The Big Five - Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of my favorite travel destinations and a place I like to frequent while on vacation. I have visited the park countless times over the past five years and during visits I was lucky enough to cross paths and get in some good shots of all of the members of Africa's famous big five, which I will be sharing with you today.
So introducing the first member, and possibly the most famous of them all,the lion also known as the king of the jungle. To all those that watched the lion king when they were little, Mufasaaaaaaa!!
Male lions have the loudest roar of all the big cats species? His roar can be heard up to 5 miles (8 km) away.
Introducing the second member of the big five and one that you really do not want to see get angry. Natures tank, the rhinoceros!
There are two species of Rhino found in Africa, the white rhino and the black rhino. The white rhino has a much wider mouth and stands up to 1.8 meters in height, weighing in at over two tons, second only to the African elephant in size. Black rhino's on the other hand are smaller in size standing up to 1.6 meters in height and weighing up to 1400 kilograms.
The third member of the big five and yet another member that you don't want to lock horns with. He has killed more hunters in Africa than any other animal and he even made Mufasa tuck tail and run like a little kitty on many a time. Introducing the Cape buffalo.
Cape buffalo sometimes form large herds that consist of more than a thousand members
The next member is rather elusive and I was unable to get many decent shots of him but nevertheless I would like to introduce to you the fierce and ferocious leopard.
Leopards are nocturnal animals, meaning that they are mostly active at night. While running they are able to reach speeds of up to 58km per hour. Leopards are also very skilled climbers.
The final member of the big five, is the worlds largest animal on land and with ears as big as that, it is a wonder why he cannot fly. Introducing the mighty elephant.
There are two species of elephant left in the world. The African and Asian elephants. The average lifespan of an elephant is between 50 and 70 years. The oldest recorded elephant reached and age of 86 years. The largest recorded elephant was shot dead in Angola in 1956, it weighed in at a whopping 12 tons and had shoulder height of 4 meters
Now that you have been introduced to the Africa's famous big five and as mighty as they may be, they are all in grave danger. These poor animals are constantly being hunted and killed by poachers and their parts are then sold on the black market.
As mighty as these animals are, they are not bulletproof! It is reserves like the Kruger National park that provides shelter and security for these animals and if it were not for reserves like them, I am certain that a few members of the big five would not be here with us today.
So friends for those of you that live in South Africa, please make some time and visit the park, show them your support, you will thank me for that experience and those of you that do not live in South Africa but planning to visit our beautiful country. I would highly recommend a visit to the Kruger National Park to see these wonderful animals and all their beauty.
If you enjoyed this post, please comment, upvote and resteem it, I would like to raise the awareness of the poaching crisis that we are currently facing in South Africa and do whatever I can to ensure that the big five is still around for my great, great grandchildren to witness with their own eyes. Thank you.
To find out more about the current poaching crisis and how you can play a major role in defeating poaching please see my latest article below.
Long overdue to visit that park again, we spent three weeks in there many years ago, sadly no digital photography those days.
Great to meet you fellow South African and thanks for sharing the big 5, some lovely shots you managed to get up there @beetroot
Thank you @joanstewart, it's great to meet you too.
This is a very IMPORTANT Message. Up-voted and Resteemed.
Hi @daisyphotography
Very true this is a very serious issue that is affecting our wildlife. I hope more people can be made aware of how serious this matter really is.
Upvoted as my small way to say thank you.
Thank you both @daisyphotography and @diebaasman.
It will be so sad to lose some these wonderful animals. Very nice photos @beetroot. Resteemed!
Hi @beetroot
Thank you for the great post about these wonderful animals.
I have upvoted and resteemed the post as well. I hope it helps raise awareness to this serious issue that is affecting our precious wildlife.
You where really blessed to see all five of the big guys and take such great photos.
the big five are a spectacular must watch beast, it sad that the rhino has joined the endangered species, we need to protect our natural resources before they go extinct , am a big fan of nature and this is an awesome post
Thank you @joendegz, I fully agree with you, we need to protect these wonderful animals else our children will only get to read about them in books and not witness them in reality. Just thinking about it gives me this sickening feeling in the tummy.
What it is on the Lion's nose ? Has it been hurt ?
Hi @blakscorpion
I suspect that it is flies, that must of been drawn to the blood residue on his face from his recent meal. If you look just at the back of the lion you will notice a left over carcass.
I really enjoy your trip, thank you for sharing friends
Wow, dit is baie mooi foto’s wat jy geneem het. Ek hou baie van jou artiekel ook.
Baie Dankie @discoverafrica, ek waardeer die wonderlike komentaar.
Really good shots. I still haven't been anywhere in Africa, but when the time comes I will make sure I go to the park :) I support the idea that our grand-grand-children should also be able to see those amazing creatures :)
Glad to see a rhino with his/her horn intact! :>