid humans, though they sometimes kill livestock. Hyenas also take goats and calves but keep away from people. In the forests, apes are strong and protective, so stay at the distance your tracker asks for.
Venomous snakes are the danger most people actually meet, in fields, gardens and forest paths. Wear boots and use a flashlight at night. On the coast, sharks live offshore, but strong waves and currents near Kribi and Limbe are the bigger risk for swimmers.
Top 10 Animals in Cameroon
Cameroon splits its famous animals between forest and savanna. In the south, the chimpanzee lives in the rainforests of the Dja Faunal Reserve, Lobéké and Campo Ma'an, often in the same forests as western lowland gorillas. Seeing them means long walks with trackers, and the Limbe Wildlife Centre near the coast is the easiest place to meet rescued apes up close. Elephants live in both worlds: forest elephants visit the clearings of Lobéké, while larger savanna herds move through Bouba Ndjida and Bénoué in the north.
The northern parks hold the other big names. Lions live in Bénoué, Bouba Ndjida and Waza, where they share the plains with buffalo, giraffes and spotted hyenas. Giraffes are easiest to see in Waza, in the dry season from about December to April, when animals gather at the waterholes. Hippos and Nile crocodiles live along the Bénoué River and its tributaries, and boat trips sometimes run near Garoua. Leopards live across the country but are shy and seldom seen. The black mamba is found in the savannas and woodlands, though it avoids people. Because of security problems in the Far North, travelers should check official advice before visiting Waza.
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
Cameroon's savanna elephants live in the north, in and around Bénoué, Bouba Ndjida, Faro and Waza national parks, an open savanna region very different from the southern rainforests, home of the African forest elephant. In 2012 armed poachers killed hundreds of elephants in Bouba Ndjida in a few weeks. Northern herds are linked to those of Chad and the Central African Republic and remain under heavy pressure. IUCN status: Endangered.
Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Cameroon's African buffalo populations are distributed across a range of ecosystems, from the northern savannas of Bénoué and Bouba Ndjida national parks to forest edges in the south. The savanna subspecies is more common in the north, while forest buffalo inhabit the dense woodlands of the south and east. Poaching and habitat fragmentation continue to threaten populations outside protected areas. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes
Cameroon is the only country with two chimpanzee subspecies, divided by the Sanaga River. North of it lives the rare Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee, in places like the Ebo forest, and to the south the central chimpanzee, in rainforests such as the Dja Faunal Reserve. Ebo chimps are among the few known to crack nuts with stones outside West Africa. Bushmeat hunting and logging are the main threats. IUCN status: Endangered.
Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
In Cameroon, Kordofan giraffes, a Critically Endangered northern giraffe, live in the savannas of the north, mainly in Bénoué, Faro and Bouba Ndjida National Parks, with very few left around Waza in the far north. These isolated herds are among the last of their kind in Central Africa, and poaching and cattle herding inside the parks are serious threats. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
In Cameroon, hippos live mainly in the north, in the Bénoué River and its national park and in the Logone floodplain along the border with Chad, where floods each year create rich grazing land. Smaller numbers are found in rivers further south. Conflict with farmers and fishermen along the rivers is common, and hunting for meat has reduced them in many areas. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
In Cameroon, spotted hyenas live in the northern savannas, especially in Bénoué, Faro and Bouba Ndjida National Parks and the hunting zones around them, where they share the land with lions, leopards and striped hyenas. Hartebeest, kob and buffalo are among their prey. In the far north, around Waza, overgrazing and conflict with herders have made them scarcer. They are absent from the rainforests of the south. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Leopard
Panthera pardus
Leopards live across Cameroon, from the rainforests of the southeast, such as Lobéké and Dja, to the savanna parks of the north, Bénoué, Faro and Bouba Ndjida. In the forest they hunt small antelopes, monkeys and wild pigs, and in the north kob and other antelopes. Bushmeat hunting, which takes much of their prey, logging and revenge killings after livestock losses are the main threats in the country. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Lion
Panthera leo
Cameroon's main lion stronghold is now the Bénoué landscape in the north, with Bénoué, Faro and Bouba Ndjida national parks and the hunting areas around them, where a few hundred lions remain. Waza National Park in the far north, once known for its lions, lost most of them to conflict with herders. These are northern lions, and track surveys from 2014 to 2023 show their numbers still falling. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
In Cameroon, the common warthog lives in the northern savannas, with Bénoué, Bouba Ndjida, Faro and Waza National Parks as its main strongholds. These open landscapes offer good grazing and plenty of old burrows. It shares its habitat with lions, leopards and spotted hyenas, all of which prey on it. Family groups are a regular sight near seasonal rivers and waterholes. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Western Lowland Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla gorilla
Cameroon holds about 10 percent of western lowland gorillas, in the rainforests of the south and southeast: Lobéké, Boumba-Bek, Nki, the Dja Faunal Reserve and Campo Ma'an near the coast. In Campo Ma'an, WWF has worked to habituate the Akiba group, one of the largest known, which builds about 30 nests a night. Snares and the bushmeat trade remain the main threats. IUCN status: Critically Endangered.
