Big Five Animals in Kruger National Park
Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd – AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST
How to find the Big Five in the Kruger National Park
Why the Big Five animals are called the Big Five?
Many years ago, hunters used to hunt only on foot. These hunters said that the Big Five animals; rhino, buffalo, elephant, lion and leopard was the most dangerous and difficult of all animals to hunt on foot. These animals were and still are hunted for trophy as well.
Big Five Animals in Kruger National Park
From a young age I have visited the Kruger National Park. As a child we went to the Kruger Park at least several times a year. Even through my young adult life I made regular trips to this beautiful Nature Reserve.
My Dad played a big role in my love for nature at a very young age and since then my love for nature grew even stronger. This was a huge contributing factor in me finally becoming a Field Guide.
As a Field Guide you learn about everything, big and small. From how a simple grain of sand was formed to how elephant bulls behave during musth. Most importantly, you learn how everything is connected. From the rocks all the way to what types of animals you will find in a certain area.
Now you ask; why am I rambling on and on about this and why am I not getting to the good stuff, namely the Big Five? Well, basically the point I want to get across is that as soon as you start to study about nature and animal behavior, your need to search only for the Big Five animals becomes rather unimportant. As soon as you start studying about animals, your way of perceiving nature changes and certain animals that once where unimportant (for example, the African Wild Dog) soon becomes fascinating and way more interesting than the Big Five.
Let’s be honest! Even though nature lovers, field guides, rangers and conservationists say they don’t look for the Big Five, they actually do. We all have that secret little Big Five checklist stored in the back of our minds that we subconsciously tick off. I know I do.
In what countries can you find the Big Five?
The Big Five animals can mostly be found in African countries. For example: Uganda, Rwanda, Namibia, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe and finally South Africa.
Reserves in South Africa where you can find the Big Five:
- Kruger National Park
- Greater Kruger area (Mala Mala, Sabi, Sabi, Timbavati, Londolozi, Singita, Ngala, Makalali)
- Addo Elephant Park
- Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park
- Shamwari Private Game Reserve
- Pilanesberg National Park
- Phinda Reserve
- Marakele National Park
Where in the Kruger National Park can you find the Big Five?
Knowing where to find certain animals can be challenging. But the secret lies in the rocks. Yes, the rocks! The type of rock in a specific area will tell you what animals you can find.
I make use of a simple formula:
Rocks consist of mineral compounds. Rocks break down and form grains that contains minerals. Some of these grains are fine and some of the grains are course. These grains will determine the type of soil in a specific area. For example: sandy soil, mineral rich soil or even clay soil.
Then some soils are only suitable for certain vegetation. This is why you only have Mopane and Baobab trees growing in specific areas, or why you‘ll find grassland and forest areas. Lastly, this is also why you find sweetveld, sourveld or mixveld.
Now that you know what rock and type of soil you find in an area, you will know what vegetation there will be. You will better understand where to find certain tree and grass species! Does it like to grow near water? Does it grow on the crest, foot slope, mid slope or even in the drainage line?
Now for the good stuff! So rock equals soil, soil equals vegetation and vegetation equals what animals you will find in the area.
If you know what general game you can find in the area, you will find the predators. Certain animal species attracts certain predators. This is how you’ll find lions in the Kruger!
Finding Lions
We all know lions like to eat. For this reason lions are attracted to food availability and other factors.
You can find quite a few prides of lions between Skukuza and Lower Sabie (If you travel in the southern region in the Park). The area is water rich, due to the Sabie River. This makes the vegetation more abundant and also more palatable, therefore creating an ideal environment for common game like impala, kudu etc. Water is also plentiful along the river.
Have a good look when driving along the river as lions like to bask in the early morning and late afternoon sun. They generally like to lie on the sand banks during these times and will retreat to shade during the heat of the day.
Where to find leopards?
Leopards are elusive creatures. They are spread throughout the Park. Leopards are arboreal, so you have to look for them in trees. When they hunt, they will generally drag their prey up into the nearest tree in order to protect the pray from being scavenged or stolen by hyenas or other predators.
