Lion - Buffalo - Elephant - Leopard - Rhino
Meet the Big Five.
The African Big Five
If you’re interested in safari, you may have heard of the “Big Five,” a term big-game hunters came up with for the five most difficult African species to track and hunt on foot. Though all five species—lion, leopard, elephant, black rhinoceros, and African buffalo—are indeed big, hunters singled out these species not because of their size, but because of the danger and difficulty involved in bringing them down.
"Tanzania's seasonal changes and great diversity op species both contribute to an epic, one of a kind migratory drama among wildlife"
Three words you will undoubtedly come across when planning your safari adventure through Africa: The big five. Three words that belong to Africa as much as Kilimanjaro and big skies. But who or what are the big five?
The Big Five 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.
You will never forget the moment when, crouched low in the aromatic golden grass beside your armed game scout and guide, you watch elephants cross the river towards you.
African (Cape) Buffalo
They may look bovine, but don’t be fooled; African buffalos are powerful, quicker than they appear, and ruthless when provoked. Though there are no hard-and-fast facts on the matter, some claim that the African buffalo is the most dangerous animal to man in Africa, even more so than the hippopotamus.
Black Rhinoceros
Massive, solitary, and horned, a black rhinoceros wandering the African plains looks almost prehistoric, a creature from some ancient, vanished past.Though they’re notorious for their aggression—black rhinos have been known to charge termite mounds—too few remain to pose a significant threat to nearby human populations.
You will never forget the moment when, crouched low in the aromatic golden grass beside your armed game scout and guide, you watch elephants cross the river towards you.
Lion
He’s often referred to as the king of the animals, and it’s not hard to see why. An apex predator on land, a lion does know how to purr, but that’s about all he has in common with your housecat.
Leopard
Nocturnal, stealthy, and wary of humans, leopards are an elusive animal, making a sighting a rare treat for any safari-goer. The smallest of the big cats, leopards are mostly solitary creatures, and are likely to flee at the first sign of perceived danger.
Elephant
The largest living land mammal, elephants are a truly unforgettable safari sight, especially when you spot them traveling in a large family herd.They’re not only the largest animal you’ll spot on safari, elephants are likely one of the smartest.
Elephant
Scientists have observed complex familial relationships between elephant families, and they seem to show empathy, self-awareness (even recognizing themselves in mirrors), and of course, famously long memories, both for other animals and for their surroundings.
You will never forget the moment when, crouched low in the aromatic golden grass beside your armed game scout and guide, you watch elephants cross the river towards you.
leopard.
