Among the most outstanding attractions you find in Africa are the safaris, which could not be so attractive without the presence of their characteristic animals: The Big Five.

Who are the Big 5? These are: the lion, rhino, leopard, elephant and buffalo. They are the five most representative species of African fauna, but the name does not come because of their size, and they are not small either, but because of how dangerous they are and because they are the most requested for hunting.

Do not worry, we know that you are not going to do that and happily, over time, the African population and those who came from the rest of the countries realized their importance and the animals earned respect and are now a select group of mammals that generate an expression of nature that is worthwhile in an ideal environment of conservation and without further danger.

Since we know that you already have planned to travel to Africa, we present the main tips about the Big Five and where to find them, before describing each one in detail, we give you some preliminary tips to find them.

There are location boards that help you locate them, in fact the most effective way is to go with rangers instead of going on your own, the experience gained is worth it, you must also equip yourself with binoculars because sometimes you will not be able to get close for your own safety and there is an application called Latest Sightings where many users write down recommendations of places, we suggest you check it before you start the drive, because you could lose the connection.

In order to see the Big 5 you will need at least 3 days, in addition you will be able to find other peculiar animals.

The Kruger Park in South Africa is one of the places where you will have more possibilities of being successful, we recommend some resorts that have more knowledge for the average tourist: Kapama Game Reserve, Sabi Sabi Game Reserve or Singita Game Reserve.

In fact near the capital of South Africa, Johannesburg, you will find various places to see these powerful animals. Other reserves where you can stay are Madikwe Game Reserve or Manyeleti Game Reserve, or if you go to Cape Town, Gondwana Game reserve or Sanbona Game Reserve are the best options to start your adventure in that area.

The ‘King of the Jungle’, protagonist of countless films. Authoritarian and strong. Most of this species, which unfortunately has lost representatives over the years, are in sub-Saharan Africa, in the Okavango Delta, surely you have an assured appointment with the leader of the herd. In Namibia, Botswana or Tanzania there are usually several of them.

In Maasai Mara National Park you will find the largest concentration of lions in Africa, in Queen Elizabeth National Park you will meet tree-climbing lions, in the Okavango Delta you will find lions with swimming skills, in the Kalahari Desert you will find the lion of black mane habituated to the desert, and in the Tsavo National Park in Kenya the lion without a mane. There is even a white or albino lion in some reserves such as Sanbona and Timbavati (South Africa)

If you want advice to find lions, pay attention to the following: it is best to get up early because these cats only hunt at night, before sunrise or after sunset. In summer the options to see them are a little more complicated but not impossible.

This large pachyderm (thick skin) is another member of the Big Five, it is in fact the largest and heaviest animal in the whole world (on land).

If you are looking to see elephants, we recommend the Chobe National Park and the Moremi Game Reserve, can’t go wrong with these places, there is the largest concentration of elephants in Africa, with 120 thousand specimens.

You can also find them in the Kruger National Park, we suggest the Kapama Game Reserve or Addo Elephant park near Port Elizabeth

There are differences between the African elephant and the Asian elephant, the African elephants are bigger and always with tusks, within Africa you will find two species: the elephant of the savanna and the elephant of the forest.

Tips to find elephants, they are very sociable and also their large size gives them away, they are very quiet, they like water very much, they move in large groups so get your camera ready and get the best panoramic view.

Possibly the most dangerous of the five, the African buffalo is also known as the Cape buffalo because of the origin of its appearance, although now you can find it in forests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Strong, powerful and challenging due to the sharp horns.

It can measure up to 3 and a half meters and weigh up to 1000 kilos. Despite their size, African buffaloes can reach a speed of 57 kilometers per hour.

Like elephants, the tips for finding buffalo are not so elaborate, it is a large species and they usually walk in herds, they are also close to the mud or playing in the mud, especially in summer.

Similar to ancient dinosaurs, in Africa you will find two of the five species, the white rhino and the black rhino, the rest in Asia. unfortunately they are in danger of extinction with very few of them, especially the black one with about 5000 specimens.

The black rhinoceros is smaller than the white one, despite this it weighs about 1500 kilos and is 1.5 meters tall, taller than the hippopotamus. You can find them in Angola or Namibia, in the western part of South Africa, and also in the plains of Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and part of South Africa.

