Big 5 Safari in Africa
Experience a Big 5 Safari in Africa
No safari in Africa is complete without seeing the Big 5 in the wild. Lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino are the stars of the show, and most visitors to Africa consider a Big 5 safari the ultimate experience. Indeed, coming face to face with one of these magnificent animals is an experience that is hard to beat. Imagine the thrill of watching an elephant amble passed your open game vehicle, so close, you could touch it. Or delighting in watching lion cubs at play, their lioness mother never too far away. The thrill of seeing a rhino cross your path, an animal fighting hard to avoid extinction.
Where are the best places to see the Big 5? Africa is the only continent in the world where you can see large populations of big game in the wild, especially in protected reserves such as the Kruger National Park. Private concessions within national parks, like the Sabi Sands, are your best bet if you hope to see all five members of the illustrious crew in one trip. This is because private game reserves – while sharing unfenced borders with the main park – offer unique benefits and fewer restrictions, like private guided game drives, night drives and guided nature walks in the company of experienced rangers.
Other notable destinations for viewing the Big 5 include Chobe and Moremi in Botswana, and the Serengeti and Masai Mara in East Africa.
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Seeing a rhino in the wild is considered a rare privilege these days, as these magnificent animals are critically endangered.
No two days on safari are the same. You might witness a thrilling chase between a lion and giraffe one day, and the next marvel at young elephants at play around a watering hole.
Night drives offer a completely different safari experience, as you get to see nocturnal animals that only come out at night to hunt, feed or socialize.
Top Experiences in Big 5 Safari in Africa
Experience the thrill of tracking the Big Five – lion, rhino, buffalo, leopard and elephant – on an open vehicle safari. This classic experience is a must-do on an African safari.
A Big Seven safari combines traditional land-based Big Five encounters with marine safaris in search of whales, sharks, penguins and dolphins. Don’t miss this unique Eastern Cape experience.
Capture every moment on a Masai Mara Photographic Safari. From big predators to big events such as the Great Migration, your expert guides are with you all the way to make sure you find the perfect angle.
Widely considered the birthplace of the African walking safari, South Luangwa is a wildlife enthusiast’s dream. Wander through woodland savannah with your knowledgable guide to come across elephant herds, rare Thornicroft giraffe and baobab trees.
Savour the tranquility of gliding through the reed-lined channels of the Okavango Delta in a traditional mokoro, a dugout canoe steered quietly by a skilled poler.
As you drift across still waters, surrounded by lilies and waving papyrus, you’ll encounter a world rich in life, from tiny frogs clinging to reeds to elephants wading gracefully nearby. For those seeking more adrenaline, action-packed game drives across the delta’s grassy plains offer the chance to spot lions, leopards, and herds of buffalo up close. Each journey, whether by water or land, unveils new wonders of this remarkable ecosystem. The Okavango is a place where silence speaks, and every track, ripple, or distant call hints at the wild beauty that surrounds you. Whether you’re floating peacefully or bouncing along rugged trails, game viewing here is an unforgettable, deeply rewarding experience that captures the essence of untamed Africa.