big five animals on safari

What are Africa’s Big Five? Meet the continent’s most iconic wildlife

Once mostly targeted by hunters, these large species are “awe-inspiring” sights for safari-goers.

If you’ve gone on an African safari , chances are you’ve heard of the Big Five, the must-see list of iconic megafauna.

Lions , leopards, elephants , African buffalo , and rhinoceroses are “what people think of when they think of Africa and wildlife,” says Natalia Borrego , a research associate at the University of Minnesota Lion Center.

The term, coined in the late 1800s during Africa’s colonial period , refers to what trophy hunters considered the most challenging and dangerous animals to hunt on foot.

These animals are still hunted today , but a shift toward tourism has also made seeing the Big Five an “awe-inspiring” goal for any safari-goer, Borrego says.

That’s especially true because all of these species are decreasing in population—lions in particular are struggling, having lost 94 percent of their original habitat . Only about 20,000 of the big cats remain in the wild.

Here’s are some fascinating facts about the Big Five.

This is the most elusive, and also the smallest, of the five. “I call them ninja cats because they’re just sneaky and they’re harder to spot,” Borrego says.

Speaking of spots, most leopards are light-colored, with distinctive dark spots that are called rosettes. Black leopards, which appear to be almost solid in color because their spots are hard to distinguish, are commonly called black panthers .

The solitary big cats haul large kills, such as zebra or antelope, into a tree to eat alone, in peace.

There’s another reason for leopards to stay aloft: They don’t exactly get along with their fellow Big Fiver, the African lion. If a lion has a chance to kill a leopard, it will. (Related: “ A lioness killing a leopard floored these filmmakers .”)

African lion

Lions are the only social big cat, but don’t expect to see the king. There isn’t one.

These big cats are “not born into a rank,” Borrego says. “They are egalitarian, which means they don’t have a permanent social hierarchy.”

One male may be dominant over the others, but that can change at any time.

Lion society is also matrilineal, “so the females hold the territories,” and stay with the pride into which they’re born. (Related story: “ In real life, Simba’s mom would be running the pride .”)

African buffalo

These hefty, cow-like animals often congregate by the thousands in the Serengeti; forming large groups is one defense against predators.

Male and female buffalo both have horns, but the males’ curve upward and fuse together in the center, forming a solid bony plate called a boss. It’s a helpful defense—as is being more than three times heavier than their lion adversaries.

That’s why a lion that attacks a buffalo is taking a huge risk of dying. Buffalo can be aggressive, and frequently come into conflict with humans outside of protected areas.

African elephant

The biggest of the Big Five is the African savanna elephant, which can weigh up to seven tons. The African forest elephant, which is about three feet shorter and lives in the forests of the Congo Basin, was declared a separate species after genetic testing in 2010 showed big differences between the forest and savanna dwellers.

Savanna elephants are large enough to change the landscape , pulling up trees to make grasslands, dispersing seeds, and overall increasing biodiversity.

Long sought after by poachers, elephants have a fragmented range throughout central and southern Africa .

Rhinoceroses

There are two species—the black rhinoceros and the white rhinoceros—and five subspecies between them left in Africa. Those include the northern white rhino, the southern white rhino, the eastern black rhino, the southern central black rhino, and the southwestern black rhino.

All are huge, with a top weight of 5,000 pounds and horns that can grow up to five feet long.

Due largely to poaching for their horns , the western black rhino was declared extinct in 2011 . The last male northern white rhino died in 2018 , with only two females remaining—making that subspecies functionally extinct. ( Learn about the different types of extinction .)

About 20,000 southern white rhinos remain, mostly in southern Africa. Conservation efforts have helped increase the population of the smaller, critically endangered black rhino , found mainly in East and southern Africa.

Other Fives

Africa is incredibly rich in wildlife, which is why several other “fives” have popped up over the years, such as the Little Five —including the leopard tortoise and the elephant shrew—the Shy Five , and the Ugly Five , which, to say the least, is a bit subjective. ( Read why people find “ugly” animals cute .)

With over 2,000 bird species in Africa , can we also get a High Five?

For Hungry Minds

Related topics.

• AFRICAN LIONS
• WATER BUFFALO
• WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

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The Big Five Animals

All about ‘the big five’ animals – african elephant, cape buffalo, leopard, lion, rhinoceros, the big five animals of africa are african elephant, cape buffalo,  leopard, lion, and rhinoceros.

These five types of animals were named ‘the big five’ by big game hunters from African’s colonial era, as they were considered the most difficult and dangerous African beasts to hunt on foot. These days, of course, any shooting of Africa’s big five tends to be more about choosing the right lens ( photo safari anyone? )!

Jump to a section: African Elephant | Cape Buffalo | Leopard | Lion | Rhinoceros |  Big five quotes | Best places to see the big five | Other wildlife ‘5s’

Read on below for a more in-depth look at each of the big 5 animals:

1. African Elephant

African elephants are the largest of the big five animals

The African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) is the largest and heaviest land animal in the world, weighing up to 6 tonnes, and eating massive amounts of food each day.

Their distinguishing features include the dexterous trunk , large ears that cool the body when flapped, and elongated incisors in the form of tusks. There are actually two species of African elephant – the African bush elephant and the smaller African forest elephant. Both are herbivores that live in large groups, whilst the African bush elephant is the larger of the two species, and typically the species referred to as a member of the big five animals.

A bull elephant can be dangerous, as can herds or mothers with young elephants. Keep your distance from them, and if in a vehicle ensure that you have the means to drive away forwards – elephants can run faster than a car can reverse. An elephant flapping its ears, kicking up dust, and/or trumpeting is probably about to charge.

Group name: Herd

Size: Up to 3.3 meters tall, weighing 6,000kg.

Speed: Up to 40 km per hour.

Diet: Elephants are vegetarians, eating up to 160kg per day, made up of savannah grasses, bushes, small plants, fruit, twigs, tree bark, and roots. Read more about what elephants eat .

Range & Habitat: African Elephants are found across sub-Saharan Africa – from Mali in the north, through the central and west African forests, down to South Africa. They are adaptable animals, capable of surviving in many habitats, from lush wetlands to arid African deserts . Despite this, both species of African elephants are considered endangered species , and on the list of Africa’s most endangered animals .

Best places to see African elephants: Addo Elephant Park, South Africa,   Chobe National Park , Botswana , Etosha National Park, Namibia , Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe , South Luangwa National Park, Zambia .

Read more about African elephants .

2. Cape Buffalo

A grumpy African buffalo

Weighing in at not too far short of a ton, the African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ) has a reputation for being bad-tempered and dangerous. Whilst a solitary African buffalo is one of the most unpredictable safari animals (and dangerous, hence their inclusion in the term big five animals), they are usually a docile beast when in a herd… aside from their tendency to stampede en masse when alarmed.

Herds have clearly defined home ranges, the size of which is determined by the amount of food and water available.

Size: Up to 1.8 meters tall, and 800kg in weight.

Speed: They can run at speeds of up 57 kilometers per hour.

Diet: Cape buffalos are strictly herbivores and eat a wide variety of grasses, leaves, and other plants.

Habitat & Rage: Cape buffalo thrive in all sub-Saharan grasslands with access to water – from dry savanna to lowland floodplains.

Best places to see African Buffalo: Chobe National Park , Botswana , Katavi National Park, Tanzania , Kruger National Park, South Africa , Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.

Learn more about Cape Buffalo.

A stunning African leopard lounges in a tree in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Slightly smaller than their lion cousins, African leopards ( Panthera pardus ) are less rare than you might think, but rely on their animal camouflage and being active at night to stay hidden. Leopards are solitary, independent creatures, and rarely seen together except during mating, or a mother with cubs. As such they are totally self-reliant, and expert hunters – sometimes killing prey up to twice their size. During the daytime they often lounge around in trees and come to the ground after dark to hunt, taking their prey up into a tree to eat at their leisure.

Group name: Leap

Size: 1 meter high, weighing up to 100 kg.

Speed: 56 kilometers per hour.

Diet: Leopards are opportunistic carnivores and hunt a wide range of prey such as jackals , antelopes, gazelles , African monkeys , duiker, eland , impala , wildebeest , and more.

Range & Habitat: African leopards live in more places than any other types of big cat in Africa, and are comfortable in almost any habitat, including deserts, rainforests, woodlands, grassland savannas, mountain, scrub, and swamps. Leopards are one of the few big game species found outside national parks.

Best places to see Leopard: Londolozi Game Reserve, South Africa , Moremi Game Reserve , Botswana , Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia .

Learn more about leopards.

A male African lion and lioness relaxing

The African lion is the largest and most sociable of Africa’s cats , and one of Africa’s most dangerous animals . At up to 225kg, the lion  ( Panthera leo ) really is the king of the savanna (it’s not a jungle animal !). Living in prides of up to 40 lions, it’s the lionesses who do all the hunting, usually sharing with the males of a pride. Lions are very territorial, and the females generally spend most of their lives within their home ranges.

If you encounter an African lion on foot don’t turn and run (easier said than done), as a running target that looks like prey will probably be viewed as such. Instead, try to make yourself look big, and back away gradually.

Group name: Pride

Size: 1.2 meters, weighing up to 225kg.

Speed: At a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour, the lion is the second fastest land animal in Africa .

Diet: African lions are apex predators and generally hunt the larger animals in their surroundings – buffalo, rhino, zebra, giraffe, and antelopes. Learn more about what lions eat .

Range & Habitat: Lions tend to prefer grassland, savanna, dense scrub, and open woodland. They are found across sub-Saharan African national parks, and also in a small part of north-east India.

Best places to see Lion: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa, Kruger National Park, South Africa , Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya , Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania , Okavango Delta, Botswana .

Read more about lions.

5. Rhinocerous

A white rhino walking in the bush

Once widespread through sub-Saharan Africa, the rhino has been hunted to the brink of extinction, and is probably the hardest of the big five to spot in the wild.

There are two species of rhinoceros in Africa – the critically endangered black rhino ( Diceros bicornis ) and the white rhino ( Ceratotherium simum ). Whilst white rhinos have made a comeback through conservation efforts across the continent, black rhinos are still very much one of Africa’s endangered animals . The fundamental differences between the white rhino and black rhino are not color, but rather size, temperament, food preference, and mouth shape. White rhinos have a flat, wide mouth, and their name comes from a mispronunciation of the Afrikaans word wide – “wijd”.

Both black rhinos and white rhinos tend to be wary of humans, but occasionally charge vehicles that get too close. If you’re on foot, then their bad eyesight should work in your favour – if they do charge you the apparent life-saving technique involves letting them get as close as possible, then stepping aside at the last second.

Group name: Crash

Size: 1.9 meters high and weighing up to 2,300kg

Speed: 50 kilometers per hour

Diet: All species of rhino are herbivores, grazing on a wide variety of fruits, stems, twigs, grasses, and leaves.

Range & Habitat: White rhinos are found throughout Asia and sub-Saharan Africa in habitats ranging from dense rainforests and swamps to grassy plains.

Best places to see Rhinoceros: Tends to be in Southern Africa – Etosha National Park , Namibia , Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, South Africa , Kruger National Park , South Africa, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya , Mkomazi National Park, Tanzania.

Learn more about rhinos.

Best places to see all of the big five animals

Whilst we’ve highlighted national parks above to see each of the members of the big five animals, the ultimate thrill is to see all five animals on one safari. It’s not easy – not least because even if all five animals are present in an area they can still be very difficult to see! However, it is possible, as there are a number of hotspots in southern and east Africa that are rich in variety and can support an extremely dense wildlife population. Our top picks to see all of the big five together are:

• Chobe National Park, Botswana
• Etosha National Park in Namibia
• Kruger National Park in South Africa
• Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa
• Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
• Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
• South Luangwa National Park in Zambia

5 great quotes about each of the big five animals

Elephant quotes.

“They say an elephant never forgets. What they don’t tell you is, you never forget an elephant.”

Bill Murray

“Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing.”

“If anyone wants to know what elephants are like, they are like people only more so.”

Pierre Corneille

“He who mounts a wild elephant goes where the elephant goes.”

Randolph Bourne

Lion quotes

“Do not try to fight a lion if you are not one yourself.”

African proverb

“You know you are truly alive when you’re living among lions.”

Isak Dinesen

“Until the lion tells his side of the story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”

Zimbabwean proverb

“Lions make leopards tame.”

William Shakespeare

“In the jungle, the mighty jungle The lion sleeps tonight.”

Solomon Lina, “Mbube”

Leopard quotes

“At the top of the mountain we are all snow leopards. “

Hunter S. Thompson

“The leopard does not change his spots.”

King James Bible

“This world without a leopard…I mean, who would want to be here?! “

Diana Vreeland

“Leopard is an animal design, and my designs come from nature. “

Roberto Cavalli

“A leopard feels at home with leopard. “

George Eliot

Buffalo quotes

Cows run away from the storm while the buffalo charges toward it – and gets through it quicker. Whenever I’m confronted with a tough challenge, I do not prolong the torment, I become the buffalo.

Wilma Mankiller

The buffalo is a surprisingly stupid animal.

Ellsworth Huntington

So is the savage buffalo, especially delighting in dark places, where he can wallow in the mud and slake his thirst without much trouble

John Hanning Speke

At the rate science proceeds, rockets and missiles will one day seem like buffalo – slow, endangered grazers in the black pasture of outer space.

Bernard Cooper

The coat of the buffalo never pinches under the arm, never puckers at the shoulders; it is always the same, yet never old fashioned nor out of date.

Theodore Parker

Rhino quotes

A charging black rhinoceros is nothing to mess with. When it is headed straight toward you, it is the ultimate exercise in sphincter control.

Boyd Norton

It is one thing to be amazed at gorgon or a griffin, creatures which do not exist; but it is quite another and much higher thing to be amazed at a rhinoceros or a giraffe, creatures which do exist and look as if they don’t.

G.K.Chesterton

The only way to save a rhinoceros is to save the environment in which it lives, because there’s a mutual dependency between it and millions of other species of both animals and plants.

David Attenborough

The rhinoceros stood about five hundred yards away, not a twentieth-century animal at all, but an odd, grim straggler from the Stone Age.

