Many of our clients ask us “what can we bring as gifts” when they visit Africa on safari. And we’re glad they ask us, because there’s nothing worse than packing a bag full of items that may not be useful at all in a northern Tanzanian village, or township outside of Cape Town. Giving really is an art, you don’t want to corrupt or create dependency. So in order to make sure that your gifts go to the right place, and the right people at the right time, here are some tips:

Supplies for Schools, Health Centers and Orphanages:

We at African Portfolio are happy to arrange visits to schools and orphanages for our clients going on safari. It’s difficult to imagine visiting a school or health care center without bringing bags of supplies, but think about it carefully. Also consider being open to mailing something that is needed when you return home from your trip. Past clients have been asked to send all kinds of interesting gifts, from nail polish to a CD with Gregorian chants!

Toys
Soccer balls and sports equipment that needs minimal maintenance, are usually welcome. In general, bringing toys is not a great idea, since there’s often not enough for everyone. A few toys for your Guides’ children or other staff that work hard to ensure you have a good trip, is a nice gesture and of course welcome. But you can start a near riot by bringing toys and distributing them out to children at school or in their village at home. Imagine a Chinese tourist wondering through your neighborhood one day handing out things to your kids. Make sure that you hand the things you bring to an adult, headmaster, head nurse, chief, etc.

School Supplies
It’s really best to just give the director of the school money to buy appropriate supplies. You can always bring pencils and crayons, but you may find that school uniforms are actually what is needed most. You may think you can’t go wrong with books but imagine a Maasai child trying to figure out what Elmo is and why he has a pet goldfish. Books are also difficult and expensive to transport. There’s a new web site Pack for a Purpose that partners with lodges and hotels in several African countries, and they list the supplies needed at local schools in the area.

Medicine
The African market has been flooded with outdated medicine from the West, so make sure you are in touch with the staff of a medical center you plan to visit, to get exact details on supplies they need. You should also check with your airline and the embassy and make sure you are allowed to bring the supplies in, to avoid anything getting confiscated. The airline won’t allow you to board with a bag full of syringes, no matter how good your intentions are.

Electronics
Old computers and cameras are not useful at all unless you add in a technician, an electrician and you manage to solve the problem of eternal power cuts. Unlikely. So, donating a new i-Pad with a 3G connection is much more useful. It has a long battery life, cell phone access is widespread throughout the continent, and you can charge it up with a solar battery.

Used Clothing
A good pair of shoes will never go to waste, but in general, the used clothing market is saturated in Africa. So much so that it has actually almost wiped out local tailors and clothing industries. Instead of bringing more, go to any market and buy used clothes and shoes there, and then give them to a community leader to distribute. You’ll be helping out the local economy and providing clothing at the same time.

Remember, if you wish to sponsor a school, health center, orphanage or any non-profit, make sure it is well established within the community it serves. Community led projects always work better than those that are imposed upon from the outside.

Safaris do not come cheap. Partly because they take place in remote settings where supplies are hard to come by. The logistics of running a camp or a lodge in the middle of the African bush is very complicated when the closest shop is 500 miles away, and there’s no guarantee it will be stocked anyway. Besides this, it takes a lot to maintain a national park and reserve, as well as making sure the wildlife continues to be protected. Park fees can run to almost $100 per person, per day, at some national parks. That’s before you’ve even eaten breakfast, gone for a drive, or spent the night. But anyone who has been on safari will tell you, it’s all worth it and more. However, there are a few things you can keep in mind, to keep your safari costs down.

