| You can't go to South Africa without making at least | | | | unnecessarily disturb animals just to get a good picture. |
| one expedition to a major game reserve. This country | | | | What Are the Big Five? |
| has some of the best wildlife viewing on the African | | | | The term "Big Five" was coined in the days when |
| continent. Moreover, its tourist industry has developed | | | | professional big game hunters were looked upon as |
| an excellent infrastructure that makes a wildlife safari | | | | celebrities, as famous as star athletes are today. |
| easy, comfortable, and generally affordable for most | | | | These "sportsmen" went to South Africa to bag the |
| visitors. The leading wildlife parks are very well | | | | biggest and most exotic animals to add to their trophy |
| organized. They have well surfaced roads, excellent | | | | collections. The Big Five were elephant, lion, rhino, Cape |
| accommodations, and splendid facilities for viewing | | | | buffalo and leopard. |
| animals. For visitors who want it, the wildlife viewing | | | | A Different Kind of Shooting |
| excursion can be much more independent than it is in | | | | Big game hunting is still a big business in South Africa, |
| other countries. Visitors can self-drive on the extensive | | | | but many of the animals once hunted for sport are |
| road networks in destinations such as Kruger National | | | | now on the endangered species list and are protected. |
| Park. Nonetheless, a guided tour is advisable, because | | | | More people now do their shooting with cameras. For |
| a park ranger can direct you to the best places to see | | | | these animal lovers, the Big Five has been expanded |
| wildlife, and is a wealth of information about the | | | | to the Big Nine, with the addition to the list of hippo, |
| animals and the flora. | | | | giraffe, cheetah and zebra. Even amateur |
| Now You See Me, Now You Don't | | | | photographers have a good chance of getting great |
| Some wild animals don't like to have humans watching | | | | shots of these beautiful animals. |
| them; others couldn't care less, as long as the humans | | | | Field Guide |
| don't get too close. Many aren't even trying to hide, | | | | The park rangers say, "The animals are where you |
| when it appears that they are, they're just naturally | | | | find them." But it helps if you know where to look. |
| camouflaged. A park ranger will be invaluable in helping | | | | Giraffes like to browse around tall trees, rhinos prefer |
| you see animals you might otherwise miss. The best | | | | dry brush and scrub. The cheetah is an open plains |
| times of day for spotting animals in their natural habitat | | | | hunter; forest cramps its speedy style. Leopards hunt |
| are early morning and late afternoon. The best time of | | | | in both forest and Savannah at night, but in the daytime |
| year is winter, which is July to September in South | | | | they can be seen resting in trees, often guarding a kill. |
| Africa. That is when dry weather forces animals to | | | | Lions are also night hunters, and can often be seen |
| congregate around water holes and vegetation is less | | | | lazing in the shade during the daytime. Keep your eyes |
| dense, making the animals more visible. The chances | | | | open, and learn where to look, and you'll see hyenas, |
| of seeing mating displays and baby animals are better | | | | baboons, wart hogs, springboks, and all of the other |
| in the spring and summer, but lush greenery can | | | | creatures of wild South Africa. |
| obscure photo opportunities. However, don't | | | | |