Winston Churchill

A rhinoceros is as ugly as a human being, and it too is going to die, but at least it never thinks that it is beautiful.

Peter S. Beagle

Other wildlife ‘fives’

Have you seen the big five animals and are are looking for a new wildlife challenge – other animals to hunt for your photo safari?  For safari aficionados up for ticking all the ‘I’ve seen’ boxes, have you heard about the other groups of 5 animals?

World’s Ugliest Fish

Ugly Animals

Best Places For The Big 5 In South Africa

The Big Seven Animals – What They Are & Where To See Them

What Are ‘The Ugly Five’ Animals?

What Are ‘The Shy Five’ Animals?

Discover more of our wildlife posts…, what exactly is a ‘quagga’, bison vs buffalo: how to tell the difference, interesting african wildlife facts for students, most venomous snakes in the world, why do zebras have stripes, what are the most dangerous animals, the smallest mammals in the world, baobab – the upside down tree.

I like the big five very much, but alittle bit surprised. The hippo i big than lion and leopard why is it not on the list. We heard that hippos are one of the animals which kills more people than elephants and rihnos

Hippos mainly live in the water, the Big Five live on land.

Hi Martin, the name is not everything! Hippos weren’t in the group of animals hunted for their skin or heads, so didn’t make the big five list ;)

The Big five are the animals that i love so much but they left the TIGER and its deserves to be on of them… if one could make them pets i’d long had one.

Unfortunately tigers are not native to Africa.

The big five is found all over Kenya and other parts of Africa.

Big five are found in Africa most distinctive in Tanzania, am proud of it.

My best animals are the big five

In my opinion the “Big Five” and all other wild animals wherever they are in the world should not be hunted down by big game hunters or poachers and the cowards who carry out these atrocities should themselves be hunted down and prosecuted to the fullest by the governments of those countries in which those activities occur.

Absolutely agree Eric – big game hunting is not something I can say I’m a fan of…

very useful to my resarch…

Glad to hear it Ryan ;)

Top countries for safaris

• Botswana safaris
• Kenya safaris
• Namibia safaris
• South Africa safaris
• Tanzania safaris
• Uganda safaris

Safari basics

• Safari animals
• How to find the right safari company
• When to go on safari
• What to take on safari
• Safari clothing – what to wear
• Safari rules & etiquette
• Wildlife spotting tips

Most read articles

• All about the ‘big five’ animals
• Collective nouns for animals
• Safari movies to watch before you go
• The world’s fastest land animals
• Apex predators
• 10 Fascinating African tribes
• The biggest animals in the world
• 17 Epic hybrid animals
• The world’s ugliest animals
• Why are flamingos pink?

Africa’s best game reserves

• Chobe National Park, Botswana
• Etosha National Park, Namibia
• Kruger National Park, South Africa
• Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
• Okavango Delta, Botswana
• Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

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What are the Big 5 of Africa?

Why are they called the big five animals, the big five animals in pictures, big five animal facts, where to find the big five in africa, what are the best big five safari destinations, what are the best places to see all of the big 5, when is the best time to see the big five in africa, the african big five and wildlife conservation status, other popular five animal combinations, learn about the big 5 on safari in africa, guide to the big 5 animals of africa, receive photography and travel tips.

What are the Big 5 animals of Africa and where to find them?

The Big Five animals of Africa , in short, 'The Big 5'   include the African elephant , rhinoceros , lion , leopard , and Cape buffalo . These five big game animal species are found on the African continent in the Southern and Eastern parts of Africa. As the name suggests, they are not the heaviest or the 5 biggest safari animals.

If it was about the size or weight of the African animal , a gorilla or hippo could also easily fit in. A hippo is for example three times heavier than a Cape buffalo and a male gorilla and male lion can both weigh up to 225kg.

The Big Five game refers to the 5 African animals that big game hunters in the late 1800s, during Africa's colonial period, considered the most dangerous and difficult wild animals to track and hunt on foot. Hunting these African game animals got them the biggest prices and trophies. Dangerous, because of their behavior when they feel threatened or get injured. Sadly, this wildlife is still hunted today but luckily there are also a lot of conservation initiatives to protect these threatened species that are decreasing in population and struggling because of habitat loss.

Nowadays, the term 'Big Five' is more a commercial term used by safari companies to sell their 'African Big 5 Safari trips' and to describe the Top 5 safari animals to see on a game drive . This made them also the most famous large African animals to look for on a safari trip to Africa. Ticking off the Big 5 is therefore on many travelers’ bucket lists. However, there's much more wildlife worth seeing roam freely in their natural habitat, like the cheetah, a tall elegant giraffe, a spotted Hyena, or a pack of African wild dogs. Even smaller creatures, like Dung Beetles or all the colorful birdlife, play an important role in the ecosystems.

So, with this article, I also want to raise awareness about the fact that there's more to Africa than spotting the Big Five , which is a hunting term after all.

That is also the main reason for setting up the New Big Five project, an international initiative to create a new Big Five of wildlife: the Big Five of wildlife photography where it's about shooting with a camera instead of hunting with a gun. The aim of this project is to raise awareness about the crisis facing the world's wildlife from threats, including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change.

The Big 5 safari animals of Africa in one black and white photo collage.

1. African Elephant: a gentle giant

The African savanna elephant is the largest land mammal in the world and can reach up to 3 meters in height and can weigh up to 7 tons. The African forest elephant is 3 feet shorter. Elephants communicate across a large distance at a very low frequency through their feet and the soil that cannot be heard by humans. Elephants live in a herd that is led by the 'matriarch' female. The elephant is threatened by ivory poachers for their tusks.

 2. Rhino: most endangered species of the Big 5

The Rhinoceros is the most endangered species of the Big Five due to rhino poaching and illegal trade in rhino horns. There are two species of rhino in Africa: the White Rhino and the Black Rhino and five subspecies.

The names of the rhino don't have anything to do with color as both species are grey. The name of the 'white' rhino is a corruption of the Dutch word 'wijd' (wide), which refers to the wide mouth or square lip of the white rhino. A rhino can weigh up to 5000 pounds and its horns can grow up to 5 feet long. Rhinos have poor eyesight but excellent hearing and sense of smell.

3. African Lion: courageous King of the jungle

An African lion is the largest predator on land. Preys of the lion include zebra, impala, giraffes, and other herbivores like wildebeest. A group of lions is called a pride and males are easily distinguished from females because of their large manes. The darker the lion's manes, the older he is.

A male lion is sometimes referred to as the king, but in reality, lions don't have a permanent social hierarchy. The dominant male in a lion pride can change at any time. The females hold the territory and stay with the pride in which they were born. They also do most of the hunting and take care of the cubs. Lions use their roar as a form of communication and can be heard up to 5 miles away.

4. Leopard: sneaky and excellent tree climber

The African leopard is the most solitary and elusive animal of the big 5, staying hidden during the day. They are the least seen of the Big 5 and on most occasions found alone. The leopard is nocturnal and mainly hunts at night. Their kills include zebra and antelopes like Thompson Gazelle. The elusive leopards hide their prey in a tree to prevent lions and hyenas from stealing it. A lion and a leopard both belong to the African big cats, but they can't get along. A lion will kill a leopard if it has the chance. A leopard is also a good swimmer and occasionally eats fish.

5. Cape Buffalo: most dangerous to humans

The African buffalo is very territorial and protective and is probably the most dangerous animal of the big five to humans. If this cow-like animal feels threatened it can become very aggressive and charge with astonishing speed. Buffaloes are mostly found in groups and large herds and spend a lot of their time grazing. Both male and female buffaloes have horns, but the males' horns curve and come together in the center, forming a big bony plate called a boss.

The primary predator of the buffalo is the lion. A buffalo will try to protect and rescue another member of the herd and they have even been seen killing a lion after the lion had killed a member of the group. Although the African buffalo and water buffalo resemble each other, they are not closely related.

The Big 5 animals live on the African continent. You can find all of the Big 5 in Southern Africa and East Africa. The African countries where you can see the Big Five are:

• Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
• South Africa

Not all of the above countries where the Big 5 live are ideal for a safari trip in terms of safety and existing numbers of the Big Five species.

The best countries to see all the big five on safari are South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Uganda, and Namibia.

However, in Namibia, you can't find all of the Big 5 in one place. In Etosha National Park you can only see 4 of the African Big Five. You can't find the buffalo there, but it's the best place in Africa to see the black rhino. They often concentrate around a water hole where tourists can sit to observe these critically endangered animals.

In Uganda, you can't see rhinos in the wild, but you have a chance of seeing all the Big 5 when you visit them up close at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where they roam freely but are protected by rangers 24/7. In Uganda, you can also see the endangered mountain Gorilla and our closest relative on a chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation.

South Africa is one of the most reliable Big Five safari destinations to spot all the Big 5 . South Africa even honored the importance of the Big 5 animals by putting each of the 5 animals on their bills.

The best chance of seeing the Big Five on a single safari or even on a single game drive is at the following places:

• Kruger National Park and the surrounding reserves, like Sabi Sand Game Reserve . Kruger is one of the best places to go for a safari in South Africa for both beginner safari travelers and seasoned wildlife viewers. Sabi Sand hosts luxurious safari lodges and shares an unfenced border with Kruger with an abundance of wildlife roaming around freely. It's also known for its high number of leopard sightings.
• Shamwari Private Game Reserve is a great place to find the Big 5 in South Africa. A beautiful high-end reserve with luxurious lodges and an exclusive feeling. You're often the only safari vehicle at an animal sighting. Shamwari is also well-known for its wildlife conservation initiatives, like the born-free Foundation.
• Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is a perfect place to find all of the Big Five in one day and you can combine your trip to the Ngorongoro Crater with for example the Serengeti which is famous for its wildlife sightings including the great migration of wildebeest and zebra.
• Maasai Mara National Park and the Mara Conservancies are also one of the best places to find the Big 5, although seeing rhinos roaming freely is a challenge. Some conservancies have a rhino sanctuary, but these rhinos are protected by rangers 24/7. An example is the Enonkishu Conservancy on the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara Conservancies. Another great place in Kenya to see rhinos is at Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Of course, there are much more places and national parks to see the Big Five. Not all national parks have all of the Big Five and when they do have them, it can be harder to spot all of them on a single safari in Africa.

The high season for a safari in Africa is from July to October . It's the cooler dry winter which makes a Big 5 sighting easier because of the thin and dried-up vegetation. The lack of rain also means animals congregate around flowing rivers or larger lakes to drink. However, the shoulder seasons are also perfect to find the big 5 in Africa and it's less touristy.

Africa's Big Five are of great concern for wildlife conservationists due to trophy hunting, poaching, and habitat loss. Most of the Big 5 animals are listed as vulnerable or (critically) endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Hunting is sadly still allowed to some degree, but Africa now also has strict laws to protect and conserve many African animal species.

The black rhinoceros is classified as critically endangered and the southern white rhinoceros is near threatened. Mostly due to poaching because of the rhino horn. Two species of the African Big Cats , the African lion, and the African leopard are classified as vulnerable. The African savanna elephant is an endangered species, mainly because of the poaching crisis and habitat loss. The African buffalo is of the least concern of all the Big Five animals.

Contributing to wildlife conservation

The African Big 5 animals and other endangered species are widely protected in National Parks and government-run game reserves; partnering with the surrounding communities to reduce the human-wildlife conflict. Tourists contribute directly to big 5 wildlife conservation  by going on safari in Africa and paying park fees.

  As a nature and wildlife photographer, I also give back to wildlife conservation by donating 10% of each  Fine Art Wildlife Photo Print  sold in my webshop to the education of guides and rangers as a long-term goal to change the world and to protect our wildlife from extinction due to wildlife crimes and habitat loss. By buying a print in my webshop, you can make a difference too!

Apart from having the Big 5 in Africa, there are also other animal combinations formed that include 5 African animals. Africa also has the Shy Five and Little Five . It even named the Ugly Five , but that is very subjective.

Did you know I'm a qualified Field Guide (also known as a nature guide or safari guide )? I'm more than happy to take you on a photo safari to Africa with me where you will learn even more about the Big Five and all other flora and fauna. As a photographic tour leader and Dutch/English/German-speaking tour guide, I work closely together with local African tour operators and local drivers/guides. Get in touch to enquire about the possibilities.

I hope this article was helpful to learn more facts about the African Big 5 animals , including why they are called the Big Five, in what countries these Big 5 safari animals are found, and the best time of spotting them with a side note that there's more to Africa than spotting the Big Five.

Smaller creatures play an important role in the ecosystems as well. People who are going on a safari in Africa shouldn't be disappointed when they don't tick off the Big Five. Try to appreciate every single animal, big or small. Even trees, plants, and flowers. Every sighting is a gift of nature. Everything is connected and we should appreciate this more.

You would help me a lot by sharing this guide to the Big 5 in Africa on your social media or pinning it on Pinterest for later use.

Want to keep up to date with my travels? Follow me on Instagram @ourplanetinmylens. If you are inspired to go on a safari to Africa, you can find all of my writing about Africa and its countries in my Africa Travel Guide .

Pin the Guide about the Big 5 animals on Pinterest!

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Wildlife safari

The big five.

E E ven though you know that Africa and South Africa are so much more than the Big Five, the familiar images soon begin playing in your mind: lions roaring; elephants trumpeting; buffalos lurking in long grass; rhinos standing stately under a thorn tree; leopards prowling in the gathering darkness.

You’ve seen the Big Five in books and you’ve seen them on TV. But it’s time to come and see them for yourself.  The real thing.  In person.

And there’s no better place for this than South Africa, which offers the most exciting, memorable and exhilarating experience of your life – coming face to face with the Big Five.

Origin of the name

How did these five animals – the lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard – come to be called the Big Five?

It was originally a hunting term used by the so-called ‘great white hunters’ in the hunting heyday of the 19th and early 20thcenturies, when professional hunters bagged as many trophies as possible in as short a time as possible.

Considered a rite of passage for seasoned travellers, everybody from American presidents to European royalty and heads of state came to Africa to shoot a large, dangerous animal.

