Animals in Ngorongoro Crater

Big five safari Tanzania

Big five safari Tanzania  : The big five are among the sort after wildlife species during a safari tour around Tanzania and they can be seen in different destinations in the country.

Africa’s big five include elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards and buffalos and during a safari in Tanzania, these wildlife species can be spotted in destinations like Serengeti national park which is a famous safari destination in Tanzania. The big five can also be seen around the Ngorongoro crater in the northern part of Tanzania and in Selous game reserve in the southern part of Tanzania which is also referred to as Nyerere national park.

When traveling to Tanzania with an aim of seeing the big five during a safari, it is important to point this out to the tour operator organizing the safari so that you are able to see these wildlife species during the safari. This works better for travelers who are engaging in a tailor made safari since their priorities for the safari are laid out from the start.

The term big five refers to those wildlife species which are difficult to hunt and this makes them sought after by visitors during their tours in Tanzania. All the big five can be seen in other destinations of Tanzania and in some destinations, wildlife species which are part of the big five can be spotted on a safari.

Tanzania as a country is a good option for a big five safari experience when exploring the safari destinations around the country. A big part of Tanzania is made up of safari national parks and game reserves found in the north, south and western parts of the country.

Here’s a glimpse of the big five and their characteristics;

  1. Lions

Lions are among the big cats and during a safari around Tanzania; these predators can be seen as they hunt their prey around the savannah plains.

During a big five safari, lions can be spotted around the savannah plains, around rock outcrops, resting under the tree shades and also near water holes as they wait to hunt their prey. When the wildebeest migration is taking place in Tanzania, lions can also be spotted around the wildebeest herds.

Another fun fact about lions is that they move in their prides which mostly consist of female lions and the cubs. Male lions during a big five safari can be identified by their manes.

Big five safari Tanzania
Lions in Tanzania
  1. Leopards

The leopards are also part of the big five and they are known for being solitary. During a big five safari, they can be spotted around the grasslands and also in tree branches.

Leopards when exploring the wilderness on a safari in Tanzania can be identified by their rose shaped spots. Some of their characters include that they are very fast, leopards are good climbers  and they can also camouflage making it easier for them to hunt their prey and this however also makes it difficult to spot them when looking out for the big five during a wildlife tour.

  1. Rhinos

Of the big five, the rhinos are considered to be an endangered species and are a little difficult to spot during a safari.

The type of rhinos which can be seen during a big five safari in Tanzania are the black rhinos. Around the Ngorongoro crater, these black rhinos can be spotted during game drives along the crater floor.

Rhinos are herbivores and can be spotted around grasslands and bush land during a big five safari in Tanzania.

  1. Buffalos

Buffalos are much easier to spot during a big five safari around Tanzania. They are herbivorous in nature and can be seen in big numbers during a wildlife safari.

The type of buffalos which can be seen during wildlife safari in Tanzania is the African buffalos. Buffalos are also considered to be extremely dangerous.

  1. Elephants

Elephants are also part of the big five that can be seen during a safari around Tanzania. They can be seen as they move in their herds around the safari destinations.

During a big five safari in Tanzania, elephants can be spotted around the savannah, near water holes and the species of elephants found across the wildlife viewing destinations of Tanzania is the African bush elephants.

The elephants during a wildlife safari in Tanzania can be identified by their tusks, big ears, trumpets and their big five. elephants are also considered to be the largest land creature.

Big five safari Tanzania
Elephants

In Serengeti national park, the big five can be seen during a safari around the different parts of the national park such as the central part which is famous for wildlife viewing due to the numerous wildlife species and this attracts many visitors on tours in Tanzania.  Other parts of the national park include the northern, western and southern plains.

The northern part of Serengeti is more remote and also provides are more up close wildlife viewing experience when searching for the big five during a safari around the vast savannah plains in the national park.

The big five can be searched for during the many safari activities such as game drives, nature walks, and hot air balloon safaris among others that are carried out in the wildlife viewing destinations of Tanzania. The game drives are carried out at different times of the day such as in the morning and during the day and are a more efficient way to explore the savannah in search of wildlife species including the big five.

Apart from the big five, Tanzania is also known for the wildebeest migration which takes place annually around the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem where over 2 million wildebeests can be seen as they graze around the savannah plains. This migration follows a clockwise direction and also involves river crossings along the Mara river and the Grumeti river and also the calving season which takes place around the Ndutu area and the southern plains of Serengeti national park.

The predator population in Tanzania is also big compared to other safari destinations and the country is known for its numerous wildlife species which can be seen at different times of the year including the dry season (around June to October) and the rainy season. The dry season is considered the best time for a wildlife safari around the different destinations of Tanzania.

The highest mountain in Africa which is called Mount Kilimanjaro is also found in the northern part of Tanzania. There are many routes which are used for hiking this mountain and they include Lemosho route, Marangu route, Machame route, Rongai route, Umbwe route and Shira route.

A number of itineraries are offered to the destinations like Serengeti national park and the Ngorongoro crater where the big five can be spotted during a safari. These safaris can be done during the dry season which is also considered a good time to spot the big five around the water holes while exploring the savannah.

Other wildlife species which can be spotted during a safari around the destinations in Tanzania include giraffes, elands, impalas, zebras, cheetahs, waterbucks, hyenas, warthogs, kudu, dik dik, hartebeests as well as numerous bird species.

Visit Tanzania and enjoy an experience of seeing the big five and more as you explore the many destinations found in and around the country.

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