Big 5 Safari Animals

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What Are the Big 5 Safari Animals?

People go on safari for one reason: to see animals. You may have heard the term “the Big 5 safari animals” and wondered exactly what that means. Africa’s big five animals are the lion, the leopard, the elephant, the rhino, and the African buffalo. A lot of people think that the Big 5 safari animals includes the giraffe, but this is not the case! See why below.

Why Are They Called the Big 5?

The term “the big 5” was coined by hunters as these five animals are the most difficult in Africa to hunt on foot. This is the reason why giraffes don’t make the list! The term is now used by safari tour operators in relation to the animals visitors might expect to see during safari tours in Africa.

Seeing the Big 5 Safari Animals

On any safari, seeing any particular animal is not guaranteed since they are, in fact, wild animals. But it’s pretty common to see some or all of the big 5 safari animals when taking a Serengeti safari. I traveled in July, which is part of the Serengeti’s cooler and dryer season and I saw some—but not all—of the big 5!

Elephants

Over the course of five days, we spotted elephants a handful of times. They weren’t as common as some of the other big 5 animals, but we had several fairly close encounters with a few different herds.

Lions

This lioness was the first of the big 5 I saw while in the Serengeti and it was thrilling! She was sunning and bathing right next to the road and lounged there for ages. Over the course of five days, I saw probably a dozen or so lions, mostly female. The few males were fewer and far between, and each lion sighting, male or female was exciting.

Leopards

I spent five days in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater and saw one leopard. And that was from a very far distance. These speedy animals are nocturnal and are often found in dense brush, making them harder to spot.

Rhinos

The black rhino is critically endangered and the white rhino is threatened, making them less common to see while on safari. Both are subject to poaching and the black rhino is highly prized by big game hunters. The rhino is the only one of the big 5 animals I didn’t see during my Serengeti safari.

African Buffalos

I’m not exaggerating when I say that African Buffalos were everywhere in the Serengeti! Second only to the zebra, the African Buffalo was the animal I saw the most often while on safari. So I really enjoyed unique moments like this, where the buffalo had a hitchhiker and was sporting a grassy new ‘do!

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Lori Barbely

Hi, I’m Lori, the Chief Travel Officer for Mostly Solo Travel! I created this site for solo (and would-be solo) female travelers. My goal is to inspire your trips, give you practical advice on how to plan, and to ease your fears so you can explore the world on your own.