The "Big 5" refers to the five most difficult animals for big game hunters to hunt on foot in Africa - the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, and African elephant. These animals were especially challenging to hunt due to their size, strength, and ferocity when threatened. The term was coined by big game hunters to refer to these five animals, not other common African savanna species like the hippo, zebra, or giraffe.

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. 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 foreststo 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
Out of
Africa
Safari at
Kruger
National
Park

3. In search
of the
BIG5