The white rhino is usually larger and has a more square trunk than the black rhino, they usually haunt the savannas of Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

It must be clear that rhinos, being a species with few specimens, finding them will be more complicated, however, do not be discouraged because we are going to give you more advice that you will surely apply responsibly. It is easier to find the white rhino than the black one because of the clear difference in each species, before we gave you characteristics to distinguish them.

Rhinos drink a lot of water, about 75 liters per day, so being close to sources is ideal to find them, also in summer they are thirstier so it is the best time, also pay attention to see them among the bushes because they are usually there to hide.

The loneliest of the five although a perfect hunter. It is larger than the Asian leopard. Throughout Africa you can find species of different colors, reddish brown, yellow or white with black spots and golden or yellow eye color.

It measures about two meters, and can weigh up to 90 kilos, despite this it reaches a speed of 63 kilometers per hour with an aggressiveness superior to its prey.

They are located in the savannah of Kenya and Tanzania or the forests of the Congo and Gabon, or also in the mountains of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

We also give you advice to find African leopards, just like lions are felines, so their hunting time is when the sun does not shine, look high up in the trees because there they usually rest or even hide, if you find one climbing you will realize its incredible agility.

If you want to go on a safari to meet one of these beautiful animals, do not hesitate to contact us to organize your trip in the most personalized way possible and make sure you meet the Big 5. Send us a WhatsApp at +27767687708 or an email to [email protected] and we will reply to you shortly.

These are the 6 least crowded national parks for an African safari that promise a truly different experience.

Africa has a large number of national parks where you can go on safaris, with different scenarios, ecosystems, and very varied fauna. You can start with the most popular safaris in Africa, here we tell you more: The 6 most popular national parks to make a safari in Africa. Or you can also visit the national parks with less popularity, but that does not mean that they are less wonderful, only that they are not as famous.

Many of these parks have a great advantage since they do not usually have the same level of public attendance as other parks such as the Maasai Mara or the Kruger National Park, so your walk in this area can feel more personalized and less touristy.

If you are interested in getting to know them, here are 5 lesser-known national parks in Africa, they will give you a different experience:

This is not a safari to see wild animals in large numbers, but to see them in a different and unusual setting: the Okavango Delta. This is located in Botswana, southern Africa. This place has lagoons, channels, islands, and the Okavango river, which does not end at sea, but reaches the sands of the Kalahari desert, an unusual phenomenon of nature.

This route can only be done in a mokoro, which is a kind of canoes or canoes typical of the place. Here you can also see crocodiles, elephants, hippos, antelopes, zebras and lions, but not of any kind; They are bigger and stronger lions, in addition to being the only ones of their kind that have great swimming abilities since they have had to adapt to the characteristics of this flooded and muddy landscape.

The best season to do this safari is from May to November.

In Uganda, you will not only find safaris to see gorillas but here you can also meet the Big 5, especially their lions, which are the only ones that can climb trees to rest during the hottest hours.

Its landscape is very varied since it has forest, savanna, swamps, wetlands, and even some areas with volcanic characteristics.

Another of its attractions is to take a boat tour of the Kazinga Canal and see much of its 95 species of mammals and 600 species of birds.

Although any time is good to visit this park, its terrain is more accessible during the dry season, from December to February or from June to September.

The best safari in Namibia is the one in the Etosha National Park, one of the most unique, since it is a very desert area, but recognized for its large number of “waterholes” or pools of water, where animals usually gather to drink water. And they can be seen in all their splendor, especially rhinos and other types of mammals, large predators, and a great diversity of birds, can you imagine this scene?

Any season of the year is ideal to visit Etosha, however, the best time to see the animals more easily, is in the dry season, between April and October, where animals accumulate in pools of water.

One of the best places for a safari in Zimbabwe is undoubtedly the Hwange National Park, the largest wildlife reserve and protection area in the place.

It has a large population of elephants, antelopes, hyenas, and it is also possible to see lions and other large predators. On the other hand, not being one of the most popular national parks in Africa, one of the advantages is that they are not as crowded and you can feel it almost like a private trip.

Another attraction of the Hwange is that it has some very interesting attractions very close, such as Victoria Falls and the stone city of Great Zimbabwe.

The best time to visit Hwange is between May and October, where the amount of vegetation decreases and it is easier to better see the animals that gather around water holes. Many of these are artificially filled.

If you are looking for a new and interesting destination for safaris, then consider visiting the Zakouma National Park in the Salamat region in south-eastern Chad.

This is considered the last intact ecosystem in the Central African Savannah and one of the best trips for 2020 according to National Geographic.

