The Big Five: where and how to find them

The "Big Five" — lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo — were named by 19th-century hunters as the five most dangerous animals to track on foot. Today it's a checklist for photographers instead.

Lion & leopard

Both are found throughout the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Leopards are shier and mostly nocturnal, often spotted draped over a tree branch during the day.

Elephant & buffalo

Tarangire is famous for enormous elephant herds gathering along the river in the dry season, and buffalo are common across nearly every park on a Northern Circuit itinerary.

Rhino

The rarest of the five. The Ngorongoro Crater is your best and most reliable chance in Tanzania to see the endangered black rhino.

Seeing all five in one trip is realistic on a well-planned Northern Circuit itinerary — the Ngorongoro Crater alone can deliver all five in a single day.