Africa’s Big Five
On safari, often you hear of the search for the “Big Five:” the lion, the buffalo, the African rhinoceros, the leopard and the African elephant. Keep your eyes and ears tuned for possible sightings of these awe-inspiring animals.
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The most prominent of the “Big Five,” the lion (panthera leo) lives in social units called prides, in which up to 15 individuals are centered around a few related females; over 80% of a pride’s hunting is done by females. Lions can be seen in Masai Mara NP, Serengeti NP, Tarangire NP and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania).
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Often seen in large, intimidating herds, the buffalo (syncerus caffer, the cape buffalo) can weigh as much as 1,500 lbs—big and dangerous enough to keep most predators at bay. The buffalo roams the Sabi Sands and Kruger NP (South Africa) and Serengeti NP.
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Hunted almost to extinction in the 20th century, the African rhinoceros (black, diceros bicornis; white, ceratotherium simum) is one of five remaining species, all still endangered. You can spot rhinos at the Sabi Sands, Kruger NP, and the Ngorongoro Crater.
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Although the beautiful, solitary leopard (panthera pardus) is prevalent in most parks and reserves in East and Southern Africa, you’ll often need to look up to spot this wide-ranging, predatory cat, since it spends much of its time in trees.
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The African elephant (loxodonta Africana) is the world’s largest land mammal as well as one of the most adaptable, able to thrive in the desert, rainforest and savanna. This African icon is a fixture throughout the Masai Mara, Sabi Sands, Kruger, Tarangire and Serengeti regions.
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