Big 5 safari is a tour which involves driving around the national parks in Tanzania in search of wildlife species which include elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards and buffalos. Tanzania is a country which is famous for wildlife viewing and the big 5 are among the most popular wildlife that tourists enjoy seeing as they explore the different national parks in the country. The big 5 are considered the most difficult wildlife to hunt on foot.

Big 5 destinations in Tanzania

Big 5 safaris in Tanzania can be carried out in destinations such as Serengeti national park, around the Ngorongoro conservation area, in Nyerere national park and also Ruaha national park. Depending on your luck during a safari in Tanzania, tourists can see some or all of the big 5 during a game viewing experience. Safari guides at these destinations however know the places within the national parks where the big 5 are likely to be sighted and can take the tourists there. Many other factors can affect chances of seeing all the big 5 during a safari in Tanzania and one of them is the season of travel. The season when a safari can be done include the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season is considered a best time to visit Tanzania for a chance to see wildlife species during a safari and this includes the big 5. The dry season takes place in the months of June, July, August, September and October and also around December to February. The big 5 (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos) among other wildlife species in Tanzania are easier to see during safaris in the dry season. This is because the wildlife species gather around water points in the national parks to drink and can easily be spotted during safaris. Below are some of the features of the big 5 animals in Tanzania:

Elephants

Elephants are the biggest land animal and during a big 5 safari in Tanzania, they can be spotted in most of the national parks around the country. They are known to move in their herds and among the features that make the elephants stand out from the rest of the big 5 and other wildlife species in Tanzania is their size, their trunks, their trumpet sound. During any season of the year elephants can be seen during a safari in Tanzania. In parks like Tarangire national park, elephants are in big numbers and can be seen as they roam the savannah.

Lions

Lions also referred to as simba in kiswahili are among the highlights of big 5 safaris in Tanzania. Apart from being the king of the jungle, lions are predators which are known for their ability to hunt their prey, living in groups known as prides, for their loud roars, their fierce nature. Lions are also known for hunting in groups and some national parks in Tanzania like Serengeti national park have over 4000 lions. In Lake Manyara national park, tree climbing lions can be seen during a safari. This character among lions is unique and can be seen in few other destinations including Uganda.

Leopards

Leopards are stealthy in nature and they are among the predators to look out for during the big 5 safari in Tanzania. Some of the unique features of leopards include that they can camouflage in their surroundings making them hard to spot during safaris, they hunt in solitude and they are also nocturnal wildlife species. They are also very good climbers and can also carry their prey and eat it while in the tree branches. Destinations where they can be seen include Serengeti national park, Lake Manyara national park, Ngorongoro conservation area among others.

Rhinos

Another exciting member of the big 5 to see during a safari in Tanzania is the rhinos. Rhinos in Tanzania can be seen around destinations such as the Ngorongoro conservation area which is home to black rhinos. Some unique features of rhinos include their horns. During the search for the big 5 on safari, rhinos are a little difficult to spot as compared to other wildlife species. 

Buffalos

Buffalos among the big 5 are the easiest to spot during a safari in the national parks of Tanzania. They graze in their herds and in appearance are similar to cattle. Buffalos are herbivorous in nature, very dangerous when attacked and can be seen around water points in the national parks. African buffalos are the type of buffalos which can be seen during safaris in Tanzania. Apart from the big 5, Tanzania is home to wildlife species such as impalas, kudu, gazelles, water bucks, wildebeests, zebras, cheetahs, hyenas, warthogs, giraffes, warthogs, gazelles, dik dik, reedbucks and many others.

Best time for big 5 safaris in Tanzania

Big 5 safaris in Tanzania can be done anytime  of the year with the dry season which takes place from June to October and also in December to February considered the best time to see wildlife in the country. The duration of big 5 safaris in Tanzania also varies and can be a short day tour or  go for many days. A longer safari is however favorable since chances of seeing all the big 5 is widened. Activities including game drives are carried out during the big 5 safaris include morning, afternoon and night game drives. This activity is done using 4×4 vehicles with open roofs which makes it easy to see the wildlife in the national parks like Serengeti national park. Apart from game drives, other activities carried out during big 5 safaris in Tanzania include guided nature walks, hot air balloon safaris, cultural tours, hiking, canoeing among others.

How to get to Tanzania for a big 5 safari

Tanzania can be accessed by different means including driving, flights and also using boat or ferry. Flights to the destinations in the northern part of Tanzania for big 5 safaris can be got to Kilimanjaro international airport or Arusha airport. By road the town where most tours to national parks in northern Tanzania start from is Arusha town. For the southern part of Tanzania, flights can be got to Julius Nyerere international airport. By road transfers can begin from Dar es Salaam.