You can find leopards in areas where there is enough food and water available. You can also search for them in dense vegetation areas like alongside rivers.
Buffalos and where to find them?
Buffalo love big open areas of grassland. You can find them near Pretoriuskop grazing on sourveld. They are bulk feeders and graze in the early mornings and late afternoons. During the heat of the day, they will lie in the shade and ruminate. They can be found near water sources as they are very water dependent and will drink at least twice a day. You can also find big herds and bachelor herds around Skukuza and Lower Sabie area alongside the river in the South. Traveling up North, you will find bigger herds of buffalo as the habitat is more savanna orientated.
Finding Elephants in Kruger
There are a larger number of elephants in the Kruger National Park. You can find them anywhere from the North to the South, from the East to the West. They eat all forms of vegetation, the roots, leaves, branches, bark, fruit and flowers of trees. They also eat shrubs and grasses. They can also be found alongside rivers and bodies of water.
Where to find Rhinos
Because of the poaching situation in South Africa, and specifically in Kruger National Park, we will not be disclosing where you can find rhinos in Kruger National Park.
What are you waiting for? Book your ultimate African safari of a Lifetime today and who knows, maybe you are lucky enough to see the Big Five!
YES! We offer affordable Kruger National Park safaris
Our rates include the following:
Please note:
Our area of operation covers Nelspruit and surrounding areas, White River | Malelane | Hazyview | Komatipoort | Marloth Park | Kruger National Park | KMI Airport | Skukuza Airport.
Please contact us if your accommodation falls outside of our area of operation.
We also conduct safari tours in the North of Kruger upon request and need. You also have the option to hire the safari vehicle privately, email us to find out more. Additionally, you have the option to add your Kruger entrance/conservation fees when you make your booking so you don’t have to go to the office on the morning of the safari to make payment for entrance fees.
Important articles you should read: CLICK on the LINKS below for more information!
- What is the duration of a full day safari/ How many hours is a full day safari in Kruger National Park and why?
- Read all about Children on safari, the do’s and don’ts, safety, rules & regulations etc.
- General Rules and regulations and good safari etiquette
- Reasons why you should visit South Africa
- Things you need to know when planning a trip to South Africa
- How tipping in South Africa works
- What to bring and pack for a Safari
- When is the best time to go on Safari in Kruger National Park?
- How to book a Kruger National Park safari to Kruger from Nelspruit | White River | Hazyview | Malelane?
- The benefits of going on a Guided safari with an open safari vehicle to Kruger National Park
- Is it safe to visit the Kruger National Park?
- All about Malaria in South Africa and Kruger National Park
REVIEWS
World-class safari operatorMy mother and I travelled to Nelspruit to do a one-day safari inside Kruger. Our guest villa (Utopia in Africa – amazing stay!) told us about Lion Roar Safaris – from the moment I contacted Liz to book a guided safari with them until Luzille (our guide) dropped us off it was world class service! The safari is split in three, you do a few hours before breakfast, a few hours before lunch and then drive towards the end of the tour. Besides being able to rest with this type of schedule we also appreciated all the different detours in the park we were able to do. This operator is passionate about the animals, the park and their customers. They are very knowledgeable in both big things and small things regarding the park and the animals. I hope to come back someday, my only regret is that we didn’t book one more day.
Fantastic experience
We really enjoyed our safari with Liz and the web photographer. They pointed out many sightings which we would never have seen on our own. We saw 3 leopards, many elephants, rhinos, cape buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hippos and different types of antelopes and birds.
They provided binoculars which helped a lot, especially when observing the leopards in the reed!
The service is top: on time, friendly, very informative and you get a feeling how much they enjoy “going the extra mile” for the customer. They tried to keep ahead of the crowd and do not enter thru Numbi gate which is usually very crowded. Its great the park fee is included in the price because then you do not need to queue at the entrance like in the case of some of the other operators. We will definitely recommend you!
(Translated by Google)
For those who go to South Africa, do safaris be sure to contact this company they are grade 10.
