The one thing travellers want to encounter on a safari in southern Africa? The answer is actually five things – the Big 5 to be exact. Here’s where you can meet these magnificent creatures.

What are the Big Five in Africa?

Originally, big game hunters coined the term “Big Five” to refer to the five most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt on foot. These animals were not necessarily the largest African animals but the most sought-after trophies. Today the term is employed with a much gentler intention to refer to the animals on every safari traveller’s bucket list, including the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo.

Spotting the Big Five animals in Africa in one place can be difficult, as each of these iconic animals tends to congregate in different regions. While a country may be home to all five species, the largest populations of each are often found in distinct areas. As a result, some animals may be readily visible in certain regions, while others remain elusive due to their smaller local populations.

Where to see the Big Five

If a Big Five safari is on your bucket list, you can bolster your chances of meeting these magnificent creatures by planning a visit to specific African wildlife reserves.

The African Leopard

These elegant, powerfully built predators are considered the most elusive of the big cats and are incredible hunters. South Luangwa National Park is aptly named Zambia’s ‘Valley of the Leopard’ and is one of the best places to encounter these tree-climbing cats. Thanks to an abundant supply of food in the area, a high density of leopards thrives here, and you might even meet on a walking safari. Zambia’s other leopard hotspot is situated on the banks of the Zambezi River in the Lower Zambezi National Park. This wildlife-rich region offers plenty of opportunities to spot leopards. In South Africa, Sabi Sands Nature Reserve has the highest number of leopards of any protected area surveyed in South Africa, making it one of the best destinations in Africa to see these highly adaptable hunters in the wild.

The African Elephant

Chobe National Park in Botswana is renowned for its enormous elephant herds, where abundant food and water can sustain the large herds year-round. The elephants at Samara Private Game Reserve in South Africa’s Eastern Cape are not only majestic, but their story is one of great conservation significance for the region. The first small family was reintroduced to the Plains of the Camdeboo in 2017, after an absence of 150 years. Now, the herd is flourishing with a new calf spotted in early September this year. Across the border in Zimbabwe, Mana Pools National Park is famous for its enormous elephant herds. Some of these giants have even learned to stand on their hind legs to reach seed pods high up in the Ana trees. Southeast of Mana Pools is Hwange National Park, famous for being home to one of the world’s largest elephant populations, numbering around 40,000 animals.

Southern White and Southwestern Black Rhinoceros

Two sub-species of African rhino, the white rhino and black rhino, are considered part of the Big 5. These rhinos have distinct differences, the white rhino is generally larger, with a broader, square-shaped mouth adapted for grazing on grass, while the black rhino has a hooked lip ideal for browsing on shrubs and trees. Interestingly, the name “white” rhino arose from a misinterpretation of the Dutch word “wijd,” meaning “wide,” which describes the rhino’s wide mouth, rather than its colour. These threatened and critically endangered animals are a big focus of conservation efforts in southern Africa. Private reserves like Sanbona Nature and Wilderness Reserve in South Africa’s Little Karoo have started reintroducing rhinos that have been extinct in the region for close to 200 years. In neighbouring country Namibia, Etosha National Park is home to both white and black rhinos. The park is also a great place to encounter another spotted cat – the cheetah.

The African Lion

The kings and queens of the African savannahs, grasslands and open plains, lions are simply extraordinary animals. These apex predators can be found in all the major habitats on the continent – from the breathtaking vistas of the Kalahari and the diverse environments of the Kruger National Park to the busy watering holes of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and the large prides in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. There are even tree-climbing lions in the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.

The Cape Buffalo

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, situated near the greater Chobe National Park, is known for being a sanctuary for great roaming herds of buffalo. In this remote wilderness of northern Botswana, you’ll likely encounter one of these large herds on either a morning or afternoon game drive. Herds of over 1000 of these horned herbivores also congregate in the Serengeti National Park during the rainy season.

The Big Five … and so much more

While the Big Five may be the most famous, a safari offers so much more than sightings of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. From the smallest dung beetle to the majestic elephant, each animal plays a vital role in the wild tapestry of life. Imagine the thrill of seeing a pack of wild dogs napping under a nearby tree, or giraffes gracefully striding across the horizon…

The African Wild Dog

Although painted wolves are not part of the Big 5, an encounter with these animals is truly extraordinary. An endangered species once found across the continent, their populations have declined drastically in the last decades. You can still meet packs of these incredible hunters in Mana Pools National Park and the haven of the Luangwa Valley in Zambia.  

Plan Your Trip to Meet the Big 5

From the Okavango Delta region and the Linyati wetlands to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, few places offer Big Five game viewing like Botswana. Discover the secrets of Botswana on a 9-night luxury safari, meticulously planned by our experienced team. Or, for a customised Southern African trip that meets all your desires, get in touch with one of our expert travel consultants.