AFRICA’S “BIG FIVE”
The most prominent of the major African mammals dubbed the “Big Five,” the lion (panthera leo) lives in social units called prides, in which up to 15 individuals are centered around a few related females; over 80% of a pride’s hunting is done by females. Lions can be seen in Masai Mara game reserve (Kenya), Serengeti & Tarangire national parks, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania).
Often seen in large, intimidating herds, the buffalo (syncerus caffer, the Cape Buffalo, is pictured here) can weigh as much as 1,500 lbs. – big and dangerous enough to keep most predators at bay. The buffalo roams the Sabi Sands (South Africa) and Serengeti (Tanzania) national parks.
Hunted almost to extinction in the 20th century, the African rhinoceros (black, diceros bicornis; white, ceratotherium simum) is one of five remaining species, still endangered. You may spot rhinos at the Sabi Sands, the Ngorongoro Crater and in Kruger National Park.
Although the beautiful, solitary leopard (panthera pardus) is prevalent in most parks and reserves in east and southern Africa, you’ll often need to look up to spot one... since it spends much of its time in trees!
The African Elephant (loxodonta africana) is the world’s largest land mammal – and one of the most adaptable; it is able to thrive in the desert, rainforest and savanna. This must-see African icon is a fixture throughout the Masai Mara, Sabi Sands, Tarangire, Amboseli and Serengeti regions.
5. ENDLESS PLAINS IN SERENGETI NAT’L PARK Morning and afternoon game drives take you into the golden Serengeti savanna today. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on Earth, where diverse habitats sustain an abundance of flora and fauna. You may spot numerous prides of lions, zebras, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, black rhinoceros, hippos, buffalo, jackals, gazelles and primates. Enjoy the evening under the backdrop of an African sunset and savor a taste of Pan-African cuisine during a leisurely dinner. Meals BLD
6. KENYA’S AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK Fly to Arusha this morning for a chance to explore the sights near Kilimanjaro National Park. Dominating the skyline is majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, peaking over surrounding landscapes from more than 15,000 feet up. We’re headed for Kenya this afternoon for a two-night stay in Amboseli National Park. Its savanna grasslands spread across the Kenya / Tanzania border attracting herds of free-ranging elephants and other wildlife. A visit this afternoon to a local Maasai village near your safari lodge introduces the people who make their homes here. Meals BLD
7. PRIVATE GAME DRIVES IN AMBOSELI Wake up in the heart of Amboseli, offering abundant opportunities to see the wildlife that thrive in the park. Elephants, hippos and buffaloes frequent nearby emerald-green swamps and grazing antelopes can be spotted in the flat grasslands, along with jackals, warthogs, baboons and monkeys. Meals BLD
8.
MT.KENYA’S ANIMAL ORPHANAGE A morning flight brings you to the legendary Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club. Straddling the Equator, the Club was founded in 1959 by late film star William Holden and is renowned as a mecca for celebrities. Become acclimated with the area during an Equatorial demonstration, followed by a private visit to the nearby animal orphanage and education center. Meals BLD
From your private visit to William Holden’s Animal Orphanage at Mt. Kenya to awe-inspiring sightings of giraffes, zebra and wildebeest in game reserves, every day is memorable
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