(Original)
Para quem vai para África do Sul ,fazer safáris não deixe de contatar está empresa eles são nota 10 .
Great services! Amazing commmentsThe guide was very friendly and helpful!
She really knew the way around the park and we were able to see a big variety of animals
Super accommodating and informative.Liz was super patient in making sure we get the morning bush walk and night drive within limited dates. They know lots about every animal we saw. I love that they provide parkas for their guests because it gets super chilly as the truck moves. Their truck is clean and not loud like other trucks which tend to scare the animals away.
Spectacular day in the Mighty Kruger!Even if the weather was cold during the day, the spectacular sightings we had made up for it all. Luckily this company is not one of those that rush from one big sighting to another but rather take it at a slower pace and therefore not miss even the small things like some bird species and trees and plants, lizards and much more.
Oh and I am so glad their Photographer was also on board with her very sharp eye sight. She spotted plenty of animals where the rest of us missed them…especially that Cheetah! And she took the most beautiful pictures (and some short videos clips) of all our sightings that day. We were surely one lucky group of people seeing all those magnificent wildlife, especially the Elephant Calves, Wild Dogs as well as Hyena Pups!
Oh and let’s not forget the snack bags that was packed for us!!
The Guide was very informative and interactive with our group. Evidently her kindness and helpfulness is not only restricted to the time a guest is on her vehicle still busy on the Tour but even helping when one of our group members was staying over at a place in the Kruger Park, she assisted him from booking in at the camp to taking him to where he would be staying, to briefly showing him around on what is where and available to him in the camp. And this all took merely a few minutes.
I would definitely be recommending Lion Roar Safaris.
Best experience ever!
Lizelle was very informative and made sure we had the best views of all the animals!
Lizelle was the most amazing tour guide. She knew everything about the animals and gave us plenty of time to take photos and ask questions while still ensuring that we saw 4 of the big 5. She was just as excited as we were to view the animals. Without using a radio she was knowledgeable enough to know where to look and how to spot the animals even in the summer bush. Liz was there to help point out animals as well. We were pleasantly surprised to have two guides to make this experience incredible. The vehicle was as impeccable as the guides. They even provided snacks that can easily substitute lunch. The cherry on top is the fleece lined ponchos that kept us warm as it was a bit chilly and a little rainy.
Amazing safari and the best guide!We did a lot of research and chose Lion’s Roar based on it and were spot on with our choice! To my own shame, I cannot remember the name of our guide because it’s been a few months since he experience, but she truly rocked – she was knowledgable, funny and easygoing.
We got very-very lucky on the day we went and saw elephants, rhinos, wild dogs, hippos, numerous birds and other animals. We went again just with friends and saw hardly anything, so do yourself a favor and book with these guys!
We loved it!Liz was so great! Without a doubt, she made our trip a lot better than it would have been otherwise. She was knowledgeable and really wanted us to have a good time.
Professional, great knowledge of all types of Wildlife, friendly and affordable!
Friendly, professional, safari guides
1
Best safari company in the Kruger!I want to congratulate Lion Roar Safaris once again for taking me on safari to the Kruger.
I had a spur of the moment urge to go on a safari. Even though it was a last minute booking, they were stil happy to accommodate me.
It’s always nice to just sit back and relax while everything is taken care of. For me, it is always a special occasion going to the Park. It’s the perfect opportunity to relax and recharge my batteries. Best of all, I learn something new everytime I go with Lion Roar Safaris.
Every safari with this company is unique. Everyone should do a guided safari with them atleast once in their lives otherwise you are missing out!
Keep up the good work Lion Roar and see you again soon for another safari adventure!
Wonderful safari experience in the Kruger National Park!What an experience. The finer touch and extra service makes it very special. Neat vehicle and well organised logistics. Knowlegable, friendly and professional two ladies. Highly recommended. This safari in the National Kruger Park was definitely a highlight of my year. Well done !
