Top 20 Facts About the Big Five : The lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros make up the “big five.” The term “Big Five” originally described how challenging it was to hunt lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, elephants, and African buffalo. The capture of any one of these five ferocious, large African mammal species was regarded by trophy hunters as an accomplishment. The creatures known as the “Big Five Animals” are currently what the majority of safari tourists desire to see.
Here are the top 20 interesting facts about these big fives animals in Africa:
- The lion is the main threat to buffalo. Buffalo will make an effort to free a captured member. They have been seen slaughtering the lion after one of the group members was murdered by a lion.
- Leopards are expert tree climbers. They frequently hide their kill in a tree to protect it from lions and hyenas. They occasionally consume fish and crabs and have good swimming abilities.
- Elephants in Africa communicate across considerable distances using a low frequency that is not audible to humans.
- Due to their limited vision, rhinos can accidentally attack rocks and trees. They have exceptional hearing and smell, which can compensate for their weak vision.
The Big 5 - Despite the fact that they resemble one another on the surface, the water buffalo and the African buffalo are not thought to be closely related. Furthermore, the deadly African buffalo has never been domesticated, in contrast to the water buffalo, Top 20 Facts About the Big Five
- Of the Big Five animals, the rhinoceros is the most vulnerable. In 2009, rhino poaching reached a 15-year high worldwide. The demand for rhino horns in Asia is fueling the illegal trade, which is being exacerbated by increasingly skilled poachers who are now killing rhinos with veterinary medications, poison, crossbows, and high-caliber firearms. Outside of national parks and reserves, there are now hardly any rhinos left.
- Typically, the older a lion is, the darker his mane is.
- The leopard is a nocturnal animal that lives alone and in secrecy. It hides during the day. Of the Big Five, they are the least well-known and difficult seen.
- Many plant species have developed seeds that must go through an elephant’s gastrointestinal tract in order to germinate. In West African woodlands, at least one-third of the tree species rely on elephants for dispersal.
- The hue of white rhinos ranges from slate gray to reddish brown, not white. Actually, the word “species” comes from the Dutch word “weit,” which refers to the animal’s broad muzzle.
- The female lions, known as lionesses, form close ties since they nurse other cubs and raise their young in the same pride for the rest of their lives.
- Male lions eat first, but female lions do most of the hunting.
- Lion cubs have dark patches on their coats at birth.
- Leopards bark and snarl instead of roaring.
- Elephants deliver calves weighing 120 kg after the longest gestation period of any land animal (22 months).
- Like newborn infants who suck their thumbs for comfort, some baby elephants suck their trunks.
- The elephant is incredibly sociable and fosters close relationships with friends and family. They even perform rituals and visit graves to express their grief at the loss of loved ones.
- Like our nails, rhino horn is formed of keratin. Since the horn is not affixed to the skull, it can break off and regrow.
- Due to their exceptional memory, buffaloes will ambush hunters they have previously encountered, Top 20 Facts About the Big Five
- Because of their close ties, the female buffaloes will kill lions and other predators to protect one another if they are attacked.
WHERE TO SEE THE BIG FIVES
Africa is home to several populations of the Big 5 animals. If you want to have the best chance of seeing them all in one safari, or occasionally, if you’re really lucky, in one game drive or in one day, go to the following locations:
The Ngorongoro Crater is a Tanzanian crater that is home to over 30,000 animals. Because they are unable to climb the crater’s sheer walls, these animals are able to thrive in its diverse ecology. It can be paired with the Tarangire and Serengeti with ease.
The Madikwe Private Game Reserve in South Africa, which was formerly farmland but is now being methodically restored, features all five of the Big 5, in addition to luxurious lodges and cooperation between several guides. The largest resort in Africa, Sun City, is paired with it.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor to Africa or a seasoned traveler, the Kruger National Park is a must-see on any African safari. Goer’s It’s a good idea to start with this enormous portion of South Africa, which is roughly the size of Israel or Belgium.
The splendor of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve is that only visitors are permitted within, allowing animals to roam free while sharing an unfenced border with Kruger.
The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Amboseli National Park in Kenya, Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, Tarangire National Park in Tanzania, Akagera National Park Rwanda, Chobe National Park in Botswana, Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa, Etosha National Park in Namibia, Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, and Kidepo National Park in Uganda are among the other best place to see big fives in Africa.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE THE BIG 5?
In Africa, the best time to go on safari is from roughly July to October. The chilly, dry winter that the continent experiences at this time. There are various explanations for why it’s simpler to locate them during these times:
Compared to the long, dense grass and rich foliage of summer, the vegetation dries down and thins out due to the lack of rain, making it easier to observe a rhino or buffalo. This is especially true for leopards, who spend a lot of time in trees; during the winter, they will have fewer leaves, making these slender cats easier to identify, Top 20 Facts About the Big Five
A lack of rain also causes smaller waterways like ponds, streams, puddles, and waterways to dry up, driving wildlife to gather around the few remaining major lakes and rivers. The majority of animals need to drink often in order to stay close to the scant remaining water supply. This is especially true of buffalo and elephant herds, which frequently move to rivers that provide lilies, such as the Chobe at the boundary of Namibia and Botswana or Tarangire River in Tarangire national park, Tanzania.
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