The Big Five

As we planned the safari part of this trip, I kept reading about "The Big Five".

I knew it was 5 animals but I wasn't sure which ones they were.

So my latest research (it's an ongoing project now!) in our Fodor's Complete African Safari Planner

says this:  "The Big Five was originally a hunting term referring to those animals that posed the greatest risk to hunters on foot - Cape buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino. "

Here are some random facts:

- Swahili word for lion is "simba" - name that movie!

- estimated 23,000 found in sub-Sahara Africa

- females do most of the hunting

- may sleep for 18 hours a day

- females and cubs stay together in a pride

- today's population of elephants is about 600,000

- Savannah elephants (the ones we hope to see) can be 13 feet tall and weigh 7 tons

- calves are raised and protected by the entire herd

- baby elephants can sunburn easily and usually stay in their mother's shadow to keep cool

- some consider the Cape buffalo to be the most dangerous of the Big Five

 because of its unpredictability and speed

- heftier and more powerful than any other buffalo

- few predators other than human hunters

- may reach 1800 pounds

- old bulls spend much of their time in mud wallows

- black and white rhinos both have poor eyesight

- vegetarians

- black rhino tends to be solitary

- white rhino travels with a 'crash' or herd

- can gallop up to 30 mph when attacking

- can be 5 feet tall and weigh 1.5 - 2 tons

- hardest animal to spot on safari is the leopard

- spots are called rosettes and are round in East Africa but square in South Africa

- often lose their kill to lions or hyenas

- will drag the kill up into trees to eat in peace and quiet
- will drink water but can get sufficient water from the blood of animals they kill
- young weigh 400 - 600 grams when they are born (think a pound of butter!)

- mothers keep young hidden for 2 - 5 months


I'm excited to see all of these in their natural habitat!

Did you know there is also a group of animals called the Little 5?!!

- antlion

- leopard tortoise

- rhinoceros beetle

- buffalo weaver

- elephant shrew

Of course there will be lots and lots of other animals to observe too.

I don't think a zoo will ever have quite the same appeal after this.

(Pictures from www.kenyatravelideas.com)