<p class="is-style-info"><em>This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read ;<a href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/affiliate-third-party-links-disclosure-and-disclaimer/">full disclosure</a> ;for more information.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-big-5-safari-animals">What Are the Big 5 Safari Animals?</h2>



<p>People go on <a href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/category/travel-type/safari/">safari</a> for one reason: to see animals. You may have heard the term &#8220;the <em>Big 5</em> safari animals&#8221; 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 <a href="https://www.katiemaequilts.com/blog/on-safari-african-buffalo">Big 5 safari animals</a> includes the giraffe, but this is not the case! See why below.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-are-they-called-the-big-5">Why Are They Called the Big 5?</h2>



<p>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&#8217;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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seeing-the-big-5-safari-animals">Seeing the Big 5 Safari Animals</h2>



<p>On any safari, seeing any particular animal is not guaranteed since they are, in fact, wild animals. But it&#8217;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&#8217;s cooler and dryer season and I saw some—but not all—of the big 5!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" src="https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/big-5-safari-animals-005-1024x683.jpg" alt="big 5 safari animals elephants" class="wp-image-9940"/></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-elephants">Elephants</h4>



<p>Over the course of five days, we spotted elephants a handful of times. They weren&#8217;t as common as some of the other big 5 animals, but we had several fairly close encounters with a few different herds.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" src="https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/big-5-safari-animals-004-1024x683.jpg" alt="big 5 safari animals lions" class="wp-image-9939"/></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lions">Lions</h4>



<p>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.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" src="https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/harsh-tank-xtFRl1ZjKto-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="big 5 safari animals cheetahs" class="wp-image-9908"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Harsh Tank/Unsplash</figcaption></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leopards">Leopards</h4>



<p>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.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" src="https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/keith-markilie-jBjQA3LU9Dc-unsplash-1024x1024.jpg" alt="big 5 safari animals rhinos" class="wp-image-9904"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Keith Markilie/Unsplash</figcaption></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rhinos">Rhinos</h4>



<p>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.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" src="https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/big-5-safari-animals-006-1024x683.jpg" alt="big 5 safari animals african buffalos" class="wp-image-9941"/></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-african-buffalos">African Buffalos</h4>



<p>I&#8217;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 &#8216;do!</p>



<div class="wp-block-group"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained">
<p><strong>Let&#8217;s Go on Safari!</strong></p>


