Nile Monitor

Varanus niloticus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Cordats)
ClassSquamata
FamilyVaranidae (Monitor Lizards)
GenusVaranus (Monitor Lizards)
SpeciesVaranus niloticus (Nile Monitor)

Insufficient data

overall probability at Meru National Park

3 Verified records at Meru National Park

☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) is a large member of the monitor family (Varanidae) found throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in drier regions, and along the Nile River and its tributaries in East Africa. Additionally, there are modern, invasive populations in North America. The population found in West African forests and savannahs is sometimes recognized as a separate species, the West African Nile monitor (V. niloticus stellatus) and Ornate monitor (V. niloticus ornatus). While it is dwarfed by its larger relatives, such as the Komodo dragon, the Asian water monitor or the crocodile monitor, it is still one of the largest lizards in the world, reaching (and even surpassing) Australia's perentie in size. Other common names include the African small-grain lizard, as well as iguana and various forms derived from it, such as guana, water leguaan or river leguaan (leguan, leguaan, and likkewaan mean monitor lizard in South African English, and can be used interchangeably). A feral population of Nile monitors (descended from escaped or intentionally-released pets) has become established in several locations in South Florida. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Meru National Park

Varanus albigularis

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Nile Monitor at Meru National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Probability
1	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	50–60%
2	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	50–60%
3	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	50–60%
4	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	50–60%
5	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	50–60%
6	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	40–50%
7	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	40–50%
8	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	40–50%
9	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	40–50%
10	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	40–50%
11	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	40–50%
12	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	30–40%
13	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	30–40%
14	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	30–40%
15	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	30–40%
16	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	30–40%
17	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	30–40%
18	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	30–40%
19	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	20–30%
20	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	20–30%
21	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	20–30%
22	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	20–30%
23	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	20–30%
24	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	20–30%
25	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	20–30%
26	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	20–30%
27	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	20–30%
28	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	20–30%
29	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	10–20%
30	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	10–20%
31	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	10–20%
32	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	10–20%
33	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	5–10%
34	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	Insufficient data
35	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
36	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
37	Taï National Park	🇨🇮 Ivory Coast	Insufficient data
38	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
39	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data

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