Tanzania Safari Big 5

Tanzania safari big 5

Tanzania Safari Big 5 : The big 5 of Tanzania are among the wildlife species which can be spotted during a safari around the different wildlife viewing destinations of Tanzania.

Tanzania as a country which is located in East Africa is also made up of numerous wildlife viewing destinations and it offers one of the best safari experiences in Africa.

Elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos are the big 5 which are described as the most difficult wildlife species to hunt on foot. These big 5 can be seen in destinations such as around the northern parts of Tanzania as tourists enjoy exploring their natural habitat.

Many tourists visit safari destinations around Tanzania to enjoy seeing the big 5 as they explore the national parks. During a safari, it is common to spot some of the big 5 and depending on one’s luck; you can see all the big 5 while on safari.

The big 5 of Tanzania can be seen around destinations such as Serengeti national park the oldest national park of Tanzania, the Ngorongoro crater and also in Selous game reserve. Among the big 5 the rhinos are rarely seen during a safari. The big 5 of Tanzania include the following;

1. Elephants

Elephants are the largest land mammal and are known to move in their herds around the different destinations of Tanzania.

Among the traits of the elephants include covering their bodies in dust to protect themselves from insects and also fanning themselves with their big ears to cool themselves off. Elephants also use their trunks to drink and during a safari they can be seen around water points in the national parks.

Another use of the elephant trunks is to dig up food and pick up other items and also to strip tree barks as they feed. Elephants are also herbivores and therefore feed on plants. The Ngorongoro carter which is a big 5 destination has about 300 elephants which can be seen during a safari.

Elephants also contribute to the ecosystem around the destinations where they can be seen in Tanzania through their dung which contains seeds of trees and this contributes to plant growth, they also create open landscapes by uprooting plants as they feed.

2. Rhinos

Rhinos are also part of the big 5 and they are known for their solitary and territorial nature and they are also big in size.

These wildlife species are of 2 species such as white rhinos and black rhinos. In Tanzania during a safari, the rhinos can be seen as they graze among the savannah plains. Some of the adaptations of the rhinos include rolling in mud to protect themselves from bugs and they are also known to have a strong sense of smell.

Rhinos also use their horns as a way of protecting themselves such as during fights with other wildlife species. The rhino horns are also targeted by poachers and this has led to reduced numbers of rhinos around Tanzania.

3. Lions

Lions can also be seen during a safari around Tanzania as they move around the national parks in their prides.

Watching as lions hunt their prey around the national parks is something to look forward to during a safari. Some of the largest lion prides can be seen around Tanzania such as in Serengeti national park which has over 3000 lions.

In Swahili which is a widely spoken language in Tanzania and also the national language of the country, lions are referred to as Simba. The male and female lions have different features such as males have manes while female lions do not.

Female lions are hunters and can be seen in their groups as they hunt around the national parks of Tanzania. The role of the male lions is to defend their territories and their prides. Lions sometimes also hunt on their own.

Lions are also referred to as the king of the jungle and are known for their strength.

4. Leopards

Leopards among the big 5 are known for their ability to camouflage and can be seen sited among the trees during a safari around Tanzania.

These leopards are carnivores and they are known to drag their prey up in the tree where they eat as a way of escaping from other predators like lions and hyenas which steal the prey from leopards.

Another adaptation of leopards is that they are also good swimmers and are also solitary animals. Leopards have fur which is in a shape of rosettes and this makes it easy to identify them among other big cats. Among other big cats, leopards are the smallest.

Leopards hunt their prey by sneaking on the animals and attacking. When raising their young ones, the female leopards take the cubs to a secure location where they are raised to protect the cubs from other predators and any other forms of danger.

5. African buffalo

African buffalos are herbivores and among the big 5 they can easily be spotted during a safari around the different wildlife viewing destinations of Tanzania as they graze in the savannah plains and along river plains and water points in the national parks.

As they move in their herds around the different destinations of Tanzania, buffalos use this as a way to protect themselves from danger and attacks from predators. In appearance, buffalos are similar to cows.

One of the fascinating facts about the buffalos is that they are the most dangerous among the big 5. In Serengeti national park and the Ngorongoro crater there are over 1000 buffalos which can be seen during a safari.

Other wildlife species which can be seen during a safari around Tanzania apart from the big 5 include wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, impalas, gazelles, hartebeests, kudu, hyenas, cheetahs, hippos, colobus monkeys, baboons and many others.

There are also different bird species which can be seen during safaris around Tanzania which is also home to the Masai people who are famous for their unique culture. Tanzania is also famous for its beautiful beaches and different islands and green forests.