Kruger National Park in South Africa is well-known for being home to the famous Big Five. Check out our compilation of the most epic shots of these powerful animals. Comment your favorite one and let us know what you want to see next!
Kevan Dobbie is a ranger in MalaMala Game Reserve, part of the South African sanctuary Kruger Park. While on a game drive, he came across this mighty lion, showing his age through his walk and coat color. Kevan captured incredible footage of this aged lion strutting his stuff in front of the tourists.
Lions are famous for being the ‘King of the Jungle,’ and they are also the kings of the safari. These big cats are social creatures and thrive in a group—a pride—so it’s rare to see a lion wandering alone. Unfortunately, lions are vulnerable in terms of conservation. Lion populations are declining due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching.
The group of tourists and rangers witnessed the grandpa lion acting like an adorable kitten. All big cats can still be playful and energetic even in their adult and elder years. Being playful helps them stay agile and fit, making it easier for them to catch prey and feed themselves.
Male lions with darker manes tend to be more assertive and dominant compared to others. This grandpa was most likely the leader of his pride when he was in his prime.
Rangers Nic Nel and Gareth Nuttal-Smith caught this stunning leopard while on a game drive in MalaMala. Leopards are one of the big cats that make up two out of five of Africa’s Big Five. They are primarily solitary creatures and hunt, sleep, and live on their own until it’s time to mate. These cats are also vulnerable and, on top of that, fairly rare to see.
Leopards love climbing, mimicking their smaller domestic counterparts. These big cats will often drag their prey into trees to prevent other predators from stealing their food. Leopards have a varied diet that includes small mammals, birds, fish, and larger prey like antelope.
The two rangers spotted this spotted cat with a spotted tortoise! The leopard decided that this commonly seen leopard tortoise would be its new playmate. These big cats play with ‘toys’ even if they don’t end up eating them.
Leopards are agile creatures and can leap over 6 meters (20 feet) horizontally and 3 meters (10 feet) vertically. These distances aid in both hunting and escaping.
Lauren Dent came across a herd of buffalo while driving through MalaMala. Buffalo are common animals to see and most often travel in large groups. They’re highly social, and herds can reach hundreds of individuals.
Buffalo can live in a variety of environments, including savannas, swamps, and forests across sub-Saharan Africa. These majestic creatures are highly volatile and may randomly charge humans or even fight off lions and other predators.
Kevan Dobbie witnessed another glorious sighting of a massive bull elephant splashing through a river. Elephants are also social creatures, so seeing this male on his own is a rare event. These huge creatures can live up to 60-70 years, roughly the same as a human.
Elephants are extremely wise and are known to retain memories. They form bonds with each other and will even mourn their companions when they pass. Elephants can remember the locations of different rivers and food sources, unlike many other wild animals.
“These creatures are in danger of extinction because of hunters poaching their tusks. Elephants can consume up to 150 kg (330 lbs) of food and drink up to 200 liters (53 gallons) of water daily to support their massive bodies.
Elephant herds are led by females, and the entire group works together to care for the young. They often communicate through vocalizations, body language, and seismic signals.
Just like other animals, rhinos get itchy. In this footage shot by Gareth van Rooyen in MalaMala, we see a rhino relieving its itchy nose on a fence. Rhinos are solitary creatures, so seeing this one alone is not uncommon.
Rhinos are the most endangered and rare of the Big Five. Poachers hunt them for their horns. To protect the creatures, rangers may remove the horns themselves. Black rhinos, in particular, are nearing extinction, while white rhinos are only near threatened.