East Africa is home to an amazing array of wildlife. For safari enthusiasts, the region is a great place to see lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes, gorillas, hippos, crocodiles, rhinos etc, The big five are referred to as the most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. The term big five was subsequently adopted by tour operators for marketing purposes. The big five are among the most dangerous yet most popular species for big-game hunters to hunt. The following are different countries where all the members of the big five can be found; Zambia, Botswana, Uganda, Namibia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Malawi. The big five animals include; African Lion, African Elephant, Cape buffalo, Rhinoceros.
DETAILS ABOUT BIG FIVE ANIMALS
- AFRICAN (LOXODONTA AFRICANA)
This is a very large herbivore having thick almost hairless skin along, flexible trunk,upper incisors forming long curved tusks of ivory and large, fan-shaped ears. The two district species of African elephants are African forest elephant [Loxodontacyclotis] and the African bush elephant [Loxodonta African] .
- BLACK (DICEROS BICORNIS)
This is a large, thick-skinned herbivore having one or two upright horns on the nasal bridge. Among big five game hunters, the black rhinoceros is preferred although it is now critically endangered.
- CAPE OR AFRICAN BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER)
A cape buffalo is a long horned bovid. Buffalo are sometimes reported to kill more hunters in Africa than any other animal. Never the less a similar claim is also made of hippos and crocodiles. The above statements are not only from hunters but the local people as well. Cape buffalo is considered to the most dangerous. You can see buffaloes on a safari in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and more.
- AFRICAN LION (PANTHERA)
African lion is a large carnivorous feline of African and Northwest India having a short , tawny coat , a tufted tail and in the male, a heavy mane around the neck and shoulders . A lion is most likely to attack without provocation and is considered to be the best of the big five. Lions like in the savannah where tall grasses , shrubs and bushes obscure them and provide cover in order to camouflage. Hunting lions is challenging because of the habitat and temperature . Lions are unpredictable and may charge when sufficiently annoyed or confronted by danger. Lions are hunted by the three methods ; baiting , stalking and hounding. The lion has thin skin and does not require the use of a big –bore rifle.
- AFRICAN (PANTHERA PARDUS)
The leopard is a large carnivorous feline having either tawny fur with dark rosette- like markings or block fur. Among all the big five, leopard is most difficult to acquire its hunting licences. The leopard is solitary by nature and is most active between sunset and sunrise although it may hunt during day in some areas. The nocturnal and secretive nature of a leopard make it more difficult to hunt. They live in savannah grassland, bush land and forested areas in Africa. The following methods are used while hunting the African leopard ; baiting, hounding , and stalking . The male leopard is less than half the size of a male lion. The leopard is the smallest of the big cats , and rarely exceeds 200lb (91kg)
