Africa's Big 5, these safari icons make it on nearly every wildlife lover’s much-see list, but some of their animal attributes may surprise you. Lion. The African ‘Big 5’ – Interesting fun facts By MichelleL 11th February 2014 No Comments Africa is the without a doubt one of the most popular game-viewing destinations on the planet, and top of the social networking share list is the Big Five including the elephant, … Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo & Malawi . Probably the best known of all is the Kruger National Park, covering an area of 2 million hectares, it contains a huge array of wildlife, including 147 species of mammals, 500 types of bird and 33 types of amphibian.The flora is equally diverse with 300 difference types of trees. Want to find out more insights about the Big Five animals before you ‘meet’ them in real life? We have compiled a list of 10 facts about the “Big Five” so that you can show off your African wildlife knowledge on your next safari! The Masai Mara is perhaps the best-known reserve in Kenya, but it is certainly not limited to this park only. 1. Top 10 Facts about the Maasai People of Kenya Maasai is one of the many tribes of Kenya. While the migration may seem like a chaotic frenzy of movement, research has shown a herd of wildebeest possess what is known as ‘swarm intelligence’, where the wildebeest systematically explore and overcome an obstacle as one. In Africa, the Big Five game animals are the lion, leopard, rhinoceros (both south-central black and southern white species), elephant, and Cape buffalo. Whether you're an Africa aficionado or a first-timer currently researching your maiden visit to the greatest continent on Earth, you've probably heard of the Big Five.Initially coined by the big game hunters of centuries past, the phrase now refers to five of the most sought-after safari animals; namely, the elephant, the buffalo, the leopard, the lion and the rhino. The animals are listed on this page with the parks where they are most likely to be found. Also referred to as the King of the Beasts, the lion is the largest of the African big cats. African Rhinos & where to see these Big 5 safari animals. These animals are rhinos, leopards, lions, buffalo, and elephants. The list includes all members of the big 5 (lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos), the big cats, and other prominent African savanna animals. Kenya has over 100 types of birds. They include the lion, rhino, leopard, elephant and buffalo. 2. The most famous animals in Kenya are known as the Big 5. Kenya features many national parks and wildlife reserves, with safaris being a popular activity for visitors. In this article, you will get to know the 15 most striking safari animals and their facts. Learn more about the Big 5 below! Kenya gained independence from the United Kingdom in … These five types of animals were named ‘the big five’ by big game hunters from African’s colonial era, as they were considered the most difficult and dangerous African beasts to hunt on foot. African elephants communicate with each other from 5 … All of the Big Five are regularly seen on a standard safari. Kenya is named after Mt Kenya, the tallest mountain in the country (5,199 metres, 17,057 feet). The term “big five” began as a way of referring to the five animals most difficult to hunt on foot. Big 5 safari animal list Big 10 safari animal rankings Animal facts and tidbits What it's like on a luxury safari Comprehensive safari locator maps . The big five animals of Africa are African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, Lion, and Rhinoceros. They are predators who hunt for their food at dusk or dawn. We have funded programmes in Kenya since 2001, and in 2013, Nairobi became the headquarters of our East Africa programme, or Brooke East Africa. From the coast on the Indian Ocean, the low plains rise to central highlands. 45. The term Big Five was initially used to refer to the five most difficult and dangerous African animals to hunt on foot. The “Big Five” consists of the elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and African buffalo. The African buffalo (also known as the Cape buffalo) is one of the "Big Five" game animals of Kenya. The big 5 animals consist of the … While Kenya is one of Africa’s most popular safari destinations, the camps and lodges we use, and the routes we have designed, take you far from crowds—except crowds of animals. Together, the numerous reserves in Kenya make up an incredible ecosystem containing an unbelievable number of wildlife species. 44. Lion The Lion is the most famous animal in Kenya. The term was coined by big-game hunters, and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot, but is now also widely used by safari tour operators.. The African Lion It also tests your ability to locate cities and Kenya's longest river, the Tana river. ... the Maasai were the dominating native tribe in Kenya and to date, they have maintained a big part of their traditions and ... that protects their families and cattle at night from wild animals. The term “The Big Five” is believed to have been coined during the times of the great hunting expeditions when royalty, the wealthy and celebrities descended on the African planes in search of the most feared and hardest to hunt for animals on foot: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopards. The big five are the most popular animals to see on safari. black rhino - Diceros bicornis & white rhino - Ceratotherium simum White rhinos in Kruger - Bernard Dupont Rhino Facts: All rhinos have three hoofed toes per foot making