African Big Five Safari Holidays

East Africa still remains one of the best places to see the African Big Five wildlife. The region boasts a good population of Lions, Leopards, elephants, Buffalos, and Rhinos. The vast savannah parks dotted around the region have become a habitat for predators, herbivores, and Omnivorous wildlife.

Big Five was a term used by the early game hunters in Africa, referring to a group of animals considered the most dangerous species to hunt on foot. Nowadays, the pastime of photography safaris has commandeered the expression, and spotting the Big Five on safari in Africa is a serious highlight, particularly for first-timers on an African safari.

The Big Five Animals

• Lions

The lion is arguably the most iconic of the big cats and undoubtedly the number one predator on the continent. Lions are most often found in territorial pride, consisting of either a single dominant male or a pride (often two brothers) and a host of females with their cubs. 

• Leopards

The leopard is the most elusive and mysterious of the Big Five, so a leopard sighting is the highlight of any safari holiday! Both male and female leopards are solitary, except for when they are mating or mother with Cubs.

• Elephants

The African elephant is the largest land-dwelling mammal, and it’s certainly our favourite member of Africa’s Big Five. A fully grown elephant can weigh up to seven tons usually elephants are seen in herds or bulls alone by themselves.

• Buffalos

It’s well known that the Cape buffalo is the most dangerous member of the Big Five. Buffalos are protective and territorial, and they place incredible strength behind those long and sharp horns. They also happen to be the most widespread and abundant of the Big Five.

• Rhinos

In East Africa, southern white rhinos once thought to be extinct, now thrive in protected sanctuaries and are classified as near threatened. But the western black rhino and northern white rhinos have recently become extinct in the wild. The only two remaining northern white rhinos are kept under 24-hour guard in Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Black rhinos have doubled in number over the past two decades from their low point of fewer than 2,500 individuals.

Best time to see the African Big Five Animals

African Big Five wildlife can be seen all year round but its peak is usually during the region’s wet season which is usually from April to June and from October to December with the mixed habitat of the region’s national parks cats like the Leopards and lions tents to move up to dry areas and trees and buffalos and elephants are abundant in the savannah and rhinos area easier to located as water is everywhere in the national parks.