Wildlife Identification Apps to Download

Wildlife Identification Apps to Download

These apps can turn your smartphone into a portable field guide, helping you identify animals and birds you encounter, and often providing fascinating details about them.

  • Mammals of Africa (Paid – iOS & Android):
    • Pros: Highly comprehensive, with detailed descriptions, images, distribution maps, and sometimes even sounds for hundreds of African mammal species. Works completely offline. Essential for serious wildlife enthusiasts.
    • Cons: Can be a bit pricey, but worth the investment for its depth.
  • Roberts Birds Guide (Paid – iOS & Android) / Sasol eBirds of Southern Africa (Paid – iOS & Android):
    • Pros: If you’re a birder, these are indispensable. They feature extensive bird identification information, including high-quality images, detailed descriptions, range maps, and most importantly, audio calls for thousands of African bird species. Crucial for identifying birds by their calls.
    • Cons: Can be relatively large downloads due to the audio files. Specific versions for East Africa might be available or more suitable for Tanzania.
  • iNaturalist / Seek by iNaturalist (Free – iOS & Android):
    • Pros: Uses AI and a community of naturalists to help identify plants, insects, and animals from your photos. You take a picture, and the app suggests a species. You can also contribute your sightings to citizen science projects. Seek (a companion app) is more kid-friendly and focuses on instant identification.
    • Cons: Relies on a community for confirmation, so identification isn’t always instant or 100% accurate, especially in remote areas with limited data. However, it’s excellent for learning and engaging with nature.
  • Kingdon Guide: African Mammals (Paid – iOS & Android):
    • Pros: An interactive version of Jonathan Kingdon’s highly acclaimed guide, offering rich information on a wide range of African mammals. Works offline.
    • Cons: User interface might be less intuitive than some newer apps.
  • African Safari Tracker / Latest Sightings (Free/Freemium – iOS & Android):
    • Pros: These apps allow users (including guides and other travelers) to share real-time wildlife sightings within certain parks (e.g., Kruger National Park is very active, but some offer updates for Serengeti). Can increase your chances of seeing specific animals.
    • Cons: Requires an internet connection to get real-time updates. Data can be sparse in very remote areas of Tanzania. Rely on user input, so accuracy varies. Some might focus on specific parks (e.g., Kruger).

Tips for Using ID Apps:

  • Download Before You Go: Crucially, download all content (images, sounds, maps) within the apps while on Wi-Fi.
  • Use Respectfully: Don’t let the app distract you from the actual sighting. Observe first, then use the app to identify or learn more.
  • Ask Your Guide: Your guide is your ultimate resource. They have years of experience and local knowledge. Use the apps as a supplement to their expertise.