Spotting the African Big Five is one of the reasons millions of tourists travel to Tanzania. This beautiful country is one of the few places in Africa where you can see all the Big Five in their natural habitat.
The Big Five—Trophy hunters coined the term “Big Five or African Big Five” in the 1800s to refer to what they considered the most challenging and dangerous animals to hunt on foot. These animals include the African Elephant, Lion, Leopard, African Buffalo, and Rhinoceros.
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Today, the Big Five has become a popular checklist for safari-goers on an African safari.
- Lion
Lions are the largest carnivores in Africa, known for their excessive sleeping during the day and active hunting during the night. They are listed as “Vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
A 2023 study by Oxford University estimates that the total population of wild lions in Africa ranges between 20,000 and 25,000, living in 25 countries. Nearly half of these countries have populations of fewer than 250 lions, and eight of them are home to just a single wild lion pride.
Tanzania is home to the largest population of lions, with approximately 14,000 individuals. South Africa and Botswana have about 3,000 lions each, while Kenya and Zambia have lion populations of around 2,500.
- Leopard
Leopards are the most elusive and the smallest of the Big Five, because of their sneaky character and being hard to spot, they are often referred to as ninja cats. Their remarkable feature is the light-colored spots with distinctive dark spots called rosettes.
Africa has more than 700,000 leopards, still they are listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, with their numbers in Africa declining by 48-67% in the past century.
The largest population of leopards in Africa is found in South Africa. Other African countries with a significant population of leopards are Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
- Cape Buffalo
These cow-like animals tend to congregate by the thousands as they feed, and they form large groups as a defense against predators. Both males and females have horns, but the males’ curve upward and fuse in the center, forming a solid bony plate called a boss. It is a helpful defense.
In Africa, there are 4 species of buffalo, and 75% of their total population lives in protected areas. These are
- Savannah buffaloes are commonly found in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique.
- West Africa Savannah Buffalo commonly found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ivory Coast, and Senegal
- Central African Savanna Buffalo is commonly found in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.
- Forest Buffalo is found in the rainforests of Central and West Africa and is common in Cameroon, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo.
- African Elephant
The African savannah elephant is the biggest of the Big Five and can weigh up to seven tons. The African forest elephant, which is about three feet shorter and lives in the forests of the Congo Basin, was declared a separate species after genetic testing in 2010 showed big differences between the forest and savannah elephants.
According to an estimate from 2016, the total number of elephants living in herds across the African continent was 415,428.
The best places in Africa to see the African elephants are Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, and Uganda.
- Rhino
There are two species of rhinos, the black rhinoceros and the white rhinoceros, and five subspecies between them left in Africa, including the Northern White Rhino, the Southern White Rhino, the Eastern Black Rhino, the Southern Central Black Rhino, and the Southwestern Black Rhino.
Rhinos are huge, with an average weight of 5,000 pounds and horns that can grow up to five feet long.
Due to poaching for their precious horns, the western black rhinos were declared extinct in 2011. The last male northern white rhino died in 2018, with only two females remaining, making that subspecies functionally extinct.
By the end of 2023, the total rhino population was only 23,290 in Africa. More than 705 of rhinos in Africa are southern white rhinos, yet they are classified as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. The majority of this rhino population, about 12,968, is found in South Africa. Other countries with significant populations include Namibia with 1,416, Kenya with 873, Zimbabwe with 417, and Botswana with 242. Other African countries have less than 100 million in population.
Currently, northern white rhinos are on the brink of extinction, with only two females left. These are under constant armed protection in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. As of September 2023, the population has increased to 29.
The Best Places to see The Big 5?
Spotting these iconic animals while on an African Safari can be difficult, as each of these fascinating animals tends to thrive in different regions and has different characteristics. Here are the places where you can see the Big Five.
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Taking the opportunity to encounter these majestic, awe-inspiring creatures on a big five safari in their natural habitat is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should not be missed. Observing their behavior and interactions is a true testament to the African wilderness and its beauty.
Ngorongoro Crater “Ngorongoro Conservation Area”, Tanzania
Though the black rhino is hard to encounter in East Africa, Ngorongoro Crater offers high chances of seeing the black rhinos. Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an immense volcanic caldera, hosts decent numbers of these endangered animals.
Located in Northern Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area shares borders with Serengeti National Park.
Ngorongoro Crater is home to about 30,000 animals that cannot get out of the steep crater walls and thrive in this varied ecosystem, including the Big Five – lion, leopards, buffalo, rhinos, and elephants.
The path into the Ngorongoro Volcano leads over the crater rim. From up there, you are treated to breathtaking views that open up into a large area. The area is dominated by high and short grasslands, perfect food for wildlife calling the crater home.
The diverse range of wildlife species and their high population density make the Ngorongoro Crater one of the top destinations in Tanzania, where you can see the Big Five.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The iconic Serengeti National Park is probably one of the most famous parks in Africa and one of the best destinations where you can see the Big Five, The park is the premier place to go for a Big Five Safari.
Serengeti is renowned for the Wildebeest Migration, the largest migration of land mammals. Every year, over a million wildebeest and thousands of zebras and Thomson's and Grant’s gazelles embark on a 1,000 km round trip.
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Serengeti boasts staggering wildlife diversity, including over 1,000 leopards, 4,000 lions, and a reasonable population of elephants, rhinos, and buffalo, making it a perfect Big 5 Safari destination where you can see the Big Five.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya
Situated to the north of Mount Kenya, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, stretching for over 50,000 acres, is a haven for endangered wildlife species and home to the Big Five. The conservancy is famous for having one of the highest populations of rhinos in the world.
Lewa was founded by the Craig family and Anna Merz. The Craig family first arrived in the 1920s and used the land as a cattle ranch for 50 years after being given the land by the colonial government. Unlike other ranches, they always valued the local wildlife and shared it with the animals, as well as enabling tourists to visit.
Wildlife used to roam free on the farm, but in the 1970s, increased poaching threatened their existence. In 1983, due to the plight of the rhino, which had all of them killed when they wandered off the farm, a rhino sanctuary was made from 5,000 acres of the ranch. This then grew to 10,000 acres, and in 1995, the entire farm was turned into the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Located in south-west Kenya, the Masai Mara National Reserve, with its neighboring conservancies, is Kenya’s flagship conservation area and one of the top safari destinations in Africa. The reserve’s wide-open plains provide a sanctuary for an abundance of wildlife, including the Big Five – lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, elephants, and rhinos.
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The Masai Mara is one of the few places in Africa where seeing all five animal species is possible during your safari.
The above destinations offer excellent sights of the Big Five seen during game viewing safaris (game drives) and hot air balloon safaris.
Tanzania and Kenya offer some of the best chances to see the Big Five in their natural habitats, from the volcanic walls of Ngorongoro Crater to the sweeping savannahs of the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. Each destination brings something unique, whether it's rare rhino encounters or the quiet thrill of tracking big cats in the wild.
If you’re thinking about planning a trip, it’s worth preparing early, especially for permits and park access. And if you ever need guidance or have questions along the way, feel free to reach out to our team at GoExplore Safaris. We’re here to help when you’re ready.
