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Africa’s Big 5 - The quirky facts!by Dalene Ingham-Brown

What are Africa's Big 5? They are the elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo, and are as quirky as your friend who enjoys dabbling in dead fly art. Here is a pictorial safari in Africa of Africa's Big 5, along with each animal's most unique attributes. If you think humans are interesting creatures, you should take a closer look at Africa's Big 5!


1. Baby ellies sucks their trunks for comfort. 2. Elephants are either right-tusked, or left-tusked, just like humans are either right or left-handed. 3. An elephant's skin is an inch thick. 4. When swimming, elephants use their trunk as a snorkel. 5. Swinging their trunks up in the air and from side to side help elephants smell better.


Photo by: Craig Thomson



1. There are two subspecies of the African Lion that are both extinct: the Barbary lion and Cape lion. 2. Simba is the Swahili word for lion. The word also means aggressive, king and strong. 3. Male lions are slower and less agile than lionesses. 4. 21 hours of a lion's day is spend simply lying around. 5. Lions can survive for about 6 days without drinking water.


Photo by: KCZooFan



1. As strong tree climbers, leopards often climb a tree while carrying a prey their own weight. 2. Leopards are great swimmers and therefore hunt on both land and in water. 3. Leopards are nocturnal predators. 4. Leopards are solitary animals. 5. Leopard does not normally chase its prey. They stalk their prey and when a few feet away they pounce.


Photo by: Tambako the Jaguar



1. Due to poaching, Rhinos are critically endangered. 2. Rhinos make their own sun block by covering themselves in mud and letting it dry. Once the mud is dry, it also protects rhino's from most blood sucking insects. Nifty! 3. Black rhinos run on their toes. 4. The closest relative to a rhino is most likely a horse. 5. If a rhino horn is cut off or broken, it can grow back.


Photo by: Craig Thomson



1. A full grown adult bull can weigh around 2000 pounds. 2. Oddly enough, Buffalo calves are usually born in May. 3. When attacked, adult buffalo in a herd form a circle around the young and face outward. 4. Buffaloes can live in herds consisting of over one hundred, but are known for congregating in thousands in the Serengeti during the rainy season. 5. A buffalo's sight and hearing are both rather poor, but their sense of smell is very well developed.


Photo by: Chadika


If you're keen to see Africa's Big 5 why not choose an overland trip to Kruger National Park? Alternatively, browse through the Top 5 Best Big 5 Safaris in Africa and book your dream overland trip.


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