I dreamed of Africa wrote Kuki Gallmann. She had journeyed from her homeland in Italy to Kenya and so began a lifelong obsession with the beauty and nature of East Africa.
Africa is home to a diverse natural world that has to be seen to be believed. The continent is vast and boasts the most varied landscapes you can imagine, but if you want to see some of the most famous of Africa’s denizens – the Big Five – then East Africa is the most perfect place to find them. But what are the Big Five?
The name was coined in the heyday of wild game hunting. The ‘great’ white hunters of the past sought the most dangerous animals they could find and the Big Five were considered the toughest creatures to conquer on foot.
Thankfully, in this day and age, people have traded guns for cameras and the Big Five can enjoy kinder attention. So without further ado, let us introduce the Big Five!
The Lion
The lion, as the King of Beasts, is perhaps the most famous of all the Big Five. Large, graceful and majestic – there are few animals that can take your breath away the way lions do.
Creatures of the plains, you will find them in wide open savannah, rather than in forests so if you are coming to East Africa to see this, the most famous of all African cats, then you may want to visit the Maasai Mara Reserve in Kenya, or Katavi National Park in Tanzania.
Living in large families, lion prides are mostly made up of lionesses and these fierce females rule the group. There is usually only one dominant male whom you’ll spot due to his greater size and his incredible mane. Young males will leave the pride of their birth at the age of 2 or 3. On occasion you will find some juvenile males together – a temporary coalition formed for hunting purposes – but you will rarely see more than 4 lions together at one time.
With no natural predators, lions demonstrate a well earned swagger and you’ll find they aren’t shy around tourists, often lazing about in the heat of the day and giving you the most perfect photo opportunities!
If you want to find some tree climbing lions then head to Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park or Aberdares in Kenya.
The Elephant
The largest of the Big Five, and one of the most unique and interesting of all animals that roam the earth, elephants are an incredible sight and the best place to see them is in Amboseli National Park. Home to one of the biggest populations of elephants, you can see them roam across the border of Kenya and Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro forming a stunning backdrop.
Social creatures, you won’t often see an elephant on its own. They are family animals and the group is kept together by their strong matriarch. Lone elephants might be young teenage bulls exploring the world, or perhaps old bulls seeking some long-sought-after alone time after a lifetime of being told what to do!
Elephants have a sophisticated communication system and as you watch them you will start to see the subtle ways in which they talk to each other. You’ll often find them near watering holes, bathing and playing with each other and it will be a memory that will last a lifetime.
The African Buffalo
The African buffalo is maybe the least expected member of the Big Five, but don’t let that docile bovine face fool you. Of all the animals in Africa, the buffalo is the only animal that even the famously brave Maasai tribe is wary of. These creatures are dangerous!
You’ll usually find buffalo in vast herds, and that’s when they’re at their most relaxed. Buffalo roam all across the continent so you’re bound to find them whether you are exploring the game reserves of Uganda, discovering the hidden secrets of Rwanda, or traversing the famed wildernesses of Kenya and Tanzania.
Whilst people don’t sing the praises of African buffalo very often there is something special about a vast herd of these large animals grazing their way through the stunning African landscapes. Every so often you might witness males fight and it’s in those instances that you will really get a sense of their dangerous power as they clash horns and you heard the thunderous crack of their bosses (the thick base of their horns that joins them together) as they collide. Buffalo are truly spectacular.
White and Black Rhino
Rhinos are incredible creatures. The bulk and heft of them, their impressive horns, their thick leathery hides… there is something almost prehistoric about the way they look. There’s no animal quite like them and sadly their numbers are dwindling fast due to poaching. White rhinos are a threatened species and black rhinos are critically endangered.
Throughout east Africa there are brave people endeavouring to protect these noble animals and it’s in part due to their hard work that you can still see them today.
White rhinos are big – the second largest land mammal after elephants – and they are so named, not because of any white colouration but rather because of their ‘wide’ lips. They are grazers so you will find them on the savannah and, with all the grass they eat to support their bulk, you will often find them at a watering hole rehydrating.
Keep your eyes peeled for the more elusive black rhinos. Whilst white rhinos might congregate in small groups, black rhinos prefer to go it alone. Smaller than white rhinos the black rhino is a browser which means you’re more likely to find it amongst dense shrub and scrub land. Seeing these incredible animals will change your life!
The Leopard
And now we come to the final member of the Big Five – the leopard. Arguably the star of the show, the leopard is the one everyone wants to see. Drawn by its beauty, its charisma and its sheer stealth, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as spotting a leopard lounging in the trees.
The cats aren’t as big as lions but they are probably bigger than you imagine. Their luxurious rosette patterned coats are eye-catching when you spot them, but are also one of the main reasons they are hard to find! The black spots help them blend into the mottled shade of the trees they climb.
Leopards are solitary creatures, although you may find a mother looking after her cubs (female leopards are doting parents). Your best bet to find them is to search for trees with big sturdy branches that can carry the weight of a big cat and its prey. Leopards like to sleep in the trees during the heat of the day, but if you go for a night drive you might just be lucky enough to spot a leopard on the hunt. And beginners luck is definitely a thing – if it’s your first safari you may just get the best view of a leopard anyone could wish for!
So there you have it – the Big Five. These animals are special but so are all the animals you’ll get to see on safari, so even if you don’t spot all of the Five, you definitely won’t be disappointed by your trip! If any of our tours caught your fancy, or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Don’t just dream of Africa – live it!