Big Five — Going Beyond the Safari Favorites

Okay, so you can’t pack them, but knowing the big five is the starting point for your exploration of the wildlife in Africa. The big five is a big buzzword in the safari industry, yet it’s got a menacing history.

It’s actually a hunting term. These five animals were famous because they were the hardest to hunt, as it was only these five that would attack back when they were getting hunted.

Fast-forward 100 years and it’s these big five animals that are revered as the premier sights on an African safari.

The big five are lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. And I’d like to see anyone who could squeeze any of these into a backpack.

Of course, seeking out these majestic animals is going to be at the heart of your safari experience.

But don’t get too preoccupied.

There’s far more to safari than just five animals. Some national parks have over 100 different mammals while others have herds of zebra or wildebeest that number over 100 000.

A safari offers a complete immersion in the wild and you’ll be surrounded by nature’s weird and wonderful, so don’t think it wasn’t a success because one of the famous big five didn’t get a tick on the list.

I am a Safari Specialist and Internet Entrepreneur from Belgium. Learn more about what I do and why I do it at AfricaFreak.com.