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.