What is a Big Five safari?

So, let’s dive in.

A Big Five safari takes place in an area where lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino live in the wild. The term does not mean that guests are guaranteed to see all five. Wildlife moves freely, and every sighting depends on the animals’ location, behaviour and the conditions on the day. In fact, the only places that can truly “guarantee” sightings of the Big Five are small, fenced enclosures. In the wild, animals move freely - and leopards, in particular, are masters of disappearing into the shadows.

Shimungwe is located in Thornybush Game Reserve, part of South Africa’s unfenced Greater Kruger ecosystem. Our experienced guide and tracker team reads tracks, calls and other signs while searching for wildlife. Big Five sightings are frequent, but no two game drives are the same and no species can be guaranteed. Our guide and tracker team draw on decades of experience, reading subtle signs in the bush as they search for lions, leopards and rhinos on the move. Because the wildlife here lives completely wild and free, no two game drives are ever the same. That said, the vast majority of our guests leave having seen the entire Big Five in their natural habitat - sometimes more than once.

So why are the Big Five so popular?

The answer lies in history. In the late 19th century, colonial big-game hunters coined the term “Big Five” to describe the five animals they considered the most dangerous to hunt on foot. Successfully hunting them was seen as a major accolade. Over time, as attitudes shifted and conservation took centre stage, the meaning evolved from hunting to photographing, or simply witnessing these animals in the wild.

In that sense, the idea of “seeing the Big Five” can feel a little arbitrary - even like a marketing gimmick. And yet, there’s something undeniably powerful about coming face to face with such extraordinary animals. Sitting just metres from a wild lion, close enough to feel its presence yet barely acknowledged by it, is an experience that’s hard to put into words. For many safari-goers, moments like these are the stuff of lifelong dreams.

Where the term Big Five truly falls short, though, is in capturing the sheer richness of the African wilderness. There is so much more to a safari than five animals. The frantic energy of a pack of African wild dogs on the move, the quiet awe of standing beneath a towering giraffe - the tallest animal on Earth - or the simple joy of watching zebra and warthogs grazing peacefully among the trees.

From curious hyenas and playful monkeys to colourful birds and camouflaged chameleons, the bush is alive with detail, movement and surprise. Often, it’s these smaller, unexpected moments that linger longest in the memory.

Words and photos by Emily Whiting

Guests staying at Shimungwe Lodge in Thornybush Game Reserve enjoy game drives twice daily at dawn and dusk, where sightings of the Big Five are common.