Big5 Safari in Africa
Experience an unforgettable Big 5 safari in Africa
Declared one of the top safari and wildlife destinations in the world, Africa offers travellers some of the most astonishing safari and travel opportunities.
Everyone has their own memories of Africa they take away with them, but the wildlife makes for some of the most magical to remember. The vast continent of Africa boasts the widest diversity of wildlife in the world and is home to the most extraordinary wildlife sightings, spectacles, and gatherings than anywhere on the planet. However, no safari to Africa is complete without witnessing incredible up-close sightings of its most elite grouping of wildlife residents, the renowned African Big5.
While Africa’s Big 5 is surely in need of no introduction, it makes sense for us to give credit where credit is due. As the most famous and celebrated collection of animals on the African continent, a Big 5 safari is an unbelievable experience that should be on everyone’s safari bucket list. What could be better than seeing a leopard lazily lounging in a tree soaking up the African sun, the mighty rhino browsing through the grasslands, elephants trudging their way through the African bushveld with their young, buffalos grazing in the distance with their oxpecker companions, and lions, the all-mighty king of the bushveld, wondering the vast plains in search of their prey? There truly is nothing quite like it!
These remarkable animals are not only the most recognised symbols of Africa, but its crowning glory too! Undoubtedly making a Big5 safari one of the top and most popular requests from any and all travellers and wildlife lovers visiting Africa.
Thankfully, you can find these magnificent wildlife species – lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, and leopards – in several countries across the African continent. From Kenya and Tanzania to Botswana and South Africa, here’s a look at Africa’s Big 5 and the best destinations to see them all.
Where can I experience the best Big 5 safari in Africa?
Big5 Safaris in Eastern Africa
Kenya
Regarded as one of the world’s most pristine African safari destinations, boasting some of the best parks, conservancies and game reserves in Africa, East Kenya is home to thousands of hectares of national park and protected land, most notably in the form of the celebrated Maasai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, and Tsavo National Parks.
The sheer collective size of these parks, paired with their diverse terrain and vast, varied, and unspoiled landscapes provide the ideal habitats for a diverse array of wildlife species – including the famous Big5 – as well as an assortment of wildlife species that can only be found in this part of the world. Not to mention that if you visit at the right time of year, you could witness the Great Wildebeest Migration – regarded as one of the greatest wildlife spectacles and natural wonders on the planet.
Check out our ‘Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Kenya’ and ‘Best Time to go to Kenya’ blog for everything you need to know about this incredible east African country.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara National Reserve and its neighboring conservancies form Kenya’s flagship conservation area and is one of Africa’s and the world’s foremost National Reserves and exceptional year-round wildlife and safari destinations, showcasing spectacular game viewing 365 days of the year. Bordering the notorious Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the south. The Masai Mara’s sprawling wide-open plains provide a sanctuary for its abundant wildlife to freely roam the vast Masai Mara wilderness and beyond.
The profound Masai Mara National Reserve is widely known for its vast and wildly diverse wildlife species – it’s abundance and glorious diversity of wildlife is without a doubt one of the top reasons to visit the Masai Mara. It also boasts the highest concentration of wild animals in the world – In fact, more than 40% of Africa’s larger mammals can be found roaming the endless Masai Mara plains and landscapes – Making the renowned Masai Mara a not to be missed African safari destination for all head-over-heels nature and wildlife lovers.
Game viewing in the Masai Mara is excellent all year round thanks to its varied landscapes, wide open spaces, temperate climate, and diverse population of resident game. Its champagne-colored savannahs are home to safari heavyweights like lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino – Making up the globally acclaimed African Big5. While rhino sightings are scare, these enigmatic and endangered animals can well be spotted – if you’re super lucky – in the Mara Triangle.
In addition to witnessing sensational up-close sightings of Africa’s highly sought-after members of the African Big5, the Masai Mara National Reserve is home to countless incredible and popular wildlife species, including zebra, giraffe, eland, and gazelle. Not to mention several other famous predators that freely roam the Masai Mara such as the famed spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, and the bat-eared fox – to mention merely a few.
That’s not all! We told you that the Masai Mara boats a vast diversity of abundant wildlife species – and we certainly weren’t kidding! The Masai Mara National Reserve’s wide-open savannah plains are also home to a phenomenal array of antelope – some of which include the topi antelope, eland, reedbuck, impala, and Thomson’s gazelle – as well as warthog, blue hartebeest, hippo, crocodile, and red hartebeest.
