Wildlife of Africa

Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino are collectively known as The Big 5. They were originally defined by hunters as the most challenging animals to hunt on foot but today they are some of the most sought-after species to see on safari.  

While some safaris focus on ticking the Big 5 off a checklist, Wilderness prefers to offer a well-rounded experience that includes a focus on biodiversity, smaller creatures, birds and all the species that make a safari truly rewarding. 

The dry winter months (May to October) are generally best for wildlife viewing, as animals gather around waterholes and vegetation is sparse. That said, summer or the green season (November to April) is great for photography, birds and seeing baby animals. 

At Wilderness, our expert guides will position you for the best light, angles, and perspectives while keeping wildlife undisturbed. Whether photographing predators on night drives, elephants from hides, or birds along walking trails, photographers of all levels can capture wildlife responsibly.

No sightings are guaranteed as wildlife is unpredictable. We do however maximise your opportunities of seeing great wildlife through our remote locations, expert guiding, and knowledge of animal behaviour.

Big cats can be seen across a number of our destinations. Witness the legendary ‘flying’ lions of Kafue, follow leopards under active conservation at Wilderness Chitabe in the Okavango Delta, and encounter the lion prides that roam near Magashi Peninsula in Rwanda’s Akagera.

Watch herds frequenting the lagoon outside Wilderness DumaTau in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, witness elephants in Mana Pools, even the rare desert elephants of Namibia, or experience the huge herds that seasonally visit the Mababe marsh. 

The remote safety of Rwanda’s Akagera National Park provides a great place to see rhinos while at Namibia’s Desert Rhino Camp you have the opportunity to track one of the last free-roaming wild black rhinos. Our guides ensure these encounters are ethical and conservation-focused.

Endangered African wild dogs are most often seen at our camps in Botswana in the Okavango Delta, Linyanti Wildlife Reserve and Mababe Depression. Hwange National Park and Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe also allow great opportunities for seeing packs of these fast-moving predators.

Humpback, southern right, and Bryde’s whales are just some of the species that can be seen along the Tanzanian, Mozambican and South African coasts at certain times of the year. Wilderness can help you plan a bush and beach safari that combines land-based game drives with marine wildlife viewing.

Gansbaai outside Cape Town, and Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route in South Africa are prime locations for great white shark sightings. Speak to our Touring teams to arrange a trip with one of our carefully chosen partner operators.