It is an area that was under siege for a long time, due to poaching. Now, however, with the help of a non-profit organization: African Parks, it has managed to regain its potential and the survival of many species, such as that of elephants and giraffes.

The most attractive thing of this reserve is the natural spectacles that its fauna performs, such as seeing millions of quela birds taking flight at dawn or seeing elephants walking in large herds.

Although this is one of the least known safaris in Africa, it is attractive for being a less-traveled route and almost unexplored by travelers.

Selous was named after Frederick Courteney Selous, a famous hunter and conservationist. This national park has an area of more than 50 thousand square kilometers, making it one of the largest conservation areas in the world, plus here is a third of all the wildlife that exists in Tanzania.

In Selous you can navigate the Rufiji River, the longest in Tanzania, and observe its wide variety of wild species, such as: crocodiles, hippos and elephants bathing in the river. You can also continue the safari in 4×4 to go in search of lions, cheetahs, muzzle hunters, giraffes, buffalo wildebeests, impalas and much more. Without a doubt, one of the most complete safaris.

Even though the number of visitors has grown in recent years, Selous is still one of the least congested safaris, a comparison of the safaris found in northern Tanzania, so you can enjoy it with ease.

Would you like to visit these African safaris? Then contact us to organize your trip in the most personalized way possible. Send us a WhatsApp to +27767687708 or an email to [email protected] and we will reply to you shortly.

If you dream of meeting the big five of the African jungle: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino, these are the safaris that you cannot miss out.

The Word Safari comes from the Arabic word Safara which was later adopted by the Swahili language and became Safari which means, Travel, Excursion, etc. Africa is the Eden of the most fascinating animals in the wild. Only here you will be able to observe, in their natural habitat, the “big five” or Big 5: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros; in addition to other fascinating species, such as giraffes, antelopes, jackals, crocodiles, zebras, impalas, wildebeest, wild boar, hyenas, wild dogs, and much more.

To be able to be very close to them, it is necessary to make a safari through the different national parks of Africa, either by van, helicopter, or even by hot air balloon. Even if you have the option of visiting some national parks in your own car, the experience of making a “game drive” is incomparable, since you will have great experts in wildlife (rangers and trackers) accompanying you on the route and guiding you so that you get to see and learn everything about the Big 5.

Each national park has a particular ecosystem and very interesting characteristics, depending on its location. Many of them stand out for the amount of population of a specific species, such as the Maasai Mara that has the largest population of lions or the Chobe National Park that stands out for its elephant population.

You should also consider that doing a safari requires strict security measures, so it is important to inform yourself enough to know where and with whom to do it. Our years of experience allow us to recommend the best routes in the African jungle.

Where to go on a safari in Africa?

Here we detail the 6 most famous and recognized national parks for a safari in Africa.

This safari takes place in Kenya, in the Maasai Mara National Park, named after the most famous tribe in Africa, the Maasai, and for the river that crosses this area, the Mara River. This is the most representative safari in Africa, with a great diversity of species, where you will also find “the big five”: lion, buffalo, rhino, elephant and leopard.

If your dream is to meet the king of the jungle face to face, this is the perfect place, since approximately 3,600 lions live here. In fact, the cartoonists from the 1994 blockbuster movie “The Lion King” traveled to Kenya, specifically the Masai Mara, to inspire their illustrations, since much of this place is an African savanna.

On the other hand, one of the most impressive attractions of this safari is to see the Great Migration, a time when zebras, wildebeests, and antelopes desperately cross the Mara River. The stampede produces an impressive sound and the sight of these animals jumping over the precipices and crossing the river, is privileged.

Here you can find a wide variety of lodges that offer safaris in a van on foot or even in a hot air balloon.

The best season to do the Masai Mara safari is between July and October, since that is when migration occurs.

In the Serengeti National Park, in northern Tanzania, you can go on this safari, one of the most recommended in Africa. It is a great plain, that’s why it is known as “the endless plain”. Although it seems deserted at first glance, it is totally full of life.

Like the Maasai Mara, it has a complete diversity of species, “the big five”, a large number of lions and, of course, you will also be able to see the wildebeest and zebra migration, found here before they start. his annual trip to the Maasai Mara.

One of the striking features of this place is its granite rock formations in the middle of the vegetation, called kopje, which become perfect places for lions to rest and observe their territory.

The ideal, in all safari, is to stay in the lodges that are inside the park, so you can rest listening to the sounds of the animals and when you wake up, watch the sunrise from the savanna, an unforgettable view.

