104 Swahili Animal Names (Safari Guide for Travelers)
Reading Time: 4 minutes Swahili is one of two official languages in Uganda. In this post, you’ll learn about Swahili animal names for more than 100 African animals, including lion, giraffe, warthog, cheetah, and elephant. To round things out, we include a list of 17 characters from Lion King translated from Swahili to English.
Basic Swahili Names for Animals
East Africa (including Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, the DRC) is an amazing place to see wildlife. Swahili is also the lingua franca (common language) of more than 120 million people from these same countries.
It’s worth learning some of the basic words – it’ll add to your safari experience. To get started, here are two
- Animal: Mnyama (Also: wanyama)
- Wildlife: Wanyamapori
104 Swahili Animal Names
Okay, let’s get started with this huge list of animal names in Swahili.
- Aardvark: Muhanga
- African Elk (Barbary Stag): Elk ya Kiafrika
- African Wild Dog: Mbwa mwitu
- Ant: Sisimizi (Also: Chugu, Sungusungu)
- Flying ant: Ngumbi
- Safari ant: Siafu
- Antelope: Paa
- Baboon: Nyani
- Bat: Popo
- Bat-eared fox: Mbweha masikio
- Bee: Nyuki
- Bird: Ndege
- Blue Monkey: Kima
- Buffalo: Nyati (Also: Mbogo)
- Lesser Bushbaby: Komba
- Bushbuck: Pongo (Also: Mbawala)
- Butterfly: Kipepeo
- Chameleon: Kinyonga
- Camel: Ngamia
- Cat: Paka
- Cheetah: Duma
- Chimpanzee: Sokwe
- Civet: Fungo
- Colobus (Black and white): Mbega mweusi mweupe
- Colobus (Red): Mbega mwekundu
- Colobus (Zanzibar Red): Kima punju
- Cow: Ng’ombe
- Crab: Kaa
- Crocodile: Mamba
- Deer: Paa
- Dik-dik: Digidigi
- Dragonfly: Kereng’ende
- Duiker: Funo
- Dog: Mbwa
- Dolphin: Pomboo
- Donkey: Punda
- Duck: Bata
- Eland: Pofu
- Elephant: Tembo (Also: Ndovu)
- Fish: Samaki
- Fly: Nzi
- Catfish: Kambale (Also: Kambare)
- Tigerfish: Kibebe or Kachinga (Kange in Selous)
- Flamingo: Heroe
- Gazelle: Swala
- Genet: Kala/Kanu
- Giraffe: Twiga
- Goat: Mbuzi
- Grant’s Gazelle: Swala Granti
- Guinea fowl: Kanga
- Guinea pig: Sili
- Hartebeest: Kongoni
- Hippo: Kiboko (Also: viboko)
- Rock hyrax: Pelele (Also: Wibari, Kwanga, Pimbi)
- Horse: Farasi
- Spotted Hyena: Fisi
- Brown Hyena: Fisi kahawia
- Hyrax: Pimbi
- Impala: Swala pala
- Insect: Mdudu (Also: dudu)
- Jackal: Mbweha
- Klipspringer: Mbuzi mawe
- Greater Kudu: Tandala mkubwa
- Lesser Kudu: Tandala mdogo
- Leopard: Chui
- Lion: Simba
- Lizard: Mjusi
- Monitor Lizard: Kenge
- Mongoose: Nguchiro (Also: Kimburu)
- Monkey: Tumbili
- Mosquito: Mbu
- Moth: Kipopo/nondo/dege
- Mouse: Panya mdogo (Also: puku)
- Oribi: Taya
- Oryx: Choroa
- Ostrich: Mbuni
- Owl: Bundi (Also: Babewana, Babewatoto, Vumatiti)
- Pangolin: Kakakuona
- Pig: Nguruwe
- Porcupine: Nungunungu
- Rock python: Chat
- Rabbit: Sungura
- Rat: Panya
- Reedbuck: Tohe
- Rhinoceros: Kifaru
- Roan antelope: Korongo
- Rooster: Jogoo
- Sable antelope: Palahala (Also: Mbarapi)
- Sand fleas (jiggers): funza (viroboto vya mchanga)
- Scorpion: Nge (Also: Ng’ge, Kisusuli, Akrabu)
- Serval: mondo
- Sheep: Kondoo
- Snail: Konokono
- Snake: Nyoka
- Spider: Buibui
- Suni antelope: Paa
- Squirrel: Kindi (Also: Kidiri, Chindi, Sindi)
- Thomson’s Gazelle: Swala tomi
- Topi: Nyamera
- Vervet Monkey: Tumbili (Also: Tumbiri)
- Warthog: Ngiri
- Waterbuck: Kuro
- Wildebeest: Nyumbu
- Zebra: Punda milia
Which of these animals do you want to see on your trip? Don’t forget to bring along a decent camera. Here’s how to choose the best safari camera for your adventure.
More reading: Complete Guide to All African Antelope
Here are some basic Swahili words for your upcoming trip.
How to Pronounce Animal Names in Swahili
Want to hear how Swahili animal names sound? Here are some basics:
A souvenir vendor in Tanzania with a Learn Swahili shirt.
What The Lion King Names Mean (17 Animals)
The majority of the names in the popular Lion King franchise have Swahili origins. Only one character has a Swahili name to match his species (Simba), while the others have descriptive names.
The most famous expression from the movie, hakuna matata, is Swahili. It means: no worries (or, no trouble).
Here are what each of the names mean, along with their language origin.
- Simba: Lion (Swahili)
- Nala: Gift (Swahili)
- Mufasa: King (attributed to a fictional language called Manazoto)
- Timon: Respect (Greek)
- Pumbaa: Slow witted (Swahili)
- Rafiki: Friend (Swahili)
- Zazu: Movement (Hebrew)
- Sarabi: Mirage (Swahili)
- Sarafina: Bright star (Swahili origins)
- Shenzi: Savage (Swahili)
- Kiara: Small, dark thing (Swahili)
- Kovu: Scar (Swahili)
- Zira: Hate (Swahili)
- Nuka: Stink (Swahili)
- Vitani: Demon of war (Swahili)
- Banzai: Skulk (Swahili, also a Japanese battle cry)
- Bunga: Foolish person (Swahili)
And there you have it – more than 100 Swahili animal names and a list of all the Swahili Lion King names with English meanings.
Here are some of the fastest African animals.
Worried you’ll forget something for your trip? Check out our Safari Packing List and travel prepared!
Your Turn
Are you planning on learning some basic Swahili words for your upcoming trip? I would love to hear your plans – and how it’s progressing!
Did I miss an important one? Let me know below!
