Finding the Big 5

Introducing each member of the Big Five

Lions

There are few sounds as evocative and exhilarating while on safari as a lion roaring nearby. The booming groans and grunts will cause the hair to stand up on the back of your neck and your heart rate to go into overdrive. Lions are THE apex predator in Africa's wild spaces, powerful and ruthless carnivores that root out weaker animals (predator and prey) - and so helping to maintain biodiversity.

Leopards

Leopards are steel clad in velvet - powerful, lithe, intelligent big cats that are always the first choice on that Big 5 list. Breathtakingly beautiful, charismatic and mysterious, leopards are never predictable - every sighting is unique – defined by the personality of the leopard itself. Witnessing this graceful predator switch from slumber to killing machine in a split-second is one of Africa's top wildlife encounters.

Elephants

These sentient and peaceful giants are fascinating as much as entertaining - the family bonds are obvious as the herd matriarchs (the oldest and wisest females) deal with naughty youngsters and belligerent adolescent bulls. And then there are the huge lumbering bull elephants that roam over vast distances alone or in small groups in search of food, water and mating opportunities. Some of them have tusks that touch the ground - sadly a rare sight these days. Elephants are one of nature’s great ecosystem engineers, contributing to maintaining the balance between wooded and grass ecosystems.

Buffaloes

Old Cape/African buffalo bulls, also known as 'dagga boys', are known for their cantankerous behaviour when encountered on foot. Huge and powerful, these buffalo should not be underestimated - as many lions have discovered. In contrast, the large family herds have a more peaceful vibe - but be aware that big bulls are usually in amongst the herd or lingering on the outskirts. Buffaloes play a vital ecosystem role as they crop and fertilise Africa's grassy savannahs - ensuring ongoing vitality so important to many species.

Rhinos 

Africa's 'unicorns', rhinos are as crucial for ecosystem health as other bulk feeders such as elephants, buffaloes and hippos. The larger white rhino (a grazer of grass) has a peaceful reputation, while black rhinos (a browser of leaves) are known to be unpredictable and even cantankerous. Both are highly threatened by poaching.

Hardest of the Big 5 to spot?

Black rhinos are usually the most difficult of the Big Five to find - they are very rare and known to hang around in dense vegetation. Leopards are next in line (because of their solitary, elusive lifestyles), followed by buffaloes (which migrate seasonally over large distances to find grass and water), lions (which often follow the buffaloes), white rhinos (which are territorial and easy to find if they occur in that area) and finally elephants.

Am I safe while on a Big 5 safari?

Yes, African Parks guides are well-trained and very experienced - and they enforce the necessary safeguards while you are on safari.

Your Big 5 encounters (and encounters with other dangerous species such as hippos and crocodiles) will usually be while on a game drive. Wild animals tend to ignore game drive vehicles because our guides drive responsibly, and so avoid provoking an aggressive reaction. 

While on a walking safari, your guides will be extremely vigilant about established safety procedures. The chance of encountering dangerous animals (which will be given a wide berth) is far less than during a game drive. 

Please be aware that most African Parks camps are unfenced (see the detailed notes we provide for each camp), so there is a risk of encountering wild animals while walking around the immediate vicinity of the camp. It is very important to obey the safety instructions from the camp managers. These will include not walking too far from the lodge during the daylight hours and not walking around during the dark hours unless escorted by your ranger.