The Big five Tanzania
Spotting the Big Five
Surely this is one thing that is high on the list for many people. Tanzania is the location where you have the greatest chance of getting this done. Because the concentration of wildlife in Tanzania is the highest in all of Africa, you are also most likely to encounter the big five here. Tanzania has not been voted the best country to spot wildlife for nothing. In this blog, we take you through the history of the big five and what you need to do now to spot them.
What is the Big Five
The name Big Five has nothing to do with the sizes of the animals. It is a name given in the 19th and early 20th centuries in Africa to the animals that were the most difficult to hunt. These were the times when hunting these magnificent animals was still accepted. Nowadays, only pictures are shot of the big five and the animals can once again enjoy their own nature.
What animals are in the big five and where can you find them?
- The Lion
- The Leopard
- The elephant
- The rhino
- The buffalo
The Lion
Perhaps one of the world’s most impressive animals. The ruler of the African savannas. The lion is a large feline that is at the top of the food chain in Africa. Lions are very social and often live in groups with 1 male and a few females. The lion can still be found in much of Africa and a very small part of India.
The Leopard
The leopard, not to be confused with the cheetah, is another predator from the feline family. Along with the rhino, the cheetah is the most difficult to spot in the wild. This is because they often spend entire days in trees. At dusk, the leopard often comes out of the tree to go hunting. The leopard can be found in Africa and Asia.
The elephant
The elephant is the largest land animal in the world. With their large ears, impressive tusks and long trunk, they are easy to recognize. Elephants always live in groups where there is a lot of social contact. The oldest cow is often the leader of the group. Elephants can be found in much of Africa and in southeast Asia.
The rhino
The rhino is currently the rarest animal in the big five. This is because the rhino population has never been so low. These impressive animals are much hunted because the horn is said to contain medicinal powers. Rhinos can only be found in a few places in southern Africa.
The buffalo
The buffalo is the animal easiest to spot of the big five. This is because it is present in large numbers on the vast plains of Africa. The fact that they are so common does not make them any less interesting. In fact, it is very impressive to see a group of 1,000 buffalo crossing a river. Buffalo are mainly seen on African savannas.
Why was it so hard to hunt the big five?
The animals of the big five are not necessarily hunting animals. Yet these animals were among the most difficult animals to hunt. This is mainly because elephants, rhinos and buffalo often attacked people who came too close with their size and strength. Leopards were often too difficult to find because at the time there was no good equipment for hunting at night.
Where is the best place to spot the big five?
If you want to spot the big five, the best place to go is Tanzania. Tanzania is one of the few countries in Africa where the big five can still roam freely through the nature reserves. There are no paved roads here and there are no fences around the parks. Also, the concentration of wildlife here is the highest in Africa.
Where in Tanzania can you all see the big five?
In Tanzania, you can see the big five in several locations. Below for each animal is the best places to spot them
Lion & Leopard:
Elephants & Buffalo
- All national parks in Tanzania
Rhinos:
Spot the big five yourself
Spotting the big five with your own eyes? With our extensive Tanzania tours, you always have a chance to see these five magnificent animals in real life. Our experienced tour guides know the best spots and can tell you all about these animals. View our range of Tanzania tours and request a quote. Then together we will find the best trip for you to come face to face with the big five.