Discover Africa's Big Five: Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant, Buffalo

Discover Africa’s Big Five: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalos. Learn about these iconic animals and their conservation status.

These animals are iconic megafauna and are still hunted today, but are becoming increasingly endangered due to tourism. Lions have lost 94% of their original habitat and only 20,000 of them remain in the wild.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Africa's Big Five?

The Big Five animals of Africa include the African elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard, and Cape buffalo. These big game animal species are found in the Southern and Eastern parts of Africa and are not the heaviest or 5 biggest safaris. An African wildlife safari is a journey into the wilderness to see wildlife, such as gorillas, hippos, and male gorillas, which can weigh up to 225 kg.

Why are they called Africa's Big Five?

The Big Five game refers to the five African animals that big game hunters in the late 1800s considered the most dangerous and difficult wild animals to track and hunt on foot. Today, 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. While the Big Five are the most famous large African animals to look for on a safari trip to Africa.

Best time to see the Africa’s Big Five

The high season in Africa is from July to October, with thin and dried-up vegetation making it easier to spot the big 5.

Places to see Africa's Big Five?

-(South Africa )Kruger National Park and surrounding reserves, such as Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Shamwari Private Game Reserve, are great places to go for a safari in South Africa. Sabi Sand is known for its luxurious lodges and an abundance of wildlife, while Shamwari is well-known for its wildlife conservation initiatives.

-(Tanzania)Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is a perfect place to find all of the Big Five in one day

-((Tanzania)The Great Migration in Africa is an annual event that sees millions of wildebeest, zebra, and other ungulates migrate across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

–(Kenya)Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is a popular safari destination for seeing the Big Five.

Other places to see the Big Five include Enonkishu Conservancy and Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Not all national parks have all of the Big Five, so it can be difficult to spot them on a single safari in Africa.

LION

African lions are the largest predators on land and their prey includes zebras, impala, giraffes, and other herbivores. A group of lions is called a pride and males are distinguished from females by their large manes.

Lions don’t have a permanent social hierarchy and the dominant male in a pride can change at any time. Females hold the territories and stay with the pride into which they were born.

Lion society is also matrilineal, meaning the females hold the territories and stay with the pride into which they’re born.

ELEPHANT

The African savanna elephant is the largest land mammal in the world and can reach up to 3 meters in height and weigh up to 7 tons. It is divided into two species, the African forest elephant and the African savanna dwellers. Both species are threatened by ivory poachers for their tusks.

RHINOCEROS

There are two species of rhino in Africa: the black rhinoceros and the white rhinoceros, and five subspecies between them.

The western black rhino was declared extinct in 2011 due to poaching for their horns, while the southern white rhino remains 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. Rhinos have poor eyesight but excellent hearing and sense of smell.

LEOPARD

The African leopard is the most elusive and smallest of the Big Five, with distinctive dark spots called rosettes.

They stay hidden during the day and hunt for large kills such as zebras and antelopes in trees. Leopards are nocturnal and mainly hunt at night, but can be killed by a lion if it has the chance. They are also good swimmers and occasionally eat fish.

Our Credentials

We are proud members of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and the African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA). These affiliations ensure our services meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and responsible tourism.