The African Big Fve - Africa's Top Five Animals - Wildlife Sightings

Big Five safari holidays are becoming more popular and affordabale. Going on an African safari means seeing Africa's wildlife and especially the big five in their natural habitats. The term Big Five was given by hunters in the early 20th century to the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. Conservation and photographic safari has been the most popular type of safari. 

The Big five game animals are the lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and African Cape buffalo.  Remember that viewing all big five on one safari or while staying at one lodge is being very lucky. 

Lion (Panthera leo)
The lion (Panthera leo) is a large, carnivorous feline found in both Africa and northwestern India (surprisngly). It has a short, tawny coat, a tufted tail and, in the male, a heavy mane around the neck and shoulders. As a large and charismatic apex predator with cultural significance, lions are among the most popular species to view on safari tours.

African leopard (Panthera pardus)
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a large, carnivorous feline. Its fur is generally tawny with dark rosette-shaped markings. The leopard is the most seldom seen of the Big Five because of its nocturnal habits (it is most active between sunset and sunrise, although it may hunt during the day in some areas), and because it is wary of humans and will take flight in the face of danger. Leopards can be located in the grasslands, dense brushes, deserts, and forested areas of African savannas.

Rhinoceros
Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) & White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) are large herbivores with two upright horns on their nasal bridge. The black rhino is classified as critically endangered and the white rhino as near threatened, and both are subject to extensive poaching. Among big-five game hunters, the black rhinoceros is more highly prized. The current existing rhinos throughout the savanna are southern white rhinoceros, eastern black rhinoceros, south-western black rhinoceros and south-central black rhinoceros.

African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana)
The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) are the largest extant land-based animals. Elephants are herbivores with thick, almost hairless skin; a long, flexible, prehensile trunk; upper incisors forming long, curved, ivory tusks; and large, fan-shaped ears. Elephants are difficult to hunt because, despite their large size, they are able to hide in thick bush and are more likely to charge than the other Big Five species. They become aggressive when their young are threatened.

African buffalo (Syncerus caffer)
The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large horned bovid. It is the only animal among the Big Five that is not on the "endangered" or "threatened" list. The Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) is considered by many to be the most dangerous of any of the Big Five: buffalos have reportedly been known to ambush and attack humans.

 

Credit: Wikipedia