Our 'big 5'

Many people aim to see the 'big five' on a safari trip, but for us I'd say it was slightly different. The usual big five are so named because they are the most prized by hunters - lion, rhino, buffalo, leopard, and elephant. Our 'big five' is based more on our own favourites - zebra, elephant, lion, giraffe, and cheetah.

Unlike the zebra, the elephants were fairly few and far between. Most people have seen elephants before but, like all the animals, they seem slightly different when seen in the wild and not in a zoo. On a couple of occasions we came across a whole family, and it was interesting to note the way they sheltered the younger ones, always keeping themselves between us and the youngsters. The elephant is the largest land mammal still in existence, and can weigh up to seven tonnes - for more interesting facts, see this elephant website.

The lion is known as the 'king of the jungle', and it's not hard to see why. The mane on a fully grown male gives off an air of grace and majesty, plus they are feared hunters. We saw quite a few groups of lions, including one pride with two males who were brothers. It's not unusual for lions to cooperate in a pride, as it helps their chances of survival. They really are fascinating animals to watch - you'd get a sense of their raw power if you were lucky enough to see a lioness chase down and kill a zebra (as we did). The cubs were very playful, at least until 'dad' got irritated with their constant attention seeking! For more information about lions you could start with Wildlife Picture's online website.

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09/01/2004