The Big Five quickly became known as the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot, and the name stuck – although now ‘shooting’ is done through a camera lens.

T T he Lion

The lion is arguably the most sought-after of the Big Five because it is synonymous with an African safari. Charismatic, powerful and beautiful, everybody wants to see the appropriately named 'King of the Beasts'.

Once, hundreds of thousands of lions roamed the world, but today conservationists give approximate numbers of between 25 000 and 30 000 left, most in sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa, your chances of seeing lions are high, whether in our national parks or in private game reserves.

Lions are creatures of the savannah and open plains (you’ll rarely find them in a forest) and function in prides, usually numbering about five to 15, depending on the territory – although the Kruger National Park is known to have at least one big pride of up to 25 animals.

They are social family animals – related females rule, usually alongside a large dominant male that has won the pride in fierce competition with other males. Lionesses stay with the pride, while young males leave at two to three years of age. Males sometimes form coalitions to enhance their hunting success, but you’ll rarely see one with more than four lions.

L L ionesses start breeding at four years old, and typically give birth to a litter of three or four cubs after 14 to 15 weeks of gestation. Lionesses of the same pride often give birth at or near the same time as their ‘sisters’, which allows for communal suckling and round-the-clock care.

And don’t expect to see an old lion – they are defeated in battle, often die of their wounds or are no longer able to hunt. Lions are in their prime from five to nine years of age. Male lions, once they’ve taken over a pride, have to work hard to keep it. Younger males – with attitude – are always on the sidelines.

Some prides specialise in hunting certain animals and develop specialised skills for this prey of choice – young elephants, ostrich, wildebeest.

Lions have no natural enemies other than hunters, although lion cubs fall prey to nomadic male lions that kill them in attempting to take over a pride. Hyenas, leopards and wild dogs also kill lion cubs.

T T he Elephant

Perhaps it’s the African elephant that should be called ‘King of the Beasts’ – it is the world’s largest and heaviest land animal. Its ears alone measure up to 2m x 1.2m (roughly the size of the surface area of a double bed) and can weigh up to 20kg (44lb) each, while it can grow to a height of more than 3m.

Elephants abound in South Africa – you can see great herds of more than 100 in the Kruger National Park or smaller breeding herds in private reserves.

Elephants are highly social animals and females rule. A herd will typically have a matriarch with vast cultural knowledge that leads the herd, keeps it under control and chooses its direction and pace. Even when feeding (and an adult elephant, arguably nature’s most versatile vegetarian, can eat up to 300kg of grass, bark, branches and foliage a day), the herd rarely strays far from the matriarch.

Y Y oung bulls leave the herd when they become teenagers and either live alone, form bachelor herds or seek the company of old lone bulls that have long left the herd.

Your first sighting of a tiny baby elephant will be one of your most indelible memories. How do these small creatures, some not yet reaching up to their mother’s tummy, avoid being stepped on or crushed by the herd? Mother, sisters, aunts and cousins are always on the alert. Watch how mothers protect their babies by always putting themselves between danger and their offspring, and how the whole herd immediately goes into protective group defence mode when threatened.

If an elephant trumpets, you’ll certainly hear it, but the infrasonic tummy rumbles they use to communicate with one another are most often too low for the human ear to pick up – although research shows that these calls have an elephant range of up to several kilometres.

And just because elephants are huge, don’t think they are slow; if a herd takes fright, or needs to move on quickly, elephants can reach speeds up to 40km/h – faster than you can run.

Elephants love water. To see a herd drinking, playing, splashing, swimming and dunking in the water will be another of your favourite safari memories.

T T he Buffalo

Don’t be fooled by the docile appearance of the Cape buffalo (also known as the African buffalo). This mean, moody and magnificent animal is possibly the most dangerous of the Big Five, especially if you are on foot.

Robert Ruark, the American novelist, wrote that ‘a buffalo always looks at you as if you owe him money’. Come face to face with a buffalo (preferably from the safety of a vehicle), and you’ll see exactly what Ruark meant – the stare is cold, calculating and cunning.

Buffalos are social animals and move around in large herds – sometimes of many hundreds – chomping long grass as they collectively move and feed. In the dry season, you can often see a cloud of dust signalling an approaching herd.

Buffalos have to drink daily, and to witness a large herd approaching a waterhole – often in the early morning or late afternoon – is a memorable and noisy experience.

It’s quite easy to tell the males from the females. The males are blacker, bigger and have huge powerful horns that are joined in the middle to form a ‘boss’. When buffalos fight for rank and females (buffalos are non-territorial and don’t fight for territory like some others of the Big Five), the noise of the clashing and crashing of their bosses is awesome. It is estimated that the impact of their horns’ collision is equal to a car hitting a wall at 50km/h.

Females are smaller, more reddish-brown in colour, and their much narrower horns don’t meet in the middle. Calves are usually born in the rainy season, and although they can stand up on wobbly legs immediately, it takes several weeks until they can keep up adequately with the herd.

Although most of a buffalo’s senses are well developed, it’s their super-charged hearing that helps them find food and alerts them to danger. There’s usually a dominant male – or more if the herd is huge – that stays in the middle of the herd, as well as ‘pathfinders’, which may not be the biggest and best, but lead the herd and keep it together.

You may also see a group of old bulls together – caked in mud from wallowing.

These are known as ‘Dagha Boys’ after the ‘dagha’, or mud, the Zulus used to build their traditional huts.

I I t’s quite easy to tell the males from the females. The males are blacker, bigger and have huge powerful horns that are joined in the middle to form a ‘boss’. When buffalos fight for rank and females (buffalos are non-territorial and don’t fight for territory like some others of the Big Five), the noise of the clashing and crashing of their bosses is awesome. It is estimated that the impact of their horns’ collision is equal to a car hitting a wall at 50km/h.

T T he White Rhino

Your first impression will be of its bulk and size. And then you may wonder how such a prehistoric-looking animal has existed for so many millions of years. Although unfortunately, the brutality and intensity of present-day poaching is a serious threat to the continuing survival of the species.

The second-largest land mammal, the white rhino’s name has nothing to do with its colour. It was the early Dutch settlers who referred to the animal’s broad lips as ‘wyd’ (wide), misinterpreted later as ‘white’.

This is a remarkable animal, weighing in at nearly 2 500kg (about 5 500lb) and often living up to 40 years of age. Because it is a grazer, eating thick, tough grass, it needs lots of water to digest its food, and needs to drink at least once daily. Sometimes you’ll see a rhino eating mud or soil, which acts as a dietary mineral supplement.

Its horn is used for fighting and defence and is not attached to the skull in any way.

F F emales live together in small groups, individuals breaking away when a determined bull decides to mate. Only one calf is born to a female at a time; the cow is very protective of her calf and will fight off an aggressive bull if necessary.

The calf always runs in front of its mother if they are fleeing from danger (a black rhino calf, on the other hand, will run behind its mother).

You’ll often find a white rhino resting in shade in the heat of the day or wallowing in mud. The dried mud acts as a sunscreen, a cooling agent and helps evict parasites that break off with the dried mud.

Look out for rhino middens beside the road. These are huge heaps of dung, used regularly by a particular male rhino to mark his territory. Females and non-dominant bulls also defecate on these middens, which act as markers and information signals to other rhinos.

Rhinos have poor eyesight but a fantastic sense of hearing and smell; watch a rhino’s ears – they constantly rotate in all directions as it works out what’s going on around it. And don’t think that because it’s so big and ungainly it’s a slow animal. If it’s running away (or chasing you), it can reach speeds of 40km/h.

The Black Rhino

The black rhino is smaller than its larger ‘white’ relative, is more solitary and elusive, and has a shorter head and beak-shaped lip that it uses for browsing leaves and twigs. Regarded as a more dangerous animal than the white rhino because of its volatile temperament, it is now one of the most endangered animals in Africa.

T T he Leopard

The one animal everybody wants to see – beautiful, charismatic, sexy and dramatic – and also the most elusive. The leopard is a solitary animal (unless mating, or a mother with cubs) and will, whether male or female, fiercely defend its own hunting territory from other leopards.

Considered to be one of the most successful, if not the most successful, of all African predators, the leopard is a master stalker. If you are lucky, particularly on a night drive (as leopards are nocturnal animals), you may see a leopard stalking its prey – silently, ruthlessly – before getting to within 5m of the prey and then launching itself with a powerful spring. Surprise is its chief means of attack.

Leopards often athletically drag their prey up into trees (sometimes the dead animal is as heavy as the leopard) to avoid having it pirated by other animals, particularly lions and hyenas.

Look out for thick overhanging branches of big old trees – you may well find a leopard snoozing there during the hottest part of the day, or snacking on its prey.

Leopards take great pains to advertise their territories by scent marking, scraping the ground and defecating in exposed spots. They try to avoid confrontation with other leopards (unless protecting their territory) because, as solitary hunters, they can’t afford to get injured.

L L eopards make great mothers and take excellent care of their offspring, moving them from one place of safety to another when the cubs are very small – just as well, because young cubs are vulnerable to other leopards, lions, hyenas and wild dogs. Take a look at the black markings behind the ears and white tip of a mother’s long tail – these are signals for small cubs to follow.

That long tail is also used as a rudder for balance when the leopard is climbing a tree or hunting. A leopard also has long whiskers that it uses as antennae to judge spaces between bushes and trees – an essential tool for an animal that hunts at night.

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Best Places To See the Big 5 on Safari in Africa

Ariadne is an Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who author many guidebooks to African countries.

Going on safari in Africa has become closely associated with seeing the Big Five. Have you ever wondered what that is all about and where you should go? The term ‘Big Five’ originated in the early days of game hunting. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino were the most dangerous animals to hunt and were therefore considered the most valuable trophies. Today, with most visitors armed with cameras, the Big Five are still perhaps the most exciting encounter on a safari. Below are some of the best places to see the Big Five in Africa.

9,354 African Safaris

1. Sabi Sand Game Reserve – South Africa

Spotting the Big Five doesn’t get easier than in Sabi Sand Game Reserve . This cluster of jointly managed private reserves has open borders with Kruger and forms part of the same ecosystem, but animals tend to be more relaxed. Furthermore, unlike in Kruger, guided drives in open vehicles are permitted to head off-road, which makes for fantastic close-up viewing. The real star of Sabi Sands is the leopard. Nowhere else is this usually shy creature so habituated. Most guests are treated to sightings of leopards as they go about their daily routine: a male patrolling or hunting, a female nursing cubs, possibly even a mating pair in action.

• When to visit Sabi Sands : There is no bad time to visit Sabi Sands, but wildlife viewing is best in the dry winter months from May to September.
• Where to stay: There are many lodges spread over the different reserves of Sabi Sand. All offer a similar experience inclusive of meals and activities. The standard of decor, service and guiding is superb. There are no camping or budget accommodations in Sabi Sands.

86 Sabi Sands Safaris

2. Ngorongoro Crater – Tanzania

Ngorongoro Crater offers incredible wildlife viewing. Although animals can move in and out of the crater, climbing the steep caldera walls requires some effort, so much of the wildlife is resident inside. This includes a healthy population of black rhino. These shy creatures are rarely seen in East Africa, but the crater is one of the few places where they are easy to find. The other four members of the Big Five are prolific as well, although leopard sightings are hit-and-miss, and less likely inside the crater than on the forested rim. The good news is that these elusive cats are quite common in the Seronera area of Serengeti National Park, the next stop after Ngorongoro on most northern Tanzanian safari itineraries.

• When to visit Ngorongoro Crater : Wildlife viewing is always good in the crater, but marginally better in the Dry season when the grass is short and animals are easier to spot. The calving season of the wildebeest is from January to February and the best time to avoid the crowds is in the low season months, April and May.
• Where to stay: Several upmarket lodges are perched on the crater rim offering great views over the crater floor. There is a campsite on the rim as well, but be warned, it gets very cold here at night. Several lodges and hotels in the gateway town of Karatu are also used for visits to the crater. There are no accommodations within the crater, itself.

2,992 Ngorongoro Safaris

3. Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya

The Masai Mara is home to all of the Big Five but is most famous for big cats. You’ll be tripping over lions and cheetahs as they are remarkably common, and leopards are regularly seen too. Black rhinos are also present, but unless you’re fortunate enough to stay in the remote Mara Triangle in the far west, your chances of seeing one are slim. However, Lake Nakuru National Park, a popular stop-over en route to the Masai Mara, is home to both black and white rhino (but no elephants). White rhinos are commonly seen in small family groups grazing around the lake, especially from mid-morning and in the late afternoon.

• When to visit Masai Mara : Wildlife viewing is good throughout the year. To catch the wildebeest migration, you should aim to be here between late August and early October.
• Where to stay: There is no shortage of accommodations inside and just outside the reserve. All budgets and styles are catered for. There are several campsites as well.

1,385 Masai Mara Safaris

4. Kruger National Park – South Africa

Whether you’re on a guided tour or self-driving, Kruger National Park is a great choice for a Big Five safari. The park is the size of a small country, and the wide variety of habitats it protects is reflected by the varied wildlife. Identifying all the different antelope species in Kruger can be an enjoyable challenge. In terms of the Big Five, lion, buffalo and elephant are easily found in southern Kruger, which is also one of the best places to see white rhino. With time on your hands and a bit of luck, you might spot a leopard too. Make sure to be out and about at dawn and dusk to increase your chances of seeing this shy cat which is active at night.

• When to visit Kruger : Wildlife viewing in Kruger is best from May to September. These are the dry winter months when animals don’t stray far from waterholes and rivers. During the wet summer months, the bush gets very thick and animals are more difficult to spot.
• Where to stay: Well-equipped, basic rest camps offering campsites and huts can be found throughout Kruger. Several private concessions within the park offer a luxurious and more exclusive alternative.