Mandrill
Mandrillus sphinx
In Cameroon, mandrills live only in the rainforests south of the Sanaga River, which separates them from the drills to the north. Campo Ma'an National Park, near the border with Equatorial Guinea, is one of their strongholds. Bushmeat hunting and forest loss have hit southern Cameroon hard, and many groups are now smaller than in the past. Males are easy to spot by their red and blue faces. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
African Forest Elephant
Loxodonta cyclotis
Cameroon's southern rainforests hold an important population of forest elephants, in the Dja Faunal Reserve, Lobéké, Boumba-Bek and Nki national parks, and Campo Ma'an on the coast. Lobéké is part of the Sangha Tri-National landscape shared with Congo and the Central African Republic. Cameroon has also been a major route for ivory trafficking, and poachers from its south devastated Gabon's Minkébé. IUCN status: Critically Endangered.
Caracal
Caracal caracal
In Cameroon, the caracal is found mainly in the northern savanna and dry regions, including areas around the Bénoué complex of protected areas. It avoids the dense rainforests of the south and centre of the country. Prey consists of small antelopes, rodents, hares, and birds. The species is seldom studied in Cameroon, and improved survey efforts would help clarify the extent and health of its population there. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Serval
Leptailurus serval
In Cameroon, servals live in the savannas of the center and north, from the grasslands of the Adamawa Plateau to Bénoué National Park and the Logone floodplains near Waza. They avoid the dense rainforest of the south. They hunt rodents, birds and frogs mostly at dusk and at night. Hunting for their spotted skins and the burning of grasslands are local pressures. IUCN status: Least Concern.
African Civet
Civettictis civetta
Cameroon's ecological diversity makes it one of the most important countries for the African civet. The species ranges from the southern lowland rainforests and coastal forests up through the Guinea savanna and the more open terrain of the north. Civets are well established in areas like the Dja Biosphere Reserve and Lobéké National Park, and adapt readily to secondary forest and agricultural edges across the wetter southern regions. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Striped Hyena
Hyaena hyaena
In Cameroon, striped hyenas live in the far north, in the dry savannas and Sahel scrub between the Mandara Mountains and Lake Chad, including the area around Waza National Park. They are rare and seldom seen, coming out only at night to scavenge, and they share the region with spotted hyenas, which are more common further south. Overgrazing, hunting and conflict with herders put pressure on them. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis
In Cameroon the honey badger lives across the northern savannas, from the dry Sahel near Lake Chad to the woodlands of the Benoue and Faro area, and it reaches the edges of the forest further south. It is a powerful digger and a fearless hunter that takes snakes, rodents and insects and breaks into beehives. The spread of farming brings it into conflict with people, especially beekeepers. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Common Genet
Genetta genetta
In Cameroon the common genet is a savanna animal of the center and north, living in wooded savanna, dry scrub and rocky hills, and it avoids the rainforests of the south. It is solitary and nocturnal, resting by day in hollow trees or thick cover and hunting rodents, birds, reptiles, insects and some fruit at night. Its black back crest and white tail tip help identify it. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Kob
Kobus kob
Cameroon is one of the best places to see Buffon's kob. In the northern savannas it lives in Bénoué, Faro and Bouba Ndjida national parks and on the floodplains of Waza. A 2020 study estimated about 4,100 kobs in Faro National Park alone. Herds graze near rivers where green grass lasts into the dry season, and lions and spotted hyenas follow them. Poaching and cattle grazing inside the parks are growing problems. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Hartebeest
Alcelaphus buselaphus
In Cameroon, the western hartebeest lives in the northern savannas, especially in Bénoué, Faro and Bouba Ndjida national parks and the hunting zones around them, and in smaller numbers on the Adamawa Plateau. Poaching by armed groups, cattle and the spread of farms have reduced its numbers outside protected areas. Lions still hunt it in these parks. It is listed as Near Threatened. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Topi
Damaliscus lunatus
Cameroon has topis in its northern savannas and floodplains, an area that includes Waza National Park, one of the last strongholds of the korrigum, the Endangered West African form. More live in other national parks of the north. Poaching, cattle grazing and insecurity in the far north have reduced these herds, which now depend almost entirely on protected areas. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
