The Big Five

Originally used only by hunters, the term 'Big Five' refers to five of Africa's
greatest wild animals - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. As during the
bygone hunting era the term "Big Five" still conjure up the romance and
excitement of Africa's exotic destinations and experiences. Imagine watching
the sun set over the horizon whilst you capture the moment of a tribe of lions
stalking their prey. Watching a buffalo stolling to a water hole with strength and
size that makes it more likely to kill a human than any other mammal. The
rhino, which is almost extinct, with its extraordinary horns and bad temper.
And the leopard with its beauty and remarkable speed and skill to hunt.

Many travelers regard a visit to South Africa as incomplete without having

spotted, and perhaps photographed, the Big Five. The Big Five - legends of the
wilderness which have become synonymous with Africa.

The elephant

Habitat: Elephants are always associated with

permanent water and abundant vegetation (an
exception to this is the unique desert elephant
from Namibia, who adapted to survive in the
harsh conditions of the area). Because elephants
do not have sweat glands, water plays an
important role in helping them cool down.

Habits: Elephants are very intelligent and highly

social animals. They live in herds, made up of
the matriarch (the oldest animal in the group), her female calves and the

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youngsters. The herd can comprise between 6 and 30 animals, after what they
split to form new herds, always maintaining contact with each other at water
holes and feeding spots. At 14 years of age, males leave the heard and
associate with other bulls of the same age or older. Within the "bull area"
hierarchy is well observed and understood by all bulls; if a group of bulls come
across a cow in estrus, the animal occupying the highest rank is the one to
mate. Males are much larger than females and their tusks are much longer and
heavier. Elephants have 6 sets of molar teeth; when the last set is lost, the
animal is unable to feed and eventually dies. Their life span is about 50 to 60
years.

Diet: Elephant eat practically any vegetable matter. Leaves, grass, reeds,
roots, flowers, fruits, bark and even soil if the mineral content is high. They eat
about 250 kg of food and drink about 150 to 200 liters of water a day.

Breeding: Females are sexually mature at 12 years of age and are mated by
visiting bulls. After a gestation period of 22 months, the cow gives birth to a
single calf that weighs up to 130 kg. The calf suckles for about 3 years.

The leopard

Habitat: Leopards are more commonly found

along riverside forests and bushes. Although less
common, they also can be found along open plains
and savanna, mainly in hills and rocky outcrops.

Habits: Leopards normally hunt at night and

dusk, staying in secluded spots during the day or lying in high branches of trees.
They are solitary animals by nature, only associating with a female for mating
and staying with her only for a couple of days. Leopards are masters of

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camouflage and they move silently through the vegetation to attack their prey
at very close quarters. The victim is normally killed with a bite on the back of
the neck, and then taken up a tree, where the leopard will feed at leisure, away
from scavengers. Leopards are extremely territorial animals. Their life span is
about 15 years, and they can attain a mass of about 70-kg.

Diet: Leopards are the most successful hunters of the cat family. Their prey
includes Impala, Bushbuck, Warthog and also the young of Wildebeest, Kudu
and Waterbuck. Rodents, ground birds, monkeys, baboons, frogs and fish, also
make part of its diet.

Breeding: The female gives birth to one to three cubs after a gestation period
of about 105 days. The cubs are kept in secluded spots, like thickets and rocky
crevices. They are much darker than adults. Female Leopards are very
dedicated mothers leaving their cubs only when hunting.

The lion

Habitat: Lions are more abundant in open

plains where there is permanent water and
plenty of grazing, and consequently, plenty of
game. Lions are also found in semi desert
conditions like the Kalahari Desert. They are
the most powerful of the African predators.
With a swipe of one of his paws, Lion can break
a Wildebeest's neck, and he can carry twice his
weight in his powerful jaws. Lions, like any
other Cat, can see at night like humans see
during daytime. This is due to the fact that

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their retina is lined by a tissue called "tapetum lucidum", that reflects back the
light passing the rods of the retina.