402 Kruger Safaris

5. Madikwe Game Reserve – South Africa

Madikwe is arguably the top African safari pick for those who want a good chance of spotting most of the Big Five in a malaria-free destination. Forged from formerly unproductive ranchland in 1991, this exceptional park protects a 750km² /290mi² tract of semi-arid savannah in North West province, some four to five hours’ drive from Johannesburg. Shortly after being created, it was stocked with 8,000 individual animals comprising 28 species, including all the Big Five. Today, you’re very likely to see lion, elephant and white rhino over the course of a few days in Madikwe, and there’s a fair chance of buffalo and leopard. Madikwe is also known as one of the best places to look for the endangered African wild dog, while other wildlife includes cheetah, giraffe, zebra and a wide variety of antelope. An unusual feature of Madikwe is that it is a state-owned property that functions more like a private reserve insofar as it is closed to self-drive safaris and day visits. 

• When to visit Madikwe : There is no bad time to visit Madikwe, as the expert guides are good at finding animals at any time of year. However, optimum wildlife viewing is over the dry winter months of May to September, when animals stick close to perennial water sources. 
• Where to stay: Madikwe is serviced by several small upmarket lodges that specialize in all-inclusive packages with guided game drives taking place in open 4x4s. There are no budget accommodations or camping facilities.

24 Madikwe Safaris

6. Okavango Delta – Botswana

The Okavango is one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations. The Delta is home to all of the Big Five, although rhino (both black and white) can be hard to find; Moremi Game Reserve offers the best chance, or visit Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a half-day’s drive away as an add-on. Buffalo and elephant thrive in the wetlands, and you should see some big cats as well. The most productive activity for spotting typical safari animals, including the Big Five, is a game drive. But you should put aside time to do a guided walk and for exploring the Delta’s channels by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe). Gliding silently through waterlilies, dodging the odd hippo and scanning the shore for animals coming to drink, is an experience that will stay with you long after your trip.

• When to visit Okavango : The best time for wildlife viewing is from July to October.
• Where to stay: There are dozens of luxury lodges in the Okavango. Camping is popular too.

198 Okavango Delta Tours

7. Ol Pejeta Conservancy – Kenya

High on the Laikipia Plateau, just north of Kenya’s Central Highlands, Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a fine place to see the Big Five just a few hours north of Nairobi. Seeing lions on a guided game drive is always possible, but the conservancy also offers a fine lion-tracking excursion, which really increases your chances. Rhinos are also commonly seen, both roaming free out on the grasslands, and in the enclosures for the last two remaining northern white rhinos on the planet. Leopards inhabit the dense thickets and riverine woodlands, while elephants and buffalo are also common. Some of the nearby private and community conservancies, including Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, are more exclusive, but are also known for their Big Five possibilities.

• When to visit Ol Pejeta : The June to September Dry season promises the best weather for visiting Ol Pejeta with clear skies and mild temperatures the norm. It’s usually dry from December to February, but hotter and more humid. The best birding is from November to April, when migratory species are present.
• Where to stay: Ol Pejeta Conservancy has a good range of lodges and tented camps, as well as a campsite for budget travelers. Unlike most other Laikipia conservancies, you don’t need to be staying overnight to visit Ol Pejeta.

83 Ol Pejeta Safaris

8. Akagera National Park – Rwanda

While Rwanda is well known for its mountain gorillas, it is also home to the Big Five and many other savannah-dwelling animals. The place to go on a classic safari in Rwanda is Akagera National Park . Wildlife here was heavily depleted by warfare and poaching, but since 2010 it has made an impressive comeback. The reintroduction of black rhinos and lions in 2017, followed by white rhinos in 2021, means that Akagera offers a truly off-the-beaten-track opportunity to see the Big Five in Africa.

• When to visit Akagera : The Dry season, from June to September, is the best time to visit.
• Where to stay: There is a luxury tented camp, a seasonal bush camp and a mid-range lodge inside the park. There are also several campsites without facilities available to self-sufficient travelers.

102 Akagera Safaris

9. Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park is as much worth visiting for its spectacular scenery as for its wildlife. It is bisected by the Victoria Nile River. A boat trip to the base of the waterfall for which the park is named is not to be missed. The river is home to hundreds of hippos and crocodiles and, in the afternoon, you’re likely to see buffalo and elephants on the shore. Murchison Falls is not a complete Big Five destination as there are no rhinos, but many visitors stop in at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route for an exciting rhino tracking experience.

• When to visit Murchison Falls : December to February is best for general wildlife viewing but be prepared for hot weather at that time.
• Where to stay: There is a good choice of upmarket and mid-range lodges inside the park and budget accommodations are available just outside. There are several campsites too.

407 Murchison Falls Safaris

10. Phinda Game Reserve – South Africa

Phinda is one of South Africa’s top private Big Five game reserves. You have a choice of four stunning accommodations spread out over the reserve’s different habitats: Rock, Mountain, Forest and Vlei (wetland) Lodge. The guiding is superb and you’ll easily see four of the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo and white rhino) as well as some Zululand specials, such as the graceful nyala and the shy red duiker. Although there are plenty of leopards around, you’d be lucky to see one. As compensation, Phinda’s flagship species is the cheetah and sightings of this graceful big cat tend to be incredible.

• When to visit Phinda : Phinda’s wildlife viewing is always great but animals are slightly easier to find in the Dry season from May to September.
• Where to stay: There are four luxury lodges in Phinda.

Phinda Safaris

11. Majete Wildlife Reserve – Malawi

Majete Wildlife Reserve is one of Africa’s modern environmental success stories. Prior to 2003, the park was almost completely hunted out. Since then, under the management of African Parks, nearly 5,000 individual animals, including all of the Big Five, have been reintroduced. Elephants have bred so successfully that a surplus of 200 individuals were relocated to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. Although sightings require a bit of patience, Majete offers a totally unspoiled experience, far away from the crowds. A ‘behind the scenes’ tour, offering insight into what it takes to run a Big Five reserve, is recommended.

• When to visit Majete : You can visit anytime, but July to October is best for wildlife viewing.
• Where to stay: There are two mid-range lodges to choose from (one inside and one just outside the game reserve). Top of the range is an exclusive luxury lodge that operates in its own private concession. Campers are taken care of in a well-equipped community campsite.

Majete Safaris

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The big five the most iconic safari animals, africa’s celebrities the big five, & where to find them.

The inception of the Big Five has a history that is somewhat less than favourable.

First coined by early colonials in the late-1800s, the term refers to a handful of iconic African creatures: the African elephant, the Cape buffalo, the black rhino, the lion and the leopard. But rather than referring to the splendour of these wonderful, powerful animals, ‘the Big Five’ were deemed those most difficult to hunt and kill.

For almost a century, their populations were decimated by big game hunters searching to bolster their bravado and massage their ego, but agriculture and colonial farming practices, poaching for souvenirs, Eastern medicines and furnishings, and other western demands also played significant part in the dwindling of these species’ numbers.

Thankfully, we have evolved since those archaic and naïve times, and the Big Five have found their place alongside other African animals as precious, fragile and in need of our protection and respect. Populations have increased, rangers safeguard them and almost the only shooting done of these spectacular beasts is done through a 300mm telephoto lens.

Though the threat of extinction is dwindling, their numbers remain fragile, and an African safari does not guarantee five neatly-checked boxes on your list of animals seen.

While there are also many more wonderful animals to see throughout Africa, here are some facts about Africa’s Big Five, including the best locations and times to see them:

Big Five #1: The Black Rhino

There are several species of rhino, from the comparatively tiny Sumatran to the more familiar black and white of Africa, as well as subspecies within these. The black rhino, despite its name, is often no more black than its monochromatic opposite. The name actually stems from the shape of its lips; the black rhino has a narrower, pointed and semi-prehensile upper lip, while the white rhino has a square, ‘wide’ upper lip, and it is this that has resulted in the name, ‘wide’ – or the Afrikaans, ‘weit’ – misinterpreted and misunderstood forever more as ‘white’.

Black rhinos have incredibly poor vision, and they have been known to attack trees and rocks, thinking them to be a foe or male adversary. The most endangered of the five, their horn is falsely believed to possess medicinal qualities and is also used for various artifacts, such as knife handles.

The Black rhino remains on the critically endangered list, and their lethargic tendency towards procreation is not assisting their fate, but the world is rallying for the species’ protection and, with a little luck, they will slowly plod their way back from the brink of extinction.

Best Place to See Black Rhinos: Ninety-eight percent of Black Rhinos live in four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. Of these, Namibia’s Etosha National Park is often regarded as one of the best locations, though rhino can also be very conveniently and numerously found in Nairobi and Kruger National Parks , the Ngorongoro Crater and other destinations.

Best Time to See Black Rhinos: Though they often roam from one place to another, preferring shade through the heat of the day and seeking out waterholes, they remain fairly consistently within the same region or territory year-round. An expert guide will often know exactly where to find them and when.

Big Five #2: The Lion

Lions are synonymous with an African safari, perhaps more than any other animal. Yet their celebrity belies their true nature. While prides will have their own ‘Lion King’, this is neither hereditary nor permanent and can change at any time, with younger rogue males often vying to claim the harem for their own. 

The females are very much the glue of the pride, performing the vast majority of the hunting, forming creches for their cubs and often keeping the males in line. 

All lions are not the same and, though there are only two species in the world – the African and the Asiatic – there are three differing groups within Africa. For the greater part, they are the familiar lion of the pridelands, tawny in colour, the darkness of the male’s mane denoting his length of years.

However, there is a place where the lions fell down from the stars, and the white lions of Timbavati – located on the western edge of Kruger National Park – are spectacular to witness.

Though powerful predators, pound for pound, lions aren’t as strong as other big cats, preventing them from climbing trees. There are a few small prides that do venture into the treetops though, and these can be found in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, Manyara National Park in Tanzania and nowhere else, though rumours do exist of other arboreal lions across Africa.

Best Place to See Lions: It is estimated that there are 20-25,000 lions left in the wilds of Africa. This wonderful member of the Big Five is scattered across the continent and, wherever your itinerary may take you, you will likely be able to seek them out. Kruger National Park, the Maasai Mara of Kenya, Tanzania’s Serengeti and Zambia’s major parks are locations worth visiting to spot these big cats, while the watery environments of Botswana afford the opportunity to see the Kings and Queens of the Jungle which, ironically, don’t dwell in jungles.

Best Time to See Lions: Lions are equally as active year-round, but it is the cubs that hold the greatest and most adorable allure. Though lions do breed throughout the year, between February and July is generally considered the best time to view the newborns and youngsters.

Big Five #3: The African Elephant

Staggeringly intelligent, exceptionally powerful, elephants are often feared by locals for their territorial ire and unquenchable appetite and thirst, which often leads them to raid villages and destroy crops.

On safari, however, they are generally considered to be fairly passive, though it is the foolish man who fails to heed their warnings. Elephants are incredibly protective of their young, and coming between a mother and calf, even when in a vehicle, can be incredibly dangerous.

Thankfully, expert guides know precisely where to view elephants from, when to stand ground and when to back away. Five tons of muscle and brawn hurtling towards you at 25 miles an hour (40km/h) is an experience best avoided at all costs.

Poached for their ivory and hunted as trophies, elephant numbers have decreased greatly, now estimated at around 400,000, but despite their diminished population, they still play a vital part in environmental sustainability , promoting plant growth, spreading seeds and fertilising the land.

Best Place to See African Elephants: It has recently been discovered that there are two subspecies of the world’s largest land animal; the savannah elephant, found in sub-Saharan countries, and the smaller jungle elephant, located in the forests of Central and West Africa. Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia are regarded as the best countries to visit in search of elephants, with Botswana’s Chobe and Kenya’s Amboseli national parks the best choice of these locations.

Best Time to See African Elephants: The dry season of June to September is generally preferred for elephant viewing, with herds gathering more closely and numerously in search of water.

Big Five #4: The Leopard

Possibly the most elusive of the Big Five, the leopard is, for most of its life, a solitary creature. Mothers hide their cubs for the first few weeks of life, and will continue to do so when they leave in search of food to feed between two and three hungry little mouths.

For their size, leopard are immensely powerful and can potentially bring down big game when necessary. However, they tend to opt for smaller prey, such as gazelles, which they can more easily haul into a tree for safe keeping away from lions, wild dogs and hyenas.

Not only do the treetops protect their meals, lion will also attack and kill a leopard if given the opportunity, so trees also offer more safety.

They are excellent swimmers and have been known to also be partial to a little seafood, including fish and crabs. Incredibly fast and agile, they are also remarkably adaptive and can be found in a wide range of habitats, despite being superbly camouflaged and hard to spot.

Best Place to See Leopards: Some leopard species, including the snow leopard, are critically endangered. The African leopard, however, is doing comparatively well, with an estimated population of 700,000. Their greatest strongholds are in Kenya and Tanzania, with the Great Migration providing a steady stream of food for them to pursue. The Serengeti, Maasai Mara and Samburu National Parks and the private reserves bordering Kruger are recommended.

Best Time to See Leopards: Leopards breed throughout the year, so for cubs, there isn’t a ‘best time’ as such. Young cubs are also hidden underground, so the chances of spotting one are slim. Dry season is, again, the best time to spot them, and the months of May to September are often suggested.

Big Five #5: Cape Buffalo

Despite being somewhat cowlike, Cape buffalo, which are not related to the similar water buffalo, join the Big Five for their ferocity, ardent loyalty to one another and their particularly bad temper.

Buffalo have been observed defending unrelated herd mates from lions – their only major predator. Mankind is their only other primary threat, and herein lies their impressive reputation. Hard to fell, fast of foot, they were incredibly difficult to hunt, but were also a force to be reckoned with. A wounded buffalo can be a terrifying thing, but they also bare a grudge.

They have been known to kill lions after the death of a fellow buffalo, and stories abound of them trampling, goring and killing hunters moments, even days after a herd member has been shot. It is for this fierce reputation that they are included in the Big Five and, indeed, were considered the hardest to kill. Thankfully, they are now plentiful, but their fearful monikers of ‘black death’ and ‘widowmaker’, still strike terror into the hearts of would-be assailants.

Best Place to See Cape Buffalo: Herds can number up to 2,000, so they are far from elusive, but there are preferable locations to view them. Sabi Sands – part of the Greater Kruger, is superb, as is Kenya’s Mara. Katavi National Park in Tanzania, and Botswana’s Chobe are also home to large herds that roam spectacular landscapes. 