However, this is simply scratching the surface of the profound array of amazing game and wildlife wonders and encounters you can expect to witness and experience when visiting the Masai Mara National Reserve. Trust us, the Masai Mara has SO much more up its sleeve! Not to mention various wildlife highlights, two of which include spotting the elusive and endangered African Wild Dog, as well as the famous Masai giraffe – the largest subspecies of giraffe which can only be found in Kenya and Tanzania – How remarkable is that?!
Did you know that the Masai Mara National Reserve is widely known and celebrated as the ‘Home of the Big Cats’? It is renowned for having the highest concentration of big cats, not only in East Africa but worldwide, delivering exceptional big cat (lion, leopard, and cheetah) sightings as well as unforgettable big cat encounters.
Cheetahs are particularly well adapted to the region’s flat plains, which makes the Masai Mara one of the best places to see these agile and extraordinary predators. They often seek vantage points on fallen trees, termite mounds, and even game drive vehicles! It is one of the greatest highlights of any Masai Mara safari to watch the world’s fastest land mammal chase down its prey – there is absolutely nothing quite like it!
During the Masai Mara Great Migration season is when the African big cats truly come to life and with good reason too. The endless stream of migrating prey offers the big cats a seemingly endless ‘buffet of meal options’, and prey to target. Lions, leopards, and cheetahs grow stronger during this specific time of year. They are also able to have healthy little ones with plenty of food to grow.
There are quite a few lion prides in the Masai Mara National Reserve that have lived in the area for decades. Females are permanent members of the pride, whereas the male lions tend to get chased out of the group by other male lions. At night, if you listen closely, you may even hear a deep roaring of male lions warning other males to stay away from their territory.
**Note: For the best chance / opportunity of seeing a lion on the prowl in search of prey, head out on an early morning or late afternoon safari and you may see one of the females in action!
Tanzania
East Africa’s second largest country, Tanzania, is one of the most captivating and diverse African safari destinations. Boasting a remarkable array of national parks and game reserves, ranging from the expansive and world-renowned Serengeti National Park to the wild and secluded hidden wilderness gem of Katavi National Park, Tanzania has it all. In fact, few destinations in Africa can rival Tanzania’s sheer diversity and abundance of wildlife and vast and varied landscapes. From the classic savannah destinations of the Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater to the stunning beaches and coral reefs of Zanzibar, a Tanzanian safari offers travelers an endless variety of destinations to explore, safari adventures to experience, and wildlife species to see.
Renowned for its exceptional year-round game-viewing, superb Big5 encounters, which are easily spotted and highly prevalent, and famous Great Wildebeest Migration, the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem and its neighbours offer some of the country’s best Big5 safari encounters and opportunities. In addition to its big game and being a stronghold for predators, Tanzania is renowned for its range of endangered and rarely seen wildlife species, some of which include the critically endangered African wild dog, black rhino, chimpanzees, African white-bellied Pangolin, Lesser Kudu, and Thomson’s Gazelle, to mention a few. The critically endangered East African black rhinos of Ngorongoro and Mkomazi, giant elephant tuskers of Tarangire National Park in northern Tanzania, and abundant flamingos that visit Lake Manyara seasonally round out a wildlife experience in Tanzania unlike any other.
That’s not all! Spanning northern Tanzania, the world-renowned Serengeti National Park is not only Tanzania’s flagship conservation area, but one of the greatest national parks in Africa, if not the world. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Serengeti is regarded as one of the most celebrated global wilderness areas. The Serengeti National Park covers an immense 14 800 km² (5 700 square miles) on Tanzania’s northern border with Kenya, encompassing up to 50% of the wider Serengeti–Mara ecosystem – Making the Serengeti the most famous protected wilderness area in all of Africa. As Tanzania’s oldest game reserve, the Serengeti National Park not only boasts one of the oldest and most varied ecosystems on earth, but one of the world’s greatest concentrations of wildlife. Not to mention one of the most diverse.
The profound Serengeti National Park Great Migration is undoubtedly one of the Serengeti and Tanzania’s top wildlife attractions, attracting both local and international wildlife enthusiasts alike. Deemed a wildlife and natural phenomenon in its own right and one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in the world, no other destination on Earth can offer a wildlife encounter to match the annual Wildebeest Migration. Forming the centerpiece of most inaugural Tanzania safari itineraries, the Migration is a mind-blowing display of nature at her most extraordinary.
