
09 May Unusual and Fun Facts about the Big 5
Nambiti Game Reserve is a private game reserve located in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The reserve covers an area of approximately 23 000 acres and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo) as well as cheetah, hyena, giraffe, zebra, and numerous species of antelope and birdlife.
The reserve offers a range of safari experiences, including game drives, guided walks, and birding tours. Accommodation options include luxury lodges, tented camps, and self-catering cottages.
Nambiti Game Reserve is located in a malaria-free zone, making it a great destination for families with young children or those who do not want to take anti-malaria medication. It is easily accessible by road or air and is a popular destination for both local and international tourists seeking an authentic African wildlife experience.
We have put together some unusual facts about our Big Five that you may not have known …
- The African elephant is the largest living land mammal and has a brain that is four times larger than that of a human.
- The black rhino is actually gray and has poor eyesight, but a keen sense of smell and hearing.
- The leopard is capable of carrying prey that is twice its own body weight up a tree to protect it from scavengers.
- Lions are the only social big cats and live in prides, with females doing most of the hunting.
- Buffaloes are known to be unpredictable and aggressive, and can kill lions with their powerful horns.
- The Big 5 were originally chosen by hunters for their difficulty to hunt, rather than their size or beauty.
A few fun and interesting facts about the Big Five. How many of these facts did you know?
- The term “Big 5” was originally coined by hunters in Africa to describe the five most difficult animals to hunt on foot.
- The lion’s roar can be heard up to 8 km (5 miles) away.
- A group of rhinos is called a “crash”.
- Elephants can communicate with each other through a range of sounds that are too low for humans to hear.
- The spots on a leopard’s fur are called “rosettes” and are unique to each individual.
- Cape buffaloes have a symbiotic relationship with oxpecker birds, who feed on the ticks and insects on the buffalo’s skin.
- The Big 5 are now a popular tourist attraction in Africa, with safari tours making it possible for visitors to see these incredible animals in their natural habitats.