Best Time to See Cape Buffalo: They are prevalent year-round and can be found in significant numbers throughout the months. Buffalo gestation lasts almost a year, but breeding and birth coincide with precipitation, making the months between November and March generally the best for viewing.

The Big Five: All In

For almost one hundred years, the Big Five were slaughtered by local and visiting white hunters. Such was their abundance that Theodore Roosevelt, himself a keen hunter of the Big Five, declared that “the African elephant will never become extinct”.

A century after his death, all but the Cape buffalo are considered vulnerable or endangered – including the African elephant.

Despite this, conservation is playing an incredible role in reintroducing and repopulating the Big Five, and while climate change, continued hunting and loss of habitat remain very real threats, their continuance and survival are promising.

These efforts also make it possible for visitors to collect their quota in various locations, and clients often view and photograph all members of this elite collection in a single reserve, even  – on rare occasions – on a single day.

Best Place to See The Big Five: 

Sabi Sands is heralded as one of the best destinations, and the addition of superb luxury accommodations makes it a favourite of our guests.

In Botswana, Chobe is a wonderful park to spot this quintet. The Okavango is also regarded as a good destination, though the long grass and the challenge of navigating waterways diminish the possibility of viewing all five.

In Kenya, Lewa Conservancy and Samburu county are home to significant populations of all five, and their slightly smaller area makes game drives more convenient and abundant.

Finally, Tanzania hosts the five in various regions, particularly the vast Serengeti and the unique Ngorongoro ecosystem.

Best Time to See the Big Five:

Navigating rainy seasons, considering the five species’ birthing times, and taking into account the needs of a greater itinerary, it is challenging to define a specific time of year to see the Big Five. Between February and June, the chances of not only seeing all five, but also being able to observe youngsters, the big cats on the hunt and abundant herds of the elephant and buffalo are at their best.

There is so much to see in Africa, even beyond its variety of wonderful animals. To focus upon the Big Five alone is to diminish your overall experience of Africa, but we readily admit the appeal of the Big Five, and this can be an incredibly rewarding quarry of a larger and more diverse safari itinerary.

Discuss your desire to see the Big Five, or any other of Africa’s species, with your Travel Designer and we will all but assure your fulfilment.

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The Big Five, Small Five, Shy Five, And Ugly Five: What Are They And Where To Find Them

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All good vacations involve lists such as pre-planning checklists, what-to-pack lists, or perhaps the list you leave behind reminding your neighbor or house-sitter to water the plants and feed the cat. Going on safari in Africa, though, will present you with a whole new range of lists. A good kind of list! Assuming you have got through all those to-do lists at home and actually arrived at your safari destination, prepare yourself for a new kind of list. I’m talking about wildlife checklists, either those handy printed lists some lodges leave in your room, or perhaps just mental lists you have in your head of all the fabulous creatures you are hoping to see. Some of the animals on these lists you will be familiar with, but there may be others that you have quite possibly never even heard of. Read on to prepare yourself!

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The Big Five

If you’re planning an African safari or already have one under your belt, you’ll more than likely have heard the term Big Five, one of the most widely used phrases in the safari business. The term Big Five was originally coined by game hunters, who discovered that these animals were some of the hardest and most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. Today, the phrase has come to represent some of the most sought-after safari animal sightings.

The Big Five are the elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhino, and I’ve written about them in more detail here .

Whilst most people coming to Africa on safari have the Big Five on their radar, the continent has much more than just those majestic five animals to see. In fact, with hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles, insects, and birds calling this continent home, it’s no wonder that some alternative lists of fives have been created!

Next time you are on safari, keep your eye out for Small Five (whose names mimic the Big Five, but whose size is much, much smaller), the Shy Five (who are pretty jolly hard to find given their introverted ways), and the Ugly Five (who frankly, can really only be loved by their mothers!).

The Small Five

While these five animals are not particularly shy, they’re often hard to spot because they are just so small!

Elephant Shrew

Arguably the cutest of the little five, the elephant shrew doesn’t bear much resemblance to its namesake, the elephant, except for its long, mobile snout. Measuring just over 9 inches, the elephant shrew is lightning fast and incredibly agile. There are 15 species of elephant shrew, all with large eyes and ears and powerful back legs, which propel them after their insect prey with a series of super speedy bounds. Elephant shrews are highly territorial animals, usually maintaining a network of trails around their “patch,” which they scent-mark and keep clear of debris on their regular high-speed patrols. Ironically, scientists have discovered that elephant shrews actually share distant evolutionary ancestry with elephants, so perhaps their name is a good fit after all.

SokoloFF / Shutterstock

With a name like ant lion, you’d be forgiven for expecting these insects to be large and fierce. They’re not at all! Ant lions are small, winged insects, similar in appearance to dragonflies or lacewings. They get their name from their larvae, whose sickle-like jaws would be rather fearsome if you were an ant! Ant lion larvae build tiny, conical, sandy pit traps into which their unsuspecting prey fall. At the bottom of each trap lurks the larvae, and any ant that tumbles over the edge slips down into its waiting jaws. Once it has sucked the vital fluids from its prey, the ant lion larvae flicks the lifeless exoskeleton out of the pit and buries itself again to lie in wait for its next victim.

Leopard Tortoise

The leopard tortoise’s name conjures up an image of a stalking feline, but to be honest, these slow-moving reptiles’ movements are neither stealthy nor masterful. The leopard part of the name really comes from the black-spots-on-yellow-background pattern on their shells. In truth, these are gentle creatures who snack on plants, with the occasional nibble on a piece of bone for a bit of extra calcium. Whilst it may be slow, the leopard tortoise’s shell gives it tank-like protection, so it has little to fear from predators; though with their slow speed, fire does present a more serious hazard, and it’s not uncommon to find burnt out leopard tortoise shells when out walking in the bush. While many tortoise hatchlings fall prey to a wide variety of predators, those that survive to adulthood can plod on for 50 years or more.

GUDKOV ANDREY / Shutterstock

Buffalo Weaver

There are two main kinds of buffalo weavers: red-billed and white-billed, distinguished from each other by, surprise, surprise, the color of their bills. These are rather sociable creatures and build large, untidy, colony-type nests that house numerous birds, a bit like an apartment block. These noisy birds have little in common with their bovine namesakes, aside from their sociable behavior and black coloration. Unlike the vegetarian buffalo, aside from the occasional seeds, buffalo weavers like to dine on grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, and other similarly appetizing insects.

NH / Shutterstock

Rhino Beetle

Rhino beetles get their name from their striking curved horns (sported only by the males). While they may not bear much resemblance to real rhinos, they are nonetheless quite impressive, at least as far as insects go! These are large, robust insects endowed with prodigious strength. Scientists have calculated that a rhino beetle can carry a load 850 times its weight, making it arguably the strongest animal in the world! The males’ horns are, like those of their namesake, used for territorial combat. These are tough little guys, fierce-looking but totally harmless to humans, being neither biters nor stingers. They aren’t terribly efficient flyers, either, due to their size. The only time rhino beetles tend to fight is over the attention of the ladies.

The Shy Five

When looking for the Shy Five, bear in mind, they’re called the shy for a reason! If you’re a very lucky safari-goer, you might just catch a glimpse, but I can guarantee they will be doing their best not to meet you! A couple of places renowned for sightings of these species include South Africa’s Tswalu Kalahari Reserve and Samara Game Reserve .

Konkamoya Lodge

Cute but prickly, a porcupine’s entire back is covered in sharp, black and white quills that can reach up to 20 inches in length. If threatened, a porcupine will quite simply turn its back on danger and raise its quills, even if the threat is a leopard! A porcupine’s quills are quite loosely attached, and it’s not uncommon to find them embedded in the face of any creature who was unwise enough to try to have a porcupine for dinner (a porcupine’s quills do grow back over time). Being nocturnal, you are most likely to spot one rootling around while you’re out on a night drive.

Bat-Eared Fox

As its name suggests, the bat-eared fox has unusually large ears in proportion to its head and body, quite like those of a bat! Bat-eared foxes are predominantly found in areas where there are plenty of termites and beetles to feast upon. These mainly nocturnal creatures are masters of disguise, and if they feel in danger, they will simply lie down in tall grass or thick bush, where they are perfectly camouflaged. Another reason they’re hard to see is that they’re small, really small, usually only about 12 inches tall and weighing in at 6 to 10 pounds.

Aardvarks are one of the Shy Five’s cutest members, with their long noses and sweet upright ears. With long, tapering tails, arched backs, and coarse grey-brown hair, there’s something sort of kangaroo-like about aardvarks. Being nocturnal, they spend hot African afternoons resting in a tight ball in their cool underground burrows, coming out at night to hunt for termites and other insects.

Jackie Cilliers

Meerkats are predominantly desert animals, living in Botswana’s Kalahari Desert, much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and South Africa. Given the trademark standing poses of habituated meerkat troops, some might question their presence on the Shy Five list. Still, with their extraordinarily well-honed senses and their natural environment, meerkats can and will disappear long before any human can think of getting near!

Thomas Retterath / Shutterstock

Aardwolves are nocturnal, solitary foragers, only coming together to mate and rear young. Their name means “earth wolf” in Afrikaans and stems from their supposed dog-like features and diet of termites. Aardwolves are small, usually measuring only about 17 inches in height. They are, in fact, a species of hyena but, unlike their cousins who feature on the Ugly Five list below, their diet consists of termites. An aardwolf can eat up to 300,000 termites in a night!

The Ugly Five

While they might not be the supermodels of the African bush, the creatures on this list certainly make up for it by being interesting and having a certain charm. Allow me to introduce you to some of Africa’s less glamorous animals.

Royal Zambezi Lodge

When your name includes the word “wart,” you’re destined to be on this list. With bags under the eyes, double sets of tusks, and coarsely haired bodies, warthogs are found throughout Southern Africa, usually in family groups, often rummaging around close to camps or wallowing in the mud at waterholes. While they may be delightful to watch, trotting around, tail in the air like a radio antenna, or kneeling on the ground snuffling about for food, don’t be fooled by their cuteness. They can be vicious if challenged, and their tusks can inflict a serious, potentially lethal, wound.

Wildebeest look like they were made up of the leftovers after all the other safari animals were complete. They may have the head of an ox, the mane of a horse, and the horns of a buffalo, but really, they’re an antelope. Wildebeest are characterized by long black manes, shaggy beards of hair hanging from their throats and necks, and short, curved horns. Ugly or not, if you’re lucky enough to see a migrating herd of wildebeest, which can number into the thousands, it’s a pretty spectacular sight!

As scavengers, the vultures’ role in cleaning up the carcasses of dead animals leaves a bit to be desired, and they do get a bit of a bad rap, mostly because of their rather bloodthirsty, scavenging habits. See a flock of vultures circling high up above the African bush, and you can be sure there’s a kill below.

Dan Giveon / Shutterstock

Marabou Stork

There is no sugar-coating it — the marabou stork is an eye-sore, with its scabby pink face, featherless head, and bulbous throat sac. Another of their less endearing traits is their habit of excreting over themselves in an attempt to keep themselves cool, giving their legs a permanent, sickly tinge of greyish white. These birds are carnivores, eating anything from dead animal carcasses to fish and even other birds. They also feed on carcasses alongside other scavengers, such as vultures and hyenas. The marabou’s appearance and somewhat unbecoming habits have earned it the nickname of “the undertaker bird.”

Sarah Kingdom

Hyenas are my favorite of the African animals, but even I have to admit that while baby hyenas definitely have a touch of cuteness about them, it doesn’t take long for them to grow up and lose that appeal! With their sloped backs, somewhat aggressive looks, and distinctive eerie laugh, the hyena easily fits into this list of misfits and ugly animals.

So now you know who they all are, you can add them to your “Things to Spot” list next time you are on safari.

Related Reading:

• The Ultimate Guide To Planning Your First African Safari
• 9 Things To Know Before Booking A Long Safari
• 12 Stunning Birds To Spot While On Safari
• 7 Fantastic Animals To See On Safari And The Best Places To Find Them
• 5 More Once-In-A-Lifetime Animal Experiences In Africa

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Africa at the age of 21, Sarah Kingdom is a mountain climber and guide, traveler, yoga teacher, trail runner, and mother of two. When she is not climbing or traveling she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia. She guides and runs trips regularly in India, Nepal, Tibet, Russia, and Ethiopia, taking climbers up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro numerous times a year.

The African Big Five: The Top 5 Animals to Spot on Safari

There are certainly a wide range of animals you can catch sight of during a safari in Africa (just check out my Safari Animal Bucket List to see how many!), but there are a handful that get the most adoration—the African Big 5—said to be the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. If you are traveling to halfway around the world for an African safari there is little doubt that you will want to spot these Big Five beauties, which include the African elephant, leopard, lion, Cape buffalo and the every so elusive rhino.

In case you’re curious to learn more about the animals that belong to the Big Five, or at least which safaris to look further into if you want to specifically spot one or more of them, I’ve given some insight of each one and their natural habitats below.

The African Big Five are the Top 5 Animals to Spot on Safari

What is the big five .

The term “Big Five” was originally coined to refer to the animals on African Safaris that were the hardest and most dangerous to sport hunt. These Big Five animals were African elephants, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, Lion and Rhino. They’re still considered the African Big 5 today, although thankfully these days it’s more in terms of being the most sought after animals to see on a safari rather than to hunt down.

Meet the Big 5

African elephant.

The African elephant is the largest animal that walks on Earth (with the Antarctic blue whale being the largest animal on Earth overall). Two subspecies of the African elephant exist, with 37 of the countries in Africa having at least one subspecies—Savannah elephant and Forest elephant—roaming around their soil. African elephant’s status is considered vulnerable, with especially the Forest elephant suffering from poaching for their ivory.

WHERE TO SPOT IN AFRICA

African elephants are quite widely spread around the African continent, and your sure to see dozens while on safari. But even so, they are far easier to spot in some places than in others. For your best bet to spot an elephant during a safari, visit a safari in Botswana or South Africa, Amboseli National Park in Kenya, Tarangire National Park in Tanzania, or Damaraland in Namibia.