The Serengeti Great Migration sees millions of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope run the gauntlet of predators as they migrate around the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Freely traversing the open plains of the park in search of fresh grazing from seasonal rains, the millions of wildebeest, antelope, and zebra move northwards into the neighboring Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, after returning south to the Serengeti National Park once again.
To the south is the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aside from being the only intact caldera in the world, it boasts a fertile floor and an abundance of wildlife along with (you guessed it) the Big5. Fun fact: Many speculate that, before Ngorongoro erupted, it would have been higher than the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro.
Check out our ‘Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Tanzania’ and ‘Best Time to go to Tanzania’ blogs for everything you need to know about this exceptional east African country.
Big 5 Safaris in Southern Africa
South Africa
South Africa is one of world’s finest Big 5 and wildlife safari destinations. It is one of the very few places in the world where you are able to see every member of the African Big 5, elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, and leopard, in one place in their natural habitat. South Africa’s pristine Big 5 safari status is largely owed to its outstanding conservation areas and national parks.
The renowned Kruger National Park is without a doubt South Africa’s most iconic game-viewing destination for a Big 5 safari – hands sown! Deemed one of the greatest National Parks in the world, the Kruger National Park is not only the second largest park in Africa, but South Africa’s flagship National Park.
The pristine wilderness within the Kruger Park is spread across an impressive 2 million hectares of unspoiled African bushveld that stretches for 352 kilometres across the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo in the far north-eastern corner of South Africa.
As the oldest, largest, and most established park, the Kruger National Park is home to the highest population density of the Big5 in South Africa. The Kruger Park is believed to support the world’s largest population of white rhino (one of the mighty members of the Big5), roughly estimated at 8,000, despite the rapid increase in poaching activity. Black rhino, on the other hand, are extremely rare and seldom seen – However, if you do happen to catch a glimpse of this remarkable animal (regardless of how brief it may be), you can count yourself incredibly lucky. In addition to the largest population of white rhino, the Kruger National Park is also home to the largest wild concentration of leopards anywhere in the world. Besides the sought-after African Big 5, the Kruger National Park is known for its spectacular sightings of several endangered or ‘rarely seen’ wildlife species, including the sable, roan antelope, cheetah, and African wild dog (in fact, the Kruger Park’s African wild dogs are one of the few populations of this endangered species left in the world). Its unfenced neighbour, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, shares the park’s prolific abundance of wildlife.
Check out our ‘Kruger National Park’, ‘Best Time to go to the Kruger National Park’ and ‘Why You Should go on a Kruger Park Safari’ blogs for everything you need to know about South Africa’s flagship National Park.
Despite its obvious appeal, you’d be remiss for thinking the Greater Kruger Area is the only place to enjoy a Big 5 safari in South Africa. From a low-yield cattle farm to a flourishing conservation area, Madikwe Game Reserve is a land of wild unapologetic natural beauty, bushveld, grassland, sloping mountains, and rocky outcrops. Brushing against Botswana’s border and the tip of the Kalahari Desert, Madikwe Game Reserve boasts an extensive wildlife population with sightings of the iconic African Big5 almost assured on any visit. In addition, the reserve not only provides a haven for all wildlife species, including the Big5, but it has also been a fierce proponent of community upliftment initiatives.
Located on the southeast shoreline of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal is another Big 5 destination to add to your list, with a rich history and the ability to combine beach and bush activities.
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Regarded as one of the best safari destinations and premier private game reserve in South Africa, Sabi Sand Game Reserve should be on every wildlife and nature enthusiast’s African safari bucket-list. Boasting 65,000 hectares of vast untamed wilderness, the notorious Sabi Sand Game Reserve shares a 50km/30mi unfenced border with the world-renowned Kruger National Park (South Africa’s flagship national park), allowing animals to roam freely between the reserves. This ensures an unforgettable and unmatched African safari and wildlife experience.
Boasting one of the richest game populations in the country, Sabi Sand Game Reserve is home to some of the most diverse and unique wildlife species in Africa. While Sabi Sands is most famous for its spectacular leopard sightings, the most elusive member of the Big 5, the entire African Big 5, lion, rhino, buffalo, leopard, and elephant can be spotted at the reserve.
Deemed one of the best, if not THE best, place in the world to see the Big Five, it is not at all uncommon for visitors to the Sabi Sands to spot all of the members of the Big 5 in one day. This undoubtedly makes the Sabi Sand Game Reserve one of the top must-visit safari destinations and game reserves to visit for local and global wildlife enthusiasts alike.
