The term “Big Five” originally referred to the five most difficult and dangerous animals in Africa to hunt on foot. This term was coined by big-game hunters in the 19th century and included the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo. The concept was not based on the size of the animals, but rather on the danger and challenges involved in hunting them.
Over time, the term “Big Five” has been adopted by safari and wildlife operators to promote wildlife tourism in Africa. It has become a popular checklist for safari-goers who hope to go on a big five safari and visit African wildlife reserves.
Based on 2025 estimates
- Lion is the ‘king of the savannah’. The largest population of lions live in Tanzania’ Serengeti National Park (about 3,000). Kruger National Park in South Africa is another location with 1,600 to 1,800 lions.
- Rhinoceros is the most endangered Big 5 animal species. The last two northern white rhinos live in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, while the majority of southern white rhinos and black rhinos live in South Africa.
- Leopard is solitary, elusive and hard to spot, but larger populations live in different South African game reserves.
- Elephant is the largest land mammal, often poached for their tusks. The largest elephant population lives in Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, inclduing roughly 120,000 elephants in Botswana’s Chobe National Park.
- African Buffalo are large and powerful, living in herds. One of the largest congregation lives in Ethiopia’s Chebera Churchura National Park.
READ ON – Ethical safari tours in South Africa
Map of Africa Big 5
The below map shows the concentration of Africa’s iconic Big Five animals – the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo. It serves as a unique visual guide to understanding where these magnificent safari animals are found across the continent. The color gradient represents the variety of the Big Five present in each area, with darker shades indicating higher diversity.
Spotting the Big Five animals in Africa in one place can be difficult, as each of these iconic animals tends to congregate in different regions. While a country may be home to all five species, the largest populations of each are often found in distinct areas. As a result, some animals may be readily visible in certain regions, while others remain elusive due to their smaller local populations.
Lions
The first of Big 5 Africa are the lions. They are listed as “Vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
A 2023 study by Oxford University estimates that the total population of wild lions in Africa ranges between 20,000 and 25,000, spread across 25 countries. Nearly half of these countries have populations of fewer than 250 lions, and eight countries are home to just a single wild lion pride.
According to 2025 estimates, Tanzania is home to the largest population of lions, with approximately 14,500 individuals. The best place to see lions in Tanzania is in Serengeti National Park since roughly 3,000 lions live there.
RELATED – Choose from several ethical safari tours to Serengeti National Park
In comparison, South Africa and Botswana each have about 3,284 and 3,063 lions, while Kenya has 2,515 and Zambia has 2,349 lions.
Kruger National Park in South Africa is often cited as home to one of the largest lion populations, estimated at 1,600 to 1,800. But a study published in 2025 reported a potential 63% decline, particularly in the northern regions of the park.
If you want to choose a travel to a destination where you can watch lions in their natural habitat, you should look for safaris in Tanzania. BornWild is an eco-tour company that organizes tours while being involved heavily in lion conservation projects.
QUICK TIP: Explore Kruger’s live sightings map to see where lions are spotted right now.
Rhinoceros
The next of the Big Five are the rhinoceros. There are three rhino species in Africa: black rhinos, northern white rhinos, and southern white rhinos.
From 1960 to 1995, large-scale poaching led to a dramatic 98% decline in their numbers. By the end of 2024, the total rhino population in Africa was only 22,540, down from 23,290 in the previous year.
More than 70% of Africa’s rhinos are southern white rhinos, yet they are classified as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. The majority of this population, about 12,968, is found in South Africa.
Other countries with significant populations include Namibia with 1,416, Kenya with 873, Zimbabwe with 417, and Botswana with 242. In other countries, the population totals less than 100.
Currently, northern white rhinos are the rarest animals in the world. Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy is home to the last two females, who are now under constant armed protection.
Black rhinoceros are estimated to number nearly 6,788, slightly increased compared to previous years thanks to intensive conservation efforts. Still they remain critically endangered.
One of 2025’s success story is Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, who worked tirelessly to grew its black rhino population up to 273, which is a staggering 1720% increase compared to the last 50 years.
RELATED – Visit Lewa Wilderness Conservancy
In South Africa, there are approximately 2,056 black rhinos, followed by Namibia with 2,196, Kenya with 968, Zimbabwe with 616, and Tanzania with 212.
Leopard
Leopards are also part of the Africa Big 5. It is commonly cited that there are more than 700,000 leopards in Africa, but experts reported this number to be flawed. Still, leopards are listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species with their numbers in Africa declining by 48–67% in the past century.
South Africa boasts the largest leopard population, concentrated in four core regions:
- the western and southeastern coasts of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces;
- the interior of KwaZulu-Natal Province;
- Kruger National Park and the interior regions of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West Provinces; and
- the northern area encompassing the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and adjacent parts of the Northern Cape and North West Province.
While Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe also have significant leopard populations, their numbers are expected to decrease as their habitats shrink.
In 2025, positive news about leopards came from Zambia’s Kafue National Park calling the area, among the highest densities of the big cat in Southern Africa.
RELATED – Plan a safari in Kafue National Park to see leopards.
African Buffalo
The next Big 5 animal is the Africa buffalo. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, there are 4 buffalo species in Africa and 75% of their total population now lives in protected areas.
Despite their population in Africa is estimated to amount to 400,000, their numbers are decreasing. Hence they are listed as “Near Threatened” on ICUN’s Red List.
So where can you actually see each species?
A 2024 study found that Ethiopia’s Chebera Churchura National Park, home to a third of the country’s elephants and the largest buffalo population (estimated to be 2,617) now faces severe threats from habitat loss, poaching and weak management.
RELATED – Visit Ethiopia’s untouched wilderness where buffalos live
Which are the common areas where buffalos live?
- Savanna Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) also known as the Cape buffalo: This is the most common and widespread subspecies. It is found in a variety of habitats in countries across East and Southern Africa. Key countries include Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique.
- West African Savanna Buffalo (Syncerus caffer brachyceros): Countries with notable populations include Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. The populations in this region have shown contrasting trends, with some areas experiencing declines.
- Central African Savanna Buffalo (Syncerus caffer aequinoctialis): Significant populations are in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan. The numbers in this region have been particularly affected by several factors.
- Forest Buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus): The forest buffalo is smaller and is found in the rainforests of Central and West Africa. However, precise figures for their populations are not readily available. Countries where they are known to be common include Cameroon, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo.
Elephant
The last one of the African Big 5 is the elephant. This gentle giant is the largest land mammal with two sub-species: the African Savannah Elephant and the African Forest Elephant.
According to an estimate from 2016, their total number was 415,428 living in herds across the African continent.
More than 50% of African Savannah Elephants live in the world’s largest conservation area called Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), which includes Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The largest congregation is in Botswana’s Chobe National Park roughly 120,000.
RELATED – Why visit Chobe National Park?
In an unprecedented first-ever aerial survey conducted by KAZA in 2022, resulted in positive outcome and showed a population of 227,900, which is an increase by 7% compared to the 2016 data.
However, a 2025 study delivered devastating news. Forest elephant population have declined by an average of 90%, while savanna elephant numbers have fallen by 70% over the study period. The distribution of elephants shifted and the population size also dropped below 500 individuals in one place.
South Africa‘s total wild population is estimated at approximately 44,326 in 2020 with the Kruger National Park (KNP) leading it with an estimated elephant population of 31,527.
IUCN reported that African Forest Elephants primarily live in the central African range, with 72% of their population in Gabon and the Republic of Congo.
Is South Africa the best place to see the Africa Big Five?
South Africa is a prime habitat for several of the Big Five animals, each with significant populations across various regions of the country. Moreover, there are plenty of other South African animals you can see that reside near them if you choose this location as your next safari adventure.
The nation is home to approximately 3,000 lions, primarily found in protected areas.
South Africa also boasts the largest leopard population in Africa, concentrated in diverse habitats including the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal Province, and the northern regions near the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
In terms of rhinos, South Africa holds the majority of the continent’s population, with over 70% of Africa’s rhinos residing there. This includes around 12,968 southern white rhinos and approximately 2,056 black rhinos.
South Africa has a significant population of Savanna Buffalos estimated to be around 30,000 at the end of the 20th century.
Last, but not least there are said to be 44,326 wild elephants roaming the land in South Africa.
FAQs
Tanzania hosts the continent’s largest lion population, estimated at around 14,500. But there are other territories with a significant number of prides.
South Africa is home to the largest population of leopards, particularly in regions like the Kruger National Park and the KwaZulu-Natal Province.
The Savanna Buffalo, the most common buffalo subspecies, has its largest populations in East and Southern Africa, with countries like Tanzania and South Africa having significant numbers.
South Africa leads in rhino populations, with the majority of both southern white and black rhinos found there.
The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, spanning Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, has the highest concentration of African Savannah Elephants.
Where to Stay in Africa
For those seeking to experience Africa’s majestic wildlife, eco-lodges offer a sustainable way to stay close to nature. These lodges prioritize environmental conservation, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the natural habitat of the Big Five while supporting eco-friendly tourism practices that contribute to the preservation of these magnificent species.
Safari lodges in South Africa are usually situated inside game reserves like Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, or Addo Elephant National Park. They not only offer a close-to-nature experience they all play a crucial role in wildlife conservation.
Emese Maczko is a travel blogger behind Eco Lodges Anywhere. Having explored several destinations around Europe, the US, Indonesia, and Australia, and resided in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg, Emese possesses a keen understanding of diverse cultures and an appreciation for the beauty of each destination she visits. She advocates for sustainable travel and ecotourism.