Cape Buffalo

Cape buffalo is a subspecies of the African buffalo, the one most commonly seen roaming about sub-Saharan Africa. They live in herds, with anywhere from 50 to 500 members, with any type of terrain being to their liking as long as there’s water nearby. During the rainy season, you may see a buffalo herd with thousands of members in Serengeti.

You can find cape buffalo in many areas across sub-Saharan Africa. However, just like with elephants, you’ll have a far easier time spotting a buffalo in some regions over others. Kruger National Park, Addo National Park and Hluhluwe Imfolozi game reserve are some of the best places to visit for a buffalo sighting, as well as of course Serengeti during the rainy season.

Found in northern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, leopards are strong and stealthy big cat animals. They hunt predominantly by stalking their prey in the tall grass, but also feel comfortable and at home up in the trees or in the water.

Your best bets for a sighting of a leopard are in Kenya’s Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti, especially the latter’s Seronera Valley. You can also spot a leopard in other national parks and game reserves in Kenya, in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, in Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve, and in South Africa’s Londolozi Private Game Reserve.

Another big cat, lions are the second largest cat in the world, living in various terrains in sub-Saharan Africa. Unlike other cat animals out there, lions are social animals living in prides of around 30 lions. One pride consists specifically of 3 males, a dozen females related to them, and the young of the pride, with males and females having their distinctive roles in the pride.

Depending on your interests, there are various spots to see lions in Africa. If you want to see a pride of lions that have taken a liking to water, head to Okavango Delta; in Chobe National Park, on the other hand, you are most likely to see lions in predator mode; in Masai Mara there are plenty to see any time of year; the lions of Namib Desert are some of the most resilient ones out there; and Kruger National Park has long been considered one of the best places to see a lion in the wild, especially among all the parks in South Africa.

There are two species of this large animal on African soil: black rhino and white rhino, of which the black rhino is sadly listed as critically endangered species. Both of these rhinos are actually grey and have two horns (some rhino species outside of Africa only have one), for which they are sadly poached a lot.

For the largest population of white rhinos in Africa, head over to Kruger National Park in South Africa; meanwhile at Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania you can spot black rhinos. For a chance to see both species on one safari, you ought to try out the Mkhaya Game Reserve in Eswatini. A few other locations for spotting rhinos in Africa also exist, most notably Ol Pejeta Conservatory, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Kwandwe Game Reserve (where you may have a chance to see all of the Big Five!).

So, which of the Big Five Animals do you fancy seeing the most? Are you planning on choosing a tour specifically to see that specific animal or are you hoping to catch a sighting of all the Big Five on one safari? Many of us are likely dreaming of hopping into a vehicle and heading into a safari once in our lives, and what better experience to come out of it with than having seen the “king of the jungle” or the largest walking animal on Earth!

My Story & Experience:

Having a competitive nature, I was up for the challenge of spotting the Big Five Animals and it turns out that spotting these 5 was a pretty big one. Game on.

We had four days while on safari in Tanzania with  Shadows of Africa  to spot the Big Five. That was only 1.25 animals to identify per day.  Pretty good odds.

Our trip started out promising with witnessing an African Elephant on our first day of safari in  Tarengire National Park . Actually, there were a couple dozen elephants roaming the land. Looks like this whole spotting the Big Five thing was gonna be easy.  Famous last words.

On day two, we scored big time in  Serengeti National Park . It started with finding a male lion.  And  he was roaring. Do I get bonus points for the roar?

Also on this day there was the sighting of a Cape Buffalo toting a bird on his back. Plus, there was a cheetah. He was pretty far away, but I still saw him. So it counts.

It looked like I was winning this Big Five challenge against myself.  And  then day three came. There were a lot of repeats of what was already seen, but not the last animal on my Big Five hunt, the rhino.

Even on the last day of safari, in Ngorongoro Crater, we actually all felt pretty confident as we drove through the animal rich land.

Besides, if anyone could help spot us a rhino it would be our  Shadows of Africa  driver Timothy. I swear he can identify an animal a quarter mile away just by its shape and swagger. And he tried to find us a rhino. Really hard. He even had the CB turned on in case any other safari drivers spotted one first.

They did not.

There are only an estimated 21 rhinos in Ngorongoro Crater. That’s not a lot, considering the hundreds of wildebeest and zebra I had seen in the crater in the first half hour.

We drove to all the spots that the rhinos usually hung out, but came up empty. They had gone into the forest, a place we could only go on foot and there was no way I was stepping out of a jeep that was surrounded by lions, wildebeests and wart hogs. 

As the last day on safari came to an end, it became evident that the Big Five would be minus a Big One.

That’s okay, I’m coming back for you Mr. Rhino. Be ready.

UPDATE: I recently returned to Tanzania and finally spotted a rhino at Ngorongoro Crater!

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30 thoughts on “The African Big Five: The Top 5 Animals to Spot on Safari”

After all you have eaten and experienced, I am surprised you were not the first to jump out for your elusive big one. I discovered your site while making my bucket list after surviving open heart surgery. I truly enjoy reading your adventures. You really helped me make a great bucket list! Kathy

I did think about it for a second, but lions & hyenas really scare me ;) I am so happy to hear that my blog is helping you make a great bucket list after such a major surgery!! And I hope your checkmarks will be plentiful :)

I finally spotted a rhino later than month in South Africa!

Damn you and your rhino Raymond Walsh ;) I am beyond jealous!!

I saw a rock that looks like a rhino, does that count? :-p

LOL! I thought the rock looked like a tent and the piece of wood looked like a cow ;)

Guess you’ll have to visit at least a couple more times. The first time I traveled to Africa, some British tourists told me it was addictive. They were right. I’m headed back, this time, to Namibia where I should finally get the change to see a rhino. I can’t wait!!

Yes, I definitely need to go back to see that rhino (amongst other reasons too). Have a wonderful time in Namibia!

You definitely get bonus points for the roaring lion! I can’t wait to go see them for myself one day!

Wow! What a great experience. Not seeing a rino is a great reason to go back but it seems to me that, ANY, reason would be good enough.

I’d be happy to see four. Last time I went on safari I only saw three. I love that photo of the lion roaring – it’s brilliant!

Okay, now I feel better with only seeing four :)

Hi Annette, that’s such a pity! I went on a safari on the Maara and the same happened to me. I saw many of the big 5, but Mr Rhino didn’t make an appearance.

Great blog, by the way!

Damn Mr. Rhino!! I have to admit that the hunt was so much fun, but the failure not so much :)

Wow! What a great experience. so so lovely photos…

hope you get to see the rhino on your next safari travels. I had a hard time spotting one too and ended up seeing one at the Nairobi national park. Good Luck

Next time, I will not leave Africa until I spot one!

In the images the lion is mourning, small baby elephants try to break the branch of a tree and a buffalo standing all were captured by way of excellent photography.

Hey Annette, I am also planning a safari trip possibly at the end of this year but I was wondering if I set out on my own (trying to get someone to agree to come with..lol) how did you go about finding other possible bucket listers to go with you? Did you just reach out to people who followed your page? or got grouped up with them once you booked? Thanks!

Actually, I was invited to go on the safari by the tour company along with a couple of other bloggers. Though, I believe that if you contact the company they should be able to pair you with some others that will be on safari too. Good luck! Going on safari was amongst the best bucket list experiences I ever had.

Hope you get to come to Africa again sometime soon. If you do, you would love South Africa and the Kruger National Park. We go their every year from Johannesburg and on the first day’s trip into the Park this year, spotted all of the big five pulse most of the Ugly Five. Enjoy your travels.

I had never heard of the Ugly Five!! But, I need to spot the Marabou Stork on that list in addition to the rhino! I would love to go back one day soon.

Hi Annette! Amazing photos! Looks like you truly enjoyed and made the most out of your safari trip. Are you planning to visit again soon? If so, what are you looking forward to seeing? As for me, the next time I go on a safari trip I definitely want to see giraffes and maybe some primates too. Looking forward to reading about your next travel!

I really hope i get to go to a safari! This is so cool!

Hope you can visit the Safari someday.

I am a safari organiser for years and this is one of the most comprehensive safari guide, especially when you want to get the best of African safari. Perfect and pretty much useful for both beginners and pro safari goers. Way to go!

Thank you so much. I’m glad that this can help my readers.

Thanks for sharing amazing tips. The big five can also be found in Uganda when you Murchison falls national park and Ziwa rhino sanctuary while on your way to Murchison falls. Queen Elizabeth National Park is also another place where you can view lions, the tree-climbing lions in Kasenyi Plains.

Loved this post and the details on what to see and where (specifics like the pride of lions). Ps. you definitely get bonus points for the lion’s roar!!

I want to see leopards the most because they are just spectacular to look at and from your post I’ll be researching Kwandwe Game Reserve for a chance to spot all five.

I love the post and is very useful. Thanks so much

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15 Animals to See on an African Safari

The word "Africa" is an evocative one that usually goes hand-in-hand with mental images of vast savanna plains dotted with exotic game. The majority of overseas visitors to Africa will go on  safari and, in doing so, discover that there is nothing more magical than a close encounter with the continent's incredible wildlife. Most of the species one sees on safari are unique to Africa, and many of them are instantly recognizable. In this article, we look at 15 of the continent's most iconic animals, including those that make up the African Big Five . 

TripSavvy / Felicia Martinez

To see a lion in its natural habitat is one of the most humbling, impressive sights an African safari can offer. However, while witnessing a kill is the ultimate prize, you're more likely to see one sleeping than in active pursuit of dinner. Lions spend up to 20 hours a day at rest and are most active at dusk and dawn. They are the most social of all wild cat species, living in prides consisting of between five and 10 adult lions. Tragically, lions are threatened by human expansion throughout Africa, with experts prophesying that populations could fall by as much as five percent in the next 20 years.

Best Places to See Lions: Head to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on the border of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana; or to Tanzania's Serengeti National Park during the wildebeest migration. 

There is nothing quite like the first time you see an  African elephant  in the wild. As the largest living terrestrial animal on Earth, their size alone is overwhelming; but many visitors also find themselves drawn by the elephants' tangible aura of wisdom. Elephants are found in various sub-Saharan habitats, including forests, deserts, and savanna. They are herbivorous, processing up to 600 pounds of vegetation per day. Although most elephants are peaceful by nature, they can be dangerous if provoked; however, they are far more at risk from humans than we are from them. 

Best Places to See Elephants: Vast elephant herds roam Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and Chobe National Park in Botswana. 

As the tallest animal on Earth, you'd think that giraffes would be easy to spot on safari. However, their distinctive brown and white markings serve as excellent camouflage, and it's not unusual for giraffes to materialize out of the bush just a few feet away. There are nine subspecies found across sub-Saharan Africa, all of which boast blue tongues, stubby horn-like protrusions on their heads, and of course, outrageously long necks. To drink without losing consciousness, the giraffe's neck contains unique veins and valves that regulate the flow of blood to its head. 

Best Places to See Giraffes: Spot large herds of Masai giraffe in the Serengeti, or head to Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda to see the endangered Rothschild's giraffe. 

The elusive  African leopard  is a subspecies of leopard found only in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its wide range, leopards are among the most difficult of all safari animals to see, as they are both nocturnal and exceptionally wary of humans. Leopards use trees as observation platforms and for protection, and that is where they are most often spotted during daylight hours. They are solitary animals with exceptional predatory skills, including the ability to climb, swim, and drag prey weighing up to three times their body weight up into the trees. Leopards are classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. 

Best Places to See Leopards: South Africa's Sabi Sands Game Reserve and South Luangwa National Park in Zambia are famous for leopard sightings. 

White Rhino

Thomas Halle/ Getty Images

The easiest way to tell Africa's two rhino species apart is by the shape of their bottom lip: wide and square for white rhinos and pointed for black rhinos. The name "white" rhino comes from a mistranslation of the Dutch word for "wide." Although the survival of both species is threatened by widespread poaching, white rhinos are more numerous and therefore easier to spot, especially in Southern Africa, where they prefer grassland and savanna habitats. White rhinos are the largest of five extant rhino species. Adult males averaging around 5,100 pounds are also one of the world's heaviest land mammals.

Best Places to See White Rhinos: Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park and Kruger National Park in South Africa offer a good chance of spotting white rhinos.

Black Rhino

Manuel ROMARIS/Getty Images

Once found across Southern and East Africa, the black rhino is now considered critically endangered, with fewer than 5,000 individuals left in the wild and three subspecies already classified as extinct. Adult black rhinos have no natural predators, and their population collapse is predominantly due to poaching. They are killed for their horns, made of keratin, and exported to Asia for use in traditional Chinese medicine. Unlike white rhinos, which can sometimes be seen living in herds, black rhinos are generally solitary (although the bond between mother and calf is strong). They favor thick scrub and bushland.

Best Places to See Black Rhinos: Etosha National Park in Namibia is a rhino conservation success story with a thriving black rhino population. Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy is another renowned sanctuary for black rhinos.

TripSavvy / Jess Macdonald

The cheetah is the most slender of Africa's big cats, a magnificent animal known for its incredible speed. They are capable of short bursts of up to 70 miles per hour, making them the world's fastest land animal. However, cheetahs often have their kills stolen by other, more powerful predators despite their speed. They are a vulnerable species with only around 7,100 individuals left in the wild, including a tiny population of approximately 40 individuals in Iran. Cheetahs are found throughout Southern and East Africa in wide-open spaces that allow them to reach their top speed while pursuing prey. 

Best Places to See Cheetahs: The Maasai Mara National Reserve provides the ideal habitat for cheetahs. Alternatively, track rehabilitated cheetah on foot at  Okonjima Game Reserve in Namibia. 

African buffalo have a robust build and distinctive fused horns. They are grazers, typically moving in herds, with no natural predators except lions and crocodiles. Unlike other species of wild buffalo, the African buffalo has never been successfully tamed, thanks to its naturally aggressive and unpredictable nature. Although seeing a buffalo herd ranging across the savanna is undoubtedly an unforgettable sight, it's crucial to treat these animals with respect. They are responsible for multiple human fatalities every year and are considered one of the continent's most dangerous species. 

Best Places to See Buffalo: Katavi National Park in Tanzania is famous for its enormous buffalo herds. Chobe National Park is another good bet. 