Make Your Safari Cheaper Without Cheapening Your Safari

• Go in the shoulder or off-season — Conventional safari wisdom says that the “dry” season is by far the best season to go on safari. It’s when the animals congregate around waterholes and the grass is short, i.e. better game viewing opportunities. But go to a private game reserve with a great guide and you will be guaranteed to have an incredible safari in any “off -season”, and that’s for half the price. The wet season can offer wonderful opportunities to view wildlife by boat, it’s an excellent time for birders, and there are lots of baby animals to swoon over.
• Go with a friend or a group — You can really cut the costs of a customized safari and retain all the benefits, if you travel with friends. You’ll be sharing the cost of the vehicle and guide and avoid any single supplements. Set departure dates and group safaris can also reduce your safari costs significantly but you lose a little flexibility in your schedule.
• Spend it all in one place – Africa is massive, the US can fit into it three times over. So don’t try to traverse an entire subcontinent. Focus on one country and eliminate the need for expensive regional flights. Nobody gets to see it all in a lifetime let alone one trip, so get the best value for your money by spending it on the experience you came for – a great safari.
  
• Add on a little city time – A safari is just a small slice of life in Africa, experience a little time in the cities before and after your bush adventure. The accommodation is often cheaper, includes breakfast and you’re at your own discretion to taste some local fare at restaurants. You’ll be hankering for some cultural interaction after a week or so with animals.
• Forego the extra luxuries – You can get a great safari experience with a good guide and good accommodations for much less money, if you cut down on some of the ultra luxurious perks. These would include a private plunge pool, a spa, personal staff, air conditioned tent, gourmet meals cooked to order, a large selection of wines, etc.
• Find a good safari consultant – A good safari consultant will take the time to listen to what you want out of a safari and will get you the best value based upon your personal preferences. African safari specialists will know when a regional flight makes more sense than driving. They will be able to tell you whether it’s worth paying extra for a room with AC during the dry season in Botswana. They know when the rainy season means roads are impassable, or whether it is in fact the perfect time to view wildlife in certain areas. They understand that if you wish to go on a walking safari and want to do night drives, that you have to safari in private reserve.

In the end, it pays to book your safari with an expert (like us) to get the safari you want, at the price you can afford.

There’s nothing more annoying than returning from your safari with hundreds of photos of barely distinguishable blobs of gray and brown, surrounded by grass, shrubs and trees. You will bore your friends and family, you may even bore yourself when you look through them years later. The key to shooting wildlife (with a camera of course)  is to understand that they wear camouflage and move around a lot. The lighting is often bright and the roads are bumpy. If you want your safari photos to look good and reflect what you are actually seeing, follow these tips:

Tips for Taking a Good Wildlife Photo on Safari

• Camera – Bringing the right camera is of course the most important thing. A compact digital camera with a good image stabilized zoom is great for taking decent pictures quickly. Since you are usually taking shots from a vehicle and can’t always get closer to the animals, a good zoom is more essential than a good camera with a lousy zoom. For better quality, it’s good to go to with a Digital SLR. More on cameras…
• Beanbag – A beanbag or bag of rice is the perfect thing to rest your camera on when in a safari vehicle. The more you zoom, the more sensitive your camera is to slight shakes and bumps so it pays to keep it steady.
• Focus – Be patient and wait for the animal to move into more open terrain or do something interesting like yawn. Focus on the eyes of the animal you are taking a picture of. If you really know what you are doing, you can also make sure your aperture opening is on the highest setting, so the background is blurred, and the animal is sharp.
• Practice – Visit your local zoo, or practice using your camera on animals in your garden or park before you go on safari. Often people buy new equipment for their African safari, so it’s important to get to know it before you go.
• Extra batteries and chargers – Don’t run out of batteries halfway through a game drive! Make sure you know how long it takes to recharge and bring the right plugs for your adapters.

The best camera and all the patience in the world won’t help you if you are stuck in a vehicle with too many people and cannot get a clear shot. Make sure you book a safari that takes this into consideration as well as making sure you get a good guide to actually track and find the wildlife. We certainly keep this in mind at African Portfolio.

Tracking mountain gorillas is one of the most exciting safaris we offer. With just 700 mountain gorillas left in the wild, it is a real thrill to meet them face to face.

Where Can You Track Mountain Gorillas?