Besides enjoying glorious up-close sightings of the iconic African Big 5, visitors can look forward to seeing a vast diversity of other game when exploring the varied landscapes of the Sabi Sands. Other popular wildlife species that freely roam the Sabi Sands’ terrain include, giraffe, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, cheetah, and a wide array of antelope and plains game, to mention merely a few.
Several endangered species have slowly been reintroduced into the area over the last few decades, one of the most notable being the beloved African wild dog. The MalaMala, a game reserve located within the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, is especially noted and celebrated for its remarkable African wild dog population and the various conservation initiatives and efforts geared at keeping these extraordinary endangered species from going extinct.
Other rarely seen / less frequently spotted mammals you can expect to see when visiting the Sabi Sand Game Reserve include the aardvark, African wild cat, hyenas, jackals, Cape porcupines, pangolins, and many more incredible land-dwelling wildlife species.
The varied and vibrant vegetation of the Sabi Sands Reserve provides a pristine wilderness haven for an abundance of magnificent wildlife species, especially white rhino, reedbuck, cheetah, eland, sable antelope, nyala and hyena.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is one of Southern Africa’s most rewarding big game safari destinations. Authentic, untamed, and rugged, it offers visitors, avid adventurers, and eager nature and wildlife enthusiasts an off-the-beaten-track African safari experience. Boasting incredible national parks and reserves, vast and vibrant landscapes, and an abundant diversity of wildlife, including the renowned Big5, a trip to Zimbabwe should be on everyone’s African travel bucket list. In addition to delivering superb game viewing and exceptional Big 5 sightings, witnessing the wildlife of the Zambezi River – hippos, crocodiles, and shy water buck – are also a real treat.
Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park is arguably one of Africa’s very best Big 5 safari destinations and National Parks. Covering a vast expanse of around 5,655 square miles/14,650 square kilometers, it is both the largest and oldest of Zimbabwe’s game reserves, not to mention one of Zimbabwe’s top tourist attractions especially among avid wildlife enthusiasts as the park is considered to have the biggest diversity of mammals out of the world’s national parks. Home to over 100 species of mammals, including the renowned African Big 5, Hwange National Park’s game viewing is truly unparalleled. In addition to its exceptional diversity of wildlife, this world-renowned National Park is famous for its profound population of elephants, boasting over 50 000 elephants. The Hwange elephant population is thought to be one of the largest in the world.
To add an extra level of excitement, you can explore this massive park and its incredible diversity of wildlife on foot, on horseback, or by going on a thrilling open vehicle 4×4 game drive. Its impressive range of wildlife, such as the Big 5, giraffe, hyena, African wild dog, and more, is mirrored by the diversity of the park’s environment. The sandy southern part of the park skirts along the Kalahari Desert and is dotted with semi-arid shrubbery, while the northern grasslands are thick with granite outcrops and groves of teak and mopane trees.
Check out our ‘Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Zimbabwe’ blog for everything you need to know about this sought-after African safari destination.
Zambia
A landlocked country in Southern Africa, Zambia has emerged as a premier African safari destination due to its unspoiled landscapes and incredible diversity of wildlife species.
Hailed as one of Africa’s finest wildlife sanctuaries and greatest wildlife-viewing destinations in Zambia, South Luangwa National Park packs a massive punch within its 9,050km² boundaries. Situated at the tail-end of the Great Rift Valley and skirting along the Luangwa River, this park’s savannah grasslands are populated by over 400 bird species and 60 species of wildlife, making it great for both bird watching and game viewing. In addition to amazing Big5 sightings and encounters, South Luangwa National Park is also deemed one of the best places to see large herds of buffalo, elephants, Thornicroft’s giraffes, Cookson’s wildebeest, and Crawshay’s zebra, along with plenty of leopards, lions, and hippos.
In addition to its sought-after wildlife and safari status, South Luangwa is famous for their walking safaris, which are led by expert guides through some of Africa’s best game viewing territory. Another major attraction is boat safaris, especially during the park’s rainy season. As the Luangwa River breaks its banks, shallow-draft vessels can navigate into the flooded riverine groves – this is undoubtedly one of Zambia’s most unique and exciting safari highlights.
Luangwa’s remote location and relatively low number of visitors also means you’ll be guaranteed an exclusive safari experience in an unspoilt environment.
