The Big Five

Lions are distinctly social animals that are typically spotted in prides. Males boast handsome manes in varying shades. Females are known for their athleticism and efficient hunting skills. They are Africa's largest and most feared predators. Lions occur in most of Southern Africa’s popular wilderness areas, like the Okavango Delta, Chobe, Etosha and South Africa’s many national parks and private game reserves.

The world's largest mammal can be seen in all of the primary safari areas of Southern Africa. Females and their young are typically spotted in herds led by a matriarch. Male elephants are normally found in small bachelor herds or as solitary bulls once mature. Visitors to the Okavango Delta or Chobe National Park are near guaranteed to enjoy in-depth elephant encounters whilst on safari.

Although the black rhino is the original ‘Big Five’ member, somewhere along the line the status unofficially extended to include the white rhino as well. Black and white rhinos are distinguished by their shape and size, but perhaps more distinctly by their diets; black rhinos are browsers, as indicated by their pointier, hooked upper lips, while white rhinos graze comfortably with their broader, square-shaped upper lips.

Cape buffaloes are regularly observed in very large herds. Alternatively, young males are found in bachelor herds and old bulls that have been kicked out are often seen grazing together at the back of the herd. They are known as 'dugga boys'. In rarer cases, they wander alone. Buffaloes are also the only members of the Big Five that aren’t listed as ‘threatened’, ‘vulnerable’ or ‘endangered’ on the IUCN red list.

Leopards are elusive, solitary cats and are less frequently encountered than the rest of the Big Five, which makes a sighting particularly special. Leopards are known to drag their kills up into trees to deter scavengers. They typically prey on smaller antelope, but are opportunistic hunters and will not shy from taking down larger game. These handsome, spotted cats are typically encountered alone or with their young.

Botswana boasts inimitable, authentic wilderness areas. Currently, rhinos only occur on Chief's Island in the Okavango Delta's Moremi Game Reserve. You are highly likely to encounter the remaining four members in healthy numbers in the Chobe National Park, Savute safari area, Linyanti swamp and the Okavango Delta.

Etosha National Park is home to all but the Cape buffalo, and it remains one of the finest corners of the continent to encounter endangered black rhino. Lions and elephants are also frequently sighted, while the leopard remains as elusive and shy (yet still as common) here as elsewhere in Southern Africa.

Zambia's wilderness areas are dramatically remote and truly wild. Four of the Big Five - leopard, lion, buffalo and elephant - occur in generous populations in its stunning national parks, like South Luangwa, Kafue and Lower Zambezi. To view rhinos, visitors can head to the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park near Livingstone.

In Zimbabwe, the Big Five still reigns supreme in Hwange National Park, while four of the Big Five (no rhinos, unfortunately) roam the breathtaking wilderness of Mana Pools. These are Zimbabwe's premier safari areas and the regions where you are most likely to encounter these majestic mammals.

Rampant poaching and the side effects of the civil war mean that Mozambique's wildlife population has been severely depleted. Cape buffalo and leopard still occur in large numbers, however, in Niassa, while Gorongosa National Park hosts elephants and lions. With dedicated efforts, Mozambique's wildlife may one day be restored.