You can track mountain gorillas in either Uganda or Rwanda. There are options in the DRC, but it’s not quite as established, nor as comfortable to track there. In Rwanda, 56 permits are issued every day and there are 7 habituated gorilla families all living in the Parc National des Volcans (PNV). In Uganda, there are two different gorilla parks, Bwindi Impenetrable Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The permits issued are also limited in number, because of this, you need to book your safari at least 6 months in advance. The cost of a permit is $500 and most of it goes towards further conservation efforts.

Rwanda has the reputation of offering slightly easier hikes to some of the gorilla groups. The PNV is also just a 3 hour drive from the capital Kigali, and so more convenient as an add-on to a safari in northern Tanzania, or even Kenya. Uganda’s gorilla parks are a good day’s drive from the capital Kampala and you tend to have to hike longer to find the gorilla groups. However, Uganda does offer traditional safaris in other parks, as well as rafting on the Nile and chimpanzee tracking.

If gorilla tracking is the entire focus of your trip to East Africa, then it is very easy to combine tracking in Rwanda and Uganda. The driving distance between the parks in both countries is very doable. In fact, we highly recommend that you track gorillas twice if you can. A second time allows you to truly enjoy the experience without concerning yourself with cameras and videos.

What’s the Hike Like?

The mountain gorillas that are left, have survived by living on  incredibly steep volcanic slopes, in nasty, dense, stinging vegetation. It’s a lovely bamboo/nettle/celery salad bowl for them, but very painful for those of us without thick fur.

Some gorilla families are just an hour or so away from the parking area, others can be a stiff 4 hour hike in. Trackers scout the nesting areas of each gorilla family before the trek starts, so they have a good idea where you need to hike to. This means you will certainly find the gorillas, but  the time it takes to get to them always varies.

Porters and guides are on hand to show you the path, hack through the vegetation and carry your stuff if need be. Walking sticks are provided as well. Because the terrain is steep, muddy and difficult, the pace is always slow and steady. You have to be somewhat fit and your knees should be in reasonable shape, especially for the hike down.

What to Wear

When you get to the gorilla group you will have to give up your walking sticks. This means you will rely on your hands to climb up and down the slopes and keep yourself from slipping. Thin, sport gloves offer excellent protection against all the stinging and burning nettles that surround you. Make sure you can operate your cameras with them on.

Wear long pants made of slightly thick material to stop the nettles from burning your skin. You want to wear thick, long socks so you can tuck your pants into them. In some areas there are fire ants that like to climb up your legs. You don’t want to be stomping around when you are surrounded by gorillas.

A waterproof jacket is necessary to keep warm and dry. It rains a lot in these parts and the vegetation is often wet with dew in the morning. Wear long sleeve layers since it is chilly at higher elevations and with the thick foliage, the sun rarely shines through.

Walking shoes are of course necessary,  make sure they are comfortable and worn in so you don’t suffer from blisters. The lodges usually offer to clean and dry your shoes after your trek.

What To Expect When You Find the Gorillas
You are allowed to spend an hour with the gorillas. Follow your guide and trackers’ instructions, they will remind you to stay at least 5 meters away from the gorillas. If they come closer to you, you will be told to stand still, or crouch down. The guides know these families and each individual, so you don’t have to be scared. No one has been harmed by a habituated gorilla. It is very likely that they will get close enough that you can smell them, it’s a thrill to say the least.

Sometimes the gorillas will be make a lot of noise, small spats can break out, while others may be playing, eating or just grooming. You will likely be moving around a little to keep them in view since they don’t always stay in one spot. Often the younger gorillas will be playing all around you and hanging off the bamboo above you. Watch out, bamboo is not strong and gorillas seem to enjoy riding the stalks down, so it’s a little unpredictable.

Try and spend some time just watching and not always filming or taking photos. It’s tempting, but you do miss out on just being there, and your precious will be over before you know it.

Ready to Book Your Gorilla Adventure?

We can help you organize your gorilla safari in both Uganda and Rwanda. You need to book a gorilla safari at least six months in advance because permits are limited and they sell out  quickly.  Contact us for more information.

