Big Five Safaris

For those going on a luxury African safari holiday, seeing the Big Five can be the pinnacle of the entire experience and is often the main focus for a tour. Considered to be Africa’s most iconic animals, they include the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo and were once the prizes most coveted by big game hunters in the 19th and early 20th centuries. However, in today’s more enlightened times the prize is to photograph and get up close with these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, as well as to see how their numbers have recovered and flourished with modern conservation efforts. Let our regional experts guide you to the best places to see the Big Five across Africa’s vast and varied landscapes.

Greater Kruger, South Africa

If you are looking to safari in South Africa then there are few better places to see the Big Five than in the Greater Kruger Area in the north east of the country. This is home to the world-renowned Kruger National Park as well as a number of smaller private reserves such as Letaba, Timbavati and Sabi Sands. The fenceless boundaries between these areas mean the animals have complete freedom of movement across nearly two million hectares of protected land, providing the perfect conditions to see high concentrations of animals, including the Big Five. Luxury lodges like Singita Boulders and Singita Ebony in Sabi Sands Reserve combine exquisite comfort with expert guiding, ensuring guests enjoy up-close encounters with wildlife in an exclusive setting.

The best time to see the Big Five in South Africa is arguably over its dry, winter months, from May to September. This is when the vegetation is thinner, making animals easier to spot, and rain is rarer, bringing wildlife into higher concentrations around water sources. Early spring in September and October also heralds the birth of new young, which in turn means more predators, like lions and leopards, gathering to capitalise on the easy prey.

Maasai Mara, Kenya

The Maasai Mara in Kenya represents the quintessential African safari setting, made famous by classic stories like Born Free and Out of Africa, and offers some of the best opportunities to see the Big Five. The northern Mara in particular tends to have fewer visitors, meaning a better chance of seeing the shier animals such as rhinos, and offers some fantastic lodges. House in the Wild is like a home away from home with friendly staff and an authentically welcoming atmosphere. Great Plains Conservation also has a number of stunning luxury safari camps, including Mara Plains and Mara Nyika, both great for those looking for safari in varied terrain.

Kenya has two dry seasons, from July to October and from January to March, which are the best periods to see the Big Five on the Maasai Mara. There is still safari in the green season; however, denser vegetation makes animals harder to spot and they tend to disperse over wider areas.

Serengeti, Tanzania

When one thinks of an African safari, often the image that appears is that of the Serengeti; a seemingly endless plain of flowing grassland positively teeming with life. Playing host to dramatic natural events like the Great Wildebeest Migration, it is also one of the best places in Africa for a Big Five safari. We recommend choosing a mobile camp, like Serengeti Safari Camp, to cover more ground across the park and maximise your chances of seeing the rarer big game, particularly rhinos.

Since Tanzania shares much of its geography and climate with the neighbouring Maasai Mara, the best time to visit the Serengeti is similarly during the dry months, from late June to October. The latter part of this period also coincides with the famous river crossings of the Great Migration in the north, a spectacular event to see alongside a classic Big Five safari.

Madikwe, South Africa

For a smaller but wilder Big Five safari experience, travellers should head to Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West Province of South Africa. This relatively new reserve might not have the variety of biomes that Kruger has, but it is less busy and many of the lodges offer more competitive rates. Madikwe also boasts a very large elephant population relative to its area; some 1,600 individuals across just 750 square kilometres. Impodimo Game Lodge is beautifully situated and offers good value bookings, whilst Etali Lodge can scarcely be beaten as a luxurious base for safari.

Phinda, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

One of our favourite lesser-known safari destinations, Phinda Private Game Reserve has a wonderfully diverse spread of ecosystems, from rare sand forests to grasslands and wetlands. On top of being a prime Big Five safari location, it is also a great place to spot cheetah, whilst its specialised conservation programmes have made it one of the best areas to see the rare black rhino.

Phinda Vlei, Phinda Rock, and Phinda Forest Lodge are all delightful places to stay, offering stunning views and opulent suites to relax in between game drives. They also boast a short journey to the coast, allowing guests to mix up their wildlife adventure with a night-time turtle watching tour.

Hwange, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s largest reserve, Hwange National Park is a fantastic destination for Big Five safari, not least due to its massive population of elephants, the biggest in Africa, at over 40,000 individuals. Although rhinos were only recently reintroduced into the park, they can still be spotted with a little bit of luck and an expert guide, along with many other rare species, including the endangered African wild dog. Somalisa Camp, nestled in a picturesque acacia grove in the eastern quarter of the park, is perfectly situated for seeing all of these animals and more, as well as being only a 45-minute bush flight to Victoria Falls, ideal for a one-or-two day excursion to this magnificent wonder of the natural world.

Akagera, Rwanda

For an example of the power of well-coordinated conservation efforts, look no further than Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only Big Five safari reserve and its biggest success story. After nearly a century of rampant poaching, the park has been through an extensive revitalisation programme since 2010, with the reintroduction of lions and white and black rhino triggering a bounce back of numerous other species including elephants, giraffes and zebras. It is now a safari destination to rival those of its much larger and more established neighbours in Kenya and Tanzania. Magashi Camp to the north of the park is a small but fantastically run safari stay, and its proximity to the north-western highlands of Rwanda makes it easy to combine a classic Big Five safari with gorilla trekking in the same tour.

Why book with c+l?

We, at cazenove+loyd, know the best local hosts, insiders and guides who will take you off the beaten path and under the skin of your desired country. You can trust our knowledgeable team of specialists to design the perfect bespoke itinerary for your luxury vacation. Get in touch to speak to an expert and start planning your next adventure now.