Big Five Animals of Africa

“Big Five” originally referred to the status of trophy that hunters brought home from Africa. These five animals were considered the most prestigious hunt, mainly because of the difficulty level and danger associated with hunting.

Male lions have long, thick manes, which help keep their bodies warm during rain. A lion lives in a group called pride. There are several female lions and one alpha male lion in pride.

Leopards are the second apex hunter in Africa after the lions. Leopards are nocturnal animals. They are very elusive and mostly spend their time in a treetop.
Rhinos are herbivores and mainly eat grasses, leaves, and roots. Among the Big Five, rhinos are the most endangered species.

Rhinos have poor eyesight. Their smell and hearing senses are excellent. Sometimes they even get agitated by the sound of their dropping.

Four distinct subspecies of buffalos are found in Africa. Buffalo is on the food list of lions; however, on several occasions. The number of buffalo in hard varies. The herds generally consist of related females and their offspring.

The elephant is the largest land mammal on earth. The elephant lives in hards. Females lead their social structure. After attaining adulthood, male elephants live alone. One of the highest gestation periods of 22 months, a female gives birth once every five years.