The Magnificent "Big Five" of South Africa

For many people, no South Africa tours are complete without spotting each of the so-called “Big Five”—

the most iconic big mammals of the African continent.

Endowed with some of the world’s greatest wildlife preserves—most notably Kruger National Park, one of

the oldest and biggest national parks anywhere on the planet—South Africa is a prime place to observe

these magnificent creatures in their native habitat.

Origin of the Name

The “Big Five” gained their collective name and prestige as Africa emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries

as a trophy-hunting destination for European and American sportsmen. These splendidly endowed and

unpredictable beasts were considered the most dangerous to hunt, and bagging them meant major

bragging rights.

These days, as the numbers of all of the Big Five have declined significantly in the face of human

persecution and habitat loss, their renown comes more often in the realm of wildlife-watching safaris—a

good thing, too, for their survival.

The African Elephant

The African bush elephant is the world’s largest land mammal: A bull may stand 11 feet at the shoulder,

stretch 25 feet from trunk to tail, weigh better than 13,000 pounds, and sport massive tusks weighing

more than 100 pounds each. These titanic, social pachyderms can be highly aggressive when they feel

threatened, and many an unwary hunter has met his or her end in an elephant charge.

Kruger is a globally significant refuge for the elephant, which can be found in the park in enormous herds.

The Rhinoceros

Two species of rhinos are found in Africa: the black and white. The black rhino is lighter—still a

respectable two tons, though—and darker-colored, and widely regarded as the more volatile. The white

rhino is the second-heaviest land mammal after the African and Asian elephants: A bull may tip the scales

at 5,500 pounds. These squat odd-toed ungulates both wield two horns in a row—horns that, like the

elephant’s tusks, have been the object of human greed for centuries.

Rhinos are both critically threatened, although in recent years the white rhinoceros—now found again in

many South African parks and preserves—is in somewhat better shape than its smaller relative.

The Cape Buffalo

Many hunters judged Africa’s great wild bovid to be the most dangerous of the Big Five. The Cape buffalo

may weigh a ton and has heavy, wickedly curved horns; these physical traits coupled with a nervous

nature and surprising agility all translate to an animal deserving of the utmost respect. Buffalo are among

the most numerous large grazers in Africa, roaming savanna and open woodland in massive herds.

Buffalo are formidable prey for any predator, although lions often target them. Kruger National Park was

the venue for the now-legendary viral video “Battle at Kruger” featuring a complicated back-and-forth

drama between buffalo, lions, and—just for good measure—a Nile crocodile.

African Lion

Perhaps no other animal so symbolizes wild Africa than the lion, the continent’s biggest and most

dominant carnivore. Visitors on South Africa tours delight at the sight of these tawny cats, which set

themselves apart from most of their close relatives by their social nature. Lionesses form the heart of a

pride, which also includes any number of young animals as well as at least one and usually two or three

adult males. A 400- or 500-pound male lion with his royal mane is a stirring sight, but it’s the leaner

lioness that’s the more effective hunter.

Leopard

The leopard is by far the smallest of the Big Five—the cat’s typical weight is between 50 and 150 pounds

—but its elusiveness, beauty, and capacity for savagery more than earn it a spot on the roster. Old-time

big-game hunters found the leopard immensely tough to take, given how retiring and well-camouflaged it

is. Modern safari-goers count themselves lucky to see one of these spectacularly spotted carnivores,

which hoist antelope, warthogs, and other prey up into trees to keep it out of reach of lions and hyenas.

A world away from the “great white hunter” routine, ecotourism-oriented South Africa tours that include

visits to Kruger, Mapungubwe, and other protected areas celebrate the Big Five in their most valuable

form: as living, breathing members of their remarkable ecosystems.

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