Lower Zambezi National Park
Situated along the lower section of the Zambezi River, the Lower Zambezi National Park is one of Zambia’s premier wildlife and safari destinations. The main draw of the national park is its remote off-the-beaten-path location and pristine wilderness. Encompassing vast and varied terrain, including forest, grassland, and floodplain, the Lower Zambezi National Park supports a fantastic diversity of wildlife. Home to plenty of big game, including elephants, lions, buffaloes, hippos, and Nile crocodiles, as well as an array of birdlife and other wildlife species, wildlife enthusiasts will definitely not be disappointed.
Wildlife viewing is best along the rivers, which border the park on three sides. The Zambezi River is the region’s main source of water as well as its top attraction, both for game and visitors.
Check out our ‘Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Zambia’ blog to find out more about what Zambia has to offer.
Botswana
Botswana is not only regarded as one of the most exclusive and widely acclaimed safari destinations in Africa, but one of the most remarkable wilderness areas on earth. Boasting vast stretches of protected wilderness, pristine landscapes, premier National Parks, safari lodges, and game reserves, and a rich diversity of wildlife, as a safari destination, Botswana is hard to top.
Besides its vast wilderness, Botswana’s commitment to safeguarding its wildlife heritage is truly unparalleled. It is blessed with some of the most dramatic wilderness areas, largely consisting of National Parks and wildlife reserves, with approximately 40% of Botswana’s landscape falling within a wildlife-protected area. These protected areas act as sanctuaries for Botswana’s glorious diversity of wildlife, birdlife, and other animal species as well as the world’s largest concentration of African Elephants, with the highest concentration found in Chobe National Park. It also creates a natural stronghold for other large and endangered mammals such as the black rhinoceros, African wild dog, and cheetah.
Home to some of the most prolific wildlife on the African continent, very few countries can compare to Botswana’s sheer diversity and abundance of wildlife species, not to mention its extraordinary up-close sightings of the magnificent Big5. In fact, a visit to the premium wildlife destination of Botswana will almost guarantee sightings of these famous African mammals. Here is a quick guide for the best chance of spotting the Big Five in Botswana:
- Chobe National Park for the highest concentration of elephants.
- Savuti region for excellent lion sightings and encounters.
- Northern Okavango to see the large Cape buffalo.
- Moremi Game Reserve will offer excellent rhino sightings.
- Mashatu Game Reserve plays host to the elusive leopard.
Botswana’s Chobe National Park lies within Botswana’s Okavango Delta and covers four distinct eco-systems. While it is home to four of the Big 5, what truly sets Chobe National Park apart is its impressive and exceptional population of African elephants, which is said to exceed 120,000 – Undoubtedly making it one of the top places, if not THE top place, on the planet to witness these remarkable gentle giants of the African bushveld in their natural environment.
The unspoilt wilderness of Chobe National Park not only supports the world’s largest concentration of African elephants, but a multitude of buffalo as well as an abundance of other birdlife and wildlife species, including the widely beloved and endangered African wild dog, jackals, leopards, and various predators, to mention merely a few.
The Savuti Marsh in particular offers some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. The Savuti region of the Chobe National Park is also notorious for brutal clashes between lions and hyenas as well as where powerful prides famously take down Africa’s biggest game like buffalo, giraffe, and even elephants.
From the verdant marshlands of Savuti and Linyanti to the extensive floodplains running along the Chobe River, Chobe National Park is one of Botswana’s flagship safari destinations, all thanks to its population of elephants and status as the most biologically diverse park in the country.
Spread across less than 5,000km² of the Okavango Delta, bordering on the Chobe National Park and home to the iconic Chief’s Island, the Moremi Game Reserve, also known as the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, is renowned for being a protected area of incredible biodiversity and the ideal Big 5 safari destination.
Known for its exceptional and abundant wildlife, Moremi Game Reserve and adjoining private land concessions in the Okavango also provide the perfect environment in which to see endangered Wild Dogs and other rare wildlife species in their natural habitat. Some of these rare species include, the Black-maned Kalahari Lion, Sitatunga, Puku and Red Lechwe antelope, Brown Hyena, the African Skimmer and Aardvark.
To top it off, the local Basarwa Bushmen also reside in the area, offering visitors an intimate look into their traditional way of life – adding something entirely unique, authentic, and memorable to the experience.
Botswana’s wild unapologetic natural beauty and pristine unfenced surroundings allows for a truly authentic African wilderness experience. It’s no surprise that Botswana is known to attract tourists and travellers from around the world who are passionate about nature and wildlife.
