Africa’s Big Five and where to see them on your Safari Vacation

The term ‘Big Five’ was coined by early game hunters in Africa, referring to a special group of animals that were considered the most dangerous species to hunt on foot. In an age of conservation, photographic safaris now far exceed hunting, and the expression has been adopted to refer to simply spotting these five incredible animals whilst on safari. They have lost none of their awe and are always a highlight, particularly for first-time safari-goers.

The Big Five are lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros. Spotting all five on a single safari is a goal for many travellers – and with the right planning, you can certainly maximise your chances! We’ll guide you towards the regions and lodges where sightings are most likely, including the Serengeti and Maasai Mara, South Africa’s Sabi Sands and Phinda, Botswana’s Okavango Delta, and Rwanda’s Akagera National Park. That said, these are wild animals, and sightings can never be guaranteed, with leopard and rhino often the most elusive.#Below, we look at the animals that make up the Big Five and offer expert advice on the destinations offering the best chance to see them on safari.

The lion, our first member of the Big Five, is the most iconic of all the big cats in Africa. As the largest and most social of all cats, lions stand out as the most intimidating and iconic predators on the continent. Lion prides are typically led by older females and followed by the lower-ranked youngsters. Mature and dominant males regularly visit their prides, either alone or in powerful coalitions, before returning to territorial patrols that involve vocalising, visual displays, and scent marking.

We are huge fans of encountering lions during a game drive through the Maasai Mara and Serengeti ecosystems. There’s nothing better than watching lions move through swathes of long grass on a crisp morning safari or rest as a family on a rocky kopje during the day. In the early evening, lions become restless, yawning, stretching, play fighting, and ultimately preparing for a night ahead that might include a territorial dispute or an almighty hunt.

Namiri Plains is our top recommendation for seeing lions in East Africa. This beautiful camp in the eastern Serengeti is luxurious yet down to earth, and it features a spa and a swimming pool. More importantly, it offers phenomenal game-viewing experiences, including thrilling big cat sightings (it’s also a cheetah hotspot!) and unforgettable wildebeest Great Migration encounters.

Outside East Africa, the private concessions in Botswana allow you more time and freedom to follow lions.

In Mokete Camp, Botswana, the interactions between lions and elephants can be both dramatic and chaotic, often creating a thrilling spectacle for those lucky enough to witness it. Lions, with their pride dynamics and predatory instincts, sometimes target young or weak elephants, but the massive pachyderms are no easy prey. Elephants, especially mothers protecting their calves, can become fiercely protective, charging at the lions with surprising agility for their size. The resulting scenes are a mix of raw power, tension, and unpredictability, as the lions try to outmanoeuvre the elephant. Mokete is also a great base from which to experience some of the most intense lion versus buffalo encounters on the continent.

Dive into the complete guide here: The Best Places to see Lions in Africa

The African elephant is the largest land-dwelling mammal, and is certainly our favourite member of Africa’s Big Five. These supremely intelligent, matriarchal pachyderms can weigh up to eight tons – the equivalent of about seven Mini Coopers! Elephant populations have been put under severe pressure over the last four decades due to poaching. Their ivory tusks are seen as a valuable commodity on the South-East Asian market, and as a result, these majestic animals are at the forefront of a continual and widespread conservation effort.

If you’re a more seasoned traveller, why not explore the land of elephants by staying a few nights in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park? Hwange is famed for its elephant numbers! Our top property in Hwange is Somalisa Camp, as it has an elephant pool at the end of the main part of the camp that’s frequented by multiple elephant families.

Elephants are almost everyone’s favourite African animal, so we’ve listed the best destinations for seeing these gentle giants, ranging from Kenya’s big tuskers to Botswana’s big herds.

Read the complete safari guide here: Top places to see elephants in Africa

Those who truly understand the natural world can attest to the remarkable strength and capabilities of the Cape buffalo.

With their distinctive, sharply pointed horns and the capability to reach nearly a ton in mass, these seemingly slow grazers are, in fact, a formidable force, able to reach speeds of 55 km/h – a sight to behold! As the most widespread and abundant of the Big Five, Cape buffaloes often gather in herds of up to a thousand individuals, comprising bulls, cows, and calves. They primarily rely on their large numbers for protection, maintaining a tightly packed formation to defend against their main predator – lions.

Older bulls tend to live alone or in small groups because they can no longer compete with younger, more vigorous bulls for breeding rights. As these older bulls are often found near mud-wallows, and Dagga is the isiZulu word for mud, they are often called ‘Dagga boys’. They are easily agitated and can be ill-tempered when disturbed.

At first glance, you might wonder why these creatures are so revered and feared. However, watching a lone buffalo confront a pride of lions will quickly give you a full appreciation for their power and courage!

Katavi National Park, an extremely remote and rarely visited national park in Tanzania’s western corner, is fantastic for watching lion–buffalo interactions. Our suggested property has to be Nomad’s Chada, a classic expeditionary camp in this wild and beautiful place.

Check out our complete safari guide here: Best places to see buffalo in Africa

The leopard is the most elusive and mysterious of the Big Five, so a leopard sighting can easily be the highlight of any safari holiday! Both male and female leopards are solitary, except for when they mate. This can happen up to every three months when a female comes into heat, but once the coupling is over the male returns to his territory and isolation. When hunting, leopards rely on closely stalking their prey. This method often ends in an ambush, differing from the hunting technique of lions, who rely on a sudden burst of energy and speed. Also, since they are solitary, leopards often drag a kill up into a tree to protect it. Here they can eat and leave it for a number of days, undisturbed by irksome hyena clans and other predators such as lions.

We are often asked where the best location is for leopard sightings, and it’s a difficult question to answer. Sabi Sands in South Africa might seem the obvious response, as this reserve markets itself specifically as offering frequent leopard sightings. And the region is also home to some of the most exclusive Big Five properties, offering unparalleled levels of luxury! However, our experience of spotting leopards in Zambia’s South Luangwa has yet to be beaten. This national park has the highest density of leopard in the world, and no shortage of stunning camps, such as the new Puku Ridge and Robin Pope Safaris’ Nkwali.

Discover the top places to spot leopard with our safari guide: Best places to see leopard in Africa

The black rhino was once a widespread species, inhabiting vast expanses of Southern Africa to East Africa. Unfortunately, as in the plight of the African elephant, poaching has played a significant role in the decimation of entire populations, even within wildlife sanctuaries. And with the demand for rhino horn in South-East Asia undimmed, the black rhino remains under constant threat.

Many safari zones across Africa have ‘four of the Big Five’ but lack the manpower and financial support to protect rhinos from poachers, and therefore do not have Big Five status. The rhinos that you do see in the wild are constantly monitored and have a huge network of protection surrounding them. Lots of admiration goes to South Africa, which has reported a decline in the number of rhinos poached by 20% between 2023 and 2024. Both Phinda Private Game Reserve and Marataba offer exceptional black rhino encounters, which can be attributed to their respective conservation efforts.

Outside South Africa, our favourite place to spot these hefty herbivores is Kenya’s Lewa Wildlife Conservancy – Lewa Wilderness is a converted farmhouse that still cherishes the values of family life in wild parts of Africa, and the rhinos in Lewa seem to be an extension of their family.

As rhinos are the hardest of the Big Five to spot during a safari, due to their unstable and dwindling numbers, we’ve put together a guide to places where you have a great chance of seeing rhinos in the wild.

Take a look at our complete guide here: Best places to see rhinos in an African Safari Holiday