Going on safari means getting an education. That may sound boring, but it’s quite the opposite. It is amazing how much you learn about the animals you’re seeing, the environment, and the local culture. It’s always an eye-opener. Much of your learning will come from the local people around you, including your driver and/or guide (if you have one). But a few key books are very useful as well and we list our recommendations below. For individual country travel guides, we like the Bradt series.

With i-Pads and Kindles these days, you can download as many books as you want without having to pay for extra luggage. MyDigitalEarth.com also has some excellent apps you can download onto your i-Pad or phone to identify trees, mammals, and birds in Southern Africa.

Books about East Africa

Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass – Isak Dinesen (aka Karen Blixen)

The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories – Ernest Hemingway

The Hanging Tree – David Lambkin

West with the Night - Beryl Markham

The Tree Where Man Was Born – Peter Matthiessen

Africa: Biography of a Continent – John Reader

Year of the Gorilla – George Schaller

In the Dust of Kilimanjaro – David Western

Coming of Age with Elephants – Joyce Pool

Land of a Thousand Hills, My Life in Rwanda – Roz Carr

I Dreamed of Africa – Kuki Gallman

Dark Star Safari - Paul Theroux

Books about Southern African

A Walk with a White Bushman - Laurens van der Post

Cry, the Beloved Country - Alan Paton

The Boer War – Thomas Pakenham

Long Walk to Freedom – Nelson Mandela

Brave Men’s Blood – Ian Knight

Scramble for Africa – Thomas Pakenham

Elephant Song – Wilbur Smith

African Stories – Doris Lessing

South African Wine – Hughes, Hands, Kench et al

No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency – Alexander McCall Smith

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight – Alexandra Fuller

And Books About Safaris and Wildlife of Africa

Adventuring in East Africa – Allen Bechky

Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania – Dale Zimmerman et al

Insight Guides East African Wildlife

In the Shadow of Man – Jane Goodall

Photographing on Safari: A Field Guide to Wildlife Photography in East Africa – Joe McDonald

The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals – Richard Estes

Travels Along the Edge – David Noland

Behaviour Guide to African Mammals and The Safari Companion – Richard D. Estes

Safari: A Chronicle Of Adventure – Bartle Bull

Adventuring In Southern Africa - Allen Bechky

Complete Guide to Walks and Trails in South Africa – Jaynee Levy

Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa – Kenneth Newman

Guide to Southern African Game & Nature Reserves – Chris & Tilde Stuart

Guide to Southern African Safari Lodges – Peter Joyce

The Lions and Elephants of Chobe – Bruce Aitken

Kalahari – Life’s Variety in Dune and Delta – Michael Main

Zambezi – River of Africa – Mike Coppinger and Jumbo Williams

African Thunder – The Victoria Falls – Jan and Fiona Teede

Eye Of The Elephant – Mark and Delia Owen

Running Wild: Dispelling the Myths of African Wild Dog – John McNutt

Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa – Braam Van Wyk & Piet Van Wyk

Yvette, senior travel consultant at African Portfolio, takes a plunge into the world of spa’faris, where new-age muzak is (thankfully) replaced by the natural sounds of the African bush.

Save room for the woodcarving, leave the manicure set at home…
Quite a few years ago, I (honestly) had a really lovely bride send me the make, name and serial number of her favorite nail color, so that I could establish if the spa at her hotel would be carrying it during her honeymoon stay. I have to admit I didn’t really understand the concept of combining an “adventure holiday” with a “spa experience”, until I stayed at a lodge with a spa myself. I discovered first hand this delightful way of spending the “siesta” time between brunch or lunch and tea (or as I like to call it – “resting between meals”). And face it, with all those luggage restrictions, it’s so nice not to have to lug your own manicure set, Tea Tree oil and face mask.

Spa where you are…
Being that we customize each itinerary, rather than contrive and “pre-package” a spa-safari, we can create a trip to meet all our guests’ usual requirements and travel style, specifically featuring properties that offer the spa experience in one form or another. Fortunately for the hedonist in all of us, it has now become almost de-rigeur at mid to high-end game lodges, safari camps, beach and island resorts, city hotels and country retreats all over the African continent. The spa opportunities and offerings abound. And as with most things in Africa, it’s never “quite the same” as you’ve come to expect.

