Ugly, Shy & Small 5 Animals of Africa: Safari Creatures You Didn’t Know You’d Love

May 6, 2025
ABS, Africa travel

Move over, Big Five. Discover Africa’s Ugly 5, Shy 5, and Small 5—unique and fascinating creatures that add depth to any African safari. Learn where to spot them, what makes them special, and why they matter to conservation.

Stand Back Big 5 Animals? Let’s Talk Ugly Five, Shy Five, and Small Five Instead

When you think of an African safari, your mind probably jumps to the Big Five animals—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. These majestic beasts dominate brochures, headlines, and travel dreams. But Africa’s wildlife story doesn’t end there. In fact, some of the continent’s most fascinating creatures are not its largest or fiercest—but its ugliest, shyest, and smallest.

Welcome to the wild world of the Ugly Five, Shy Five, and Small Five—three unofficial animal groupings created by rangers and safari-goers to celebrate Africa’s overlooked wildlife heroes. These creatures might not win beauty pageants, roar with authority, or weigh a ton, but they’re vital to the ecosystem and often steal the show with their strange looks, secretive habits, or miniature charm.

In this three-part series, we shine the spotlight on the characters that lurk in the shadows of the savannah. In Part 1, we begin with the wonderfully weird Ugly Five.

Meet the Ugly Five of Africa

The Ugly Five may not have the sleek lines or regal manes of their more celebrated cousins, but they’ve got grit, purpose, and a unique kind of charisma. These animals are scavengers, survivors, and specialists—perfectly adapted for their niche roles in the wild.

They include the spotted hyena, warthog, marabou stork, vulture, and wildebeest. Together, they form a crew of creatures that may look odd or off-putting, but are essential to keeping Africa’s ecosystems functioning.

Spotted Hyena – Nature’s Laughing Scavenger

Often unfairly portrayed as cowardly and unclean, the spotted hyena is one of Africa’s most misunderstood animals. With powerful jaws capable of crushing bone, highly intelligent social structures, and a cackling call that echoes through the night, hyenas are the real deal.

They live in large matriarchal clans and are both hunters and scavengers. In fact, they are more successful hunters than lions in many areas. Their unglamorous reputation hides a creature of remarkable resilience and efficiency.

Best places to see them: Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania), Kruger National Park (South Africa), Masai Mara (Kenya), Hwange (Zimbabwe)

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Warthog – Comically Tough Survivors

With warty faces, stiff manes, and sharp tusks, warthogs aren’t winning beauty contests—but these tough pigs are built for survival. Found across the continent’s grasslands and savannahs, warthogs graze on roots, grasses, and bulbs. They’re often seen kneeling on calloused forelegs as they forage.

Quick on their feet and surprisingly clever, warthogs have adapted to thrive in predator-rich environments. They back into burrows to defend themselves and their young, and their high-pitched alarm squeals are among the most distinct in the bush.

Best places to see them: Etosha National Park (Namibia), Tarangire (Tanzania), Amboseli (Kenya), South Luangwa (Zambia)

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Marabou Stork – The Undertaker of the African Skies

It’s not hard to see why the marabou stork made this list. With its hunched back, bald head, and ghastly wattle, this massive scavenger has an eerie presence. Nicknamed “the undertaker bird,” it is often found at rubbish dumps or alongside vultures at carcasses.

Despite its appearance, the marabou plays a vital role in cleaning up the environment by feeding on carrion and waste. With a wingspan of up to 3.7 meters (12 feet), it’s also one of the largest flying birds in the world.

Best places to see them: Lake Nakuru (Kenya), Tarangire (Tanzania), Murchison Falls (Uganda), Kruger (South Africa)

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Vultures – Nature’s Clean-Up Crew

Often seen circling the skies above the savannah, vultures are the unsung heroes of the African wilderness. Their bald heads and hunched posture might seem creepy, but they help prevent the spread of disease by consuming carcasses before they decompose.

There are several species of vultures in Africa, including the white-backed vulture, lappet-faced vulture, and hooded vulture. Sadly, many are now endangered due to poisoning, habitat destruction, and the illegal wildlife trade.

Best places to see them: Masai Mara (Kenya), Serengeti (Tanzania), Kruger (South Africa), Etosha (Namibia)

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Wildebeest – Clumsy but Crucial

The wildebeest may look awkward with its boxy frame and drooping beard, but it’s a central figure in Africa’s grandest natural drama: the Great Migration. Every year, over 1.5 million wildebeest migrate across Tanzania and Kenya in search of greener pastures, accompanied by zebras and gazelles—and followed closely by predators.

