Do You Know The Big Five?
If you’re planning an African safari holiday, the first thing that comes to mind is the Big Five and hence the question – Do You Know The Big Five? Africa boasts of its abundant wealth in diverse flora and fauna that captures the hearts and minds of visitors to the continent. Africa is a lovely adventure destination to explore and marvel at the vast Savannah land, amazing wildlife and diverse culture.
What exactly is the Big Five and what makes them so special to be included in this list? The term “Big Five” originally referred to animals that were difficult and dangerous to gun down by trophy hunters who used to visit Africa for hunting expeditions on foot. The Big Five refers to the African lion, the African leopard, the African elephant, the White or Black rhino and Cape buffalo. It is the difficulty in hunting them and the danger involved that led to them being referred to as the big five of Africa and not their size.
The term ‘Big five’ is still used today by most tourists, and they are usually high on the priority list and a real treat for many visitors to Africa. The presence of these animals will always rank highly on anyone’s list of desired species to see on a African Adventure Safari.
African Elephant
The African elephant is the largest land-dwelling mammal, and it is the most favourite member of the Big Five in Africa. An elephant bull can weigh up to five tons. Their distinguishing features include the dexterous trunk, large ears that cool the body when flapped, and elongated incisors in the form of tusks. There are actually two species of African elephant – the African savanna elephant and the smaller African forest elephant. Both are herbivores that live in large groups, whilst the African savanna elephant is the larger of the two species, and typically the species referred to as a member of the big five animals. Their long tusks the upper incisor teeth which they use to dig the ground for tubers and water in dry riverbeds. The trunk which is an extension of the upper lip and nose has two fingers at the tip. They use the trunk to breath, feeding, smelling, lifting, touching, drinking, communication and protection. They have a thick pad of fat and connective tissues at their feet that act as shock absorbers.
Although once numbering in the hundreds of thousands, elephant populations have been put under severe pressure over the last four decades due to poaching. Their ivory tusks are seen as a valuable commodity on the Asian market, and as a result these majestic animals are at the heart of widespread conservation effort.
Best places to see African elephants in Kenya
The Lion
The African Lion is the largest African carnivores and arguably the most iconic of the big cats. They are without doubt the number one predator on Africa. It is the second largest cat in the world, the Tiger being the largest. Lion’s are social and live in groups called a Pride. A pride can have up to 3 males and the rest will be females and their young. On average, a pride contains 12 members, but it can grow to as many as 40 individuals. Young males are forced out of the pride by the dominant male or coalition when they reach 2–3 years old, to prevent the chances of inbreeding, and they wander as nomads until they are big and strong enough to challenge a ruling male. Females lions (lionesses) remain in their natal prides and will usually start reproducing at the age of 2yrs.
The pride size will depend on the availability of food and water. A Lion’s roar can be heard as far a way as 8 km. They roar, they play, and eventually they prepare for the night ahead and if they are hungry, they could embark on a hunt. A prides territory can extend as far as 260 square kilometres. It is the male’s that will protect this territory. The thick mane of a male Lion safeguards them from fights. Female Lions primary job is to hunt and care for their young. Being smaller and slower they hunt together contributing to their successful rates.
You can easily spot lions on an early morning game drive or roaming among the long grasses during an afternoon safari. At dusk, the previously lazy lions start to wake up and get active.
Leopard
Leopards are one of the African Big five, they are primarily nocturnal animals. They are not social and prefer to live a solitary life. Agile and are superb swimmers. They can leap up to 6 meters, they will usually take their prey into trees where they are more protected from other predators. Leopards can run up to 57 km/h. The leopard is the most elusive of the Big Five of Africa and spotting one on an African safari is quite fulfilling Leopards are nocturnal and usually inhabits thick forests, rocky areas and bushy regions. In areas with less disturbance they are easily spotted during the day. Leopards are normally mistaken with cheetahs. They are easily identified by their prominent necklace of spots that run across the chest. The spots form a pattern of rosettes.
Gestation period of 90 to 105 days with a litter of 1 to 6 kittens. Cubs will suckle for 3 months and kept hidden for up to 8 weeks. Leopards have the largest territory of all the big cats. This ability has ensured their survival in various geographic areas. Leopards are carnivores and are of the best ambush predators.
Leopards are ambush attackers. When hunting, leopards rely on closely stalking their prey and finally launching a surprise attack. Because they are solitary, leopards will more often than not drag a kill up a tree. There they can eat it and leave it for a number of days, undisturbed by troublesome predators such as lions and hyenas.
The Rhinos
The black rhino is smaller than the white rhino with two horns, the front horn being longer than the rear horn. The horn is made of fibrous protein called keratin and it is not attached to the skull. They have a pointed upper lips which aids in grasping twigs and leaves since the black rhino is primarily a browser.
The black rhino was once a widespread species, inhabiting vast areas in East Africa. Unfortunately, similarly to the plight of the African elephant, poaching has played a significant role in the decimation of entire populations spanning vast wildlife sanctuaries, and with the demand for rhino horn in South-East Asia as strong as ever the black rhino remains under constant threat. Most of the rhinos you’ll see on safari are protected and on 24 hrs surveillance to secure them from ruthless poachers.
The White Rhino or Square Lipped Rhino is the largest of the 5 Rhino species. The large square lipped mouth is known to be a grazer. They are also the most social of all rhino species.
Read on the Best Places to spot the rhinos in Kenya.
Cape buffalo
These dark brown cow-like animals are easily distinguished by their bossed, down-curved horns. The Cape buffalo is the most aggressive and dangerous member of the Big Five. Buffalo are protective, grazing in large herds and occupying wide ranges. They also happen to be the most widespread and abundant of the Big Five. Mostly found in huge herds of up to a thousand individuals, including bulls, cows, and calves, the cape buffalo generally rely on safety in numbers, even keeping the herd closely together in the event of an attack from their main predatory threat, lions.
However, older bulls are often solitary or found in pairs and threes because they are no longer strong enough to compete with the younger bulls in the herd over breeding rights.
Please note that, as the Big Five are all wild and unpredictable animals, sightings can never be guaranteed. Members of the big five can be spotted in most national parks and reserves, but you have to do a combined safari package of a number of parks and reserves to achieve this. With luck you can see all the big five in Masai Mara national reserve or Ol Pejeta conservancy. Arrow Adventures Kenya would like to invite you to discover and know the Big five of Africa. We offer a wide variety of safari tours and adventure safari packages.