August 26, 2023 | Bujo Safaris
The phrase big 5 animals originated way back in the early 1990s when trophy hunting was an activity of leisure. The big game hunters coined the name big five and it was used to refer to the difficulty in hunting and getting a catch of these land animals. The big 5 animals are;
The lion is a large cat belonging to the Panthera family, originating in Africa and India. The lion has a muscular, broad-chested body, rounded head, round ears, and a well-built hairy tuft at the end of its tail. The lion is sexually dimorphic; adult males are larger than females and have a prominent mane.
Leopards are also species of the genus Panthera. They have pale yellowish to dark golden fur on their bodies, well designed with dark spots grouped in rosettes. They have slender and muscular bodies approximately 92 to 184 centimeters in length, 66 up to 100-centimeter-long tails, and shoulder heights of up to about 65 centimeters.
These are also known as the large sub-Saharan African bovines. There are only five valid species that are present today. The female buffaloes have W-shaped horns whereas males have U-shaped horns. They always move in large herds of about 200 to 300.
Elephants are the largest existing animals on land and have 3 living species today, that is to say, the African Bush elephant, the Asian elephant, and the African forest elephant. Fully grown adults may weigh up to 6 tons. They are characterized by large ears, a thick greyish skin, their trunks have fascinating skills especially the skills of sensing water bodies far away and they are also used as limbs to catch their food off tree branches - more like human hands in purpose. Elephants are known to communicate through vibrations.
Rhinos are also large animals that can be identified by a horn protruding from their face. They are some of the members of the five existing species of odd-toed animals on Earth. Rhinos belong to the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of the five existing species are native to Africa. They can be found in Akagera National Park in Rwanda.
During your Africa safari, you will wonder why Elephants, Rhinos, Buffaloes, Lions, and Leopards are called the Big Five. Way back in the 1990s, during the colonialists, hunting down wild animals used to be a leisure activity. In most African Traditions, raising a man required hunting skills as a sign of strength and ability to defend a family. Not only was it a leisure activity, but animals were also hunted down to acquire ivory, horns, and skins for better trade during colonial times. These animal products were used to make drums, buttons, clothes, shoes, and many others. Hunters would find it difficult to hunt down Rhinos, elephants, lions, buffaloes, and leopards because of how ferocious they would become whenever they were injured thus the term “THE BIG FIVE”
Akagera National Park is located in the eastern province of Rwanda on the border of Rwanda and Tanzania. The National Park covers an area of approximately 1,122 square kilometers. Akagera National Park was established in 1934 as an area for the conservation of endangered wild animals in the country and subsequently, tourism activities started taking shape. The Park is covered by woodlands, swamps, savanna vegetation, and lowland mountains characterized by a variety of terrain in the national park which is home to various species of wildlife such as jackals, zebras, and the big five animals.
The Big Five can be encountered in the national park on game drives that are usually conducted early in the morning at dawn or evening dusk. At this time, most of these animals are outside on their hunts, trying to find something for their stomachs. Game drives in Akagera National Park are normally conducted in 4-wheel-drive cars by our professional guides, who share intensive knowledge about the Big Five animals.
Big Five safaris are the most incredible Rwanda safaris for travelers on an African safari that are done throughout the year. However, the best time to encounter these magnificent creatures is during the dry season which runs from June to September and December to March when the bushes are short and clear roads make access to these creatures.
Game drives: Akagera National Park is characterized by savannah vegetation that supports the existence of a variety of wildlife species such as lions, zebras, buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, antelopes, monkeys and bird species such as shoebill, papyrus Gonolek, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Squacco Herons, African Open bill stock, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter, Long-toed and Water Thick-knee, fish eagles, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Augur Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, and Pied Crow: black-headed and Vieillot’s Black Weavers, Grey-backed Fiscals, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Caruthers’s Cisticola among others that you will spot during your African game drive that lasts for about 2 to 3 hours.
Boat Cruise: Take a boat cruise on Lake Ihema for about 2 to 3 hours. This will allow you to spot a variety of wildlife species, such as Schools of Hippos, buffaloes, birds, and crocodiles. Boat cruise safaris usually start in the Afternoon, when animals are quenching their thirst under the hot sun, and sometimes in the morning. The boat cruise experience creates unforgettable moments and visitors leave the country overjoyed.
Bird Watching: Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s popular birding destination close to Lake Ihema with a variety of birds along the shores such as shoebill, papyrus Gonolek, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Squacco Herons, African Open bill stock, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter, Long-toed and Water Thick-knee, fish eagles, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Augur Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, and Pied Crow: black-headed and Vieillot’s Black Weavers, Grey-backed Fiscals, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Caruthers’s Cisticola among others.
Sports fishing is also done on Lake Ihema, where species such as the Nile perch and tilapia are caught. This amazing activity requires booking with a park.
Nature walks: The park rangers will guide you on a guided nature walk through the various tropical rainforests, which have many trekking trails that make it easy for visitors to connect with the forests and appreciate nature.
Are you planning a big 5 safari to Africa, The Bujo Safaris team is ready to tailor-make your itinerary and take you to these wonderful places with a variety of wild viewing opportunities. Some of the best safari destinations to see the Big Five animals are;
Masai Mara National Reserve: Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya’s popular safari destination and the home of the Big Five. The park is popular because of the wildebeest migration which attracts many tourists for this thrilling experience.
Serengeti National Park: The park is Tanzania’s popular safari destination, mostly because of the wildebeest migration, which usually happens in May and June after the rainy seasons. Serengeti National Park is also home to the Big Five animals for travelers on an African Big Five Safari.
Murchison Falls National Park: Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest savannah national park famous for the world’s strongest waterfalls known as “Murchison Falls”. The park is also home to the Big Five which can be tracked in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary an extension of Murchison Falls National Park.
Ngorongoro Crater: Ngorongoro Crater is Tanzania’s best national park, where you can encounter the magnificent Big Five animals and various other wildlife species.
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