<div class="root-eb-post-carousel-7h324 wp-block-essential-blocks-post-carousel">
 <div class="eb-parent-wrapper eb-parent-eb-post-carousel-7h324 ">
 <div class="eb-post-carousel-7h324 style-1 slick-arrows equal-height dot-circle eb-post-carousel-wrapper"
 data-id="eb-post-carousel-7h324"
 data-querydata="a:15:{s:6:";source";;s:4:";post";;s:11:";sourceIndex";;i:0;s:9:";rest_base";;s:5:";posts";;s:14:";rest_namespace";;s:5:";wp/v2";;s:6:";author";;s:0:";";;s:10:";taxonomies";;a:2:{s:8:";post_tag";;a:5:{s:4:";name";;s:4:";Tags";;s:9:";rest_base";;s:4:";tags";;s:14:";rest_namespace";;s:5:";wp/v2";;s:4:";slug";;s:8:";post_tag";;s:5:";value";;s:32:";[{";value";:136,";label";:";Safari";}]";;}s:8:";category";;a:5:{s:4:";name";;s:10:";Categories";;s:9:";rest_base";;s:10:";categories";;s:14:";rest_namespace";;s:5:";wp/v2";;s:4:";slug";;s:8:";category";;s:5:";value";;s:32:";[{";value";:249,";label";:";Safari";}]";;}}s:8:";per_page";;s:1:";6";;s:6:";offset";;s:1:";0";;s:7:";orderby";;s:4:";date";;s:5:";order";;s:4:";desc";;s:7:";include";;s:0:";";;s:7:";exclude";;s:0:";";;s:15:";exclude_current";;b:1;s:19:";ignore_sticky_posts";;b:0;s:26:";exclude_password_protected";;b:0;}"
 data-slidersettings="{";arrows";:true,";dots";:true,";autoplaySpeed";:3000,";speed";:500,";adaptiveHeight";:true,";autoplay";:true,";infinite";:true,";pauseOnHover";:true,";slideToShowRange";:3,";leftArrowIcon";:";fas fa-chevron-circle-left";,";rightArrowIcon";:";fas fa-chevron-circle-right";,";addIcon";:false,";showFallbackImg";:false,";fallbackImgUrl";:";";,";isRTLEnable";:false,";TABslideToShowRange";:2,";MOBslideToShowRange";:1}"
 data-attributes="{";preset";:";style-1";,";showThumbnail";:true,";showTitle";:true,";titleLength";:";10";,";titleTag";:";h2";,";showContent";:false,";contentLength";:20,";expansionIndicator";:";...";,";showReadMore";:false,";readmoreText";:";Read More";,";showMeta";:false,";headerMeta";:";[{\";value\";:\";categories\";,\";label\";:\";Categories\";}]";,";footerMeta";:";[{\";value\";:\";avatar\";,\";label\";:\";Author Avatar\";},{\";value\";:\";author\";,\";label\";:\";Author Name\";},{\";value\";:\";date\";,\";label\";:\";Published Date\";}]";,";authorPrefix";:";by";,";datePrefix";:";on";,";showBlockContent";:true,";showFeaturedPost";:false,";featuredPostId";:";";,";showFeaturedPostTitle";:true,";showFeaturedPostContent";:false,";showFeaturedPostMeta";:true,";showFeaturedHeaderMeta";:true,";showFeaturedFooterMeta";:true,";featuredMetaItems";:";{}";,";featuredExcerptLength";:10,";leftArrowIcon";:";fas fa-chevron-circle-left";,";rightArrowIcon";:";fas fa-chevron-circle-right";,";showFallbackImg";:false,";isRTLEnable";:false}">

