About Our African Animal Garden Ornaments
This collection brings together 36 African wildlife sculptures in three core materials: reconstituted limestone, cast sandstone, and bronze-finish aluminium. Elephants dominate with 16 designs across six poses and three finishes. The range also includes lions, tigers, gorillas, giraffes, meerkats, and more unusual pieces like the Half Alligator and Wild Boar. Prices start at £49 for compact stone pieces and go up to £2,299 for the life-sized Gorilla.
The stone pieces come from UK-based manufacturers Melmar and Lucas Stone, both specialising in frost-proof garden statuary. The bronze-finish range is from Enigma, whose aluminium castings are hand-finished with a multi-layered patina. Each piece is designed for permanent outdoor display in the British climate without cover or protection.
Browse our full animal garden ornaments collection, or see large stone garden ornaments for bigger statement pieces.
Why Choose This Collection? 🦁
- 🐘 16 Elephants: Six poses, three finishes — the UK's widest elephant ornament range.
- ❄️ Frost-Proof: Stone rated to -20°C. Bronze finish will not peel or corrode.
- 📏 All Sizes: From 150mm meerkats to life-sized gorillas over 1200mm tall.
- 🇬🇧 Free UK Delivery: On every order, with next-day dispatch available.
Why We Chose This Range
"African animals are the hardest to get right as ornaments because people know exactly what they should look like. A lion with the wrong mane proportions or an elephant with ears the wrong shape — you spot it immediately. I tested dozens of suppliers and rejected most of them. The Enigma bronze elephants are the best I've seen at any price point — the muscle definition in the legs and the skin texture around the ears is genuinely impressive. And the Melmar stone elephants develop the most beautiful natural patina after a couple of winters. The life-sized Gorilla is our most dramatic piece — it stops people in their tracks." — Matt
Which African Animals Do We Stock?
🐘 Elephants (16 designs)
Our largest sub-collection. Standing, sitting, roaring, and fighting poses in stone, bronze, and granite finishes. Compact stone elephants from £49 (Indian Elephant) up to the Extra Large Grey Elephant at £245. The Enigma bronze range offers Standing, Roaring, and Granite finishes from £189 to £289. Also includes the charming Ellie the Elephant at £209.
🦍 Gorillas (3 designs)
The collection's most dramatic pieces. The life-sized Gorilla Metal Garden Ornament at £2,299 is a genuine showstopper — over 1200mm tall in hand-finished bronze. The Large Gorilla (£389) and Small Gorilla (£189) offer the same quality at more accessible sizes and prices.
🦁 Lions and Tigers
The Chatsworth Lion Pair (£260) in reconstituted limestone makes a classic flanking statement for driveways and gates. The Lion With Ball (£845) is a single commanding metal piece. For tigers, the bronze-finish Tiger (£289) and the larger Small Tiger Metal (£700) bring real presence to borders and lawns.
🦒 Giraffes and Meerkats
The Baby Giraffe (£415) stands 800mm tall in bronze — a striking border piece. The Cast Iron Giraffe Family (£99) is a popular gift at just £89. Meerkats come in single (£50) and family groups (£55) from £50, perfect for rockeries and low borders where they peek out from planting.