Memorable Father’s Day in the Kruger National ParkUsually I end up in the beautiful Nelspruit to see clients and to deal with work-related responsibilities. This year, my husband and I returned for a well-deserved holiday break. Yes, we came back and it is our second time doing a safari with Lion Roar Safaris, but this time I brought along the kids, my father and mother. One big happy family outing!
We booked the safari on Father’s Day, so my dad can enjoy the Kruger yet again. He hasn’t been to the Kruger for many years, let alone go on safari in an open safari vehicle. Everyone enjoyed it immensely, especially the kids who simply adore all animals.
My dad walks with a walking stick and my mother struggles to see & both of them make use of hearing aids. For this reason, we decided to book the safari vehicle privately so we don’t have to share with other people and if the kids misbehave or granny or grandpa can’t hear, we can talk a bit louder. (Even though we know that their company is child and elderly friendly). I’m glad my husband advised me to book it privately, it made it more special.
I just want to thank the team at Lion Roar Safaris once again. Everything from start to finish was great! I would also like to thank you for the extra touches you provide to make things comfortable, for example, the extra step that helped mom and dad get on the vehicle, the ponchos and most importantly the patience and professionalism of the guide.
We will keep coming back!
Marvellous safari experience in KrugerI have visited South Africa before and this year I decided to bring a group of friends with me. One of the MUST DO things everyone wanted to do was going on safari to Kruger.
So, I searched the web and visited the website of a guest house we stayed at previously in Nelspruit and they have a safari company listed on their things to do page. Automatically I clicked on it because the guest house was wonderful so I trust their judgement. So it turned out Lion Roar Safaris has the friendliest and most helpful staff working in the office as they answered all our questions we had and arranged everything exactly like we wanted it.
Lion Roar arranged accommodation for the 8 of us (outside of the park). The accommodation was neat, clean and modern with a yummy dinner included. The following morning the friendly Guide came to pick us up with a very neat safari vehicle. (I must admit I was quite impressed)
To keep things short, Lion Roar Safaris exceeded our expectations. Everything was seamless, professional and well planned, from the arrangements with the office, the accommodation, pick-up, transfers, payments, to the pre-arranged catered picnic at one of the picnic spots – which was absolutely fabulous may I add – to all the information we received during the day that included information about animals, conservation, anti-poaching efforts to mention but a few.
I would strongly recommend Lion Roar Safaris to anyone, whether you want to go on a private safari or arrange a special safari like ours with friends, or just because, do it! You won’t regret it and I’m sure you will come back for more. I know I will…
Thank you once again Lion Roar Safaris!
Fantastic Safari ExperienceMy family and I enjoyed a safari experience with Lion Roar Safaris recently. We had an amazing time! Liz and Lizelle took fantastic care of us and went out of their way to make sure my elderly grandmother was comfortable. Their personal touches like the ponchos and the snack boxes were greatly appreciated. They were very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. We all learned so much! I highly recommend them to anybody wanting to enjoy a unique Kruger Park experience.
Great experienceThe team went out of their way to ensure we enjoy our game drive and we manages to see 4 of the big 5’s which was impressive
Romantic Private Kruger SafariHad the most Amazing Private tour of the Kruger National Park.
We had an early morning which was Beautiful from the moment Liezel picked us up from our hotel in Nelspruit until the end when she dropped us off.
Even though we didn’t see any cats of the day, we had to accept that we will only see what The Kruger decides to give on that day.
He knowledge of the animals and the park makes You want to know more and shows how much passion she has for the animals.
We even forgot by the end of the tour that we did not see any cats(LOL).
I will Definitely do more tours with Lion Roar Safaris and will recommend it to anyone I know that wants to do a tour of The Kruger National Park.
A Great big Shout to Liz for the seamless booking a few days before the tour and once again to Liezel for a Great tour of The Kruger National Park…
Some of the services Lion Roar Safaris Offer…
Upmarket Luxury Safaris I Tailored Safaris I Professional Personal Holiday Photographer I Hire a Professional Field Guide I Hire a Private Safari Vehicle I Accommodation in and around Kruger I Photographic Safaris I Safari catering – picnic lunches, dinners and BBQ’s and more…
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