Big 5 African safari

• The Big 5 species are lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino (black or white).

• Tourists enjoy ticking off all five in one safari.

• South Africa's Greater Kruger private reserves (Sabi Sands, MalaMala, Timbavati, Thornybush) and malaria-free Madikwe offer your best chances of seeing all five in one place.

• In East Africa, Kenya's Maasai Mara and Laikipia and Tanzania's Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater offer excellent Big 5 encounters, with rhinos the hardest to spot.

• Plan a minimum of 4–5 days during the dry season (June to mid-November in Southern Africa, June to October in East Africa) for optimal sightings.

• Black rhinos and leopards are consistently the most difficult Big 5 species to find.

• Combining two or more destinations significantly increases your success in finding the Big Five.

• Peak season bookings require 12–18 months of advance planning.

Introducing the Big 5

Lion

Few sounds are as evocative and exhilarating as a lion roaring his challenge into the African night, triggering in us all a primordial reaction of fear and awe. Lions are essential players in Africa's wild spaces, playing a crucial role as apex predators, helping maintain biodiversity and ecosystems – which change fundamentally when lions are removed from them.

Leopard

Breathtakingly beautiful, charismatic, powerful, and mysterious, leopards are the picture of perfection. Their self-contained grace and nimble frames belie an extraordinary, explosive strength and speed when needed. Those who have spent time with leopards will tell you that every leopard sighting is unique – defined by the personality of the leopard itself. The only truly predictable aspect of leopard behaviour is its unpredictability.

Elephant

The African elephant is the largest land mammal in the world and one of nature’s great ecosystem engineers, contributing to maintaining the balance between wooded and grass ecosystems. Their beneficial impact on biodiversity is significant, and many other species depend on elephants for their survival, making them a key species in Africa. Elephants are fascinating and endearing – time spent with them nurtures your spiritual health and well-being.

Buffalo

The African (Cape) buffalo has earned itself a reputation, particularly for the cantankerous old bulls, otherwise known as dagga boys or kakuli, that spend their time wallowing in pans or hanging around in dense reedbeds along Africa’s rivers. Immense and powerful, the buffalo should not be underestimated – as many lions have discovered. Don’t be fooled if your only experience of them is from the safety of a game drive vehicle, where perspective makes them look like wild cows.

Rhino

These magnificent creatures are as crucial for African biodiversity as elephants and lions, and each encounter with them is special and to be cherished. White and black rhinos have very distinct behavioural reputations. The larger white rhinos are more placid, while black rhinos are often described as solitary, unpredictable, and even cantankerous.

There is no guarantee that all five species will be present when you are there because of the unpredictability of Africa's wild areas, BUT there are ways to give you the best chance to see all of the Big Five in one safari:

Ways to improve your chances of seeing the Big Five in one safari:

• Combine two or more Big 5 destinations in your itinerary

• Spend at least 3-4 days in each destination

• Go on two game drives per day, every day

• If you plan on a one-destination safari, then the most predictable destination to see the Big Five is South Africa - the Greater Kruger and some small fenced reserves. Even here, some areas offer more predictability than others. Our safari experts have all the experience and information to guide your decision.

No! The Big 5 are iconic, but Africa has over 1,100 mammal species and over 2,350 bird species. Focusing exclusively on ticking off the Big 5 can mean missing other remarkable predators, like cheetahs and wild dogs, as well as smaller mammals like pangolins.

There is, of course, incredible birdlife to spot as well, including secretary birds, hornbills, and eagles. We recommend using the Big 5 as a framework but staying open to the full African wildlife experience.

Our safari experts will help you appreciate the entire ecosystem, not just five (albeit memorable) species. You can book a call with a safari expert to discuss your safari plans.

Our safari experts advise that 4 to 5 days or longer in a strong Big Five area gives you the best chance of seeing all five species.

This advice applies to safaris during the dry seasons, when the lack of vegetation cover makes animals easier to see, and limited groundwater makes their movements more predictable. If you are travelling during the rainy season, you will need an additional 2 to 3 days.

The best time of year to see the Big 5 is the dry seasons, when the lack of vegetation cover makes animals easier to see, and limited groundwater makes their movements more predictable.

In Southern Africa, the dry season is from June to mid-November, and in East Africa, the dry seasons are from June to October and from January to March.

You can still see the Big Five outside these months, but you will need more time due to the thick vegetation and the greater amount of groundwater.

Yes, we only use lodges and guides that enforce the necessary safeguards while you are on safari.

Most of the time, your encounters with the Big Five and other dangerous species, such as hippos and crocodiles, will be while on a game drive. Wild animals tend to ignore game drive vehicles when the guides drive responsibly. Even if you get close to large animals, our responsible guides will ensure that their driving does not provoke an aggressive reaction from wild animals. 

While on a walking safari, your guides will be highly vigilant about established safety procedures. The chance of encountering dangerous animals (which will be given a wide berth) is far less than during a game drive. 

While walking around the immediate vicinity of your lodge (which may be unfenced), it is very important to obey the safety instructions explained to you by the lodge manager. These include not walking far from the lodge during the day and not walking around at night without an escort. 

1. Big Five safaris typically cost from US$700 per person, per night, depending on the accommodation comfort level and activities. This price usually includes accommodation, all meals, game drives, experienced guides, airport transfers, and 24/7 support from our team.

2. You only make your first payment when you book your holiday. Your second (last) payment is about 90 days before you travel.

3. Peak season bookings require 12–18 months of advance planning. Trips outside of peak season can be arranged 6–9 months ahead, with better rates and availability.