Africa is the home of wild life and has a huge diversity of wildlife, some of which that are the most desired view to the safari enthusiasts. The Big Five, being the biggest and most valued animals, include the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros. These magnificent animals have been a symbol of the wilderness since time immemorial and viewing them in their natural surroundings is the wish of most travelers. But then there are numerous safari destinations in Africa, and the question that emerges is; where is the best place to see the big 5 on safari in Africa?
This is a detailed guide on where to find the Big 5 on a safari in Africa, and the best places where you are sure to see these iconic creatures, and where you are likely to have the best experience of a safari adventure of your life. Both a first-time safari-goer and an experienced traveller would find these places providing you with an opportunity to observe the best wildlife of Africa in the natural setting.
What is the Big 5?
The name Big Five was first used by hunters in the 19 th century to refer to the five most dangerous game to walk upon. It has today been adopted by wildlife conservationists and even safari-goers who have greatly seen the term, with these animals now being very well-guarded and sighting them becoming one of the best things of any safari freak. The Big Five includes:
• Lions: As the king of the jungle, lions are the most huge among the large cats and occur in grasslands, savannah and open woodlands.
• Elephants: Elephants are the smartest and most complex terrestrial mammals on Earth.
• Buffaloes: Cape buffaloes are horn-bearing herbivores that are huge and aggressive; they are reckless and therefore regarded as one of the most dangerous wild animals in Africa.
• Leopards: These are elusive and stealthy beasts, and actually one of the most challenging big cats to see on a safari, however, this is a very rewarding sight.
• Rhinoceroses: The black and the white rhinoceros are both found throughout the African continent, but are both endangered to the point of sightings being extremely special.
All of these creatures embody a different aspect of the amazing biodiversity in Africa and all five sighted are usually regarded as the ultimate goal of the safari.
Best Places to See the Big 5 on Safari in Africa
And now, we are going to plunge into the perfect spots to observe the Big 5 on African safari. These are the places that boast about the high concentration of wildlife and the quality experiences that a person would get in a safari.
1. Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Kruger National Park is considered to be one of the largest and the most popular game reserves in Africa that has an extensive range of wilderness where all the Big Five can be found. It is located in northeastern South Africa and boasts of easiness, wildlife variety, and infrastructure.
• Why Kruger?
o Big Five Sightings: Kruger is considered one of the most popular places of seeing the Big Five on safari in Africa because of its size and other ecosystems. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino can be seen in the park due to the dense bush, open savannah, and waterholes.
o Safari alternatives: Kruger has it all in terms of the type of safari you would like to enjoy whether it is a self-drive expedition, a guided game drive or a luxury safari with personal vehicles. To add to this, Kruger has a well developed road network with well-placed accommodations, which enable one to explore the park at their own speed.
o Accommodation: Kruger has a great variety of accommodations, starting with the budget-friendly campsites to such a luxurious place as Sabi Sabi and Singita.
2. Masai Mara Wildlife Reserve, Kenya.
Masai Mara in Kenya is one of the best safaris in Africa and has fabulous sceneries with the great migration where millions of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles move across the river of Mara. The reserve is integrated with the larger ecosystem of Serengeti and is also home to wide variety of wildlife containing the Big Five.
• Why Masai Mara?
o Big Five Sightings: The Masai mara has an astounding variety of wildlife; such as lion, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos. Lions are also seen in the Mara especially in high population and the reserve is known to have huge prides.
o Migration: The annual Great Migration is one of the greatest attractions to the Masai Mara, when more than two million of the wildebeests and zebras relocate between the Mara and the Serengeti, and where a variety of predators, such as the lion, leopard, and cheetah, will be found.
o Safari Options: The game drives in the Masai mara are supplemented by walking safari and the hot air balloon tours; this gives the tourists in the area an opportunity to get into the wildlife in very different ways.