African Animal Ornaments at a Glance
| Product | Animal | Material | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Elephant | Elephant | Stone / Sandstone | Borders, shelves | £49 |
| Proud Meerkat | Meerkat | Stone / Sandstone | Rockeries, low borders | £50 |
| Elephant Head | Elephant | Metal | Walls, shelves, gifts | £50 |
| Cast Iron Giraffe Family | Giraffe | Cast iron | Mantlepieces, gifts | £99 |
| Standing Elephant | Elephant | Bronze finish | Patios, garden rooms | £189 |
| Small Gorilla | Gorilla | Bronze finish | Borders, focal points | £189 |
| Chatsworth Lions (pair) | Lion | Stone | Driveways, gate flanks | £260 |
| ⭐ Roaring Elephant (Bronze) | Elephant | Bronze finish | Statement focal point | £289 |
| Tiger (Bronze) | Tiger | Bronze finish | Borders, lawn features | £289 |
| Large Gorilla | Gorilla | Bronze finish | Large gardens, wow factor | £389 |
| Baby Giraffe | Giraffe | Metal | Tall borders, paths | £415 |
| Lion With Ball | Lion | Metal | Grand entrances | £845 |
| Life-Sized Gorilla | Gorilla | Metal | Ultimate statement piece | £2,299 |
|
Matt's Pick for African Animal OrnamentsBest For: Garden focal points, patio centrepieces, and elephant lovers Why I Recommend It: The pose captures real movement — trunk raised, ears forward, weight shifting onto the front legs. The bronze finish has four or five tonal layers that catch the light differently depending on the time of day. I put one in our display garden and it is the piece visitors photograph most. At £289 it sits in the sweet spot between the compact stone elephants and the larger statement pieces. Price: £289 |
Where Should You Place African Animal Ornaments?
Placement depends on the size, weight, and visual impact of the piece. Large stone sculptures (elephants, lions) need a solid base — a paving slab, compacted gravel, or concrete plinth. They will sink into soft lawn over a wet winter, especially pieces over 20kg.
Bronze-finish pieces are lighter and work well on patios, decking, raised beds, and in borders. The elephant range looks particularly natural surrounded by large-leaf planting like hostas, fatsia, or bamboo that echoes tropical foliage. Meerkats are designed for low spots — rockeries, herb garden edges, and the front of mixed borders where they peek out and surprise visitors.
For pairs like the Chatsworth Lions, maintain equal spacing either side of a gate, path entrance, or doorway. Position them facing slightly outward rather than directly forward — this creates a more natural guarding stance and draws the eye toward whatever they are flanking.
Browse Related Collections
For more wildlife, our deer sculptures and bird garden ornaments complement African themes well. The large metal garden ornaments collection features more statement bronze pieces, and our small garden ornaments range has compact options under 300mm.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, every piece in this collection is designed for year-round outdoor display in the UK. The reconstituted limestone and cast sandstone pieces are frost-proof down to -20°C. Bronze-finish aluminium does not absorb water and will not crack, peel, or corrode. Cast iron pieces are powder-coated for weather resistance. None of these materials require winter cover or indoor storage.
Elephants are our best sellers, accounting for 16 of the 36 products in this collection. The Standing Elephant in Bronze (£189) and the Roaring Elephant in Bronze (£289) are consistently popular for their sculptural detail. For a more affordable option, the Indian Elephant in stone starts at £49. Meerkats are our second most popular, especially the family groups.
Stone pieces range from under 2kg for small meerkats to over 60kg for large elephant statues. Mid-range stone pieces like the Ellie the Elephant (£209) typically weigh 15-25kg. Bronze-finish aluminium pieces are significantly lighter — the Roaring Elephant weighs around 8-10kg despite its size. We recommend placing heavier stone pieces on a paving slab rather than directly on soft soil.
The most affordable pieces start at £49 for the Indian Elephant in stone or sandstone. Proud Meerkats are £50 each, and Meerkat Family groups are £55. The Elephant Head wall piece is £50 and makes a great gift. The Cast Iron Giraffe Family at £99 is another popular affordable option that works indoors or outdoors.
Use a soft brush and warm soapy water for both stone and bronze-finish pieces. For stone, gentle brushing removes surface dirt while preserving the natural moss and lichen that develops over time. Avoid pressure washers — they damage fine sculptural details like ears, trunks, and paws. For bronze-finish aluminium, wipe with a damp cloth and apply a light coat of beeswax once a year to maintain patina depth.
Yes, we offer free UK mainland delivery on all orders. Every African animal ornament in this collection ships free regardless of size or weight. Orders placed before 2pm on weekdays are dispatched the same day. Heavier stone pieces are delivered on a pallet by a specialist carrier. Smaller items are individually boxed with protective packaging.
Bring the wild into your garden
Scroll up to browse all 36 African animal ornaments or call our specialists on 0800 368 8590 for advice on sizing and placement.