Africa, the black continent, is considered the cradle of humanity. Flora and fauna are just as varied as the landscapes. Numerous animal species live in the different regions of Africa. Some of them are extremely dangerous for humans. But you shouldn’t think of lions or rhinos first.

1st place: Probably the most dangerous animal in Africa is an insect. The anopheles mosquito transmits the infectious disease malaria. Africa accounts for more than 50% of malaria victims. There are medicines for holidaymakers that are used for prophylaxis but also emergency treatment. Special repellents should not be missing in the luggage.

2nd place: You might hardly suspect it, but the hippo causes more than 100 fatalities each year. In the water they like to attack boats that come too close to them. In the dark they come ashore and pay little attention to inhabited areas. An unprepared encounter usually ends in death.

3rd place: Male elephants can become particularly dangerous for humans during the rutting season. In their aggressiveness, they stop at no obstacle, trample, beat their proboscis and use their tusks. You should always keep calm near a gray giant.

4th place: It is very dangerous, but also very small – the yellow Mediterranean scorpion. It is only 7 to 12 centimeters tall and lives in the steppe and desert areas of North Africa. Its strong poison attacks the heart and nervous system and can lead to cardiac arrest. The sting causes severe pain. Vacationers in these regions should always check their shoes before putting them on.

5th place: Crocodiles claim several lives each year. They live almost all over the continent mostly in fresh water, but can also be found in brackish water and salt water near the coast. They strike silently and at lightning speed. Then they drag their victim under water to drown them.

6th place: Africa is known for its poisonous snakes. The best known is the Black Mamba. It is the largest poisonous snake in Africa and extremely fast. Because she is very shy, there is rarely a confrontation between animals and humans. She is active during the day, lives in the south and east of the continent and likes to stay in attics. If left untreated, the neurotoxin leads to suffocation.

7th place: Boomslang, the African tree snake, is particularly dangerous among the reptiles. It lives in trees and is difficult to see due to its color. Bites are rarely documented, but they can be life-threatening. The symptoms can last for days. Without an appropriate antidote, kidney failure can occur.

8th place: It belongs to the Big Five Africa, the buffalo. He too can be dangerous to humans. Buffaloes are said to kill even more people in Africa than any other animal. However, this has not been confirmed. Vacationers usually only come into contact with a buffalo during a safari.

9th place: Especially in southern Africa, the great white shark poses a danger to people. However, as is known, more people die from falling coconuts. Therefore, vacationers pay attention to appropriate warnings and avoid the marked beaches, sharks are by no means a danger to humans.

10th place: Big cats have a prey scheme in which humans do not occur. However, if the animals do not find any other food or if they feel threatened, they can also be dangerous to humans. For holidaymakers, however, there is no danger from lions, leopards or even cheetahs, as they avoid inhabited areas.