Canvas tubs and traditional healing…
My first spa treat was an alfresco massage at sunset overlooking the vast Masai Mara plains from my tent at Cottar’s camp, followed by a soak under the stars and some bubbles in a nifty, collapsible canvas “tub”. Treatments and facilities range from simple pleasures like this, to the unique African Living Spa at Gibb’s Farm on the slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater where the focus is less on pure pampering but the integration of modern day wellness concepts and traditional healing, phyto-medicines and philosophy.

“Lulled into oblivion” …
One of my favorite features of bush spas, is that they typically forgo the ubiquitous, other-worldly “soothing background music” for the pleasant down to earth din the African bush and its creatures going about their business. In the treatment room at Jao Camp, the dense Okavango Delta vegetation provides privacy while the doors are opened to let in the sounds of everything from of Bell Frogs to Fish Eagles. At Toka Leya Tented Camp near the Victoria Falls, a mirror under the massage table reflects the Zambezi river coursing by, while the sound of the water in its natural perpetual motion, lulls one into oblivion.

Basil tea and sandalwood…
One of of my most vivid memories of Mauritius relates to the exquisite flavor of the fresh Basil Tea and lemon at the
Maradiva Spa, and I’ll never forget the exotic, fragrant mix of Sandalwood and orange flowers in the Turkish Bath at Hotel Al Moudira in Luxor.

The list goes on, but for my part I’m already stunned to see how many times and in how many ways, I’ve extended myself like this during my travels in Africa and the Islands of the Indian Ocean. And all for the sake a better understanding of what our clients should expect on safari, and to verify that “nothing but the best” will do indeed.

Contact us for more information and advice for a truly relaxing safari vacation.

Whether you’ve already booked your African honeymoon, or are considering a honeymoon in Africa, we have some side trips that you can create a registry for. It’s a great way to add a little adventure to your honeymoon and it can also make it more affordable. Your friends and family have a chance to get you something you will always remember, and a microlight flight over the Victoria Falls is surely more fun to give than a decorative bowl.

Registry Ideas for a Honeymoon in North Africa:

• Fantasia Moroccan Dinner and Cultural Show – The show takes place in the heart of a Marrakech palm grove, under the shelter of exotic Berber tents. It’s a dazzling, multi-colored extravaganza, accompanied by a typical Moroccan feast served in an open-air setting. Watch horsemen, jugglers, belly-dancers and more. Gift price from $100 per couple.
• Visit a Hammam in Morocco – A hammam is a traditional Moroccan steam bath. There are some splendid hammams in fashionable Riads that offer couples only massages, steam rooms, and typical Moroccan skin treatments using a variety of age-old natural herbs and soaps. Gift price from $200 per couple.

• Camel Ride Around the Pyramids – Discover your inner Lawrence of Arabia and enjoy the view of the pyramids from the back of a camel. Don’t forget to factor in a turban. Gift price from $65 pp (but depends on time spent riding).

Registry Ideas for a Honeymoon in East Africa:

• Balloon Flight over the Serengeti/Masai Mara – Imagine soaring silently above the great migration on the Serengeti Plains, admiring the tapestry of hundreds of game trails below. A hot-air balloon flight is truly a magical experience, and the romantic, champagne breakfast that follows is just the icing on the cake. Gift price from $800 per couple.
  

• Dinner for Two in the Bush – A romantic dinner for two by candlelight, in a remote and beautiful bush setting, with gourmet food cooked just for you. Gift price from $150 per couple.
• A Night Under the Stars – A romantic 4-poster bed, high up in the canopy of a Leadwood tree, overlooking the East African plains. The only thing that’s missing is a ceiling, but that’s what the African night sky is for. A star bed for a night is the ultimate romantic gift. Gift price from $800 per couple.

