A Comprehensive Guide to Spotting the Big Fiveon a Tanzania Safari
The term “Big Five” has become synonymous with African safari tourism. But it was actually coined by big-game hunters when referring to the most difficult (and dangerous) animals to track. Today, spotting the “Big Five” has become a bucket list activity for many visitors to the continent and Tanzania is one of the best places to do it.
The “Big Five” species include the African lion, African leopard, African bush elephant and Cape buffalo, as well as both black and white rhinoceros. But unfortunately, decades of hunting and poaching have had huge impacts on their populations and many are now listed as either endangered or threatened.
The good news is that international organisations and African conservancies have all been doing their bit to help the recovery of population numbers and safari tourism is an essential element in their survival. By embarking on a Tanzania safari to spot the “Big Five”, your tourism dollars will not only support local wildlife conservation projects but also provide employment in local communities that might otherwise resort to poaching to make a living.
So, where are the best places to head in Tanzania to spot all of the “Big Five”? Read on to find out!
The Cape buffalo is the only member of the Big Five that isn’t classified as endangered or threatened and is also the easiest to spot. It’s distinguished by its impressive curved horns that are fused together at the base and are used to protect the buffalo against other predators and humans.
They’re known to be quite unpredictable animals and will charge if threatened but have also exhibited a unique behaviour that shows surprising democracy. Females can often be seen standing up, moving around and then sitting back down during periods of rest, with the direction they face indicating the direction they should move. When the herd decides that it’s time to move, they’ll go in the direction that has been selected by the majority of females, with their calves clustered safely between them.
It’s not uncommon to see vast herds of Cape buffalo grazing on the grassy savannah of East Africa and the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania is one of the best places to see them. The reserve is home to huge numbers of buffalos (120,000 - 150,000), meaning that sightings are almost guaranteed.
Want to see the quirky behaviour of buffalos with your own eyes? Consider an all-inclusive luxury safari in Tanzania including a visit to the Selous Game Reserve.
While the Cape buffalo is the easiest of the Big Five to spot, the African leopard tends to be the hardest, with these nocturnal creatures known for being highly elusive. Rather than moving in herds, they’re solitary by nature and spend much of their days resting in trees while being incredibly well camouflaged.
Seeing a leopard in the wild really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and Ruaha National Park is one of the best places to try your luck, with a healthy population of predatory cats. Head out on a night drive with an experienced driver-guide who’ll use the headlights of the safari vehicle to spot these nocturnal creatures.
If you’re lucky, you might even see a leopard stalking its prey, with these big cats eating anything that’s smaller than an adult eland. After the “kill”, they’re known to haul their prey into the trunks of trees to hide them, ready to be eaten when they’re hungry.
Want to venture out after dark to spot leopards? Book a night game drive at one of our luxury Ruaha safari camps or lodges today.
A highlight for most safari visitors to East Africa is seeing a lion in the wild, with these charismatic big cats an apex predator of the savannah. Their tawny coat keeps them effectively camouflaged and it’s only with the experienced eye that you can possibly spot them at a distance.
Tanzania’s Serengeti boasts one of the largest populations of lions in Africa, with around 3,000 individuals residing in and around the national park. It’s also home to one of the continent’s oldest lion research projects, which monitors their long-term health and survival rates. This makes it THE place to head if you’re set on seeing a lion (or two) and to experience an action-packed “kill” as a pride of lions stalks their prey.
That being said, lions spend around 20 hours a day lazing about, so you’re more likely to see them sleeping in prides as they wait for their next meal. You’ll probably have the best chance of seeing them in action if you visit between January and March after the herds of the Great Wildebeest Migration have returned to the Serengeti to raise their young.
Want to see a lion “kill” during the Serengeti migration? Check out our luxurious collection of lodges and camps in the Serengeti.
When you hear the world “rhinoceros”, it could be referring to one of five extant species of these odd-toed ungulates, two of which are native to Africa. The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) are both found in sub-Saharan Africa and (despite their names) are actually grey-ish in colour.
The major difference between the two is the shape of their mouths, with black rhinos having a pointed lip that’s equipped to browse on leaves and branches while the white rhino has a broad lip that’s designed for grazing on grass. White rhinos tend to be larger in size and weight and have been divided into two sub-species - the southern white rhinoceros and the northern white rhinoceros, which is believed to be extinct in the wild.
If you want to see rhinoceros in Tanzania, head to the Ngorongoro Crater, which is thought to currently have around 50 black rhinos. Through the support of international conservation bodies, rhinos were re-introduced to the crater in the 1990s after a drastic decline in numbers due to poaching, with numbers now steadily on the rise. The caldera’s walls act as a natural enclosure for wildlife while being one of the most magnificent landscapes for wildlife viewing in East Africa.
Why not base yourself in one of our high-end lodges perched overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater to see a black rhino with your very own eyes. Check out our Tanzania safari packages today!
The African bush elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal on Earth and one of the world’s most endearing species. While they can charge and kill with ease, they’re more commonly depicted as loving and intelligent creatures, with large floppy ears, an elongated trunk and strong maternal instincts. In the wild, they live in tight-knit family circles and have shown to communicate across vast differences using sounds that aren’t audible to the human ear.
But the African bush elephant also has a threatened existence, with ongoing poaching for the valuable ivory in their tusks. Conservation initiatives are being conducted across Africa to guard against poachers and educate local communities to ensure the long-term survival of elephants.
Tarangire National Park is one of the best places in Tanzania to spot large groups of elephants, with herds of up to 300 individuals spotted. They can often be seen in the seemingly dry bed of the Tarangire River, searching for underground streams.
Want to see endearing elephants up-close? Our selection of Tarangire lodges and camps offer all-inclusive game drives to see these gentle giants in the wild.
If you’re short on time and can only visit one wildlife reserveto spot the “Big Five”, consider a private safari in Tanzania’s Serengeti. The vast, open grasslands not only offer some of East Africa’s best wildlife viewing year-round but also host the annual Great Wildebeest Migration, which sees huge numbers of wildebeest, zebras and opportunistic predators flock to the region. The lack of trees also makes elusive predators, such as leopards, much easier to see, offering the best chance of ticking off all the “Big Five” in one go!
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