Hippopotamus

Hippos are a common sight in Southern and East Africa's rivers, swamps, and lakes. Often found in groups of up to 100 individuals, hippos spend most of their life in water, only leaving their aquatic homes to graze on the riverbanks at dusk. They have several fascinating adaptations, including webbed feet, large canine tusks, and the ability to secrete a kind of natural sunscreen. Male hippos are territorial and, like buffalo, can be exceptionally aggressive when provoked. Similarly, take care never to get between a hippo mother and her calf. 

Best Places to See Hippos:  Zambia's  Luangwa Valley  is home to the world's largest concentration of hippos. The Okavango Delta in Botswana is also full of them. 

Nile Crocodile

After the saltwater crocodile, Nile crocodiles are the world's largest living reptile, with the biggest on record exceeding 20 feet in length. In sub-Saharan Africa, they are found in various aquatic habitats, including lakes, rivers, and deltas. Crocodiles are well camouflaged in the water and are most often spotted sunning themselves on the riverbank. They have been around for millions of years, and with heavily armored skin and powerful jaws, they certainly look prehistoric. Nile crocodiles are perfect predators, employing ambush tactics to take their prey unawares. 

Best Place to See Crocodiles: Watch herds of wildebeest and zebra crossing the Mara River during East Africa's annual migration to see Nile crocodiles in action. 

There are three species of zebra in Africa; the plains zebra most commonly seen throughout East and Southern Africa , and the rarer mountain and Grévy's zebras. Although they may look like domestic horses, zebras are almost impossible to tame; their distinctive stripe patterns are unique to each individual as a human's fingerprints. Zebras live on grass, and in some areas, form great migratory herds to seek out the best grazing grounds. They often create a mutually beneficial relationship with another African species during the migration, the wildebeest . 

Best Places to See Zebra: For sheer numbers, you can't beat the Serengeti or the Maasai Mara during migration season. To see the endangered Grévy's zebra, head to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya. 

Thomas Retterath/Getty Images

Easily recognizable by their tan, black, and white fur, African wild dogs are the largest (and one of the rarest) canids in Africa. They are highly social animals, living in packs led by an alpha male and female and communicating with a series of high-pitched twittering sounds. Wild dogs hunt as a team, chasing their prey until it collapses from exhaustion. Unlike other social carnivores, weaned pups are allowed to eat first at the kill to give them the best chance of survival. Nevertheless, African wild dogs are endangered, with populations declining due to habitat fragmentation, human conflict, and diseases spread by domestic dogs.

Best Places to See Wild Dogs: Top destinations for spotting wild dogs include Ruaha National Park in Tanzania, Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa, and Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.

The most common large carnivore on the African continent, the Hyaenidae family comprises four species of hyena: spotted, brown, striped, and aardwolf. Though their mighty jaws and strong digestive tract are ideally suited for scavenging, hyenas only feed on carrion and other refuse for 30 percent of their meals; for the other 70 percent, they prey on animals of all different sizes and shapes, including wildebeest, antelope, birds, and snakes. Hyena clans can consist of up to 100 members, and individuals will communicate with each other through wailing, screaming, and "laughing." Hyenas (particularly spotted) live in a range of habitats throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from savannas and grasslands to subdeserts and mountains.

Best Places to See Hyena: You can find hyenas in many national parks in Africa, including Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, Namibia's Cape Cross Seal Reserve , and Ruaha National Park in Tanzania. For your best chance at seeing them, plan to sign up for a night safari.

This antelope species can be subdivided into the greater kudu and the lesser kudu subspecies, both of which can be identified by their white vertical stripes, spots, and chevron pattern between their eyes. Greater kudus are most prevalent throughout southern Africa's lowland Bushveld but can also be found throughout East Africa—particularly Kenya and the Horn of Africa region; similarly, lesser kudus tend to prefer the dense thornbush around East Africa. Males, characterized by elongated horns that can grow up to 6 feet in length, can typically be seen alone or with other bachelors, though you may find them with females during mating season. On the other hand, female kudus live in small herds with their offspring.

Best Places to See Kudu: Greater kudus are best seen in Kenya's Tsavo National Park and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

Warthogs thrive in savanna woodland, grasslands, and marshes, taking up natural burrows and abandoned aardvark holes. With the use of their strong neck muscles and padded knees, warthogs will spend the day foraging for food, digging through soil to uncover tubers, roots, berries, and grass. Sows can be found in matriarchal groups comprising up to 40 female warthogs and piglets, while boars prefer to live alone or with other bachelors.

Best Places to See Warthog: Warthogs live all over sub-Saharan Africa but are most common in the eastern and southern parts of the continent. If you want to spot them on safari, consider planning a trip to Kruger National Park , Masai Mara , or South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.

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• Travel Guide

The Big 5: Everything You Need to Know

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• ~ mins read

The Big 5 refers to five African game animals: the African lion, the African leopard, the African elephant, the Cape buffalo, and the rhinoceros. These animals were originally called the Big 5 not for their size, but for the level of difficulty and danger big-game hunters faced when tracking and hunting these animals on foot. Bringing down one of these big five animals won the hunter a trophy, therefore making them the most sought-after African animals in the big-game hunting world. 

Over one hundred years ago, these five animals were abundant. American president Theodore Roosevelt himself embarked on an African hunting expedition and was quoted as saying the “African elephant would never become extinct” due to the sheer number he encountered. Flash forward to the current day and most of the Big 5 animals are currently listed as “vulnerable” or “endangered” species. Although hunting of all these animals is still allowed to some degree, Africa has put strict laws in place to protect and conserve each species. However, poaching has been and continues to be a concern.

Nowadays, African safari operators and local hunting guides borrow the term Big 5 when marketing their tours and services. Visitors and big-game hunters who come to these African reserves will experience what it’s like to see these regal and majestic animals in the wild on their massive reserves or even   experience the thrill of hunting one. In either case, it’s an accomplishment that is on many traveler’s bucket list.

• Mark Bromley

Exploring each of the Big 5

Each of the Big 5 animals has a unique story and individual characteristics and behaviors. Below we consider each of the Big 5:

1. African lion

Known as the "King of the Jungle”, the African lion is the second largest cat in the world. In contrast to its nickname, lions reside in grassy, open savannahs, not in dense vegetation. The lion is one of the most sought-after trophies of all the Big 5 game animals. Lions are social creatures and live together in groups called prides of up to 30 lions. Lions in each pride look after one another and use their roar as a means of communication. A lion’s roar can be heard up to 5 miles away! There are estimated to be less than 20,000 lions left in the world, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed them as ‘vulnerable’.

2. African leopard

As the most elusive of the Big 5 animals, a sighting of an African leopard is considered to be very special. Their preferred environment is rocky landscapes with dense brush and forests. However, leopards are known to be very adaptive creatures and are also spotted elsewhere. Leopards come out at night to hunt, and spend their days resting in the safety of tree branches, which they use as their lofted homes. Listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN, the leopard’s only real predators are humans.

3. African elephant

While the African elephant is the largest animal on this list as well as the largest land animal on earth, unfortunately, it also the most highly threatened by poachers who deal in the illegal ivory business. Elephants are native to 37 African countries with a current world population of 415,000. Sadly, 8% of elephants are poached every year. Like leopards, the only predators of the African elephant are humans. Global climate change is also becoming a threat as the savannahs African elephants call home are becoming increasingly hotter and drier, making survival more difficult. The IUCN lists them as ‘vulnerable’.

4. Cape buffalo

Usually considered the most dangerous of the five to hunt due to its unpredictable behavior, the Cape buffalo is nicknamed “Black Death” and the “Widowmaker”. The Cape buffalo has few predators, namely humans and lions, and will fiercely defend itself if threatened. They are sometimes reported as killing more humans than animals. The Cape buffalo is also the most plentiful and is not on any threatened, vulnerable, or endangered list. Their current population is 900,000, with 4 different sub-species, and 75% of the population exists in protected reserves.

5. Rhinoceros

The African rhinoceros is divided into two species; the Black Rhino and the White Rhino. White Rhinos live predominantly in South Africa but have been reintroduced to several other nearby countries. Ninety-eight percent of Black Rhinos live in four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe , and Kenya. Like lions, Rhinos live in grasslands, but also open savannahs. Rhinos are incredibly strong and thick animals, though surprisingly they can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour! There are only 29,500 Rhinos left on earth, with 70% of them living in South Africa, and hence are listed as ‘critically endangered’ by the IUCN.

Where to see the Big Five

There are thirteen countries where all five animals can be spotted. These are: Angola, Botswana, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Amongst them, we give you the 5 most dependable countries to see all five.

Visit the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Crater in Tanzania for an intense experience and a densely packed park full of wildlife, including the Big 5. In fact, the Ngorongoro Crater is one of the few destinations where you witness all Big 5 in a single day. The fact that it is located inside a 300 square-meter crater makes for an amazing sight in itself!

Botswana, particularly the Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta, is another safari destination that can assure a big 5 sighting. Here you will likely see 4 out of 5 of the big five animals – the only one you may struggle to spot is the Rhino. 

In Kenya, the cost of a Big 5 safari is relatively cheaper than the other four countries. Try Masai Mara , Lake Nakuru , Ol Pejeta Conservancy, or Lewa Wilderness Conservancy; these four parks still have a relatively large population of rhinos, which increases your chances of seeing all Five.

Etosha National Park in Namibia is the best option to see 4 out of the Big 5 animals. Unfortunately, this park is not home to cape buffaloes. It is, however, the best place in Africa to see the black rhino.

South Africa

South Africa has been one of the most reliable African countries to spot all the Big 5 for a long time. Kruger National Park,  one of South Africa's national parks is home to all Big 5 animals, and while it is easily accessible and affordable, it is also very well-managed. The Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve and Madikwe Private Game Reserve, which border Kruger, are both excellent options for a Big 5 sighting.

Good to Know

• You can volunteer for the conservation of the Big 5 animals. There are multiple places (especially in South Africa) where these opportunities can be found. Duties include monitoring and assembling data, as well as physical efforts such as fence patrols, removal of alien plants, and trash clean-up.
• It may sound counter-intuitive, but the fees paid by the big-game hunters that allow them to pursue the Big 5 animals goes towards that animal’s conservation efforts.
• The rhino became the most endangered species of the Big 5 largely in part to the demand for its horn. Poachers use many illegal methods to take these animals down including drugs, poison, and high caliber weapons.
• Poaching of wild animals is on the rise all over Africa.
• The biggest threat to the Big 5 is not sport hunting, but rather climate change and loss of habitat due to cultivation, ranching, fencing, mining, and construction of roads.
• National Geographic’s Big Cat Initiative aims to protect lions through the support of hundreds of conservation efforts, as well as aiding in the education of African teachers, conservationists, and women’s groups.
• In 1990, South Africa honored the beauty and importance of each one of the Big 5 animals by putting one on each of their bills.                                 

The Big 5 are a celebrated bunch. They capture the attention of people from all ranges of the spectrum; travelers, tourists, locals, animal-lovers, and sport hunters alike flock to the continent in hopes of catching a glimpse of these rare and enchanting animals. Would you dare to come face to face with one of these beautiful beasts?

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Planning an African Safari? Here’s Where You Can Spot the Big 5

V isiting safaris in Africa is an experience high on many travelers’ lists. Having the opportunity to observe wild animals up close in their natural habitat undoubtedly makes for a thrilling and unforgettable trip. Africa’s iconic Big 5 are the African lion, rhinoceros, African elephant, leopard and Cape buffalo. The term “Big 5” and the designation of these animals came about in the 19th century when game hunters listed them as the most dangerous creatures to hunt on foot. 

Today, tourism to national parks and reserves helps support the conservation of the animals living there. The funds go towards protecting them from hunters, poachers and other threats. There are camps, resorts and lodges to fit various budgets and experience preferences. Whether you prefer to venture out into the bush in a vehicle, on foot or above in a hot air balloon , there are options to meet the needs of all adventurers, photographers and nature enthusiasts.

If seeing the Big 5 is a must for you, you’ll want to be sure to select safaris in Africa where they’re known to reside. Here are five national parks and reserves home to Africa’s Big 5. Be sure to plan ahead and book your safari well in advance. Accommodations and tours here are in high demand.

Serengeti National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tanzania ’s Serengeti National Park is brimming with wildlife of all kinds. Nearly 15,000 square kilometers in size, it is home to 500 different bird species and 300 species of mammals. The protected area is one of the key spots for travelers who want to witness the Great Migration. During this yearly occurrence, around two million wildebeest, zebras, antelopes, gazelles and other herd animals travel from the Serengeti to Kenya’s Masai Mara in search of lush vegetation and water. If you’re hoping to visit during this spectacular natural event, you should plan your visit between June and September.

Maasai Mara National Reserve

If you’re hoping to witness the Great Migration during an African safari at Maasai Mara National Reserve, aim to visit between July and October. This area of preserved savannah wilderness is located in southwestern Kenya, and houses 90 mammal species and 500 bird species. Its landscape is comprised of grasslands, rolling hills an the Talek and Mara Rivers. The national reserve is named for the Maasai people who inhabit the area.

Kruger National Park

Spanning nearly 20,000 square kilometers, Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves on the continent. Located in northeastern South Africa , it became the country’s first national park in 1926. In addition to the Big 5, it is inhabited by 150 mammal species, 500 bird species and 100 reptile species. The park’s diversity extends to its plant life with over 2,000 species of plants. Hundreds of archeological sites also can be found in one of the largest safaris in Africa. Kruger is also part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, which UNESCO has named an International Man and Biosphere Reserve.

Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is located in northwestern Namibia . One of the things that makes it so unique is the massive salt pan set within it. At close to 5,000 square kilometers, the Etosha Pan is the largest of its kind in Africa. It is so large it can be seen from space. Despite the fact that this vast, bare area covers almost a quarter of the park, Etosha National Park has no shortage of wildlife to encounter on a safari. Due to the nutrients and vitamins found in the soil here, its elephants are some of the largest in Africa. After heavy rains, a thin layer of water accumulates on the Etosha Pan, attracting flocks of flamingos. 

