The Big Five

The "Big Five game" was a phrase coined by white settler hunters in colonial Africa to refer to the five animals that were most difficult to hunt on foot. These animals consist of the Lion, the African Elephant, the Cape Buffalo, leopard, and the rhinoceros. The term does not refer to size as one may think, but rather to the difficulty and danger involved in hunting them. The term is still used in most tourist and wildlife guides that discuss African Safaris. Countries where all the "Big Five" can be found include Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, Congo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Here is a little more about each animal:

The Lion

Although all of the "Big Five" may be seen in the Masai Mara National Reserve, it probably is most famous for its lions. The males have a sprawling royal mane, earning them the title "King of the Jungle," while the females have lean and muscular physiques. Lions are known most for their ferocity, but most times lions are actually very lazy. No fault of their own though, the African sun can be quite unforgiving. Most days lions can be found resting under the shade of the Acacia trees of the African savannas, solitary or in prides. They prowl the landscape looking for meals in the evenings or in the early mornings, when it is cooler.

Lions don't normally attack human beings (although recently lion attacks on humans have been on the rise), but if provoked they can prove to be deadly. An example is the Man Eaters of Tsavo. Lions also defend their prides fiercely from intruders, who may include lions from other prides.

The African Elephant

Elephants are the larges land mammals, and the African Elephant is the larger of the two species of elephant, the other being the Asian Elephant. An healthy adult elephant has no natural predators, though lions may take weak ones and calves.

Apart from their size, African elephants are known for (and usually hunted or poached for) their ivory tusks, which occur in both the males and the females. Despite their popularity in zoos, and their depiction in popular culture as the "gentle giant," elephant's are among the worlds most dangerous animals. They can experience bouts of rage, and engage in actions that have been interpreted as vindictive. They can crush and kill any other land mammal, including the rhinoceros. In both Africa and Asia, elephants are regularly reported to attack human villages, causing destruction and often killing people.

The Cape Buffalo

The Cape buffalo is a robust species. It can be identified by the unique horns that the males of this species have. The horns have a large fused base that sits like a cap protecting its lowly positioned head. The horns then protrude sideways, curving circularly, downwards, then upwards. the tips of the horns of a large bull are typically more than a meter apart.

Cape buffalo are numerous in the African savannas and usually graze in large herds. It is a widely sought after animal among trophy hunters, who may pay in excess of ten thousand US dollars for the opportunity to hunt one.

Apart from being part of the big five, the Cape Buffalo is also known by the monikers "Black Death" and "Widowmaker" in Africa. This is because even though they possess a placid, cow-like appearance, some say that the Cape buffalo is responsible for more human deaths per year in Africa than any other large animal. A buffalo that is wounded will circle around and begin to stalk the hunter, waiting for an opportunity to charge the hunter and gore him with its sharp horns.

Leopard

Leopards are the silent stalkers of the night. The most elusive of the big five, seeing one is a rarity. Each leopard lives alone and mostly in woody areas, making the task of tracking one down an onerous one. One leopard will not traverse over to another leopards territory, and their territories can be up to 30km squared. Leopards are known for their tree climbing ability and are often found resting their or having dragged their prey to tree branches. They are also quite powerful swimmers.

Largely nocturnal, leopards do their hunting between sunset and sunrise. They hunt by stealth, trying to come within five yards of the prey before pouncing. They are incredibly strong, and may drag their prey for miles, then up a tree to keep it out of reach of scavengers. They feed on a varied diet, from dung beetles to large impala.

Rhinoceros

Two species of rhinoceros exist in Africa, know by the names white rhino and black rhino. However, they are not easily distinguishable by color, as both species have a gray color to their skin. Both species are endangered, however the white rhinoceros far outnumber the black ones. Rhinos are often poached for their horns which are valuable in the black market. This is one of the main causes of their reduced numbers.

White rhinos are grazers and generally peaceful creatures. They are the larger of the two and can normally be spotted in small herds grazing. Black rhinos, on the other hand, are more solitary creatures. They eat plants and bushes rather than graze on grass. They are also far more aggressive. Despite their considerable weight and ungainly appearance, they are capable of running up to 30 mph and turn very quickly. When provoked, they usually charge first. Their poor eyesight is not a hindrance as they have a keen sense of smell and hearing.

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