Turns Out There’s More Than One Big 5 - And My Kids Were the Ones to Tell Me

For most of my adult life - complete with a degree in African history, plenty traveling, and a job in advertising working on the likes of Netflix and PepsiCo - I was fairly confident in my bush knowledge. The Big 5? Easy. Lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo. Gold star for Adrienne. But then came motherhood...

It humbled me - as it does to most. This new role saw me meeting two small, highly opinionated wannabe field guides who have absolutely no problem “educating” me at 6:00am over a bowl of Coco Pops (yes, I’m that mom that allows sugar).

“Mom,” Willow announced proudly, “you know there’s more than one Big 5, right?”

Turns out my children have been secretly absorbing every Nat Geo Wild documentary, safari sunset game drive on YouTube, and animal facts taught at their Montessori school. To my horror (and pride) they’ve started “schooling” me on things I should know about - especially as I work with Anywhere in Africa Safaris!

But this “awakening” made me realize that a safari is certainly not an experience reserved for teenagers, parents and grandparents. Oh no. It’s an experience that should be (and can be very easily) enjoyed by every member of the family. From 2-year-olds to 92-year-olds. 

Anywhere in Africa Safaris and our CEO, Kirsty Gordon, have been pulling off safari planning for multigenerational families for almost 30 years now (read this blog for proof). We’re also in an era where many lodges now have specialist programs for the toddlers, tweens and teens. 

So, for your reading pleasure (and my own redemption), here’s a quirky, family-approved crash course on ALL the iconic African “5s”, “6s”, “Uglys”, “Tinys”, and everything in between, courtesy of Willow, Zac and Anywhere in Africa Safaris.

THE BIG 5 | The Original Legends

Let’s start with the classic crew we all know and love. The Big 5. They earned their fame not for size, but because they were considered the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot.

• Lion - King of the jungle… except we don’t actually have “jungles.” Nevertheless, the royal title stands.
• Leopard - The introverted supermodel of the bush. Elusive, and definitely judging you from a tree branch.
• Elephant - The wise matriarch we’ve written so much about (read this blog) with a memory and personality perfectly captured in “The Elephant Whisperer” - a book you should all read if you want to genuinely call yourself an ambassador for Africa.
• Rhino - Armoured tank with a built-in sword. Beautiful, prehistoric, and in desperate need of our protection. I’ve been fortunate enough to go on a walking safari in KwaZulu-Natal where I came within just a few metres of a rhino. It was such a spiritual awakening that I left the corporate advertising work and moved into working for those who give back and support conservation (like Kirsty Gordon does here at Anywhere in Africa Safaris).
• Buffalo - Few realize just how dangerous a buffalo can be. They look somewhat “dim” but they’re actually super in-tune with what’s going on around them, and they love an uncalled for charge! 

I once thought this was the beginning and end of the story. Oh, sweet naïve pre-child me.

THE SMALL 5 | The Underdog Avengers

“Mom, you can’t only love the big ones,” my 5-year-old daughter told me. “The little ones matter too.”

This wasn’t just the Montessori speak, she was right. The Small 5 are named after their larger counterparts - and they’re proof that being tiny does not equate to being unimpressive.

• Elephant Shrew – Tiny, adorable, and faster than my husband running to the golf course every Saturday morning.
• Leopard Tortoise - A beautifully patterned, slow-moving tank.
• Ant Lion - A ferocious little pit-builder with serious engineering skills.
• Buffalo Weaver - A bird that builds communal nests more chaotic than a sock drawer.
• Rhino Beetle - The name says it all - a mini gladiator with an impressive horn. Small, but mighty.

THE MARINE 5 | Waves Bow Down

Then one day we thought we’d take the kids to Hermanus, South Africa to see the whales. It was here where again, I was reminded why I pay school fees. “Mom, did you know that there’s a Marine 5, too?”

No. But now I do. So here goes…

• Southern Right Whale - The gentle giant of our coastline, who loves slapping the ocean with its tail.
• Great White Shark - The apex predator who could absolutely smell fear (and possibly wet wetsuits?)
• Cape Fur Seal - The comedian of the ocean, barking and sunbathing like it’s a full-time job.
• African Penguin - A tiny, tuxedo-wearing icon waddling around Boulders.
• Dolphin – The ocean’s acrobat, loved unconditionally by every child.
   

THE BIG 6 | Birding Royalty

I wish I could call myself a “Twitcher”, “Birder” or any of the other names bird-lovers go by, but sadly that hobby has yet to bite. 

• Lappet-faced Vulture - A gothic giant of the skies, arriving fashionably late to every carcass party.
• Saddle-billed Stork - The supermodel of the wetlands—long legs, bold colours, and zero interest in subtlety.
• Southern Ground Hornbill - Africa’s loudest alarm clock, stomping through the savannah with booming commentary.
• Pel’s Fishing Owl - The secretive night fisherman who prefers his sushi fresh and his humans far away (same Pel’s Fishing Owl, same…)
• Marshall Eagle - A muscle-bound sky ninja that spots food anywhere.
• Kori Bustard - The world’s heaviest flying overthinker - always debating whether flapping is really worth the effort.

THE UGLY 5 | Beauty Is Subjective, Kids

“Mom, what about the Ugly 5?” Ah yes, nothing like children to remind you that nature has its own sense of humor.

• Hyena - Actually adorable, in a slightly deranged way. And am I the only one who looks at them and hears the Lion King’s Shenzi say, “What’s the hurry? We’d love for you to stick around for dinner,” as well as Banzai’s “Hey, shut up!”
• Warthog - Forever looks like what we’re told we’ll appear in a few years time if we don’t buy expensive morning creams and adhere to a strict 10-step skin care routine.
• Marabou Stork - The undertaker of the skies. Eek!
• Lappet-faced Vulture - Big 6 and Ugly 5. A true multitasker, and yet highly endangered and deserving of our love and protection.
• Wildebeest - Built like nature assembled it from spare parts, yet able to traverse long distances.

SO… WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?

Safaris - and the stories we tell - aren’t just about the Big 5. They’re about letting our children teach us. They’re about seeing the world with new eyes and realizing that Africa’s magic is far bigger than any checklist. And again, about arranging a safari even if, like me, you have young children. It’s an experience so rich that nothing can come close! 

If you’re ready to meet all the 5s, 6s, tiny’s, giants, oddballs, and ocean queens…

We know exactly where to take you.

Because in Africa, there is never just one Big 5. There is wonder everywhere - and sometimes, if you’re lucky like me, your children will help you rediscover it.

Did this blog spark a sense of adventure? Reach out to Kirsty Gordon, for an obligation-free call to discuss your needs and bucket lists. So while I, Adrienne the marketing and golfing gal wrote this blog, you'll be dealing with Kirsty from start to finish when it comes to safari planning. No Chatbots. No AI. Just good old-fashioned talking. If you’d like to understand this process better, here’s a useful page on the safari booking process.