407
hunting trips
$350
starting from
123
outfitters
7
animals
About Big Five hunting
The “Big Five” is an old African term from the “golden years” of the safari. It stands for five African animals that were considered the most desirable trophies, and at the same time the most dangerous animals to hunt: Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Lion and Leopard.
Each of these species presents a unique challenge for a hunter. Elephant and buffalo hunts are usually conducted by tracking, and as often as not involve days and days of following the spoor until an opportunity to harvest a “tusker” or “dagga boy” presents itself. The most popular method of hunting free-ranging lions and leopards is over bait, where days after days may draw blank as the predators prefer other food sources, and once they visit the bait, the trophy estimation and the shot typically must be made under less than perfect lighting conditions.
And you know well that you can’t afford crippling any of the Big Five. The elephant and the buffalo are hard to stop simply because of their mass. An additional challenge is that these are herd animals, and other herd members may join in the charge. The big cats are solitary (lion hunting regulations are drawn so as to prevent killing pride lions), but also highly skilled at killing things. The bottom line here is that a Big Five hunt is a complicated affair, that requires a highly competent PH and team, and usually takes a lot of time.
These days, old-fashioned grand safaris where all the Big Five were taken during just one hunt are history. Hunting is strictly limited by a system of quotas and international agreements for trophy importation, in order to protect populations of these iconic species. The Rhino now exists only in a few protected areas, and hunting opportunities are limited to game farms in South Africa and Namibia (which made an invaluable contribution to the preservation of the species). Hunting for other members of the Big Five typically takes place in the wildest corners of Africa, with rules, prices and challenges varying greatly from country to country.
Special offers
Animals
Top hunts
2:1 Swartwater Bushveld Safari
Limpopo, South Africa
African wild cat, Baboon, Black impala, Black-backed jackal, Blue wildebeest, Burchells zebra, Bushpig, Cape buffalo, Cape eland, Caracal, Common blesbuck, Common duiker, Crocodile, Gemsbuck, Giraffe, Golden wildebeest, Impala, Kudu, Limpopo bushbuck, Nyala, Ostrich, Porcupine, Red hartebeest, Sable, Steenbok, Vervet monkey, Warthog, Waterbuck, White blesbuck
Bow Hunting, Crossbow Hunting, Hunting From a Blind, Rifle Hunting, Stalking
Season: Jan 1, 25 - Jan 1, 26
Daily rate fee
$1,800
for 7 days, 1 hunter
Recently booked
Eastern Cape Plains Game Hunt 1x1
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Black impala, Black springbok, Black wildebeest, Blue duiker, Blue wildebeest, Bontebok, Bushbuck, Bushpig, Cape buffalo, Cape eland, Cape springbok, Caracal, Common blesbuck, Common duiker, Common reedbuck, Copper springbok, Fallow deer, Gemsbuck, Giraffe, Grey rhebuck, Grysbuck, Impala, Klipspringer, Kudu, Mountain reedbuck, Nyala, Oribi, Ostrich, Red hartebeest, Red lechwe, Roan, Sable, Scimitar oryx, Steenbok, Warthog, Waterbuck, White blesbuck, White springbok, Zebra
Bow Hunting, Rifle Hunting
Season: Jan 10, 25 - Dec 20, 25
Daily rate fee
$900
for 3 days, 1 hunter
Cape Buffalo Package on 1x1
Limpopo, South Africa
Cape buffalo
Rifle Hunting, Stalking
Season: Jan 1, 23 - Jun 30, 25
Package price
$10,700
$14,705
for 8 days, 1 hunter, 1 guest
Recently booked
Big Five
Interested in Big Five hunts?
Create a subscription to get offers right to your inbox
You might also like
Explore hunting
trips worldwide
trips worldwide
Direct offers from outfitters
with no booking fees
with no booking fees
Verified reviews
from other hunters
from other hunters