3. Tanzania, Serengeti National Park.
The Serengeti is another place that is associated with African safari and where the best chances of viewing the big five in their natural environment are availed. The site is a biodiverse national park with one of the largest known and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site frequented by millions of people annually.
• Why Serengeti?
o Big Five Sightings: Lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos are all at home at the Serengeti. The diverse eco systems in the park such as the savannahs, woodlands among others present the best environments to view the game throughout the year.
o Great Migration: The Masai mara is not the only location where the predator and prey interact on such a full scale, the Serengeti is the place where the Great Migration takes place spectacularly, and the predator-prey relationship cannot be experienced in any other way. Tourists in Serengeti could get to see the exciting moment of the hunt by predators as they preys exploit the migration.
o Safari Safari: Serengeti is available to classic game drives, walking safari or even mobile camps that track the migration route in order to give the guest a more interactive experience.
4. Chobe National Park, Botswana.
Chobe national park is among the best places in Africa where elephants can be seen and a variety of other animals such as the big 5 are found here. Chobe, which is in northern Botswana, has been famous due to its big elephants herds and scenic river sceneries.
• Why Chobe?
o Elephant Sightings: Chobe ranked among the most special locations in Africa to see large groups of elephants across the river of Chobe. Elephants come together in large numbers during the dry season which provides visitor with stunning views.
o Big Five Sightings: Elephants are not the only species of animals found in Chobe, which also includes lions, leopards, buffaloes and rhinos. The varied ecology of the park such as the rivers, forests and grasslands furnish the best conditions on which wildlife can flourish.
o Safarie activities: Chobe has a variety of safari activities, such as classical game drive and boat safaris along the Chobe River, where the visitor can observe elephants and other wildlife at a close distance, on the water.
5. Hwange, National Park, Zimbabwe.
Hwange national park is the largest park in the whole of Zimbabwe and is distinguished by its extraordinary population of the elephants besides the richness of wildlife. The park is situated in the West of Zimbabwe and close to Botswana.
• Why Hwange?
o Elephant Sightings: Hwange is especially reputed as having large groups of elephants, and in the dry season they are especially drawn to waterholes. The remote setting of the park also translates to less visitors, hence closer experience of the safari.
o Big Five Sightings: Hwange has the big five lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos. The landscape diversity of the park with grasslands and thick woodlands makes it a perfect home of these emblematic animals.
o Safari Options: Hwange has traditional drive, walking safari as well as waterhole visits in the park where the wildlife gathers to drink.
6. The Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa.
Addo Elephant National Park is another of the biggest preferred where one can find the elephants in South Africa, being found in the Eastern Cape of this country. The name of the park, however, is attributed to the large population of elephant herds that cover its groves, yet it also has the Big Five and a host of other wildlife.
• Why Addo?
o Elephant Sightings: Addo is known to have a big population of the elephants and people are usually given close-up experiences with grand mammals.
o Big Five Sightings: For example, besides elephants, Addo has lions, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos. The diverse ecosystems of the park including coastal and inland regions sustain a great diversity of wildlife.
o Safari Experiences: Addo is a variety of safari experiences with a variety of traditional/game drive, horseback safari and guided walks that make Addo a family friendly and diverse safari experience.
Conclusion: The Big Five in Africa.
The top Big 5 safari destinations in Africa are places of once in lifetime adventures to people of the wildlife world, photographers as well as nature lovers. Whether you are meandering through the legendary estates of the Serengeti, the Great Migration in the Masai Mara or the tracking of the elephants in Chobe, these places give you time to make memories of memorable wildlife viewing experiences.
The selection of the proper destination will be based on your preferences, budget and the kind of safari experience that you want to get. These places will offer you a trip, which will be remembered throughout your life, to the people who would just like to see the Big Five in their natural environment and enjoy the excitement of an African safari. These parks and reserves have luxurious lodges as well as more affordable ones, and they present the best combination of wildlife, adventure and comfort. These are the places that you should visit in case you are going on a safari to view the Big Five.