Cameroon's bushbucks are of the striped harnessed form and live from the northern savannas to the forest edges of the south. Bénoué and Bouba Ndjida national parks hold good numbers along rivers, and in the south they use clearings and farmbush at the edge of the rainforest. Bushmeat hunting is the main threat. Males carry short horns with a single twist and bark loudly when alarmed, then dash into cover. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Aardvark
Orycteropus afer
In Cameroon, the aardvark lives in the savannas of the north and center, and in 2018 camera traps recorded it in Mpem et Djim National Park, where forest meets savanna. It feeds at night on ants and termites and spends the day underground. It shares these lands with lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and kob, and is hunted for bushmeat. Warthogs use its old burrows. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
Green turtles forage along Cameroon's Atlantic coast, especially in the south near Campo and Kribi, where juveniles graze on algae on rocky shores, and they nest in small numbers alongside leatherbacks and olive ridleys. The waters of the Gulf of Guinea also connect them with the important green turtle rookeries of Bioko and São Tomé. Egg collection and bycatch are the main threats. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
Cameroon is at the western edge of the Nile crocodile's range. The IUCN lists it here, but genetic studies have shown that many crocodiles in the north of the country, around Lake Chad and the Logone floodplains, belong to the West African crocodile, a separate species once counted as the Nile crocodile. Where exactly each species lives in Cameroon is still being worked out, and hunting is a pressure on both. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Black Mamba
Dendroaspis polylepis
The black mamba occurs in the savanna belt and open woodland of northern and central Cameroon. It avoids the dense equatorial rainforest of the south but suits the drier, more open landscapes of the Adamawa Plateau and the north well. Fast moving and highly venomous, it hunts rodents and birds by day and poses a real risk to rural communities, where access to antivenom can be irregular. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Bateleur
Terathopius ecaudatus
The bateleur is found across the savanna and open woodland regions of northern Cameroon, including areas around Waza National Park and the Bénoué complex. It soars on thermals above these flat, open landscapes, hunting reptiles and scavenging carrion. Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, it faces threats from poisoning and habitat clearance, while the dense forests of the south are largely unsuitable for the species.
Ostrich
Struthio camelus
Ostriches in Cameroon are found in the far north of the country, in the semi-arid plains around the Lake Chad basin. This region is characterized by flat, open terrain with low scrub and seasonal grasses. The population is considered small and under pressure from habitat encroachment and hunting. Waza National Park in the north provides some degree of protection for the ostriches that remain in Cameroon.
White backed Vulture
Gyps africanus
In Cameroon, the white backed vulture is found across the northern savannas and the Adamawa Plateau, where protected areas such as Bénoué National Park provide some refuge. It plays a vital role in cleaning up carcasses across these grasslands. Poisoning, often linked to elephant poaching and retaliatory killings of predators, remains the biggest threat to this Critically Endangered bird in the region.
Lanner Falcon
Falco biarmicus
In Cameroon, the lanner falcon is found across the northern savanna zones and the Adamawa Plateau, where open landscapes give it room to hunt. It preys mainly on birds, often working in pairs to drive prey into exposed areas. Rocky outcrops and cliff faces in the highlands serve as nesting sites. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though local habitat loss poses some pressure.
African Grey Parrot
Psittacus erithacus
Cameroon holds one of the most important African grey parrot populations outside the Congo Basin, with birds present in the southern and central forested regions of the country. The dense rainforests of the south, part of the Congo Forest biome, provide suitable habitat and the species has historically been present in good numbers. Cameroon was one of the largest exporters of wild grey parrots before international trade restrictions tightened, and trapping pressure alongside logging remains a serious threat.
Tawny Eagle
Aquila rapax
The tawny eagle is found in the open savannas and dry lowlands of northern Cameroon, from the Adamawa plateau to the Lake Chad basin, including Waza and Bénoué national parks. Here it hunts small vertebrates and scavenges alongside vultures. Farmland expansion and accidental poisoning linked to livestock protection are among the main threats. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Secretary Bird
Sagittarius serpentarius
The secretary bird is present in Cameroon's northern savanna regions, including the Adamawa Plateau and the grasslands of the far north. It stalks open ground on long legs, delivering forceful kicks to kill snakes and other prey. The species avoids dense forest, so it is absent from Cameroon's southern rainforest zones. Agricultural expansion in the north remains a key concern. The IUCN lists it as Endangered.
