THE BIG 5 IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

A BUCKET LIST ESCAPE

For many people, going on safari in Africa is a dream come true, it's the ultimate bucket-list event. No matter how many wildlife documentaries you’ve seen, nothing compares to the thrill of getting up close and personal with some of the most spectacular creatures on the planet.

“The Big 5” is a term that originally started out in the hunting arena in South Africa, singling out the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot - each one with its own strengths and incredibly intimidating features.

Now it’s almost used as a term of endearment to describe the combination of the fierce and formidable lion, elephants - the largest mammals on land, the striking and elusive leopard, the powerful buffalo and the remarkable rhino.

The Big 5 are Africa's uncontested megastars, and they're the reason why tourists flock to game-viewing safaris. It’s fair to say that giraffes and zebra may well be more attractive animals than buffalo, and that cheetah is easier to spot than the leopard, but seeing any of The Big 5 in their native habitats remains an amazing experience at the top of most safari travellers' bucket lists.

The peak safari season in Africa spans from July through October, coinciding with the continent's mild, dry winter. Because of the absence of rain, the vegetation dries up and thins out, making it much easier to spot a rhino or buffalo than in the summer, when the grass is long and the foliage dense. Ponds, streams, puddles, and smaller watercourses dry up at this time of year, driving animals to cluster around the surviving great lakes and rivers. Seeing a herd of elephants at a drinking hole or a pride of lions snoozing in the sun is a genuinely magnificent event and an unforgettable experience.

Embark on thrilling early morning game drives in search of The Big 5, follow experienced guides on bushwalks in the afternoon to spot zebra, ostrich and giraffe and in the evenings and be silenced under the stars as the unmistakable thunder of a lion roar rumbles across the landscape.

This is an escape like no other, one that’ll leave you with both stories and memories that will last a lifetime.

Contact us today and our Travel Consultants will be in touch to start planning your perfect bucket-list escape!