Seeing the Big Five has come to be closely linked with going on safari in Africa. Have you ever pondered where to go and what that is all about? In the early days of game hunting, the phrase “Big Five” was coined.

The most prized trophies were lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos since they were the most dangerous to hunt. The Big Five are still arguably the most thrilling sight on a safari, even though the majority of tourists now bring cameras. The top locations in Africa to see the Big Five are listed here.

1. South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve

There is nowhere simpler to spot the Big Five than Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Although they are part of the same ecosystem and share open borders with Kruger, the animals in this group of jointly managed private reserves are generally more laid back. Additionally, guided excursions in open cars are allowed to go off-road, unlike in Kruger, which allows for amazing up-close observation. The leopard is Sabi Sands’ true star.

It’s the only place where this typically timid species has become so accustomed. The majority of visitors are rewarded to views of leopards going about their everyday lives: a male hunting or patrolling, a female nursing cubs, and perhaps even a mating pair in action.

The greatest time to explore Sabi Sands is during the dry winter months of May through September, although there is never a terrible time to go.
Accommodations: There are numerous lodges dispersed throughout the various Sabi Sand areas. All provide a comparable experience, which includes meals and activities. The level of decoration, service, and guiding is excellent. In Sabi Sands, camping and low-cost lodging are not available.

 

2. Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater provides amazing opportunities to observe animals. Although animals can enter and exit the crater, most of the fauna lives within since it is difficult to ascend the steep caldera walls. This includes a robust black rhino population. The crater is one of the few locations in East Africa where it is easier to locate these timid animals.

Although leopard sightings are sporadic and less frequent inside the crater than on the wooded rim, the other four Big Five members are also abundant. The good news is that most northern Tanzanian safari itineraries stop at the Seronera section of Serengeti National Park after Ngorongoro, where these secretive cats are very abundant.

The best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater is during the dry season, when the grass is shorter and animals are easier to see, but wildlife viewing is always superb in the crater. The wildebeest’s calving season runs from January to February, and April and May are the best times to avoid the throng.

Where to stay: A number of upscale hotels with excellent views of the crater floor are situated on the rim of the crater. Additionally, there is a camping on the rim, but be advised that it gets really chilly here at night. Visitors to the crater also stay at a number of lodges and motels in Karatu, the gateway town. The crater itself does not have any lodgings.

 

3. Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve

Although the Masai Mara is home to all five of the large Five, large cats are its most well-known feature. Because they are so prevalent, lions and cheetahs will be tripping you, and leopards are frequently sighted as well.

There are black rhinos as well, but your chances of seeing one are low unless you’re lucky enough to stay in the isolated Mara Triangle in the extreme west. Nonetheless, both black and white rhinos (but not elephants) can be found in Lake Nakuru National Park, a well-liked resting place on the way to the Masai Mara. Small family groups of white rhinos are frequently spotted grazing near the lake, particularly in the middle of the morning and late in the afternoon.

When to go to Masai Mara: All year long is a fantastic time to see wildlife. You should try to be here from late August to early October in order to witness the wildebeest migration.
Where to stay: There are plenty of lodging options both inside and outside the reserve. Every style and budget is accommodated. Additionally, there are a number of campgrounds.

 

4. South Africa’s Kruger National Park

For a Big Five safari, Kruger National Park is an excellent option, whether you’re traveling independently or with a guide. The diverse species in the park, which is the size of a small nation, reflects the vast range of environments it safeguards. It might be a fun endeavor to identify every species of antelope in Kruger.

In terms of the Big Five, southern Kruger is a good place to see lions, buffalo, and elephants. It’s also one of the finest sites to see white rhinos. If you have the time and a little bit of luck, you may also be able to see a leopard. To improve your chances of spotting this timid cat, who is most active at night, be out and about at dawn and dusk.

When to go: May through September are the ideal months to see wildlife in Kruger. Animals stay close to rivers and water sources during these arid winter months. The vegetation becomes quite dense during the rainy summer months, making it more challenging to identify creatures.
Places to stay: All around Kruger, there are simple, well-equipped rest facilities with huts and campsites. A number of the park’s private concessions provide a more upscale and exclusive option.

 

5. South Africa’s Madikwe Game Reserve

Perhaps the best African safari site for travelers hoping to see the majority of the Big Five in a malaria-free setting is Madikwe. In North West province, approximately four to five hours’ drive from Johannesburg, this remarkable park, which was created in 1991 from once unproductive ranchland, preserves a 750km²/290mi² expanse of semi-arid savannah.

It was populated with 8,000 individual creatures from 28 species, including all five of the Big Five, shortly after it was established. Over the course of a few days in Madikwe today, you have a good chance of seeing buffalo and leopard, as well as lions, elephants, and white rhinos. In addition to cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and a variety of antelope, Madikwe is renowned for being one of the greatest locations to search for the endangered African wild dog. Madikwe is unique in that it is a state-owned land that operates more like a private reserve because self-drive safaris and day trips are not permitted.

When to visit Madikwe: Since the knowledgeable guides are skilled at spotting wildlife throughout the year, there is never a bad time to go. However, the best time to see wildlife is during the dry winter months of May through September, when animals like to congregate around permanent water sources.
Where to stay: There are a number of small, upscale lodges in Madikwe that provide all-inclusive packages that include guided game drives in open 4x4s. There are no camping areas or inexpensive lodging options available.

