Embarking on an African Big Five safari adventure in the untamed wilderness is an unmatched experience. Big Five’s luxury African safari tours offer a stunning array of options to explore the African continent. From a classic African safari in Kenya and Tanzania to a family safari adventure in South Africa, the possibilities are endless.
The term 'Big 5' has origins from the days when big game hunting was a popular pastime, it has nothing to do with the size or weight of the animal. They were originally given this name not for their size, but for the level of danger and difficulty game hunters faced when hunting them on foot. Bringing down one of these animals was a trophy for the hunter, therefore making them the most sought-after species.
Where to Find the Big Five
You will find members of the Big 5 in different concentrations across Africa. We have selected our Big 5 safari destinations on the basis that each one - with the exception of Namibia’s Etosha National Park (no buffalo) - contains populations of lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino.
Kenya
Home of the Masai Mara and Lewa Wilderness Conservancy, you'll have countless opportunities to spot the Big Five in Kenya. Lions are present in most of the Kenya’s national parks, with the most formidable and aggressive lions found in Tsavo. Interestingly, the male lions here do not have manes. The largest lions can be found in the Masai Mara. Elephants are widespread across Kenya, with the highest chances of spotting them in Amboseli National Park, where they are known for their unique reddish-brown color. Tsavo, Masai Mara, and Samburu also boast healthy elephant populations. The Masai Mara is home to the largest buffalo herds. For white rhinos, Lake Nakuru is the place to visit, while the best chances of seeing black rhinos are in the Masai Mara. Ol Pejeta Conservancy is another great spot for rhino sightings.
You’re limited to game drives in the main reserve, but stay on one of the bordering Maasai-owned private conservancies and you can head out on bush walks.
Read also: Planning Your Ethiopia Trip
Where to stay: I like Ol Seki Hemingways Camp in the Naboisho Conservancy.
Summer holidays are usually scheduled from June to August, which is a great time to visit East Africa. In fact, these are among the driest months in the region, and hence, one of the best for visiting. If you’re wondering why… animals need food and water. So this is the time they come out to waterholes to drink water, giving you a great chance to see them.
You can enjoy a hot-air balloon flight over the reserve, taking off just in time for sunrise.
Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Ride | Sunrise Safari Bush Breakfast | Hemingways Ol Seki | Conservancy
Tanzania
From the drama of the Great Migration in the north to the hushed wildlife experiences of the south, Audley specialist Dickie uncovers the best safari destinations across Tanzania. The abundance of wildlife in northern Tanzania is remarkable! The majority of animals can be found in the Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Crater. For lions, the Serengeti is the best destination, while Tarangire is ideal for spotting elephants. Four of the Big Five animals can be found in Ruaha and Katavi, two pristine and untouched nature parks where you’ll have the wildlife almost to yourself. The Nyerere National Park (Selous) is another less crowded park, offering a chance to see the Big Five, though spotting them requires some luck. While a few rhinos live in Selous, they are rarely seen due to the dense vegetation they inhabit. These three parks offer an additional perk-there’s also a chance to encounter the rare wild dogs.
Read also: Ethiopian Cuisine: Philadelphia Guide
If you have a wildlife tick list, chances are you’re going to complete it during a safari in the Serengeti. Lines of elephant plod along well-trodden routes linking the park’s waterholes, which have been worn into the landscape over generations. While game drives are the main way to see the Big Five, you can also take a hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti at dawn. You could pair a visit to the Serengeti with a safari in the Ngorongoro Crater. This huge, sheer-sided caldera has formed a natural bowl filled with wildlife, and is the best place in Tanzania to see rhino.
Where to stay: Sayari is a tented camp in the northern Serengeti, where you’re well placed for seeing the Great Migration herds pass into the Masai Mara.
Winter holidays are usually somewhere between December and January, which is another good time for a family safari. You can catch the beginning of the calving season. Plus, you get to skip the hustle and bustle of summer crowds.
South Africa
Long a stronghold of the Big 5, South Africa offers perhaps Africa’s most reliable Big 5 sightings in the private reserves that border the Kruger National Park, itself a famous Big 5 hotspot. South Africa is arguably the best place in Africa to see the Big Five: lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhino. This area of South Africa is well protected and has become a stronghold for rhino.
You might see buffalo herds 500 strong and lion prides napping beneath mopane trees. And, the reserves here have been established for a relatively long time, so animals have become accustomed to vehicles.
