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 "THE BIG FIVE"
Elephant
The biggest mammal on land. Bulls have bigger tusks than the cows. Elephants
have bad eye-sight but have and excellent sense of smell and hearing. Height at
shoulder: 300 - 340 cm, Weight: 6000 up to 7000kg, Speed: 40 km/h, Tusks: up to
60kg
Lion
"King of the Beasts". Lives in a pride. Hunts mainly at night. Female lions are
better hunters than the males. Height at shoulder: approx. 100cm, Weight:
200kg, Age: up to 20 years, Speed: 80km/h |
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| White Rhino |
The white rhino is a grazer as opposed to the black rhino, who is a browser. It
is not white in colour, but its name derives from its "wide" mouth. Height at
shoulder: 160cm, Weight: 3500kg, Length of the horn: 158cm, Age: up to 45
years, Speed: 45km/h
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| Cape Buffalo |
| The Cape or African buffalo should not be confused with its tame Asian cousin.
The Cape buffalo is the wildest and possibly the most dangerous animal of the
African bush, even more so when wounded.Height at shoulder: approx.160cm,
Weight: approx. 750kg, Age: 20 - 25 years, Speed: 55km/h
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| Leopard |
| A hunter of the night. Its favourite prey is baboons. Lives mainly in
mountainous and riverine areas. Height at shoulder: approx. 60cm, Weight:
approx. 60kg, Age: up to 21 years
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| OTHER BIG GAME |
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| Giraffe |
| The African's name is "Kameelperd", a combination of kameel and luiperd. They
believed the giraffe to be a mixture of a camel and a leopard (Giraffa
camelopardalis). Height at shoulder: approx. 550cm, Weight: approx. 1500kg,
Age: up to 28 years, Speed: 50km/h
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| Hippopotamus |
| It is really a huge, unwieldy specialised pig. It is very gregarious and spends
most of the day in water in order to protect its sensitive skin from the sun.
It grazes mainly at night. Can stay submerged for up to five minutes. Height at
shoulder: approx. 150cm, Weight: 2000 - 3000kg, Age: up to 41 years, Length of
the teeth: 58cm/122cm
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| Nile Crocodile |
| The largest reptile on earth and belongs to the oldest surviving creatures.
Crocodiles have been around for more than 60 million years. Height at shoulder:
approx. 40cm, Weight: up to 100kg, Length of body: up to 600cm.
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| Burchellīs Zebra |
| Zebras use their stripes to regulate their body temperature. On cold days they
turn their bodies to the sun in order to absorb as much warmth through the
black stripes. On hot days they turn their predominantly white rumps to the
sun, in order to reflect the heat. Height at shoulder: approx. 136cm, Weight:
approx. 320kg, Age: up to 35 years, Speed: 60km/h
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| Mountain Zebra |
| The mountain zebra is not a s common as Burchellīs zebra nor does it have
"shadow" stripes. It is smaller, has longer ears and no stripes on its belly.
Height at shoulder: approx. 120cm, Weight: 300kg, Age: up to 35 years, Speed:
65km/h
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| Baboon |
| The baboon is intelligent, cunning and almost human. Baboons live in groups and
display a highly developed form of social behaviour. Height at shoulder:
approx. 100cm, Weight: approx. 20kg, Age: up to 45 years
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| LARGE ANTELOPE |
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| Eland |
| The largest antelope in South Africa. Both male and female bear horns, the
bulls being massive and short, the cow's being elongated and slender. They live
in herds of up to 60. They can leap remarkably high, up to 2.4m. Height at
shoulder: approx. 170cm, Weight: approx. 650kg, Age: up to 12 years, Length of
horn: up to 110cm
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| Kudu |
| Selous described the Kudu as "one of the most beautiful in the world". The
magnificent horns, borne only by the males, are spread in beautiful open
spirals. They live in small herds of 5 to 10. They can leap up to 2.5m. Height
at shoulder: approx. 150cm, Weight: 300kg, Age: up to 11 years, Length of horn:
up to 181cm
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| Roan Antelope |
| The roan is the largest of the antelope after the Eland, and resembles the
sable in some ways. Height at shoulder: approx. 150cm, Weight: approx. 285kg,
Age: up to 19 years, Length of horn: up to 99cm
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| Sable Antelope |
| The sable with its regal bearing is one of the most beautiful antelope. Its
heavily ringed horns rise vertically and sweep back in a semicircular curve.