Though not the most elegant animal, the wildebeest is a keystone species whose movements shape entire ecosystems. They are resilient, fast, and born survivors of the savannah.

Best places to see them: Serengeti National Park (Tanzania), Masai Mara (Kenya), Liuwa Plains (Zambia), Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania)

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Ugly? Maybe. Necessary? Absolutely. These five species form a critical cleanup crew that supports the health and balance of Africa’s wild spaces. In the next section, we’ll meet the Shy Five—Africa’s most elusive and secretive creatures. Bring your binoculars—you’re going to need them.

The Shy Five of Africa

If the Ugly Five are the misunderstood underdogs of the safari world, then the Shy Five are its most elusive celebrities. These animals are rarely seen, not because they’re scarce, but because they’ve mastered the art of staying hidden. Nocturnal, solitary, and expertly camouflaged, the Shy Five demand patience, luck, and a great guide to spot.

The members of the Shy Five are the aardvark, porcupine, aardwolf, meerkat, and bat-eared fox. While they lack the grandeur of lions or elephants, these creatures embody the quiet magic of African wilderness encounters.

Aardvark – The Earth Pig That Never Disappoints

First up is the aardvark, a nocturnal mammal whose name means “earth pig” in Afrikaans. With its pig-like snout, rabbit ears, and kangaroo tail, it looks like something from a myth. But it’s very real—and very rare to see.

Aardvarks spend their nights using strong claws to dig for termites and ants, which they slurp up with their sticky 30 cm-long tongues. Their burrows become homes for many other animals, including warthogs, reptiles, and even owls.

Best places to see them: Tswalu Kalahari (South Africa), Karoo (South Africa), Makgadikgadi Pans (Botswana)

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Porcupine – Africa’s Spiky Night Stalker

The porcupine may look like a giant walking hairbrush, but don’t be fooled—this rodent knows how to defend itself. When threatened, it raises its quills, rattles them like a snake, and can even reverse-charge predators. Contrary to myth, porcupines don’t shoot their quills, but the effect is no less intimidating.

Porcupines are active at night and feed on roots, bark, and fallen fruit. They gnaw on bones for calcium and often use caves or abandoned burrows for shelter.

Best places to see them: Madikwe Game Reserve (South Africa), Damaraland (Namibia), Zambezi Valley (Zimbabwe)

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Aardwolf – The Shy Hyena’s Cousin

The aardwolf is often mistaken for a striped hyena, but it’s smaller, quieter, and much shyer. This insectivore specializes in eating termites—up to 300,000 per night—with its long sticky tongue. Unlike its fierce relatives, the aardwolf has weak jaws and prefers to avoid confrontation entirely.

Solitary by nature, aardwolves are rarely seen and most active on cool, moonless nights. They play an important ecological role by controlling termite populations and are sensitive to habitat disturbance.

Best places to see them: Central Kalahari (Botswana), Waterberg Plateau (Namibia), Eastern Cape (South Africa)

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Meerkat – The Sentinel of the Savannah

The meerkat may be the most familiar face among the Shy Five, thanks to its upright stance and photogenic behavior. These mongoose relatives live in tight-knit communities called mobs and take turns standing guard while the rest forage for insects, scorpions, and small vertebrates.

Found in open, arid landscapes, meerkats are social, cooperative, and endlessly entertaining. While not particularly rare, they are cautious and prefer undisturbed habitats, especially in remote regions.

Best places to see them: Makgadikgadi Pans (Botswana), Kalahari Desert (South Africa), NamibRand Nature Reserve (Namibia)

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Bat-Eared Fox – Big Ears, Big Impact

The bat-eared fox is as adorable as it is elusive. Named for its oversized ears—used for thermal regulation and locating insects underground—this small fox is a master termite hunter. It’s mostly nocturnal, but in cooler weather, it may be seen foraging during the day.

Bat-eared foxes are monogamous and often raise their pups cooperatively. Their presence indicates a healthy termite population, and they are crucial in pest control across grassland ecosystems.