them "three-toed ungulates" … ‘The Big Five of Africa’ is one of the most relentlessly searched for and often mentioned phrases. The "Big Five" animals can all be found in Kenya. In the north of Kenya, most notably Lake Nakuru, Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Lewa Wilderness Conservancy, rhino can still be seen, allowing you to see all of the Big Five. There is no government-run public transportation system in this country. The Big Five animals of Africa: the African Elephant, Cape buffalo , black rhinoceros , African lion, and African leopard. African elephants are the largest land mammals. In Kenya they drive on the left-hand side of the road. Agriculture is important to Kenya’s economy, especially tea, coffee and flowers. During the day, they spend a lot of time resting in the shade. Big 5 Safari Animals and Packages - Facts and Where to See Them Africa is home to over 1100 wildlife species including all members of the big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo). It is up to date as well in that it recognises Sudan has new separated into two different countries. 4. We’ve expanded across Eastern Africa and now provide support to a number of local partners in Kenya and in the … Kenya’s “Big Five” The “Big Five” are the 5 animals (lion, buffalo, rhino, leopard and elephant) anybody who's going on a safari hopes to spot. They live in prides of up to 30 members and usually hunt at dusk or dawn. The Masai Mara is one of the best places in Africa to see big cats, and white rhino is easily seen at Lake Nakuru. Be it the "Big Five", carnivores or herbivores, our Parks and Game Reserves have them all. Enjoy your wildlife Experience in Kenya! Together with these, there are many animals in Kenya to see on a safari. The "Big Five" game animals of Africa, that is the lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, and elephant, can be found in Kenya and in the Masai Mara in particular. The term was coined by ‘gentlemen hunters’ who moved to Africa in search of the wildlife trophies. Animal population in Kenya is so dense that even the urban capital of Nairobi has its own game reserve. A significant population of other wild animals, reptiles, and birds can be found in the national parks and game reserves in the country. Explore the remote reaches of Kenya’s parks and enjoy day and night drives and bush walks in exclusive private reserves. They are the leopard, lion, buffalo, rhino and elephant. The cheetah is the fastest animal in Kenya. In Kenya, the elephant species is the African Elephant, which includes the forest and savannah elephant, known as tembo or ndovu by Kenyan locals. The Lion. The big 5 are Africa’s sought after animals especially in game viewing holidays and game watching safaris. Using an atlas is an important skill in Geography and this activity asks you to use an atlas to find the locations of Kenya's neighbouring countries. Wild Animals: Our Magical Kenya is home to a wide range of wild animals. Share this page. They live all across the country, in both the grasslands and the forested regions. They are Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffalos, and Rhinos. A diverse group of animals call the Maasai Mara home, including Africa's "big five" (the African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, African lion and African black rhino). 46. The Big Five was originally used by game hunters to describe Africa’s hardest animals to hunt. Large animals such as lions, buffalo, leopards, elephants and rhinoceros are present in Kenya. Kenya is a popular safari destination where people go to see animals in the wild. Large animals such as lions, buffalo, leopards, elephants and rhinoceros are present in Kenya. There hunting skills are extraordinary … The term big five applies everywhere whether is is big 5 in South Africa or big 5 in Kenya or East Africa as a whole. The term Big five originated from early European Settlers in Africa, and they used it to describe the animals they found difficult to hunt while on foot. The Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard) are the most popular Kenya animals. Geography and Climate of Kenya. The Rift Valley lakes, especially Lake Bogoria, attract thousands of … The buffalo found in the savannah are quite a big larger than those in wooded areas. Below are some interesting facts you may be interested to know about each species: 1. 4. Botswana Kenya Kruger Ngorongoro Crater Serengeti Tanzania. Here are some interesting facts about elephants that you need to know. Kenya offers excellent wildlife viewing. About 99% of Kenya's population is made up of black Africans. Lions weigh about 225kg and considered the most dangerous of the five animals. The animals travel a total of 800km or more during each cycle. Close encounters with the Big Five . Being able to hunt the Big Five was a rite of passage for the hunters. Big game hunters realized the Term "Big 5 or African Big 5" and refers to the most difficult 5 animals to Hunt by Foot. Top 5 safaris Top 10 safari mistakes Kenya vs Tanzania. One other reason why these animals are classed together, is their original status as a "game animal" for hunting. 5. Here are ten facts that will get you keen for Kenya. Kenya is the world’s forty-seventh largest country at 580,367 km 2 (224,081 sq mi), just after Madagascar, roughly the same size with Texas. There are 110 different types of bat found in Kenya. The country lies between latitudes 5°N and 5°S, and longitudes 34° and 42°E. The big five are recognized as the most dangerous animals in planet. 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