Why are they called the big 5 animals & other FAQs

The “Big Five” is probably the most popular phrase in the African safari jargon.

More often than not, the first thing a safari newbie will tell you is: “I want to see the big five animals”. Almost as if it was the only thing “worthwhile” in the bush.

Or people will return from a safari saying, “I saw the big five”.

While this is the most popular term in the safari industry, it has a bitter history and makes the African savannah seem a very simple place.

So what makes them so “special”? And are they even the biggest?

In Africa, the big five safari animals are magnificent sightings . There are many fascinating things to know about these mighty mammals, so let’s find out more below.

What Are the Big Five Animals?

Can you name the big five animals?

The big five are the African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ), the African buffalo (also known as the Cape buffalo; Syncerus caffer ), the rhinoceros (Black rhino = Diceros bicornis ; White rhino = Ceratotherium simum ), the lion ( Panthera leo ), and the elusive leopard ( Panthera pardus ).

And no : they’re not defined as “big” because of their size. Otherwise, creatures such as the hippopotamus or super-tall giraffe would have made it on the list.

Why Are They Called the Big Five?

Historically, the big five got their fame because they were the most sought-after hunting trophies . And not just because their heads appeared most impressive after a visit to the taxidermist.

Simply put, the big five were the most dangerous African animals to hunt on foot . They’re very difficult to maneuver around and are highly unpredictable.

Most importantly, these five are the only animals that charge and fight back against guns .

So, as colonialists and aristocrats went around Africa with their gangs of servants, killing all five became the ultimate African hunting experience (even though the servants got killed first when an animal charged).

Why is There Still a Big Five Today?

Many people don’t know about that history. They just hear the words safari and big five. Today, people idolize the term as much as ever , just for different reasons. Put simply, the big five sell safaris .

The term is extensively used in safari promotions and marketing . Expressions such as “Big 5 country” or “Home to the Big 5” have become common practices to attract tourists.

As the number of private game reserves has increased in the last 20 years, they are using the big five more and more.

It’s gotten to such an extent that people tend to ONLY want to see the Big 5 while often neglecting Mother Nature’s other hidden treasures.

It’s a pity as there’s far more beyond the big five animals to appreciate on a safari.

How the Big Five Simplifies the Safari Experience

If it’s your first safari, then it’s difficult to escape the desire to tick these five animals off your list . Almost everyone wants to say they went to Africa and saw the big five.

But what does that actually mean? That you get a glimpse of a leopard or rhino from 50 meters away?

Almost all private game reserves claim to have the big five. However, they might only have two elephants, one rhino, one lion pride, a leopard that is never seen, and a small buffalo herd.

In fact, that’s a pretty common scenario, especially for fenced private game reserves in South Africa .

In comparison, most of Africa’s BEST safari destinations DO NOT have the big five .  

Chobe National Park has 100 000 elephants but no rhinos.

You can generally spot four of the five in Serengeti National Park or Masai Mara  (black rhinos are seldom seen), but there are over 1 million wildebeest and zebras .

The Okavango Delta doesn’t have them all, nor does Samburu , Tarangire National Park or South Luangwa , Hwange , and many of Africa’s best safari destinations .

Thinking Beyond the African Big Five Animals

The best safari experiences aren’t planned . If you are only interested in five animals, then you’ll miss out on most of what makes Africa so special.

Safaris are about surprises . Intimate moments witnessed just by you, scenes of both drama and charm that carry you away.

You can see a cheetah chasing an impala across the savannah, loved-up zebra couples grooming each other, or lions meeting hippos at a waterhole.

You can capture the big five in photos. But the best part of a big five safari will be your personal moments with the animal kingdom.

That’s not a distant glimpse of a sleeping cat but coming face to face with thousands of wildebeest .

Seeing a rhino in the distance may sound exciting to some, yet it’s nothing compared to following spotted hyenas or wild dogs on a hunt.

Characteristics of the Big Five Animals

Now that you know which animals form the big five, let’s have a look at some fun facts and characteristics of each.

The African elephant

The African elephant is one of the most beautiful animals on Earth. It is also the largest land mammal on the planet , reaching weights of up to 6000 kg and heights of up to three meters.

Yet, the elephant is a fast runner . In fact, it is speedy enough to outrun most people ( > 40 km/h at full charge). Unless you’re Usain Bolt, of course. 🙂

African elephants are incredibly intelligent creatures and have amazing memory capabilities. These large creatures tend to stay together in matriarchal groups , consisting of grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and aunts.

Above that, they have an average lifespan of 70 years , so their great memory is quite necessary.

They are unmistakable with their imposing long “nose” (trunk), enlarged ears, and their precious “jewels” (tusks), which can grow up to around 2.5 meters. Regrettably, their tusks are often poached as trophies.

Did you notice they had ears in the shape of the African continent?

A fun fact about these giant mammals is that they have the ability to communicate over long distances at a low frequency, not audible to humans.

The best part is that they don’t use their big floppy ears for this communication, but rather their feet !

The African buffalo

This is the most dangerous of them all, extremely feared by hunters. Cape buffaloes live in herds, but you’ll occasionally come across a solitary bull.

When on its own, the bull can be extremely aggressive when approached. They’re better left alone.

The African buffalo can weigh up to 1000 kg and is one of Simba’s favorite steaks!

Yet, they won’t go down without putting up a fight. Buffaloes protect and try to rescue another member of the herd if a lion catches them. They’re even known to murder a lion that’s killed a group member.

The rhinoceros

There are two types of rhinos in Africa: the black rhino with its distinctive prehensile lip (which makes it a browser), and the white rhino (not white at all), a typical grazer.

You’re probably wondering why it’s called a white rhino despite being gray or yellowish brown. The white rhino’s name comes from the Dutch word “wijd” — which means wide .

People used this word to describe the rhino’s squared lip . The word has nothing to do with its color. The black rhino, in contrast, has a more pointed upper lip.

Rhinos are also heavy creatures, weighing between 1000 kg (for the black species) and up to 2000 kg (white rhino). As with elephants, rhinos are widely poached for their horn — which can grow up to 1.5 meters long.

Hunters and poachers take their horns away as trophies — to make knife handles, for instance — or are sometimes used in powders (as an “aphrodisiac”).

In certain Asian cultures, people believe that rhino horn has various medicinal purposes , though this is completely false.

Their highly sought-after horns, unfortunately, make them the most endangered members of the African big five.

With poachers continuously employing more advanced methods to hunt these horns, it is very rare for a rhino to survive outside the safety of nature reserves and national parks .

This is Africa’s “King of the Jungle”. An animal of rare beauty, undoubtedly the most famous of them all.

The lion is a skillful hunter with incredible power and speed. Its eyesight is like no other, and it also has excellent hearing and a great sense of smell.

They’re apex predators and can hunt animals much larger than them. These include giraffes, impala, zebra, and the blue wildebeest .

Male lions are very recognizable with their long and imposing mane. Typically, a darker mane means that the male lion is older.

Lions are also highly social animals . In the pride, male lions eat first, yet it is the females that do “most” (if not all) the chasing and hunting.

Once the male has satisfied its appetite, the lionesses join the feast, while lion cubs have to content themselves with any leftovers.

The leopard

My personal favorite.

There are several interesting facts about leopards . Did you know that not a single leopard spot is exactly the same?

In fact, many biologists use the spot patterns on their face and neck to distinguish them from one another. To be honest, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Well, perhaps I’d need a LOT of practice!

While on a safari, the leopard is always my top animal on the checklist. It has all the characteristics I love: it is graceful , an expert climber , and has extraordinary hunting capabilities .

They use their strong climbing abilities to drag prey into the trees, away from lions and hyenas. But they’re not only experts with trees. Occasionally, leopards will even swim and hunt small prey like fish or crabs.

In contrast with the lion, the leopard is very solitary and shy — and they’re nocturnal animals . This makes it even more rewarding and lucky if you “spot” them during the day.

They’re an absolute treat for the eyes.

Big 5 Africa: Video

Practical Tips for Choosing a Safari Destination (With or Without the Big Five)

There is no denying that the hunter’s relic is a marketer’s masterpiece . Alternative catchphrases don’t spring to mind. So while the big five is an outdated concept in one sense, it remains essential to the African safari industry.

When choosing a safari destination, our recommendation is to evoke the origins of the word “safari” instead. This is a Swahili word meaning “long journey” .

A long journey implies something unpredictable , moving the expectation away from five animals to a personal experience in the wild. After all, who wants the same five photos as everybody else?

By viewing a safari as a journey — rather than a “hunt” to see the big five — you can celebrate the individuality of the experience and destination.

You’ll make an African safari a subjective experience rather than an objective fact.

When you’re researching destinations, here are some considerations to make.

• Read reviews : Especially of private game reserves, as this will give you a good idea of what you’re actually likely to spot.
• Look at what makes the reserve or park unique : Rather than checking if it has the same standard five sights, see what other animals are unique to that region or park.
• Look up the size of the park : Larger wilderness areas usually have more diverse habitats and can sustain both greater numbers and greater diversity of wildlife. The more variety and animals in the park, the higher your chance of seeing the big five and more wondrous animals.
• Check whether it is a fenced park : Most national parks are not, but small, private game reserves need fences to stop the only rhino or elephant from leaving.
• Consider the quantity of wildlife : Encountering two elephants is beautiful but pretty standard in Africa. Seeing more than 200 on a single game drive is mind-blowing.

Looking Beyond the Big 5 African Animals

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of why this group of mighty animals is called the big five.

And, with some big five animal facts out of the way, you can move on to exploring more of the wondrous species in the African wilderness.

Other excellent wild animals to look forward to on your African safari include the striped zebra , the semiaquatic hippo , the leaping springbok , and so much more.

They’re equally as fascinating as the coveted Big 5, and you should not overlook them simply because they don’t form part of this commercialized term.

About The Author

Michael Theys

Related posts.

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13 African elephant facts – Fun and interesting info on the savanna giant

14 interesting facts about leopards

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For safari-goers, nothing beats seeing the Big Five: elephants, Cape buffalo, lions, leopards, and rhinoceros. A Big Five safari is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see some of Africa’s most famous animals and get close to some of the continent’s most vibrant ecosystems. Every safari option comes with an expert guide who knows the area and wildlife inside and out.

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• The term ‘Big Five’ refers to five of Africa’s greatest wild animals namely; lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino - Originally coined only by hunters. Hunters ranked African animals as to how dangerous they were to hunt, the Big Five were the most difficult animals to hunt on foot in Africa to the degree of danger involved.

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Man says his emotional support alligator, known for its big social media audience, has gone missing

FILE - Joie Henney hugs his emotional support alligator named Wally, Jan. 22, 2019, inside their home in York Haven, Pa. Henney credits Wally for helping relieve his depression for nearly a decade, says he’s searching for the reptile after it went missing during a vacation to the coast of Georgia. (Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, File)

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BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man who credits an alligator named Wally for helping relieve his depression for nearly a decade says he is searching for the reptile after it went missing during a vacation to the coast of Georgia.

Joie Henney has thousands of social media users following his pages devoted to Wally, the cold-blooded companion that he calls his emotional support alligator. He has posted photos and videos online of people petting the 5 1/2-foot (1.7 meter) alligator like a dog or hugging it like a teddy bear. Wally’s popularity soared to new heights last year when the gator was denied entry to a Philadelphia Phillies game.

Now Henney said he is distraught after Wally vanished while accompanying him on an April vacation in Brunswick, Georgia, a port city 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Savannah. He said he suspects someone stole Wally from the fenced, outdoor enclosure where Wally spent the night on April 21.

In social media posts, Henney said pranksters left Wally outside the home of someone who called authorities, resulting in his alligator being trapped and released into the wild.

“We need all the help we can get to bring my baby back,” Henney said in a tearful video posted on TikTok. “Please, we need your help.”

Henney said he didn’t have time to talk when The Associated Press reached him by phone Wednesday morning. He did not immediately return follow-up messages.

The man from Jonestown, Pennsylvania, has previously said he obtained Wally in 2015 after the alligator was rescued in Florida at the age of 14 months. Henney told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2019 that Wally helped alleviate depression following the deaths of several close friends. He said a doctor treating his depression had endorsed Wally’s status as his emotional support animal.

“He has never tried to bite no one,” Henney told the newspaper.

No one has filed police reports about the missing alligator in Brunswick and surrounding Glynn County, according to spokespersons for the city and county police departments.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources confirmed that someone in the Brunswick area reported a nuisance alligator on April 21 — the day Henney said Wally went missing — and that a licensed trapper was dispatched to capture it. The agency said in a statement that the gator was “released in a remote location,” but stressed that it doesn’t know if the reptile was Wally.

It’s illegal in Georgia for people to keep alligators without a special license or permit, and the state Department of Natural Resources says it doesn’t grant permits for pet gators. Pennsylvania has no state law against owning alligators, though it is illegal for owners to release them into the wild, according to its Fish and Boat Commission .

David Mixon, a wildlife biologist and coastal supervisor for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, has handled plenty of alligators reported in people’s yards and swimming pools. He has also shown gators kept in captivity in presentations to school groups and Boy Scout troops.

He said even alligators that seem docile can be dangerous, and he always makes sure to hold their mouths closed with a hand or, preferably, a band.

“They’re unpredictable, and they’re often reactive to stimulus,” Mixon said. “There’s lots of videos and pictures where people handle gators, and they do it without getting hurt. But the more time you spend around them, the more likely you are to be injured.”

State wildlife officials in neighboring Florida, home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators, have recorded more than 450 cases of unprovoked alligators biting humans since 1948. That includes more than 90 gator bites since 2014, six of them fatal.

In areas where people can legally own alligators, it is possible for them to be considered emotional support animals, said Lori Kogan, a psychologist and Colorado State University professor who studies interactions between humans and animals.

Unlike service animals that help people with disabilities such as blindness or post-traumatic stress, emotional support animals have no special training, Kogan said. They also don’t have any official registry, though health professionals often write letters of endorsement for owners with a diagnosed mental health condition.

“People can get very attached to a variety of animals,” Kogan said. “Can you get attached to a reptile? Can it bring you comfort? I would say yes. Me personally? No.”