Where To See The Big Five In Kenya: Kenya Wildlife Safaris

Where To See The Big Five In Kenya: Kenya is one of the best safari destinations in Africa for wildlife viewing, especially the African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant). The ‘’African Big Five’’ is a term coined by early big game hunters in Africa during the colonial era. This term was used to refer to the deadliest or dangerous animals to hunt on foot. They included the lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant. They were considered the most deadliest to hunt on foot because they fought back. Today, the African Big Five have become a face of wildlife safaris in Africa, and an African safari without witnessing them is almost considered an incomplete safari. Kenya is arguably one of the best places to witness these iconic African wildlife species and many more wildlife species beyond the African Big Five.

Many visitors from all over the world today visit Kenya for wildlife safaris in Africa. You might, however, wonder what the best places to see the African Big Five in Kenya? Kenya is a true safari insider, boasting over 15 National Parks and Reserves, no wonder it is the birthplace of African Safaris! When it comes to Kenya wildlife safaris and Big Five viewing, the Masai Mara National Reserve is arguably the best safari destination to visit. However, several other National Parks and Reserves across the country host a healthy population of the iconic African Big Five animals. Big Five viewing safaris in Kenya see travelers adventure from the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve to the far Samburu National Reserve .

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What To Know About The Big Five: Where To See The Big Five In Kenya

The Big Five is a term that was a term coined by the early big game hunters in Africa during the colonial era. This term was used to refer to the most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt on foot. The African Big Five were known for being aggressive, especially when wounded, and are capable of killing a hunter if not approached skillfully. These animals were also known for being hard to track. The African Big five animals include: lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards, and buffalo.

In todays tourism industry, especially in Africa, the term has been greatly adopted and has become a new face of wildlife tourism. Witnessing the African Big Five during African holiday/Kenya safari tours gives visitors a sense of fulfilment or satisfaction. Although these animals are deadly and are known for their ability to fight back, their populations have kept dwindling and some are even included on the threatened or near extinct lists of the IUCN.

Today, Big Game Hunting is a serious crime in Kenya, heavily punishable by the law, and conservation is geared towards raising populations of the Big Five animals

 

The best places to witness the iconic African wildlife species: Where To Go For Big Five In Kenya

Masai Mara National Reserve

The iconic Masai Mara National Reserve is renowned worldwide for its incredible wildlife, including the African Big Five and the great wildebeest migration. Most Kenya wildlife viewing safaris will take you to this incredible reserve for unbeatable wildlife sightings. Masai Mara is known for its healthy population of lions, with approximately 850 – 900 lions believed to live here.  Some of the popular lion prides in Masai Mara National Reserve include the Marsh pride, Paradise pride, Ridge pride, and the Sausage Tree pride.

Masai Mara National Reserve is also home to a large population of elephants, with about 2,400 – 2,500 elephants roaming its verdant plains. The leopard count in the Mara is, however, low, most counts often cite between 50 – 60 individuals in the whole reserve. There are about 20,00 buffalo in the Mara and about 35 – 50 Black rhinos across the reserve. While on Kenya wildlife safaris, Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the best places to See The Big Five In Kenya.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is the other top wildlife viewing destination in Kenya. Unlike Masai Mara National Reserve, that host all the Big Five Animals, Lake Nakuru National Park is home to only four of the Five. Lake Nakuru National Park is home to lions, leopards, buffalo, and the Rhinoceros.

The park stands at the heart of rhino conservation in Kenya, holding one of the largest populations of white rhinos. Lake Nakuru flood plains are well known to be ideal for rhino watching. Buffalos, lions, elephants and leopards are common on the game drive.

 

Amboseli National Park

Elephants are the major attraction of Amboseli National Park, allowing the thriving of these gentle creatures. For sure, a trip to Amboseli is like getting lost in an elephant wilderness. The surroundings at Amboseli National Park are made of elephant herds, buffalo, lion prides, leopards, rhinos, and endless scenic views of landscapes.

Tsavo East National Park

Moving along the Tsavo River is the magnificent world of Lions, which is the iconic attraction of Tsavo East National Park. This is one of the easiest parks to reach from Mombasa and Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, because of its strategic location along the highway connecting both cities. Besides being famed for its lions, the park is also home to elephants, rhinos, leopards and buffalos.

Samburu Reserve

Samburu is among the rich Big Five habitats of Kenya. Although located in the far north, the diversity in Samburu is a must witness for wildlife enthusiasts. The Ewaso Nyiro River is the lifeblood of th park and popular for hosting large  elephant and buffalo herds. Samburu is admired by leopard lovers who find leopards lurking at the forested riverbank for other animals drinking during the day and night.

Tsavo West Park

Tsavo West is another lion-infested national park whose lions were called Man-eaters by Colonel Patterson, who killed two lions attacking railway workers in the interior of Kenya. Today the lions are still dominating the world of Tsavo West National Park which visitors like to view on their safari in Kenya. Simultaneously, buffalo, and elephants are in big bands in the plains of Tsavo West National Park.

Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park is an ideal destination for the ultimate Big Five Safari, just on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital. The National Park is a great place to spot lions, leopards, buffalos, and elephants. The Ahi Plains overlooking the unfenced part of the park are a rich habitat for wildlife.  It is a common practice to glance at the Big Five at Nairobi National Park since it has wildlife in huge numbers.

Best Time To See The Big Five in Kenya: Where To See The Big Five In Kenya

Big Five viewing in Kenya is influenced by events of the wildlife calendar, such as the wildebeest migration, the calving seasons, climatic factors among others. Dry seasons from June-September are conducive for game drives because of less muddy trucks and easy animal spotting in the short grasses. The calving season attracts numerous lions and leopards who take advantage of the newly-born wildebeests along the trek since the older ones are usually aggressive towards cats and they can sometimes resist an attack.