Lions hold a special place as apex predators. This dominance glues their status as the king of the jungle, displaying a supreme attitude.

In the wild, their powerful physique and strategic hunting skills ensure they sit unchallenged at the top of the food chain. Lions stand their ground, preferring to face their supposed challenger than to run and hide, showing confidence, a symbol of strength not just in body, but also in spirit; part of why lions have been associated with leadership and power in the animal kingdom.

Known for their stealth, strength, and adaptability, leopards kill more than we think. Leopards are masters of stealth, often referred to as the “ghosts of the forest.” Their ability to move silently allows them to stalk prey undetected, making them formidable hunters. As nocturnal animals, they are primarily active at night, using their keen senses of sight and hearing to track down prey with unmatched precision. The leopard’s hunting technique is to either ambush its prey or to stalk it, a combination of stealth and sensory awareness is what makes leopards such successful predators in the wild.

The Cape Buffalo’s most characteristic feature is their horns. Both males and females have heavy, ridged horns that can grow to impressive sizes. The horns are formidable weapons against predators and jostling for dominance within the herd, they play a dangerous game.

The African buffaloes are the most dangerous animals due to their physical size, aggressive nature, and formidable horns.

Given that Elephants can swim – they use their trunk to breathe like a snorkel in deep water; they are also quite smart, and when faced with something or someone that does not intend them harm they are gentle and peaceful.

A herd of elephants is led by their mother, an older female (the matriarch)… When a group of elephants is travelling, the matriarch always takes the lead and directs the rest of the herd.

The rarest of The Big Five is the rhino. Divided into two, the black and white rhino’s; rhinos are large (the second-largest land animal in the world, next to elephants) but quick, nearly as fast as the leopard when charging, and because of their elusive nature, they are quite a treat to photograph in your Canon while on one of our African photo safaris.