Okavango Delta
Located in Botswana the Okavango Delta is not only one of Africa’s most fascinating and captivating regions to discover, it is also one of the most unique ecosystems, as well as one of the world’s premier wilderness areas and largest inland deltas in the world. It is a vast and virtually untouched freshwater wetland area fed by the Okavango River. The delta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.
The Okavango Delta is an important wildlife area protected by both the Moremi Game Reserve on its eastern edge and the numerous wildlife concessions within Ngamiland. However, the Delta is known for its superb wildlife with a large population of mammals and excellent birding, particularly in the breeding season.
By far one of the top reasons to visit the Okavango Delta is its superb wildlife. The Okavango Delta forms a complex and beautiful ecosystem, home to some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife. While this vast and virtually untouched freshwater wetland that is the magnificent Okavango Delta lies at the heart of Botswana’s arid Kalahari Desert, it supports an abundance and prolific diversity of wildlife within a setting of dazzling natural beauty. In fact, the Delta is widely known as one of the most wildlife-rich areas in Africa as well as one of the world’s most premier wilderness areas and largest inland deltas.
A myriad of wildlife species can be found within the delta, some of which include: African Bush Elephant; African Buffalo; Hippopotamus; Topi; Blue Wildebeest; Giraffe; Nile crocodile; Lion; Cheetah; Leopard; Brown Hyena; Spotted Hyena; Greater Kudu; Sable Antelope; Black Rhinoceros; White Rhinoceros; Plains Zebra; Warthog; Chacma Baboon, and Lechwe (Lechwe are the most populous large mammals, with around 60,000 of them living in the delta) – to mention merely a few.
The Delta is home to a huge number of elephants, buffalo, lion, hippo, Black rhino and White rhino, giraffe, zebra, Red lechwe, shy antelope, as well as predators such as cheetah, and leopard. Hippos inhabit the deeper channels and lagoons, while honey badgers can be seen in broad daylight.
There is a dynamic seasonal shift of animals between the arid region that surrounds the delta and the Okavango Delta itself. During the wet season most large animals move away from the delta to take advantage of the lush grazing that surrounds it. As the grazing begins to die in the winter, animals move back to the delta. This is one of the top reasons why the dry winter season is considered the best time to visit the Okavango Delta – It is the prime time for wildlife sightings as game concentrations significantly increase in the Delta with around 260,000 mammals congregating around the area. The Okavango Delta is also known to attract a huge number of herbivores in the Dry season, which in turn attracts the carnivores and big cats – resulting in exceptional predator and Big5 sightings and thrilling encounters.
Mammals that absolutely thrive in the delta are zebras, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, wildebeest, hyenas, and various species of antelopes. In addition to this, there are also 150 species of reptiles, the Big Five and some of the world’s largest herds of giraffe, buffalo, and elephant
Check out our ‘Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Botswana’, ‘Best Time to go to Botswana’ and ‘Botswana: 5 Must-Explore National Parks and Game Reserves’ blogs for everything you need to know about Botswana and what it has to offer.
Namibia
Etosha is home to one of Namibia’s most iconic attractions – and with good reason. It offers some of the best safari territories in the country, from the iconic Etosha National Park as well as a variety of private game reserves on its outskirts. Etosha boasts four of the Big 5, needing only the African buffalo to complete its ranks. Both the park and its surrounding reserves and concessions offer wildlife experiences and safari adventures that are every bit as rewarding as they are memorable.
Other National Parks, Game Reserves, Wildlife Parks & Safari Destinations to add to your Big 5 African Safari Itinerary?
Here are a few more must-visit destinations to add to your Big 5 Safari
- The Okavango Delta
- Masai Mara National Reserve
- Amboseli National Park
- Serengeti National Park
- Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
- The Nxai Pan National Park
- Central Kalahari Game Reserve
- The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
- Sabi Sand Game Reserve
- Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
- Shamwari Private Game Reserve
- Phinda Private Game Reserve
- Kwandwe Game Reserve
- Balule Private Game Reserve
- Katavi National Park
- Mana Pools National Park
- Nyanga National Park
- South Gonarezhou National Park
- Lake Kariba
The Big 5 reign supreme as Africa’s most iconic wildlife. While some may argue that giraffes and zebras possess greater beauty than buffaloes or that cheetahs may be easier to spot than leopards, there’s no denying the unrivalled excitement of witnessing any member of the Big 5 roaming freely in their natural habitat.