6. Botswana’s Okavango Delta

One of Africa’s most famous wildlife sites is the Okavango. All five of the Big Five can be found in the Delta, although rhinos (black and white) can be difficult to locate. The best opportunity is at Moremi Game Reserve, or you can add a visit to Khama Rhino Sanctuary, which is a half-day drive away. In addition to seeing some big cats, the marshes are home to buffalo and elephants.

A game drive is the most effective way to see common safari species, such as the Big Five. However, you should schedule time for a guided walk and for mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) channel exploration in the Delta. Long after your journey is over, you will remember the thrill of softly gliding among waterlilies, avoiding the occasional hippo, and watching the shore for animals coming to drink.

When to go to Okavango: July through October are the ideal months to see animals.
Where to stay: The Okavango is home to hundreds of opulent lodges. Camping is also very popular.

 

7. Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Only a few hours north of Nairobi, high on the Laikipia Plateau, just north of Kenya’s Central Highlands, is Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a great spot to watch the Big Five. Although there is always a chance of seeing lions on a guided game drive, the conservancy also provides a great lion-tracking expedition that significantly improves your chances.

Rhinos are also frequently sighted, both in the enclosures housing the planet’s two surviving northern white rhinos and grazing freely in the meadows. The riverine forests and dense thickets are home to leopards, although buffalo and elephants are also frequent visitors. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is one of the more exclusive private and community conservancies in the area, but it is also well-known for its Big Five opportunities.

The greatest time of year to visit Ol Pejeta is during the dry season, which runs from June to September. Clear skies and comfortable temperatures are typical during this time. The months of December through February are typically dry, but they are also hotter and more humid. When migratory species are present, November through April is the best time to go bird watching.

Where to stay: The Ol Pejeta Conservancy offers a selection of affordable campsites, lodges, and tented camps. Ol Pejeta does not require overnight stays, in contrast to the majority of other Laikipia conservancies.

8. Rwanda’s Akagera National Park

Although the Big Five and numerous other savannah-dwelling species can be found in Rwanda, the country is best renowned for its mountain gorillas. Akagera National Park is the ideal location for a traditional safari in Rwanda.

Poaching and conflict severely reduced the wildlife here, but since 2010, it has made a remarkable recovery. With the reintroduction of lions and black rhinos in 2017 and white rhinos in 2021, Akagera provides a genuinely unique chance to view Africa’s Big Five.

The best time to visit Akagera is during the dry season, which runs from June to September.
Where to stay: The park has a mid-range lodge, a seasonal bush camp, and a luxurious tented camp. Additionally, there are a few of unequipped campsites accessible to independent tourists.

9. Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park

Both the fauna and the breathtaking scenery of Murchison Falls National Park make it well worth a visit. The Victoria Nile River cuts it in half. Not to be missed is a boat ride to the base of the waterfall that gives the park its name.

Hundreds of hippos and crocodiles can be found in the river, and in the afternoon, buffalo and elephants may be spotted along the coast. Since there are no rhinos near Murchison Falls, it is not a full Big Five location; however, many tourists make the stop at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch on the way for an exhilarating rhino tracking experience.

The ideal time of year to see Murchison Falls is between December and February, but be ready for scorching weather throughout that time.
Where to stay: There are reasonably priced lodging options immediately outside the park, as well as a nice selection of upscale and midrange lodges inside. There are also a number of campgrounds.

10. South Africa’s Phinda Game Reserve

One of the best private Big Five game reserves in South Africa is Phinda. Four gorgeous lodging options are available to you, which are dispersed among the reserve’s many habitats: Rock, Mountain, Forest, and Vlei (wetland) Lodge.

Four of the Big Five—the lion, elephant, buffalo, and white rhino—as well as some Zululand specialties, such the elegant nyala and the timid red duiker, are easily visible with excellent guiding. You’d be lucky to spot a leopard, even though there are several around. The cheetah is Phinda’s flagship species, and views of this elegant large cat are often amazing as restitution.

When to go: Phinda is a terrific place to see wildlife all year round, but it’s a little easier to spot animals during the dry season, which runs from May to September.
Where to stay: Phinda has four upscale lodges.

11. Malawi’s Majete Wildlife Reserve

One of Africa’s contemporary conservation success stories is Majete Wildlife Reserve. The reserve was nearly entirely poached out before 2003. More than 3,000 unique animals, including all five of the Big Five as well as cheetahs and African wild dogs, have now been reintroduced under the care of African Parks.

Due to their successful breeding, 200 extra elephants have been moved to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. With a current population estimated at about 100, lions are likewise doing quite well. Wildlife viewing in Majete is a completely pristine experience, remote from the throng, but it does demand some patience.

When to go to Majete: Although you can go at any time, the best months to see wildlife are July through October.
Places to stay: Operating in a private concession on the banks of the Shire River, the most upscale choice is an exclusive luxury lodge. Three mid-range lodges are available (two are located just outside the main entrance gate, and one is inside the reserve). The communal camp and campsite is well-equipped and caters to campers and low-budget tourists.