Registry Ideas for a Honeymoon in Southern Africa:

• Micro-light Flight over the Victoria Falls – It’s called the “Flight of Angels”, a micro-light flight offers passengers a birds-eye view of the Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River and the gorge, it’s an unrivaled viewing experience in our books. A camera mounted on the wing records the whole flight, so you can share the experience with your family and friends back home. Gift price from $150 per person.
• Elephant-Back Safari – An elephant back safari is not just a ride on the largest animal in Africa, it’s an unforgettable experience where clients get to interact with the elephants as well as enjoy a ride through wilderness areas and beautiful riverine scenery. Gift price starts at $150 per person.
• Picnic Lunch in the Cape Winelands – Surprise the happy couple with a basket filled with homemade goodies, a delicious bottle of wine, enjoyed under a shady tree in a beautifully landscaped garden of a 300 year-old vineyard. Gift price starts at $50 per couple.
• Jet-Boating on the Zambezi – Add a jolt of adrenalin to your honeymoon with an exhilarating 30 minute jet boat experience below the magnificent Victoria Falls, powering through rapids, buzzing rocks and jet spinning on the mighty Zambezi. Gift price starts at $95 per couple.
• Cage Diving With Great Whites – If your honeymoon includes Cape Town and you would care to experience one of the rarest sights on earth, then try a cage-dive and come eyeball to eyeball with a Great White shark. This would be one set of photos that is guaranteed to never bore anyone back home. Gift price starts at $300 per person.

Contact us and we can set up a registry for you. We have lots more ideas both big and small that will truly make your honeymoon a memorable one.

Someone recently asked us, “Why would we book with African Portfolio? What sets you apart?” It’s not always easy answering something so personal, because working here is personal. We really love what we do. But here’s a stab as to why we think we really are the best luxury safari operator out there!

• We are all Africans at African Portfolio and we all have family living in Africa. This gives us a unique insight into the destinations we sell, as both locals and visitors. We know how long it takes to get from the Victoria Falls to the Okavango Delta. We understand what it feels like to fly from New York to Kilimanjaro. We can recommend restaurants because we’ve eaten there, camps because we’ve stayed there, hikes to take because we’ve walked there, and places to see because we’ve been there.
• We care deeply about Africa, so when you book your safari with us we give you practical travel guidelines that underscore the importance of low-impact travel. We will encourage you to be mindful that you are a guest in Africa, not just a photo-snapping visitor. We respect Africa, its animals and people and we expect you will too. Social interaction with local communities is a key component in many of the safaris we sell.
• The local guides we choose to work with are the best in the business. They’re not only seasoned environmentalists but also cultural ambassadors. This means you’ll be learning as much about the Maasai in Tanzania as you will about the migrating wildebeest. You can ask questions about the latest elections and easily switch to the average lifespan of a dung beetle.
• We genuinely take pride in our customer service. We know that planning a trip to Africa requires a lot of investment and we aim to make sure our clients receive very high returns. We understand that choosing camps and lodges can be confusing, we’ve stayed at all of them, we can help. We explain everything that needs to be taken care of, from visas to insurance and inoculations. We prepare and provide individually tailored travel documents with information pertaining only to specific clients’ particular trips. This means our clients are consistently the “best prepared” when they arrive in Africa.

  

• At African Portfolio, we customize our clients itineraries with the skill that a combined experience of over 50 years in the Africa travel business brings. If you fancy an adventure, we can share our personal stories of walking safaris, elephant-back safaris and camel safaris with you. Enjoy gourmet food and wine? No problem, we have lots of insider tips on restaurants and wineries and know the best foodie lodges in the business.

We are all dreamers, adventurers and romantics, let us share our Africa with you!

There’s nothing more adventurous, fun, and educational than a family safari in Africa. A family safari offers a unique opportunity to watch your children connect with different cultures and find that common bond. Seeing rare and beautiful animals in their own habitat is not just exciting but also helps bring home the importance of protecting our planet. Trust us, even your teen will thank you for this holiday of a lifetime. But before you go ahead and book your trip, keep in mind that variety and flexibility are the key ingredients for a successful family safari.

