Graceful Chameleon

Graceful Chameleon

Chamaeleo gracilis

Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Tsavo East National Park

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

5 Verified sightings at Tsavo East National Park From 2019 to 2026
11 In all 2 parks
February Best month
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted

About the Graceful Chameleon

The graceful chameleon (Chamaeleo gracilis) is a species of chameleon native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is commonly around a foot (30.5 cm) long. Because of its abundance, it is heavily exploited by the pet trade. The graceful chameleon inhabits much of sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in the west to Angola in the south and Ethiopia in the east. It mostly lives in forests, though it tolerates bushy areas near plantations and savanna.

C. gracilis is often green, yellow, or brown, with a green stripe on its side. Although it is usually a foot (30.5 cm) in total length (including tail), it can grow up to 15 inches (38 cm) in total length. The graceful chameleon is diurnal; it hunts for prey during the morning and evening, while it rests in the shade during the hottest part of the day. Males are very territorial, and often threaten each other with colorful displays. It eats insects, and can live up to 10 years in captivity.

C. gracilis breeds twice per year, once in the dry season and again at the end of the wet season. 20 to 50 eggs are laid per clutch. Two subspecies are recognized as being valid... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
2 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Gambia Reptile Farm 🇬🇲 Gambia In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Graceful Chameleon in Tsavo East National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Graceful Chameleon sighting in Tsavo East National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 7th most-seen of the 7 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Graceful Chameleon in Tsavo East National Park?

February and April

In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Graceful Chameleon in Tsavo East National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January, March, May–July and September–November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Graceful Chameleon?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Graceful Chameleon sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Is Tsavo East National Park the best place to see a Graceful Chameleon?

Yes

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Graceful Chameleon sightings, Tsavo East National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda, about 20%).

Where does the Graceful Chameleon sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Graceful Chameleon is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Tsavo East National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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