Read also: Best Beaches in Ghana
One of the oldest private reserves, Sabi Sands Game Reserve is particularly known for its leopard sightings.
Where to stay: In Sabi Sands Game Reserve, I like Notten’s Bush Camp, a family-run lodge overlooking a waterhole.
Botswana
Botswana's Okavango Delta is one of the greatest all-round safari destinations, with the added bonus of being Big 5 territory too. The Okavango Delta is safari by water, where you glide in canoes through waterways and twinkling lagoons in search of hippo, elephant, giraffe and iridescent birdlife.
This is one of the few places in Botswana where you have a chance of seeing all the Big Five. When to go: June to November is when the delta has the most water and more water-based activities are available.
The watery landscape is ideal for elephant and buffalo, as well as hippo, sitatunga, red lechwe and a wealth of birdlife. There’s a chance of seeing buffalo coming down to drink and elephant rolling on the muddy banks.
Where to stay: Camp Okuti sits in the heart of Moremi Game Reserve and offers both game drives and boat safaris.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is often overlooked as a safari destination but those in the know swear by its combination of authentic accommodation, friendly guides and uncrowded national parks. Hwange is the country’s biggest reserve and home to about 30 000 elephants, as well as other less-seen animals like bat-eared foxes, wild dog, sable and roan antelopes and endangered black rhino. Mana Pools lies on the Zambezi River, making water activities like canoe safaris (you haven’t lived until you’ve paddled past an elephant standing in the river) and sunset boat cruises a major attraction.
Tips for Planning Your Safari
As a general rule… Africa is nice and sunny throughout the year. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need to plan. Peak safari season in Africa runs around July to October. Why? First, because the vegetation dries up, literally making it much easier to spot a buffalo or rhino compared to the dense grass (and thick foliage) of summer.
- Book a private safari vehicle: (of course, only if you’ve got the budget) to enjoy the journey at your own pace.
- Consider the Great Migration: In the southern Serengeti, this is the time when the wildebeest give birth to their calves. By June, the herds begin their journey north, and by July or August, they’re crossing the Grumeti and Mara Rivers (where the crocodiles lie in wait). After the animals have crossed Masai Mara, they start heading to Serengeti. So, by late October/early December, you can catch them on the move again.
- Remember it's not just about the Big Five: Other wildlife highlights: It seems like there’s barely an animal that isn’t in the park. Zebra and antelope cover the plains, giraffe nibble the trees, and there are more than 500 bird species.
- Be prepared for the unexpected: What I like about this area is the feeling you get of being in absolute wilderness.
Conservation Efforts
Because of hunting and the loss and reduction of habitats, many animal species face the threat of extinction. Currently, four of the Big Five animals are listed on the International Red List of Threatened Species. The buffalo is the only Big Five animal not endangered, as it is widespread and well-represented. Lions and leopards are considered vulnerable, with their populations declining rapidly, putting them at risk of becoming endangered. The elephant is also highly vulnerable, though thanks to various conservation efforts, their numbers are gradually increasing. Unfortunately, elephants remain at risk due to poaching for ivory and the shrinking of their habitats. The rhino is in the worst shape and is therefore seriously endangered.
The Big Five Animals
The Big 5 refers to the African game animals: the African leopard, the African lion, the African elephant, the rhinoceros, and the cape buffalo.
Witnessing the Big 5, with your own eyes, is an experience unlike anything you’ve ever had before. You can see the majestic beasts in photos. You can watch them walking across your screens… but coming face to face with them? It will definitely take your breath away.
| Animal | Description |
|---|---|
| African Leopard | Masters of disguise, the elusive and magnificent leopard is a special sighting and often high on an enthusiast’s wish list. |
| African Lion | Often sleeping through the daylight hours, are most active at night and are frequently heard roaring through the darkness. |
| African Elephant | The largest land mammal, have a matriarchal hierarchy and pass knowledge down from generation to generation. Watching a hungry elephant topple a gigantic tree is a riveting sight. |
| Rhinoceros | Resembling prehistoric creatures, can be aggressive, especially black rhino, but are always a privilege to encounter in the wild. |
| Cape Buffalo | Buffaloes, rhinoceroses, and elephants are known to not run away quickly when injured or when people get too close. Instead, these animals tend to charge and pursue those who pose a threat. |
Popular articles:
tags: #Africa
