If you’re looking for a fun classroom activity, this list of African animal names can easily be turned into custom Word Bingo cards using the free tool at EasyBingoCreator.com.
Teachers and parents can copy the list below and paste it directly into the bingo card generator to quickly create printable bingo cards for lessons, review games, or indoor activities.
African Animals Word List
Teachers can simply copy the list of 30 African animals below and paste it into EasyBingoCreator to easily generate a set of printable bingo cards for the classroom (in less than a minute! ⏰)
lion zebra meerkat elephant aardvark okapi buffalo wildebeest warthog serval leopard giraffe ostrich cheetah baboon hyena gorilla rhinoceros crocodile chimpanzee hippopotamus gazelle antelope mandrill impala jackal mongoose flamingo pangolin caracal
Using the Bingo Calling Cards as Flashcards
When you create bingo cards using EasyBingoCreator, the printable PDF also includes calling cards used by the teacher or game leader to announce the words during the game. These cards can also double as animal flashcards for additional learning activities. ⚡️
For example, you can:
- Hold up the card and ask students to read the card and identify the animal
- Use the cards for quick vocabulary review
- Have students describe what they know about the animal
This turns one bingo game into several different learning activities.
Choosing the Best Bingo Grid Size for Your Students
EasyBingoCreator allows you to choose different grid sizes when generating your bingo cards.
The best grid size usually depends on the age of the students.
3×3 Grid (9 spaces)
Best for younger learners such as Grade 1 or 2. Fewer words make it easier for students to follow along and stay engaged.
👉 If you decide to use a 3×3 grid for younger students, you may want to shorten the word list to about 15 words and focus on animals that are easier for children to recognize, such as lion, zebra, elephant, giraffe, or monkey. (If you had all 30 animal calling cards to choose from but only 9 options on each bingo card younger students’ attention may fade.)
4×4 Grid (16 spaces)
A good option for Grades 1–3. It provides a bit more challenge without overwhelming younger players.
5×5 Grid (24 spaces plus the “Free Space” in the middle)
Great for Grades 3 and up, or for older students who enjoy a longer bingo game with more vocabulary words.
👇 Below is a sample African Animals Word Bingo card that I made in less than a minute using our word bingo card generator. (You can easily make your own using the tool.)
With a quick copy and paste of the word list above, you can create custom African animal bingo cards (like the one above) in just a few seconds using EasyBingoCreator.
If you want to learn more about these animals – including the cute Serval cat – here is some information from the African Wildlife Foundation.
Want more classroom bingo ideas?
For more fun ideas, check out our Bingo Card Ideas page!
Plus check out:
Long “O” Sound ‘ow’ Words List (great for Phonics bingo!)
Looking for a related word search? Check out the African Animals word search I created over at Puzzletainment.com
