Animals
East Africa is abundantly blessed with natural resources and most of all, it is blessed with a wide variety of animals that are amongst the most beautiful in the world. When one talks about 'Safari' what comes to mind is a reserve game park in Africa. Not many know that 90% of the 'Safari' parks are in East Africa. 'Safari' in 'Swahili' actually means journey or a long trip.
Here are the 'Swahili' names of common African
Animals arranged in alphabetical order of translation from English to Swahili.
You will find that very often a Swahili word is of same form as a singular or
plural.
Since many animals that exist in other parts of the world do not exist in East
Africa, there are no names for them in Swahili. We refer to many animals in same
names as in English or native lands where they come from.
|
Animals |
Pictures=Picha |
Wanyama |
|
African Wild Dog (s) |
 |
Mbwa mwitu |
|
Baboon(s) |
|
Nyani |
|
Bat(s) |
 |
Popo |
|
Monkey |
 |
Kima |
|
Buffalo(es) |
|
Nyati / Mbogo |
|
Bushbuk |
Pongo |
|
| Camel(s) |
|
Ngamia |
|
Cat(s) |
Paka |
|
|
Cheetah(s) |
|
Duma / Chita |
|
Chimpanzee(s) |
|
Sokwe mtu / Chipanzi |
|
Civet(s) |
Ngawa |
|
|
Columbus |
Mbega |
|
|
Cow(s) |
|
N'gombe |
|
Crow (Black) - Indian |
Kunguru (mweusi) |
|
|
Deer |
|
Paa |
|
Dikdik |
Funo |
|
|
Dog(s) |
|
Mbwa |
|
Dolphin(s) |
|
Pomboo |
| Donkey(s) |
|
Punda |
|
Eland |
Pofu |
|
|
Elephant(s) |
|
Tembo / Ndovu |
|
Fish |
|
Samaki |
|
Gazelle(s) |
|
Swala |
|
Gerenuk |
Swala twiga |
|
|
Giraffe(s) |
|
Twiga |
|
Goat(s) |
Mbuzi |
|
| Billy Goat/ Male Goat |
Beberu(sl.)/ mabeberu (pl.) |
|
|
Gorilla(s) |
Sokwe |
|
|
Grant's Gazelles |
Swala Granti |
|
|
Guinea pig(s) |
Sili (or) Pimbi |
|
|
Hartebeest |
Kongoni |
|
|
Hippo(potamus) |
|
Kiboko |
|
Horse(s) |
|
Farasi |
|
Hyena(s) |
|
Fisi |
|
Impala |
Swala pala |
|
|
Jackals |
Bweha |
|
|
Klipspringer |
Mbuzi mawe |
|
|
Kudu |
Tandala |
|
|
Leopard(s) |
|
Chui |
|
Lion(s) |
|
Simba |
|
Mongoose |
Nguchiro |
|
|
Monkey(s) - Velvet |
Tumbili / Tumbiri |
|
|
Oribi |
Taya |
|
|
Oryx |
Choroa |
|
|
Owl(s) |
|
Bundi |
| Pata(s) | Kima | |
|
Pig(s) |
|
Ngurue |
|
Rabbit(s) |
|
Sungura |
|
Rat(s) |
Panya |
|
|
Reedbuck |
Tohe |
|
|
Rhinoceros |
Kifaru |
|
|
Roan |
Korongo |
|
|
Rock Hyrax |
Pimbi |
|
|
Sable |
Palahala |
|
|
Sheep |
|
Kondoo |
|
Sitatunga |
Nzohe |
|
|
Squirrel |
|
Kicheche |
|
Suni |
Paa |
|
|
Thompson's Gazelles |
Swala Tomi |
|
|
Tiger(s) |
Chuwi |
|
|
Topi |
Nyamera |
|
|
Warthogs |
Ngiri |
|
|
Waterbuck |
Kuro |
|
|
Wild beast or Gnu |
Nyumbu |
|
|
Zebra(s) |
|
Punda milia |
