The Big 5

Kenya has been drawing tourists from all over the world with its endless adventures and rich natural beauty. The popularity of safaris is ever increasing because of the thrill it provides from seeing animals up close in their own habitats. Kenya’s rich biodiversity makes it unique, and the kind of flora and fauna that one can see here is second to none – from big animals, to small animals, insects, birds, flowering plants, trees, and so much more!

For many visitors, the greatest draws of visiting Kenya are climbing Mount Kenya and checking out the Big 5 in this blessed country.

THE BIG FIVE

 “The Big Five” sounds like a board game, but its origins came from big-game hunters who came to the African Savannah and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. They include lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant.

 Today, The Big Five refer to the big 5 animals that roam and rule the wild plains of Africa, and are only worth tracking down for their majestic presence.

The members of the Big Five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved, rather than their size.

Subsequently the term was adopted by safari tour operators for marketing purposes. The term is used in most tourist and wildlife guides that discuss African wildlife safaris.

Fortunately, today, thanks to decades of worthwhile efforts in the conservation and preservation of the wildlife, the Big Five safaris no longer refers to hunting safaris. Instead, it now provides travelers all over the globe with the priceless opportunity to observe the magnificent creatures frolicking in their own habitat.

A number of the locations in which these animals may be seen within Kenya include; Amboseli, Tsavo National Park, Mount Kenya, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Masai Mara National Reserve and Nairobi National Park. Here is a look of them:

1. ELEPHANT

This is the largest land animal in the world, and you’ll definitely see herds of these gentle giants on safari. Both male and female elephants have tusks, and, with few known predators outside of humans, however, can be very dangerous and have been known to charge at vehicles, humans and other animals when they feel threatened.

The adult males, bull elephants, are usually solitary creatures while females are generally found in groups led by a matriarch surrounded by younger females and their offspring. Elephants live an average of 60-70 years. Also, they’ve been known to eat up to 300 pounds of food in a single day!

There are actually 2 different species of the African elephant: the savannah elephant and the forest elephant, both of which are fiercely poached.

The forest elephant is usually smaller with rounded ears as well as tusks that grow downwards. These animals are herbivores, and because of that they spend most of their time eating plants including fruits, tree barks plus leaves.

Highly social animals, they are known to be able to communicate with others across long distances at a low frequency which cannot be heard by humans.

Also, did you know that many plant species have seeds that depend on being passed through the elephant’s digestive tract before they can germinate?

• LION

The lion is often called the “king of the jungle” because it is the fiercest and largest predator on land. The Male Lions are usually identified by a mane and don’t normally hunt. On the other hand the females in the pack do the hunting through following their prey until they’re close enough to get and put it down. Lion’s natural prey includes zebras, impalas, giraffes and other herbivores especially the wildebeest.

Although they have been known to attack humans, lions are generally calm animals that do not usually seem threatened by close proximity of people.

The African lion is also thought to be the most social of all the big cats. They can be found roaming around together in groups called ‘prides’. With an average lifespan of up to 15 years old, you can generally tell how old a lion is by looking at its mane – the darker it is, the older he or she is.

You can usually spot lions hanging around in open plains, where their ‘victims’ often congregate thanks to plenty of grazing and permanent water sources in these areas.

• LEOPARD

The leopard is a significantly patterned large cat which hunts during the night and normally sleeps throughout the day. Leopards are solitary and nocturnal creatures, and they typically lounge in the shade of trees and caves during the day. Because of this, these species tend to be more elusive and less seen out of the big five animals during the game drive.

They usually keep their kill high in the trees branches to prevent scavengers from taking their prey. These have also got a preference for the rocky landscapes and the dense bush plus the riverine forests.

These are also good climbers and their spotted coat provides a perfect camouflage which comes in handy when they go for hunting. They are stealthy hunters once they catch their prey, they will then safe guard it by taking it up in the tree in order to prevent many other animals like the lions or hyenas from stealing it.

The best time to find them is very early in the morning or at night. During the day you need to look carefully for these animals who usually can be found partially camouflaged in the undergrowth or behind a tree.

• BUFFALO

Buffaloes are known to be the most dangerous animals. Buffalos are very protective and territorial and when threatened they are known to charge with astonishing speed. They are extremely loyal to its herd and would often try to rescue another member if they are caught by the attacking predator and they have been proven to kill everything that comes in close to them. Given that their vision is pretty bad, buffaloes have an excellent sense of hearing.

Something that you may not already know about them is that they have an excellent memory and known to ambush hunters that have wounded or injured them – even years after the incident.

• RHINO

This is one of the most hunted animals and most endangered out of the big five animals. They are of two types; black and white rhino.

The difference between the black and white Rhino is the double thorns on the black Rhino. They have got a front horn which is located just above their nose and is also considered the prominent one. This horn is also the main reason as to why this species is fiercely poached and it’s thought to have potent medicinal use.

 With the exception of females and their offspring, the Black Rhinos are actually solitary creatures – preferring to live alone. They feed at night as well as during dawn and dusk. Their sustenance mainly comes from leaves and fruits found in trees and bushes.

Life in the wild is unpredictable, and sometimes Mother Nature does not cater to meet our expectations. Therefore, not everyone will have the opportunity to spot The Big 5 animals, as they are also living their natural lives and are not always readily available for viewing. Choosing a Big Five safari in Kenya therefore looks to offer you the best and highest chance of seeing these magnificent animals, however once you enter the park you become part of their world and will need to respect the rhythm and space that is theirs.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains awakened.”– Anatole France