1. WHAT ARE THE BIG 5?
The “Big 5” refers to the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo and African elephant. Why not the hippo, zebra, hyena, or giraffe you may
ask? How about the cheetah—that would be an animal you would probably like to see as much as a buffalo. Well, the term “Big 5” was actually
coined by big game hunters. It refers to the difficulty in bagging these large animals, mostly due to their ferocity when cornered and shot at.
Lion
 Large, robust cat, with a long heavy
muzzle
 Male develops mane beginning in third
year
 Length: 8 to 11 feet
 Height: 3 feet 8 inches to 4 feet
 Weight: 268 to 528 lbs.
 Habitat: Grasslands and savannas,
woodlands, and dense bush
 Breeding: Year round; 1 to 4 cubs; 3.5
months’ gestation
 Prides include up to 30 or 40 lions
 Females are lifelong residents of their
mothers’ territories
 Adolescent males roamas nomads until
they mature
Leopard
 Large, spotted cat, with short
powerful limbs, heavy torso, thick
neck, and long tail
 Short sleek coat tawny yellow to
reddish brown
 Length: 3 feet 4 inches to 4 feet 2
inches
 Tail: 27 to 32 inches
 Height: 23 to 28 inches
 Weight 62 to 143 pounds
 Habitat: Everytype exceptinterior of
large deserts
 Breeding: 1 to 4 cubs born year round
 Solitary and territorialbut sometimes
shares huntingranges
 Eats whatever formof animal protein
is available
Rhino
 Rhinocerosesare among the largest of
the herbivores
 Barrel-shaped bodies, thicklegs, and
three-toed feet
 Very long head, with wide square
mouth; massive hump at the top of
neck
 Horns on both sexes
 Slate-gray to yellow-brown
 Length: 11 feet 4 inches to 13 feet 4
inches
 Height: 5 feet 4 inches to 6 feet 2
inches
 Weight: 3,740 to 5,060 pounds
 Habitat: Savannaswith shade trees,
water holes, and mud wallows
 Breeding: 1 calf born in March or April
 Nearly pure grazer
 Form peer groups; males defend
territories

2. Out of
Safari at
Kruger
National
Park
Cape Buffalo
 Massive animalwith short neck,
ox-like barrelshape, and short
legs
 Horns on both sexes and flaring
to the side
 Length: 8 feet to 11 feet 14
inches
 Height: 4 feet 8 inches to 5 feet
4 inches
 Weight: 1,100 to 1,540 pounds
 Habitat: Savanna, near water
 Breeding: Year round in some
areas; seasonalin others; 1 calf
after 11 months’ gestation
 Sociable and stay in herds
 Bulls past their prime associate
in bachelor groups or alone
African Elephant
 Largestland mammal
 Length: 22 feet 8 inches to 25 feet
(includes outstretched trunk)
 Weight: 6,600 to 11,000lbs.
 Tusks diverge and curve forward
 Huge ears
 Habitat: Rain forests to deserts,
swamps, and seashores
 Breeding: 1 calf born after gestation
of 22 months
 Cohesive herd of 9 to 11 females and
calves
 Males leave at 12 years and wander
alone or live with other males
In search
of the
BIG5