The Big Five (and other featured characters)

The Big Five are considered to be the hardest five animals to hunt on foot by hunters. These days, a sighting of all five seems to be the stamp of approval that you had a successful safari. For me, seeing the Big Five was a success, but really only just the beginning of a great plethora of wildlife that created my amazing safari experience in Kruger National Park. Read More...

Presented here is some information about the Big Five with information and some commentary supplied by our safari guide, Clive (more about him later). Also featured are some of my personal favorite animals. All photos were taken by either me or my slightly more (ok, much more) talented friend, Chase. Zulu names are included as that is how the animals are most commonly referred to while in the Kruger by guides as well as their current population numbers inside the Kruger.

African Lion

AKA: ingonyama

Population:1,620- 1,750

Threatened due to loss of habitat, loss of prey, and human hunting

The animal I was most excited about seeing. They are incredibly lazy and majority of my sightings were of napping lions. An animal after my own heart. Clive has seen one on a bridge once.

African Elephant

AKA: indlovu
Population: 13,750

Threatened due to poaching for ivory

The African Elephant is an extremely social animal and is normally spotted in large herds. They only digest and use about 40% of what they eat throughout the day, so you almost always see them eating and grazing. They are very peaceful, but if they think you are staying and watching them too long, or too close to their babies, they will spread their ears and stamp their feet. Clive says this is when its time to put the car in neutral and slowly drift away. Then step on it.

African Leopard

AKA: ingwe
Population: 1,000

Near Threatened

The leopard is probably the least sighted of the Big Five because of its very secretive nature and its nocturnal patterns. It has a very large skull and extremely strong neck muscles as it carries its kills high up into trees using only its mouth. We spotted one lazing in a tree, but the traffic was too much for Clive. 

Cape Buffalo

AKA: inyathi
Population: 37,130

Least Concern

Although at the time they seemed the most peaceful, I have since learned that they can be the most dangerous. They are not very closely related to cows nor even the water buffalo. The huge fused horn on top of the males is so strong that even a rifle bullet cannot pierce it. Whenever we spotted one, it would continue chewing while gazing steadily at us. Now that I know how dangerous they are, I am a bit more creeped out by them.

Rhinoceros

White Rhinoceros AKA: nkombe
          Population: 10,200
          Near Threatened due to poaching

Black Rhinoceros AKA: ubejane
          Population: 590-670
          Critically Endangered due to poaching

Rhinos are hunted throughout the world for their horns as ground up rhino horn is widely believed to have medicinal purposes in Asia. Scientifically, it has no benefits. Rhino horns are made of exactly the same stuff as our hair and fingernails. I have a lot of both of those if anyone over there wants some. Many parks in Africa are cutting off the horns of their rhinoceros to save their lives. They do not follow this practice in Kruger, so poaching is still a huge problem. On a night drive, our guide said we saw two black rhinos. Clive was suspicious and said he had not spotted one in months. He did not believe us. 

Supporting Cast

Most of my favorite (and most fabulous) animals were not included in the Big Five. Kruger National Park has more large mammals than any other game park in Africa.

Warthog

AKA: ndlovudalana
Population: 4,000

The most fabulous of the Kruger animals is the warthog. Much smaller than my Lion King mind had anticipated, they run around with their tail straight up and their blond mane flowing in the wind. And I do mean blond. They were mostly spotted with Mom leading the babies around with Big Daddy bringing up the rear. Often he would look back to glare at us and also because he knew he looked fab.

Giraffe

AKA: ndlulamithi 
Population: 8,300

Giraffes were mostly seen slowly munching on tall trees. They also have a long black tongue, so I feel a certain kinship with this large animal (although my brother got all the tall genes). It is black to prevent sunburn, which shows you how often it is outside of their mouth.

Burchell's Zebra

AKA: dube
Population: 28,000

Fact: black with white stripes. Zebras bodies are incredibly stocky at all times. If you see a skinny zebra- be concerned. The babies have brown fur on their backs which Clive lovingly refers to as "bum fluff." 

Cheetah

AKA: ihlosi
Population: 120

Cheetahs are becoming endangered because they are actually very timid. Although they are incredibly fast, they get heat exhaustion incredibly easy and can be scared off their kill by other predators very easily.

Guinea Fowl

AKA: inpangele
Population: unknown

This is the only picture of the guinea fowl successfully taken by Chase. Although they are abundant, I was usually too busy squealing to take a photo. Oh well, I now have a sugar bowl depicting the majestic guinea fowl so all is well.

Baboon

AKA: mfene
Population: a lot

They are everywhere. There are a ton of them. Their babies hang on to their backs as they run away from the car. Also, when a new baby is born, the mother holds out the baby and each member of the family sticks their butt in his face so he will learn to recognize them. Welcome to the family!

Impala

AKA: mpala
Population: 152,000

You can spot a newbie to Kruger if you see a car stopped to see an impala. Clive says they are the McDonalds of the Kruger because they are everywhere (and the black lines on their butts). Smashing.

Vervet Monkey

AKA: nkawu
Population: a lot

Don't get too close. Don't let those cute faces fool you. They will unzip your bag and steal your stuff. And then you will try to run away and run smack into a tree (true story).