The term “Big Five” is used to describe Africa’s most prestigious group of large mammals including, the leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo, and of course, the beloved African lion. 

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Although it was initially coined by trophy hunters who boasted hunting the continent’s fiercest animals, today, most people use the term “Big Five” to simply describe the up-close viewing of these magnificent creatures in their natural habitats. 

One of the greatest joys of visiting Africa is to observe the world’s most fascinating large animals in their homes. 

In the wild, these creatures are untouched by humans. They spend their days looking for food, bathing in shallow pools of water, soaking in the sun, and playing with their young. 

Head to Africa, and you’ll get to experience all the sights you’ve only seen on TV, in real life. 

Here’s why we love Africa’s Big Five:

1. Buffaloes Stand Up For Each Other

Buffaloes are known to try and rescue herd-mates that have been caught by lions. In some instances, buffaloes have been seen attacking lions after they’ve killed one of their members. 

2. Leopards Hide Their Food in Trees

Leopards know they aren’t the biggest predators in the forest; lions, hyenas, and other hungry large mammals are lurking right around the corner. Because of this, leopards hide their kill in trees where many other large predators can’t find it. 

Not only are leopards powerful tree-climbers, but they’re also excellent swimmers. They’ll head down to the lake to grab fish and crabs. 

3. African Elephants Send Messages Over Long-Distances

All animals have ways of communicating with each other, and elephants are no different. African elephants are especially great at communicating with others because they can send low-frequency messages to each other that humans can’t hear!

4. Rhinos Don’t Have Great Vision

Rhinos are fascinating creatures. They’re massive mammals that look gentle from afar but can get violent if attacked. 

Despite being such huge animals, rhinos have tiny eyes with barely any vision. Their vision is so poor that they often mistake rocks and trees for prey. 

5. The Color of a Lion’s Mane isn’t Static

You’ve seen lions with light-colored manes and lions with darker manes, but did you know that a dark mane lion may have a lighter mane a few years later?

The color of a lion’s mane changes; the healthier they are, the darker the mane will be. Lions with dark manes are much stronger than those with light-colored manes. 

These are just a handful of many amazing facts about these wonderful animals. 

If you want to see these creatures up close, head down to Africa.