Tips for Bringing Children on Safari

• 10 and up is the ideal age for children on safari
• Limit your game drives to two hours at a time
• Have your own private vehicle for maximum flexibility
• Minimize travel time between lodges, especially if you are planning game drives for those days as well
• Get your children their own cameras and set of binoculars
• Make sure the camp or lodge has a pool to cool off in during the midday heat
• Try out malaria pills before you leave home (or opt for a malaria-free safari)
• Include opportunities to play with local kids or visit a school
• Schedule activities outside of the safari vehicle, like supervised nature walks
• Give the children a bird or animal checklist to mark off what they see (you can also award points)
• Book-end your safari with a beach holiday

There are many camps and lodges dotted around East and Southern Africa that cater to families. They may include baby-sitting services, specially designed nature walks, two-roomed tents or bungalows, and child-friendly menus. A really great option is to rent a whole property for just your family. Tintswalo Manor House in Manyeleti, (South Africa) is one of our favorites. It comes with its own pool, vehicle, guide, butler and chef.

Please contact us if you would like more information about family-friendly safaris.

If you would like to show off on your next (or first) Safari, know the names of the “Little Five”, or see if you can spot them for real bragging rights. They are the Buffalo Weaver, Elephant Shrew, Leopard Tortoise, Ant Lion and the Rhino Beetle. Rather an odd assortment of animals, wouldn’t you say? So what do they have in common, and what makes them the “Little Five”? It’s all semantics really. Unlike the Big Five (so called not because of their size or rarity, but for being considered the most dangerous by the big game hunters, and therefore sadly, the most coveted trophies), the Little Five are simply a group of “other animals” that contain the names of the Big Five in their own:  Buffalo Weaver, Elephant Shrew, Leopard Tortoise, Ant Lion and Rhino Beetle

Buffalo Weavers are are gregarious, highly social birds, but the least accomplished nest makers. Look for their large messy communal nests with side entrances facing different directions high in a tree – typically in a fork of branches. It is a large, rather untidy structure of twigs and coarse grasses. They are often found alongside buffaloes, feeding on the insects they stir up, hence the name.

Elephant Shrews are so named for their particularly elongated snouts. (Another way to distinguish shrews from mice, by the way, is by looking at their front feet: shrews have 5 clawed toes on each, and mice have only 4. Yes – it’s that easy!) However, the Elephant Shrew is not even a shrew at all, but rather a sengi -  not closely related to any other group of living mammals. Many biologists currently include the elephant shrews in a new superorder, the Afrotheria, which encompasses several other distinctive African orders such as elephants, sea cows, and hyraxes and aardvark.

Leopard Tortoises are the fourth largest species of tortoise in the world, growing up to 2 feet long, and with typical adults weighing 40 – 50 pounds. Their name is derived from the black and yellow spots on their shells.  In defense, they retract their feet and head into their shells. This often results in a hissing sound, probably due to the squeezing of air from the lungs as the limbs and head are retracted

Ant Lions (also known as “Doodlebugs”) resemble dragonflies, but are more fragile and very weak fliers. The larva dig pits in dry soil which is easy to shift. Starting with a circle on the ground, digging deeper and deeper, it spirals in toward the center. The dirt that is dug out is thrown out energetically with the head, creating a tiny funnel-shaped crater. They then prepare the sides of their pits with fine sand or soil particles, and bury themselves at the bottom so that only the head, with opened jaws, can be seen, and wait for their prey. Ants that fall into the funnel can’t climb out, and land in the jaws of the “lion”.

Rhino Beetles are among the largest on earth. They get their name from the huge spikes on their heads, used by males in combat rather than for defense against predators. Measured by proportional strength, they are the strongest animals on the planet, because they can lift up to 1,000 times their own weight. Yes, an elephant can carry a lot more weight than a Rhino Beetle, but only up about to 25% of its own.