Big 5 Game Safaris East Africa, Facts, Guide & Wildlife Tours 2025
Book the Big 5 game safaris in East Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Explore all big 5 animals in the Africa & where to see them.
The ‘’term big five’’ comes way back in the 1800s by game hunters to refer to animals that were most dangerous and difficult to hunt. These include the African lion, African elephant, Leopard, Buffalos and Rhinoceros.
Nowadays the term is used by Safari travelers who come to spot the big five animals in Africa. These big 5 animals are only found in 11 countries in the world and all of them are African including Uganda.
The Big 5 Game Safaris List
African Lion
Interested in seeing lions on wildlife tour in East Africa? Then you are in the right place. Lions are among the top Big 5 game and are the largest and most imposing African carnivore. African lions are a few most sought-after members of the African Big 5. They are the most sociable of the large cats, living in loosely structured prides of typically five to 15 animals.
Lions have special cultural significance in most countries on the continent. In Uganda, they enjoy a popular reputation as the king of the beasts and are popular symbols of royalty, strength, and bravery.
The best places to watch lions in East Africa are Serengeti in Tanzania, Masai Mara and Laikipia in Kenya, and the three largest savannah parks of Uganda are Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park where you find the climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. These lions are known for their unique behavior of climbing trees.
Leopard
The leopard is the smallest and most difficult animal to find. Leopards are sneaky and naturally shy. These impressively shy cats can be distinguished from cheetahs by their rosette-shaped spots and more powerful build as well as their preference for rocky habitats. Leopards spend the daylight hours hidden. The solitary big cats haul large kills, such as zebra or antelope, into treetops to eat alone in peace.
During the big 5 safari in Uganda, leopards can be seen in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Toro-Semuliki Wildlife Reserve.
Elephant
Elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest of all the big five found in East Africa and perhaps the most enduring symbol of nature’s grace and fragility. The elephant is one of the most intelligent and entertaining to watch on the big five safaris.
A fully grown male elephant can weigh a whopping 6300 kilos, even the smallest adult male rarely dips below 4000 kilos, which is way more than twice the weight of an average family SUV. Females are usually just over half the weight of males.
If you are planning to visit Uganda to see the magnificent giants you are most likely to see them in Kidepo Valley, Murchison falls, and Queen Elizabeth. In Kenya you can spot them in Samburu and Amboseli, then Ngorongoro and Katavi in Tanzania.
African Buffalo
African buffaloes are a few unique mammals you should expect to come across on East African safari in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya or Tanzania. These huge mammals are adaptable and widespread creatures.
They live in large herds on the savanna and smaller packs in forested areas. African buffalo is the most dangerous African game species, especially when wounded or solitary. Its reputation has placed it on Africa’s big 5 animals recognized worldwide.
What makes the African buffaloes unique is a fact that, they are very large, even-toed ungulates, characterized by their stocky build and heavy horns. Horns are present in both sexes, and they are not ridged. The buffalo is easily distinguished from other animals because of its dark black color and characteristic horns, which are smaller and lighter, curving outward, backward, and upwards. Ears are large and fringed with hair and hang below massive horns.
Buffalos can easily be seen in any safari park in East Africa. In Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Park, you can see hybrids of the savanna buffalo of East Africa and the red buffalo of West African forest.
Rhino
Rhinoceros commonly known as a rhino is a large herbivorous mammal identified by its characteristic horned snouts. The word rhinoceros comes from the Greek words Rhino (nose) and ceros( horn).
Rhinoceroses on East Africa safari should be a must –encounter. These large mammals are universally recognized for their massive bodies, stumpy legs, and either one or two dermal horns.
In some species, the horns may be short or not. Another insight about rhinos is that they have very poor eyesight but their senses of smell and hearing are well developed.
The African rhinos exist only in a few protected parks and reserves. The biggest of the five surviving species occur in Uganda, the northern white rhino, and can only be seen in the massively protected Ziwa rhino sanctuary and the Uganda Wildlife Education Center in Entebbe.
The Best Time to Go for Big 5 Game Safaris in East Africa
The best time to do a big 5 safari in East Africa is during the dry season however the safari can be done throughout the year. Safari during the rainy season is difficult due to the muddy and slippery roads which some cars cannot handle most especially in the national parks of Uganda.
And sometimes it is hard to spot animals during the rainy season though not guarantee that a visitor will see all the big 5 animals during the dry season.
What to pack for the Big 5 Game Safaris in East Africa
Cameras and extra batteries.
Binoculars.
Snacks.
Drinks.
First aid kit.
Identification documents.
Free shoes that are comfortable.
Hats or caps.
Sunglasses.
Big 5 Safaris Destinations in East Africa
The top 4 destinations in East Africa to visit for Big 5 game safaris include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. In Uganda, places to find some of the Big 5 games include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo, and Kidepo Valley National Parks.
Kenya safari destinations to find the Big 5 include Amboseli National Park, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Tsavo National Parks, Samburu National Reserve, and others.
In Tanzania, visit Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area/Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and Ruaha National Park.
In Rwanda, the Big Five can be spotted on wildlife tours in Akagera National Park. Akagera is found in the Eastern part of Rwanda and holds all the Big Five game.