Another attraction that you can visit in Tanzania is the Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, an old extinct volcano with a crater of more than 20km, and with lakes inside, which have been taken by African fauna.

This safari can be done in Botswana, southern Africa, where you can find the Chobe National Park and the Moremi Game Reserve. If you are looking to see elephants, this place has no loss, since here is the largest concentration of elephants in Africa, with 120 thousand of them.

Chobe elephants are migratory, they move for up to 200 km in the Chobe and Linyanti rivers during the dry season, to the depressions in the southeast of the park, in the rainy season.

You will start this tour navigating the Chobe River, heading towards Namibia. This route will be incredible because you will be able to observe the elephants approaching to drink water, you will also see hippos, antelopes, a great variety of birds, giraffes, lions, and the inevitable crocodiles.

The best season to see the elephants and other animals in Chobe Park is in the dry season, from May to October.

The Kruger National Park is located in the northwest of South Africa. It is the largest wildlife reserve in southern Africa and is known as the King of National Parks.

This is the park par excellence to be able to see “the big five” since in this safari you will be able to see them with less difficulty and ensure a good photo of some of these fantastic animals. It also has 801 different species of wild animals.

The Kruger Park has two different areas: the part that is open to the public, which is less expensive, where you can access with your own car and camp inside, but you will not be able to get away from the roads, making it more difficult to find “The big five”. On the other hand, there are the private areas, with a higher cost, where the routes have greater freedom of movement and it is easier to see leopards, rhinos, lions, elephants, and buffalo.

You can visit the Kruger Park throughout the year, but the autumn-winter season is ideal to see the animals at a greater distance, since the pastures are lower, in addition, the animals are concentrated in many rivers and permanent sources or lakes, to drink.

Going trekking to see gorillas is a type of tourism that you cannot miss if you travel to Africa. This is one of those unforgettable experiences, as you will be able to walk in the lush forest and come face to face with a mountain gorilla and watch them as they move about in their natural habitat.

These safaris can be done in places like the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park in Uganda and the Volcanoes Park in Rwanda. Both have their own characteristics and different types of gorilla families. For example, in Bwindi the vegetation is thicker, but it houses the largest population of mountain gorillas, and in the Parque de Los Volcanes the roads are less steep, less dense, and shorter, but the cost of entry permits is more expensive than in Uganda.

You can visit them all year round, but consider that the rainy months (March to May and October to November) make walking through the forest more difficult. And if you prefer a season with fewer visitors, you can take advantage of the months of February and September.

On the other hand, Uganda also has several national parks for safaris, such as Queen Elizabeth National Park that is known for tree-climbing lions, unique in the world and that can only be seen there (if we are lucky), but it also has an area in the north of the country where you can see the Big 5. Kidepo National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.

You can find more details in our article on Tips to see Gorillas in Africa.

The Ngorongoro Crater is located in Tanzania, and is an extinct volcano, at 2000 meters above sea level and with a crater with a diameter of 20 kilometers.

Almost all the African wild fauna managed to colonize this crater and now they inhabit this place, with the exception of the giraffe which is difficult to access through the slopes of the crater. Here the animals have everything they need, with a lake and wetlands that provide them with water and do not need to migrate.

In the Ngorongoro safari, the most valued species are rhinos, of which only 24 remain, as they have been attacked by poaching.

The most recommended is to travel in the low season, between May and June, since in high season it is very crowded and there are crowds of tourists.

Meet other national parks in our list of The 5 least known, but impressive African safaris

If you want to go on a safari in one of these national parks, do not hesitate to contact us to organize your trip in the most personalized way possible and make sure that you meet the Big 5. Send us a WhatsApp at +27767687708 or an email to [email protected] and we will reply to you shortly.

Ever dream of seeing gorillas up close? Get to know the African national parks where you can get close to them and observe them in their natural habitat.

One of the most iconic attractions of Africa is the gorilla trekking experience . Seeing them is without a doubt, a great privilege. Being an endangered species they have managed to survive thanks to the help of tourism and the amazing conservation work carried out in the national parks.

Currently there is a population of just over 1000 mountain gorillas. Considering that in 1981 there were only around 251 left in the world, we can see that the conservation work is paying off.