Habits: Lions are the most social of the cat family. They live in prides
consisting of one or two males, up to seven females and 14 or 15 cubs of
different ages. Prides occupy territories that they defend against nomadic lions
and other prides; this is done by the dominant male or males, by means of
patrolling and scent marking. At about 3 years of age, young lions are evicted
from their pride; they normally stay together, always on the move, becoming
nomads, until they take over some other pride, whose male has become too
weak or old, sometimes killing all the existing cubs. The female normally does
all the hunting, usually at night, late afternoon or early morning. At a kill, the
adults will eat first, with the male sometimes claiming it for himself, and, if
anything left, the cubs will then take their turn. In times of scarcity this means
very little food available for the cubs, and death by starvation. Scavengers, like
vultures, hyenas and jackals, are attracted to lion kills in great numbers, and in
some occasions a big group of hyenas will appropriate the kill of a small group
of lions. The contrary also happens, with lions very often steeling from hyenas
and jackals, and even climbing up a tree to appropriate a leopard's kill. Adult
males can weight up to 250 kg and females about 150 kg. Their life span is
about 15 years.

Diet: Lion's prey includes mostly wildebeest, zebra, waterbuck, kudu, giraffe
and buffalo. They also tend to attack young elephant calves. In difficult times
they will even go for small prey, like porcupine, with disastrous consequences
for both.

Breeding: Breeding occurs all year round, with 2 to 6 cubs being born after a
gestation period of about 110 days. The lioness normally leaves the pride to
give birth to her litter, in a sheltered spot where she leaves them, while hunting.
At this stage the cubs are very vulnerable, sometimes being taken away by

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scavengers, like hyenas, while their mother is away. If, at any stage doubtful
about her cubs safety, the lioness will find another hide, and will transport
them, in her mouth, one by one, to the new location. Once the cubs are big
enough to follow their mother, she will take them to the pride and introduce
them to their father. This is another crucial time in the cubs' life, as nobody can
predict the reaction of the male.

The rhino

Species: Two types are found,

namely Black and White Rhinos. The
Black Rhino's head is much smaller, it
is a solitary animal, more aggressive
and the calf usually follows the
mother.

Habitat: Black Rhinos prefer densely

wooded areas, with a lot of shrubs and plenty of water whilst the White Rhino
prefers more grassland.

Habits: Black Rhinos are very solitary animals, with bulls associating with
females only for mating. Sub adults and youngsters stay with their mother only
until the next calf is born, when they are driven off to find their own territories.
The Rhino bulls mark their territory by dragging their feet trough their dung,
scattering it all over the place and by urinating on to bushes. They are
extremely aggressive animals. A charge by a Rhino, with is loud snorts, it's a
terrifying affair. They readily attack predators including humans. They are also
short sighted, but their sense of smell and hearing is very acute. Adult males
can weight up to 1200 kg, females being slightly smaller. Their life span is
about 40 years.

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Diet: Rhinos are browsers, eating leaves, fruit, flowers, but also herbs.
Breeding: Mating is always preceded by courtship behavior that includes
snorting and sparring with the horns. Mating is repeated several times during a
period of 2 to 3 days, and may last about 30 minutes at a time. A single calf,
weighing about 35 kg is born after a gestation period of about 15 months.

The buffalo
Habitat: Buffalo are extremely adaptable
animals, being able to occupy open
grasslands, wooded savanna and thickets.

Habits: Highly gregarious animals,

buffalo associate in herds of up to 1000
or more individuals.

Despite being very aggressive and extremely dangerous animals (more hunters
are killed by buffaloes than any other animal), buffaloes are very peaceful
amongst themselves. The dominant bull normally is the oldest bull in the herd.
Both sexes have horns, but those of males are more robust and heavier. Males
can attain a mass of about 800 kg and they have a life span of approximately 20
years.

Diet: Buffalo are exclusively grazers.

Breeding: Female buffalo become sexually matured at the age of 5 years. The
gestation period is 11 months and one single calf is born.