 <div class="eb-post-carousel init-eb-post-carousel-7h324"
 data-id="eb-post-carousel-7h324">
 <article class="ebpg-carousel-post ebpg-post-carousel-column" data-id="1634"><div class="ebpg-carousel-post-holder"><div class="ebpg-entry-media">
 <div class="ebpg-entry-thumbnail">
 <a class="ebpg-post-link-wrapper eb-sr-only" href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/tanzania-safari-the-ultimate-guide-to-safari-in-tanzania/">Tanzania Safari | The Ultimate Guide to a Serengeti Safari in Tanzania</a>
 <img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" width="2560" height="1707" src="https://i0.wp.com/mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/pexels-kureng-workx-4404524-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&;ssl=1" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="pexels kureng workx 4404524 scaled" />
 </div>
 </div><div class="ebpg-entry-wrapper"><header class="ebpg-entry-header">
 <h2 class="ebpg-entry-title">
 <a class="ebpg-carousel-post-link" href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/tanzania-safari-the-ultimate-guide-to-safari-in-tanzania/" title="tanzaniasafaritheultimateguidetoaserengetisafari">Tanzania Safari | The Ultimate Guide to a Serengeti Safari</a>
 </h2>
 </header></div></div></article><article class="ebpg-carousel-post ebpg-post-carousel-column" data-id="434"><div class="ebpg-carousel-post-holder"><div class="ebpg-entry-media">
 <div class="ebpg-entry-thumbnail">
 <a class="ebpg-post-link-wrapper eb-sr-only" href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/safari-packing-list-tanzania-giraffe-manor-in-kenya-3/">Safari Packing List Tanzania &; Giraffe Manor in Kenya</a>
 <img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" width="1920" height="2560" src="https://i0.wp.com/mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/safari-packing-list-tanzania-scaled.jpg?fit=1920%2C2560&;ssl=1" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="middle-age woman carrying two backpacks smiling as she takes a mirror selfie" />
 </div>
 </div><div class="ebpg-entry-wrapper"><header class="ebpg-entry-header">
 <h2 class="ebpg-entry-title">
 <a class="ebpg-carousel-post-link" href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/safari-packing-list-tanzania-giraffe-manor-in-kenya-3/" title="safaripackinglisttanzaniaampgiraffemanorinkenya">Safari Packing List Tanzania &; Giraffe Manor in Kenya</a>
 </h2>
 </header></div></div></article><article class="ebpg-carousel-post ebpg-post-carousel-column" data-id="2040"><div class="ebpg-carousel-post-holder"><div class="ebpg-entry-media">
 <div class="ebpg-entry-thumbnail">
 <a class="ebpg-post-link-wrapper eb-sr-only" href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/vaccines-for-africa-what-i-got-before-my-trip/">Vaccines for Africa &#8211; What I Got Before My Trip</a>
 <img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" width="1707" height="2560" src="https://i0.wp.com/mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/africa-vaccines-pexels-nataliya-vaitkevich-5863400-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&;ssl=1" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="" />
 </div>
 </div><div class="ebpg-entry-wrapper"><header class="ebpg-entry-header">
 <h2 class="ebpg-entry-title">
 <a class="ebpg-carousel-post-link" href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/vaccines-for-africa-what-i-got-before-my-trip/" title="vaccinesforafrica-whatigotbeforemytrip">Vaccines for Africa &#8211; What I Got Before My Trip</a>
 </h2>
 </header></div></div></article><article class="ebpg-carousel-post ebpg-post-carousel-column" data-id="1573"><div class="ebpg-carousel-post-holder"><div class="ebpg-entry-media">
 <div class="ebpg-entry-thumbnail">
 <a class="ebpg-post-link-wrapper eb-sr-only" href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/do-i-need-a-kenya-visa/">Do I need a Kenya Visa?</a>
 <img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" width="2560" height="1707" src="https://i0.wp.com/mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/pexels-kureng-workx-4404524-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&;ssl=1" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="pexels kureng workx 4404524 scaled" />
 </div>
 </div><div class="ebpg-entry-wrapper"><header class="ebpg-entry-header">
 <h2 class="ebpg-entry-title">
 <a class="ebpg-carousel-post-link" href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/do-i-need-a-kenya-visa/" title="doineedakenyavisa">Do I need a Kenya Visa?</a>
 </h2>
 </header></div></div></article><article class="ebpg-carousel-post ebpg-post-carousel-column" data-id="1496"><div class="ebpg-carousel-post-holder"><div class="ebpg-entry-media">
 <div class="ebpg-entry-thumbnail">
 <a class="ebpg-post-link-wrapper eb-sr-only" href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/do-i-need-a-visa-to-go-to-tanzania/">Do I need a Visa for Tanzania?</a>
 <img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" width="2560" height="1706" src="https://i0.wp.com/mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/pexels-hendrik-cornelissen-2862070-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1706&;ssl=1" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="pexels hendrik cornelissen 2862070 scaled" />
 </div>
 </div><div class="ebpg-entry-wrapper"><header class="ebpg-entry-header">
 <h2 class="ebpg-entry-title">
 <a class="ebpg-carousel-post-link" href="https://mostlysolotravel.com/do-i-need-a-visa-to-go-to-tanzania/" title="doineedavisafortanzania">Do I need a Visa for Tanzania?</a>
 </h2>
 </header></div></div></article> </div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div></div></div>



<p><strong>If you like it, put a pin on it!</strong></p>



<div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" src="https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/big-5-safari-animals-008-683x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-9944"/></figure>
</div>



<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image-not-found.png'" src="https://mostlysolotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/big-5-safari-animals-007-683x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-9943"/></figure>
</div>
</div>

Christmas in Orlando may bring to mind the magical theme park decorations at Walt Disney…
Christmas in Florida is tough for me because the warm weather makes it hard for…
Wondering what Lucca, Italy is known for? This charming Tuscan city might not get the…
After 20 years of solo travel, I’ve learned a few things: you don’t need nearly…
Why Start Your Trip with a Walking Food Tour? One of my favorite things to…
If you’re visiting Venice and have a little extra time, don’t miss a trip out…
This website uses cookies.