The two countries we highly recommend to see gorillas  are Uganda and Rwanda. Both countries have  national parks for mountain gorilla studies and  tourism. To get to a gorilla family you will have to go on a guided hike. The duration of the hike will depend on the proximity of the Gorilla family you are visiting .You will need to follow a set of basic rules and recommendations given to you by the ranger when observing the gorillas. This is to ensure that they are not unnecessarily disturbed and your safety is maintained.

Where to see The Gorillas in Africa?

In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park,  you will find 13 gorilla families accustomed to human visitation.

Here the walk is somewhat harder than in Rwanda, since the vegetation is thicker, but half the world’s population of mountain gorillas live here.  This park was  declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Uganda has many other activities to offer besides  the gorilla experience. We can arrange safaris, excursions to see the Chimpanzees or visit the Murchison Falls in the north of the country which is where the Nile River begins. Here  you will find incredible wildlife and  vegetation.

Uganda has many other activities to offer besides  the gorilla experience. We can arrange safaris, excursions to see the Chimpanzees or visit the Murchison Falls in the north of the country which is where the Nile River begins. Here  you will find incredible wildlife and  vegetation.

In the  Volcanoes National Park Rwanda you will find  10 different families of mountain gorillas, accustomed to human visitation. The largest silverback in the world lives in this park.

Permits to see gorillas in Rwanda are more expensive than in Uganda.  In Rwanda the cost per person per permit per day is USD 1,500 and in Uganda the cost is USD 700. The hikes in Rwanda are less steep, less dense and shorter than in Uganda. Also ,  as the vegetation is less dense you get better lighting for  photography.

We can also arrange other activities , such as an excursion to see the Golden Monkeys or a  visit  to the Dian Fossey Foundation and her grave.

Instructions to see the gorillas

The Gorilla visits in the national parks are done only once a day. The walks can last for a few hours, but once the Gorilla family is  found, you can only spend 1 hour with them. At the briefing session at each of the  national parks  the rangers will give you the necessary instructions. What to expect before you start:

•  You will be divided into groups of 8  or less and a gorilla family will be assigned to your group. You will then embark on a guided hike in search of your assigned gorilla family.
• It can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple of hours to find the Gorilla family assigned to your group. It is important to have a little patience to be able to enjoy this magical journey.
• Once the gorilla family is found , you will have a maximum  of 1 hour to be with them. Some basic rules, such as: keeping a safe distance,  not yelling,  not running, not imitating their movements, not using flash photography and of course not feeding them are required.
• The guides at each national park will give you more details and recommendations on how to act in different cases, during the expedition.
• Some recommendations for photography. Taking pictures of gorillas may not be such an easy task, due to distance and lighting.  We recommend you take good photographic equipment, such as a digital SLR camera that has a high ISO and a 24-70mm lens, a 70-200mm lens or a 200-400mm lens.
• Do not forget the spare chargers and batteries, as it can be a long time before you find  the gorillas.
• If you have a GoPro or similar make sure you have batteries to film the whole hour you are with the Gorillas, specially if you can mount the camera on your hat or your chest that way you can also take pictures with your camera, you will definitely capture some amazing moments.

Important information before your trip

• To visit Rwanda and Uganda, you must get a Visa. You can process the East African Visa online. The yellow fever vaccine is a requirement for the visa. It is also recommended to take Malaria pills.
• A very important note: If you have a cold or have any flu symptoms or something similar, you will not be able to visit the gorillas. This is to avoid putting the gorillas’ health at risk.
• What is the best season to visit mountain gorillas? You can visit them throughout the year, but consider that the rainy months (March to May and October to November) make the walk through the forest a little more difficult. And if you prefer a season with fewer visitors, you can take advantage of the months of February and September.
• It is important to note that to visit these parks, whether in Rwanda or Uganda, it is necessary to obtain a special permit, which you must do a minimum of 6 months in advance, as there are a limited number available for each day.
• For accommodation, Rwanda has the best luxury hotels, such as Bisate lodge or Gorilla’s nest by The One & Only or Kwitonda Lodge by Singita, these are however more expensive than the Uganda options. In Uganda we can recommend, Buhoma Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi lodge or Gorilla Forest camp.
• What to wear for the hike? We suggest wearing suitable clothing for a hike. The hikes are in a rainforest and long sleeves and long pants are a necessity . You should also have enough water and snacks with you on the hike. In general though the safari vehicles that do the transfers carry these in abundance. Check with your lodge before you leave.
• Make sure you bring good cameras and video equipment, since once you find the gorilla family, it would be a disaster to run out of battery or not be able to take the perfect photo!