You have probably heard of them, the big 5. You think of wildlife during a safari but who are these animals? On every safari they are looking for the most difficult and dangerous African animals to observe. The big 5 consist of: rhino, lion, elephant, leopard and buffalo. Spotting the big five has become a sport for people on a safari. If you have never been on a safari before, it would be good to read the facts about the big 5.
Rhino
There are two types of rhinos in Africa, the black and the white African rhino. The difference between the white and the black is the wide lip of the white rhino and the hooked lip of the black rhino. The black rhino tends to be harder to find due to there being more of an abundance of white rhinoās, another adding factor to this can be that black rhinos are fond of roaming in between bushes. Rhinos feed at night and rest during the day, this makes it easier for rangers to locate them during the safari outings for people to witness the beauty of the extraordinary animals. You can find the African rhinos at Kruger National Park, (South Africa), Etosha National Park (Namibia), Moremi Game Reserve (Botswana), Serengeti National Park and Tarangire National Park (Tanzania).
Lion
Lions are one of the most sought-after animals on a safari. The lion is quite easy to spot. They often can be found lying on the road after a night of hunting. Lions have remarkable eyesight and are able to see in the dark while they are hunting. They live in groups and require plenty of contact with each other. With the lions arrogant presence, on many occasions they cry out a thunderous roar to display their dominance. This amazing animal can be spotted at these national parks: Kruger National Park, Addo Elephant National Park, Animal Rescue Centre (South Africa), Etosha National Park (Namibia) and Chobe National Park, Momeri National Park (Botswana)
Elephant
The elephant is the easiest member of the big 5 to spot during a safari. Not only because they are large animals but there are also plenty of elephants in Africa. The females tend to stick together in large herds along with their young, while male elephants can often be found roaming around by themselves. These social animals are very respectable to people although they are still wild, so they deserve the same amount of respect in return. the parks where you can locate and admire them are as follows: Kruger National Park, Addo Elephant National Park, Animal Rescue Centre (South Africa), Etosha National Park (Namibia), Chobe National Park, Momeri National Park (Botswana), Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro National Park (Tanzania).
Leopard
Of all the animals, the leopard is the hardest to find. During daytime leopards tend to rest high up in trees, this provides protection from other animals on the ground. Leopards have remarkable vision and hunt during night time. The leopards fur provides excellent camouflage for when they hide in bushes and trees. Spotting a leopard isnāt such a rare occasion although with experienced game rangers, they have the know-how and are able to locate these expert predators for a special experience. The best places to spot a Leopards are: The Kruger National Park (South Africa), Etosha National Park (Namibia), Chobe National Park, Momeri National Park (Botswana), Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro National Park (Tanzania).
Cape Buffalo
Together with the elephant the buffalo is easier to spot than the rest of the big 5. The Cape buffalo is known as one of the most dangerous African animals because of its raw strength and sharp horns. The Cape buffalo covers four species of the African buffalo. Buffalos live in large herds up to 1000 buffalos. You will find them near water or rivers because they need water daily. The best places to spot the Cape Buffalo are: Kruger National Park, Animal Rescue Centre, (South Africa), Okavango Delta, Momeri National Park, Momeri National Park (Botswana), Etosha National Park (Namibia), Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro National Park.
To go on a safari is one of the most popular activities in Africa. Go spot the big 5 by yourself and check our list of safari options across Africa.
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