The Big 5 of South Africa

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The "Big 5" refers to the African Cape buffalo, lion, rhino, leopard and elephant. The origin of the Big Five is at the beginning of the twentieth century. The white settlers went on hunting safaris. The Big Five refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot! The members of the Big Five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved.  

Here you see similar cards sent from Tanzania and Lesotho.

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Critically endangered birds, the Taita Falcon. Part of a set of 5 stamps, issued 2014. 

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Going on Safari, Tanzania’s Big Five

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The "Big 5" refers to the African: Cape buffalo, lion, rhino, leopard and elephant. Why not the hippo, gorilla or giraffe you may ask? Are they not large as well? How about the cheetah -- that would be an animal you would probably like to see as much as a buffalo. Well, the term "big five" was actually coined by big game hunters. It refers to the difficulty in bagging these large animals, mostly due to their ferocity when cornered and shot at.

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(left) 350th death anniversary of Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640)

(right) Wild Animals of Tanzania (2010 issue): Elephants.

Thx Steve!

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Going on Safari, Tanzania’s Big Five: The Buffalo (1)

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Cape Buffalo are said to have killed more big game hunters than any other animal in Africa and are one of Africa's most dangerous animals. On the more open grasslands, Cape buffalo appear in large herds that can number up to a thousand individuals. There are thought to be around 1 million Cape buffalo left in Africa.

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(left) Lake Rushwa, Kagera. In 2008 Tanzania issued a set of 11 themed botanical gardens. The bird on the stamp is a Shoebill. The prehistoric-looking Shoebill is one of the most impressive birds to be found in Africa.

Thx Steve!

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Going on Safari, Tanzania’s Big Five: The Lion (2)

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These beautiful, large cats are excellent hunters but you're more likely to see one sleeping than hunting. Lions are very social animals, unlike other cats, they live in prides of several females, their young and a couple of males.

They will cooperate when hunting difficult prey like a buffalo, but usually they'll take down an antelope on their own. Females hunt more than males and all lions will happily scavenge given half a chance. Lions ambush their prey, (like leopards), rather than track and chase (like hyenas).

 

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Going on Safari, Tanzania’s Big Five: The Rhino (3)

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Black rhinos are usually solitary living in the savanna, shrub and tropical bush areas. Black rhinos have suffered a dramatic reduction in population in the last 20 years.

Due to poaching there are now only about 4000 left in the wild. Rhino horn, used for medicinal purposes to reduce fevers, is much prized in Asia. If they manage to avoid poachers, rhinos can live up to 30-50 years.

Thx Steve!

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Going on Safari, Tanzania’s Big Five: The Leopard (4)

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Leopards are shy and nocturnal, quite modest for a cat that can climb, swim and live in a wider range of habitats than most other wild cats. Leopards use trees as observation platforms and for protection, so when you are on safari remember to look up to see this solitary, beautiful cat.

Man has succeeded in getting this magnificent cat on the IUCN's "near threatened" list by reducing the leopards' habitat, depleting its prey and hunting it.

Thx Steve!

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Tanzania’s Big Five: The Elephant (5)

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The African elephant is the largest mammal in the world. Elephants live in woodlands, forests, deserts and savanna, spread across 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Elephants are quite peaceful if left alone, but if they feel threatened just watch out. Elephants are very social animals, they live in family groups of up to 100 members, headed by a matriarch.

The demand for ivory in the 70’s and 80’s led to a dramatic decrease in elephant numbers, today the population stable at around 600,000.

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The Ngalawa is a traditional, double-outrigger canoe of the Swahili people living in Zanzibar and the Tanzanian coast.

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A Postcard from Lesotho: The Big Five of South Africa

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The Lion, the African elephant, the cape buffalo, the leopard and the rhinoceros. What do these animals have in common?

Are they the most dangerous animals of Africa? No, the hippo kills more people in Africa than any other. Are they the largest animals of Africa? No, the lion and the leopard are much smaller than the hippo or a giraffe.

The origin of the Big Five is at the beginning of the twentieth century. The white settlers went on hunting safaris. The Big Five refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot! The members of the Big Five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved.  

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Aloe broomii is a short-stemmed, robust aloe reaching a height of 1.5 m.  Lekhala means aloe in Lesotho.

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