AFROTROPICAL
Human Habitats
(Farms, Gardens & Settlements)

There are some species of plants and animals that have managed to live within the human habitats of Africa, from the neighbouring agricultural areas, into villages and their gardens, and even into big cities...

One of the most common groups of animals seen living around human are birds. The birds that naturally evolved in more open habitats, such as fynbos, wetlands or savanna, are more pre-adapted to living in human modified environments. The increasing trend of planting native plants in city home and gardens has encouraged native birds to visit urban areas, especially when feeders are also put out.

'Cape Sugarbird' come to feeders in South Africa, (Avian Leisure, Cape Town)

The aesthetically pleasing plants picked by humans for their gardens often have striking flowers, thus they attract nectar-feeding birds, such as sunbirds.

'Scarlet-chested Sunbird', (Viavia Lodge, Kampala, Uganda)

Obviously, large mammals are not welcome in human homes, but smaller ones are often allowed to live within gardens and backyards. Below are 'Straw-coloured Fruit Bats' on a fig tree in a town in eastern Africa.

'Straw-colored Fruit Bat'.

 'Eastern Grey Squirrels' from North America have been introduced into Cape Town.

the easy life in the city makes you fat! (Cape Town).

About the author

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Written by Damon Ramsey. All photographs by author (unless credited otherwise). This is not AI written. Images and information are added to this website continuously as of 2026. Feel free to copy photographs for educational purposes, but please acknowledge with: www.ecosystem-guides.com.  Ecosystem Guides posts pretty shots on Instagram and some sillier photos on Facebook.  Contact Email: damon@ecosystem-guides.com

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