What exactly are the “Big 5” animals on safari?
When going on safari people often hear of the “Big 5” and wonder what is means. It refers to the 5 animals that big game hunters used to want to shoot to complete their collection of trophies. The animals were:
- Lion
- Leopard
- Buffalo
- Elephant
- Rhino
Today the same phrase is used for those travelling on safari, the five animals that everybody wants to see, albeit these days to shoot only with a camera.
The one everybody gets wrong is the Cape Buffalo. They expect the hippo or cheetah as they are seen as more exotic. But the buffalo provided the biggest challenge to the old hunters; bad tempered, strong and quick, only a perfectly placed shot would bring it down before it charged right through you.
The Big 7?
Somebody always has to go one better. Addo National Park in the Eastern Cape of South Africa now offers trips to see the big 7! These are the traditional 5 plus 2 additional ones from the Ocean:
- Southern Right Whale
- Great White shark
Let’s hope people don’t get competitive or the list could grow for ever!
