Why should I go on a Big Five safari?

If you’re looking at safari holidays, you’ve probably come across the term “Big Five”

The Big Five is the collective term for the buffalo, the elephant, the leopard, the lion and the rhino. The term was originally coined by big game hunters to describe the animals that were most dangerous to bring down. So even though a couple of them are quite large, the phrase is not an expression of the size of the five animals.

Today, we also use the term in connection with safaris.

You should see the Big Five animals because:

1) The Big Five are, in many ways, the symbol of African safari, and seeing one or more of the animals is very high on many people’s list.

2) These are amazing animals, all of which, in their own special way, take your breath away when you see them in their natural surroundings!

3) It goes without saying that if you can cross all five animals off your list, you’ve really got something to tell people about.

Where can I see all five animals?

You can see one or more of the Big Five animals at many of the African safari destinations. But ALL FIVE animals live at the following of our destinations, so if that’s your goal, you should choose one of them.

• Kenya, e.g. Masai Mara, Amboseli and Tsavo
• Tanzania, e.g. Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Nyerere National Park
• South Africa, e.g. in Kruger National Parks
• Botswana, e.g. Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta

Please note, however, that we have included the tours where you’re in with the biggest chance of experiencing all five Big Five animals on this page.

Can you guarantee that I will see the Big Five?

The short answer to that is no.

At all the destinations listed above, you are in with a chance of seeing all the Big Five. But one of the great things about safaris is that there are no guarantees.

Even if you visit a destination where all of the Big Five live, you still really need luck to be on your side, as we’re dealing with wild animals. However, some of the animals are more “common” to see than others.

• Large numbers of buffaloes and elephants live in many places in Africa, so the likelihood of you seeing them is high.
• Lions are also often spotted on a safari, and if you see one, you will probably see more as they live in prides.
• The leopard is a shy animal that mainly hunts at night. So if you do see it during the day, it will typically be sleeping in a tree, waiting for night to come. The rhinoceros is a highly endangered species due to poaching, especially the black rhino, so you will need a lot of luck to see one up close, especially at some destinations.

Any questions?

Choosing the right safari isn’t easy. We will help you find the tour that best matches your wishes.

If you have any questions, you are very welcome to contact our travel specialists, who know all there is to know about our safari destinations.

We look forward to helping you on the holiday of your lifetime!

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller