Big 5

Searching for the Big 5

Roaming for the Rambunctious Rhino

In Africa, there are two types of rhinos: the white rhino and the black rhino. Despite their names, they are both grey. They can be distinguished by the shape of their mouths. The white rhino, which is a grazer, has a wide mouth which it uses to feed on grass; while the black rhino has a hooked lip, which it uses for browsing. Both are herbivores. Calves are very attached to their mothers and stay with them for two to three years. Rhinos have fairly poor eyesight, but make up for it with a great sense of hearing and smell. As a result, they can be skittish creatures – particularly the black rhino, which is the more solitary of the two.

Exploring Africa for Elephants

The African elephant is the biggest living land mammal in the world. Elephants live in herds made up of females and calves, and are led by a matriarch. When a member of the herd dies, it is said that the rest mourn the loss and gather around the corpse before moving on. African elephants can be distinguished from their relatives in Asia by the shape of their ears, which resemble the shape of the African continent; they are also the bigger of the two. One of their most distinctive features is their trunks which they use to eat and drink. Elephants love the water, are herbivorous and have no predators, expect for human beings.

Finding Lazy Lions

The lion is the second biggest cat in the world and also the most social. They live in groups called prides and the lionesses are the one who do all the hunting, as well as raising the cubs. Lions are mostly nocturnal and spend about 16 hours a day sleeping. Each pride has a dominant male, and male cubs are viewed as a threat, because they can replace the leader when they come of age – which usually happens. Young males grow up, a new leader emerges, and the youngsters band together to oust the old male. Lions are carnivores and prey on zebras, warthogs and various types of antelope.

Bundu-bashing for Buffalos

The African buffalo is a very unpredictable creature. They appear calm and collected, but are extremely dangerous when provoked. This is why they have found a place on the Big 5 list. Buffaloes are distinguished by their horns, which they use for self-defense. They are gregarious animals and live in herds. They have been known to get into pretty hairy scrapes with lions, particularly when protecting their young, and are not averse to using their mighty horns on these big cats. When danger is near, they push their calves into the middle of the herd for protection. Buffaloes, which are also herbivores, enjoy the water and mating takes place during the rainy season.

Looking for Leopards on Night Drives

When searching for the Big 5, the leopard is the most difficult member to find. Besides being nocturnal, they are also solitary and only come together to mate. The female will raise the cubs for a couple of years, before the youngsters strike out on their own as well. Leopards are strong climbers and these carnivores have been known to drag their prey up trees. They are often confused with the cheetah, but there are many differences between the two cats. The leopard is the bigger of the two and its coat is covered with rosettes, as opposed to the cheetah’s black spots.

Originally published on Safari Big 5

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