Best places to see them: Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania), Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South Africa/Botswana), Etosha (Namibia)

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Elusive, intelligent, and often overlooked, the Shy Five represent the quieter side of the safari experience. They may not make the front cover of safari brochures, but their behavior is just as fascinating—if you’re lucky enough to spot them. In Part 3, we’ll wrap up this celebration of Africa’s unsung animals with the charming and clever Small Five—miniature namesakes of the Big Five with surprising abilities and big personalities.

The Small Five of Africa

Having met the quirky Ugly Five and the elusive Shy Five, it’s time to zoom in—literally—for the final members of Africa’s lesser-known safari stars: the Small Five. Named as a playful counterpart to the Big Five, these tiny creatures share part of their famous relatives’ names but none of their size. Despite their stature, they’re mighty in behavior and deeply symbolic of Africa’s biodiversity.

From beetles to birds, ants to shrews, the Small Five offer a fresh lens through which to view the African wilderness. Observing them requires patience, a good guide, and a curious mind—qualities that make their discovery especially rewarding.

The Small Five include the elephant shrew, buffalo weaver, leopard tortoise, antlion, and rhinoceros beetle.

Elephant Shrew – Speedy and Shy

The elephant shrew may be small, but it’s surprisingly fast—capable of darting through undergrowth at lightning speed. Named for its elongated, flexible snout (resembling an elephant’s trunk), this tiny insectivore uses its nose to probe for ants, termites, and beetle larvae.

There are several species of elephant shrews found across southern and eastern Africa, often in dry, rocky environments. Despite their size, they are not actually shrews and are more closely related to elephants, manatees, and aardvarks!

Best places to see them: Karoo (South Africa), Tsavo West (Kenya), Skeleton Coast (Namibia)

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Buffalo Weaver – The Social Songbird

The buffalo weaver is Africa’s answer to community construction. These industrious birds are known for their noisy chatter and massive, messy nests that often fill entire acacia trees. There are two main species: the white-headed and the red-billed buffalo weaver.

While their name links them to the Cape buffalo, the similarity ends there. These weavers are most famous for their intricate social behavior, including communal roosting and polyandrous mating systems. They’re easy to spot, especially in dry, open areas.

Best places to see them: Kruger National Park (South Africa), Tarangire (Tanzania), Etosha (Namibia)

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Leopard Tortoise – The Slow-Moving Beauty

The leopard tortoise gets its name from the striking black and yellow pattern on its shell. It’s the largest of the Small Five and can live up to 100 years. Despite their slow gait, these tortoises are tough, surviving in harsh, dry conditions and even swimming when necessary.

They are herbivores, feeding on grasses and succulents. Leopard tortoises play a vital role in seed dispersal and are often seen on roadsides after rain. They’re especially vulnerable to bushfires and habitat loss, so conservation awareness is key.

Best places to see them: Addo Elephant Park (South Africa), Samburu (Kenya), Central Kalahari (Botswana)

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Antlion – The Trap Master

The antlion may be one of Africa’s smallest predators, but it’s also one of the most ingenious. The larval stage of this insect digs cone-shaped pits in soft sand and waits beneath the surface for ants or other insects to fall in. Once prey slips into the trap, the antlion strikes with terrifying efficiency.

Adult antlions resemble delicate dragonflies and are active at dusk. But it’s the larvae that steal the show with their patience, strategy, and efficiency—a great example of nature’s intelligence in miniature.

Best places to see them: Any dry, sandy area across southern and eastern Africa

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Rhinoceros Beetle – The Power Lifter of the Insect World

The rhinoceros beetle may be small, but it’s one of the strongest creatures on the planet—able to lift 850 times its own body weight. These horned insects are found in forests and grasslands, often active at night and attracted to lights.

Despite their armored appearance, rhino beetles are harmless to humans and plants. Their horns are used in battles for mates, and they serve an important role in breaking down plant matter and recycling nutrients in the soil.

Best places to see them: Forest reserves and savannahs across tropical and subtropical Africa

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Why the Ugly, Shy, and Small Five Matter

While the Big Five may dominate safari dreams, the Ugly Five, Shy Five, and Small Five show us a broader, richer picture of African wildlife. These animals teach us to look closer, wait longer, and appreciate the quiet drama playing out beneath the brush, in the shadows, and underfoot.

Spotting even one of these creatures on safari adds a layer of depth and discovery to your journey. They may be funny-looking, elusive, or tiny—but they’re all integral to the story of Africa’s wild heart.

Plan your safari with expert guides who help you discover Africa’s hidden wildlife wonders—and bring a fresh pair of eyes for the strange, secretive, and small.