African Fish Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
The African fish eagle is resident in Cameroon near major rivers, lakes and wetlands. Lake Chad on the northern border and the Benue River in the interior support regular populations, and it also lives on the Wouri estuary near Douala. In the forested south it keeps to larger rivers with open water for hunting, and its call can be heard from the Sahel down to the coast. Pairs keep the same territory for years. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl is found across Cameroon in open savanna, farmland, and the outskirts of villages and towns from the Sahel zone in the north through the Adamawa plateau to the wetter southern regions. It nests in old buildings, hollow trees, and rocky outcrops. In farming communities it is a useful presence for controlling rodents that damage stored crops, and it is encountered across a wide range of altitudes and vegetation zones throughout the country.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
The white stork passes through Cameroon during its annual migration between European breeding grounds and wintering areas further south in Africa. Visitors can spot these tall, striking birds resting in open savanna and agricultural areas in the north of the country. They feed on insects, frogs, and small animals before continuing their journey. Their arrival follows predictable seasonal patterns that local communities have observed for generations.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
The white wagtail visits Cameroon as a winter migrant, passing through or resting across the northern savanna zones and around Lake Chad in the far north. It favors open, moist ground near rivers and wetlands, where it chases insects with quick, darting runs. Its constant tail bobbing makes it easy to spot even in busy, open landscapes. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
In Cameroon, the peregrine falcon is recorded as a migratory visitor moving through the country during the northern winter. It can appear over the open highlands of the Adamawa Plateau, the grassy plains of the north, and along river corridors. Cameroon's position along the migration route between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa means the species passes through regularly, hunting birds on the move across this ecologically diverse nation. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
Cameroon serves as a wintering destination for nightingales, with birds settling mainly in the drier savanna and woodland areas of the north of the country. The more humid forest zones of the south are generally avoided. These visitors arrive after an impressive journey from Europe or western Asia and spend several months foraging unobtrusively in scrub. Their plain brown plumage blends well with dry vegetation, making them hard to detect. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Flamingo
Phoenicopteridae (6 species)
The lesser flamingo visits Cameroon outside the breeding season, and it is a scarce bird here, at the western edge of its African range. Records come from shallow lakes and wetlands, including the Lake Chad basin in the far north. The lesser flamingo depends on blooms of tiny blue green algae, so it wanders widely in search of suitable water, and it is listed as Near Threatened. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
African Manatee
Trichechus senegalensis
Cameroon has some of the best studied African manatees. They live in coastal estuaries and mangroves, in the Sanaga and Wouri rivers, and in Lake Ossa near Edéa, where researchers track them, and studies in the Sanaga basin found that some eat clams as well as plants. In the south, they also reach the rivers of the Congo basin, and in the north the Benue. Accidental capture in fishing nets and hunting for meat are the main threats in the country. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
In Cameroon the great barracuda lives along the Atlantic coast, from the volcanic shores around Limbe, at the foot of Mount Cameroon, to the rocky coast and beaches of Kribi in the south. Juveniles shelter in the mangroves of the Cameroon estuary near Douala. Adults hunt over rocky bottoms and in open water, and they are caught by artisanal fishers, often together with the Guinean barracuda, which is common here. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
Warm water and a rich continental shelf make the coast of Cameroon good tiger shark habitat. The species hunts fish, rays and turtles near shore and in deeper water. It hunts off the volcanic coast of Limbe and the beaches of Kribi. Sharks are an important catch for local fishers, who sell the meat fresh or smoked and the fins to traders. Bites on people along this coast are almost unknown. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
Warm, murky water and many river mouths make the coast of Cameroon good bull shark habitat. The species hunts close to shore, and its young grow up in the mangroves of the Cameroon estuary near Douala and the mouth of the Sanaga, the country's largest river. The coast runs from the foot of Mount Cameroon to Kribi. Like other sharks in West Africa, it is heavily fished by artisanal fleets, and very little is known about how its numbers are changing. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals live in Cameroon?
Cameroon has lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hippos and antelopes such as kob and hartebeest in the north, and chimpanzees, western lowland gorillas, mandrills and forest elephants in the southern rainforests. Nile crocodiles live in the rivers, African grey parrots in the forests, and sea turtles and African manatees along the coast and in lakes such as Lake Ossa.
What is the national animal of Cameroon?
The lion. No law names an official national animal, but the lion is listed as the national symbol of Cameroon and is everywhere in the country's identity, above all in the nickname of the national football team, the Indomitable Lions. Lions still live in Bénoué, Bouba Ndjida and Waza national parks.
Are there gorillas in Cameroon?
Yes. Western lowland gorillas live in the southern rainforests, in places like the Dja Faunal Reserve, Lobéké and Campo Ma'an. They are hard to see in the wild because the forest is dense, but rescued gorillas can be visited at the Limbe Wildlife Centre.
Are there lions in Cameroon?
Yes. Lions live in the savanna parks of the north, mainly Bénoué, Bouba Ndjida and Faro, and in Waza in the Far North. Their numbers have fallen because of poaching, the loss of prey and conflict with herders, and they belong to the lion population of West and Central Africa, which is in serious danger.
Are there elephants in Cameroon?
Yes, two kinds. Forest elephants live in the southern rainforests, such as Lobéké and the Dja, and savanna elephants roam the northern parks like Bouba Ndjida and Waza. Both have suffered from poaching for ivory, including the killing of hundreds of elephants in Bouba Ndjida in 2012.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .