About Big 5 Safari
Big 5 Africa Safari Tours
About:Get a thrilling experience of the best big 5 safari in Africa, with the 8-day Tanzania Serengeti and Katavi tour. This safari tour will start with Serengeti National Park, which boasts indigenous flora and fauna and is also a significant sight for the Great Wildebeest migration. You can enjoy afternoon and morning game drives or view the wildlife action from above on a hot-air balloon safari. You'll then head to Katavi, Tanzania's second-largest national park, where you can find plenty of lions and elephants, buffalo herds, and many other animals.
Highlights
- Enjoy the exquisite wildebeest migration at Serengeti and sighting of different animals at Katavi.
- Opt for a hot-air balloon safari to have an unforgettable wildlife sighting experience.
Price: $6800 - $8200 per person
About: The 10-day Secret Serengeti, Ruaha & Selous big 5 safari tour can be your perfect choice in Africa. Head to Seronera for a glimpse of cheetahs, which is also the most reliable game viewing area. Then proceed to the private Kwihala Camp, the best kept secret of Tanzania to see the biggest herds of elephants and explore lions, leopards, cheetahs, and other animals. Further, you can move to Roho ya Selous, overlooking Rufiji river, the most popular feature of Africa’s game reserve.
Highlights
- Excellent cheetah sightings in the Serengeti's central Seronera.
- Morning and evening game drives in Ruaha.
- Guided walks and Big 5 sighting at Roho ya Selous
Price: $9200 - $ 9900 per person
Discover the hidden gems of the African wilderness by opting for East Africa year-round migration safari. During the tour, you'll explore the Ngorongoro Crater and get a chance to spot elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, and leopard in a single game drive. Get the splendid experience of the Great Migration at Ubuntu Migration Camp and learn more about the Maasai clan at Masai Mara.
Highlights
- Enjoy game drives down the caldera and guided walks on the Ngorongoro crater's rim.
- Witness Great Migration at Ubuntu Migration Camp.
- Learn about the ancient Maasai warriors during the expedition of Masai Mara.
Price: $9300 - $9700 per person
If you're looking to have a unique wilderness experience with your family, then the 8-day Kenya's Family Safari tour can be your ideal choice. This big 5 safari South Africa tour will take you through Africa’s finest national parks and Kenya’s picture perfect beaches. Enjoy game drives and spot buffalo, rhinos, and lions from the viewing deck of Ololo Lodge. Head to The Masai Mara Intrepids Camp to see the seasonal and annual Wildebeest Migration. Have a memorable beach vacation on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast.
Highlights
- Enjoy 5 most popular animal sightings at three major Kenyan reserves.
- Capture Excellent wildlife viewing experiences with the big 5, and learn about the life’s circle on the African plains.
- Impress your loved ones with fine authentic African cuisine.
Price: $5800 - $6000 per person
This 10-day family big 5 safari is packed with adventure and excitement and takes you on an expedition to Victoria Falls and Botswana's game-dense areas. Pump up your adrenaline by enjoying activities like bungee jumping and white-water rafting on the Zambezi River. In Botswana, you can track the big 5 and encounter diverse fauna along with it. Visit the Okavango Delta and Chobe Enclave and enjoy the water and land-based activities like game drives, boating, and a helicopter ride.
Highlights
Appreciate the majestic beauty of Victoria Falls.
Visit the Okavango Delta and Chobe Enclave and enjoy various adventurous activities.
Have a memorable safari experience in the Chobe National Park.
Price: $6600 - $7100 per person
About:If you wish to have true African bush experiences, then opt for a private guided Botswana, Vic Falls & Zimbabwe tour. An experienced guide will accompany you during the tour and help you unveil the hidden wonders of Southern Africa. Spend four days exploring Okavango Delta, which is home to the world's most endangered birds and animals. Have exceptional game viewing at Hwange National Park and witness the world's most spectacular granite terrain at Matabos National Park.
Highlights
- Nature walks and game drives in Hwange & Matabos
- Phenomenal bird watching opportunities
- Guided tour to South Africa’s interior and hidden wonders
Price: $27400- $28500 per person
This iconic family tour lets you explore the wildlife species closely and gives you a glimpse of Africa’s natural attractions, with the most viewed fauna of Africa. Appreciate the iconic majesty of Victoria Falls, enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of the Hwange National Park, and fall in love with the wildlife-rich vistas of Lake Kariba. Cruise on the waters of Lake Kariba and keep your eyes peeled for cormorants, hippos, and the occasional Nile crocodile.
Highlights
- Explore three of the popular natural attractions of Zimbabwe
- Spot big 5 in Hwange
- Cruise on the Lake Kariba
*Price: *$12500 - $14000 per person
Community & Wildlife Luxury Safari tour brings together Africa's fascinating history with iconic wildlife sightings. Explore two wilderness hotspots, the Kalahari's Tswalu Private Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park. Look for the Big 5 safari animals at the Kruger National Park and learn about the Shangaan tribe at Nourish Eco Village. Enjoy game drives, wilderness excursions, and guided dune walks at Tswalu Private Game Reserve.
Highlights
- Spot the Big 5 in Thornybush Game Reserve
- Learn about the Shangaan community
- Explore Tswalu Private Reserve
Price: $12600 - $14000 per person.
Best Places for Big 5 Safari
Kruger National Park is Africa's largest wildlife preserve, where you can see the big 5 safari animals in their natural habitat. It has 7,580 miles of wild lands that house five hundred bird species and one hundred forty five mammal species. Elephants and buffalos can be easily found in southern Kruger, and at dawn and dusk, you can even see shy cats here. The park has walking camps, rest camps, overnight hides, and bushveld camps.
Meander through the untamed Chobe National Park & Okavango Delta, where fascinating big 5 safari animals await discovery. Chobe National Park is one of the most popular safari destinations having the highest concentration of buffaloes and elephants. Visitors to the Chobe area can also enjoy game-viewing excursions on a boat cruise. The Okavango Delta is the perfect habitat for the rarest wildlife in Africa. You can spot Cape Buffalos, leopards, cheetahs, and elephants.
If you're looking for a classic African wildlife adventure, then you won't find a place better than Masai Mara National Park. It is famous for its wildebeest migration and houses all the big 5 safari animals. You can experience the breathtaking sight of over two million mammals crossing the plains in July and October, while enjoying fantastic activities like hot air ballooning over the plains.
Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater are densely populated with the big five wildlife species. At these national parks, you can spot black rhinos, elusive cats, and many other animals. Don't miss out on the wildebeest migration that takes place from July to November. At The Ngorongoro Crater you can enjoy bush walking, hiking and game drives.
Etosha National Park houses four of the Big 5, including elephants, lions, elusive leopards, and black rhinoceros. It is one of the largest national parks in Africa packed with hundreds of species of birds, mammals and reptiles. There are many fountains, man-made boreholes and natural springs scattered throughout the park that guarantee the best game viewing experience.
Sabi Sand is a private game reserve where you can see all the big 5 animals in one place. It is the ultimate African safari destination with over 300 bird species and a wide variety of animals. The biggest attraction of the park is the leopards, which are found in abundance and you can also enjoy guided drives in open vehicles to spot some of the endangered animals and colorful birds.
Big 5 Safari Animals
Learn about the behavior and characteristics of African elephants by opting for a big 5 safari South Africa tour. They are the largest and heaviest land animals in the world known for their incredible strength and power. African Elephants are found across different habitats like savannahs, grasslands, highlands, forests, and swamps and are characterized by their long trunks, large heads, and wide and flat ears.
African lions are also known as The King of the Savannah and are the most dangerous members of the Big 5. They are apex predators and hunt larger animals like buffalos, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, and antelopes. You can spot them in the grassy plains, open woodlands, savannahs and scrub country during big 5 safari in Africa.
African leopards are characterized by their spotted coats, incredible speed, and expert hunting abilities. They are slightly smaller than lions and can run at a speed of around 56 kilometers per hour. They are expert hunters and can even kill prey that are almost double their size.
Cape Buffalo is another popular big 5 member that you'll get to see during the big 5 safari in Africa. They are dangerous and unpredictable and can run at speeds of up fifty-seven kilometers per hour. Cape buffalos are herbivores and they feed a wide variety of grasses, leaves, and other plants.
White and Black rhinos are the hardest of the big 5 safari animals to spot in the wild due to their continuously declining population. The black rhinoceros has two horns on its naval bridge and are smaller than white rhinos. White rhinos have poor vision and mostly keep their heads low.
How to Spot the Big Five?
Whether you want to admire the kings of the savannahs or get up close to the stealthy predators, a jeep tour can be your ideal choice. Get on to an open safari vehicle and drive across the plains of the Masai Mara game reserve, searching for black maned lions, leopards, and cheetahs. You can enjoy both early morning and evening game drives to have an up-close view of the 5 animals.
If you're looking for a unique big 5 safari South Africa, then horse safari can be your go-to choice. Get on to your four-legged companion and transverse through the rugged landscapes of the park to spot lions, leopards and buffalos. During your ride, you'll get so close to the big 5 that you can even hear their slight crunching on acacia leaves.
Walk in the footsteps of wild and untamed animals and try to find out their secret hideouts by opting for a big 5 safari South Africa bush walk tour. It is one of the best ways to have an up close and personal interaction with the big 5 members. Hold your heartbeat as the lions and leopards pass by you.
Fly high up in the sky above the expansive Mara plains and have superb views of sprawling savannahs and wildlife species. See the Big 5 members passing by the waterholes and the lush green canopies. You can even witness the Great Wildebeest Migration as you soar high in the sky.
FAQ’s of Big 5 Safari
What is special about the Big 5?
Big 5 are the most dangerous animals known for their incredible power and strength. It's extremely difficult to hunt them on foot, and it's also a rare phenomenon to spot all of them in one place. During the big 5 safari in Africa you’ll get a chance to see Africa's largest elephant herds, healthy populations of leopards and a huge number of buffalo and lions.
What is the best time to visit South Africa?
May to September is the best time to visit South Africa as the days are warm and clear, and the nights are a bit colder. During this time, you can explore the best wildlife of Africa and enjoy exciting events like international multi-day music festivals, the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, and International Jazz Festival.
When is the Best Time to See the Big 5?
July to October is the best time to see the Big 5 as the weather remains cool and dry, and due to the lack of rainfall, animals gather around waterholes in search of water. Due to the absence of rain, the vegetation dries up, making it easier to spot leopards resting on trees and buffaloes hiding behind the lush vegetation.
Where To Find the Big 5 in Africa?
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, Kruger National Park, South Africa, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa, Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, and Okavango Delta, Botswana are the best places for big 5 safari in Africa.
Why are the animals called the Big 5?
The animals are called the "Big 5" because they are the most difficult to hunt on foot. They are extremely dangerous, and even the most talented hunters find it challenging to hunt them.