The bulls are black and the under parts are white. In Afrikaans it is called
Swartwitpens: "black-white belly". Both sexes bear horns. Height at shoulder:
approx. 140cm, Weight: approx. 220kg, Age: up to 19 years, Length of horn: up
to 155cm
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| Cape Hartebeest |
| Is also known as the red hartebeest. Both sexes bear horns. They have a docile
appearance but are extremely fast runners who can maintain their pace for long
distances. Height at shoulder: approx. 130cm, Weight: approx. 160kg, Age: up to
20 years, Speed: 65km/h, Length of horn: up to 66cm
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| Tsessebe |
| The Sassaby as it is also known occupies the position both physically and
geographically between the Blesbok and the Bontebok. However it strongly
resembles the Red Hartebeest. It is reputed to be the fastest African antelope,
reaching speeds of up to 100km/h, and can run 7 miles and be as fresh as it was
from the start. Height at shoulder: approx. 120cm, Weight: 160kg, Age: up to 20
years, Length of horn: up to 48cm
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| Oryx/Gemsbok |
| Both sexes bear horns, those of the cow being longer and slimmer. They live in
herds of up to 40 animals and can survive without water for long periods. They
are aggressive and always ready for a fight. Wounded animals can be dangerous.
Height at shoulder: approx. 120cm, Weight: approx. 200kg, Age: up to 19 years,
Length of horn: up to 122cm
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| Waterbuck |
| It is a stately looking beast with well ringed horns, borne by males only.
Generally found close to water and bears a peculiar white marking on its rump
that would suggest that the prototype waterbuck sat on a freshly painted toilet
seat. Height at shoulder: approx. 130cm, Weight: approx. 250kg, Age: up to 12
years, Length of horn: up to 99cm
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| Blue Wildebeest/Bridled Gnu |
| Also known as black-tailed gnu, it is ox-like in build and has buffalo shaped
horns. It lives in herds and is often seen with Zebras, Impalas and Giraffe.
Height at shoulder: approx. 135cm, Weight: approx. 250kg, Age: up to 20 years,
Length of horn: 83cm
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| Black Wildebeest/White-tailed Gnu |
| It is smaller than its "blue" cousin. Is generally referred to as the black
wildebeest and its natural habitat is the highveld and the Karoo regions of
South Africa. Height at shoulder: approx. 120cm, Weight: approx. 180kg, Age: up
to 20 years, Length of horn: up to 68cm
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| Lechwe |
| Looks like a cross between an Impala and a waterbuck. Lives mainly in swamps
and lagoons. Height at shoulder: approx. 82cm, Weight: approx. 120kg, Length of
horn: up to 68cm
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| Nyala |
| Looks like a mixture of a young kudu and a bushbuck, but wears its
characteristic "orange-coloured stockings". Height at shoulder: approx. 105cm,
Weight: approx. 130kg, Age: up to 8 years, Length of horn: up to 83cm
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| MEDIUM-SIZED ANTELOPE |
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| Bontebok |
| Was named after its characteristically coloured coat. It was applied by the
Dutch settlers and means "pied" or "variegated" buck. It nearly became extinct
and is at home only in the south western Cape. Both sexes bear horns. Height at
shoulder: approx. 90cm, Weight: approx. 64kg, Age: up to 8 years, Length of
horn: up to 43cm
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| Blesbok |
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Looks very similar to the Bontebok, but it is smaller, has a lighter coat
and is more prolific Both sexes bear horns. Height at shoulder: approx. 95cm,
Weight: approx. 80kg, Age: up to 9 years, Length of horn: approx. 51cm
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| Bushbbuck |
| Is easily recognised by its white collar. Is at home in thick bush and
close to water. It is aggressive, brave and quite dangerous. It will tackle
leopard, dogs and even human beings. Height at shoulder: approx. 80cm, Weight:
approx. 54kg, Age: up to 9 years, Length of horn: up to 55cm
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| Impala |
The Impala is the most prolific antelope in South Africa. Only the ram bears
horns. Height at shoulder: approx. 90cm
Weight: approx. 65kg, Age: up to 9 years, Length of horn: up to 65cm
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| Reedbuck |
| As its name denotes it is at home in areas rich in reeds. But it does not like
to go into water. It can be recognised by a characteristic whistle. Only the
ram bears horns. Height at shoulder: approx. 90cm, Weight: approx. 70kg, Age:
up to 9 years, Length of horn: up to 46cm
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| Mountain Reedbuck |
| Is at home in mountainous regions and lives in small groups. It is smaller and
shyer than the Reedbuck. Only the ram bears horns. Height at shoulder: approx.
75cm, Weight: approx. 25kg, Age: up to 8 years, Length of horn: up to 23cm
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| Springbok |
| This is the national animal of South Africa. It has an amazing ability to
jump vertically as high as 3m and horizontally as far as 5m. Both sexes bear
horns. Height at shoulder: approx. 75cm, Weight: approx. 35kg, Age: up to 10
years, Length of horn: up to 48cm
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| Rhebok |
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Lives in larger groups, is small, aggressive and bravely defends its
territory. Height at shoulder: approx. 75cm, Weight: approx. 22kg, Age: up to 9
years, Length of horn: up to 29cm
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