The Big 5 Safari

The term ‘Big 5’ was originally coined to refer to the five most dangerous species to hunt on foot: rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard. While these individual species can be observed in various parks throughout East and Southern Africa, it remains an achievement to spot them all, and East Africa is one of the few places in the world where safari-goers have a good chance of doing so. Lion, leopard, buffalo, and elephant are abundant and can be found in most areas where we operate. Rhinos are a bit harder to find, especially in Tanzania, where their numbers suffered due to poaching in the 1960s and ’70s.

Good areas to see the Big 5 are Ngorongoro, the Serengeti (north or around Moru Kopjes near Dunia), and the Masai Mara. Perhaps your best option for spotting these rare animals is Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which is a rhino sanctuary. If you’re particularly interested in spotting elephants, you’ll find plenty of them at Tarangire National Park in Tanzania.

The African big cats (cheetah, leopard, and lion) are incredible predators, each with their own unique characteristics and behaviors worth witnessing first-hand. Coveted sightings of big cats are common while on Safari in East Africa. You may even have the chance to appreciate the extraordinary power of these predators as you watch them stalk and chase their prey.

Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Masai Mara, and Ruaha have some of the highest lion densities in the world, with Ruaha home to an incredible 10 percent of the world’s lion population. Most of East Africa offers a high likelihood of seeing lions, while Ruaha National Park and Tarangire National Park are great for the rarer leopard.