Discover the Big Five

Tanzania is currently home to around 16,000 lions. These social animals live in prides, each comprised of around three male lions, six to twelve lionesses, and lion cubs. The territory is held by the lioness, who also do the hunting and feeding of the cubs. Although lions are social animals, they are egalitarian, meaning they are not born into a rank and hence, do not have a permanent hierarchy. The Lions can be tracked down in the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park, and Ruaha National Park.

Tanzania is home to one of the world's biggest population of African savanna (or bush) elephants. Contrary to the African forest elephant, which is slightly smaller and lives in the rainforest of West and Central Africa, the African bush elephant can weigh up to seven tons, making it the largest of its kind and inherently the biggest animal on land. It roams the African savanna – hence its name – and is distinguishable by its enormous ears and long outward curved tusks. These elephants can be found in the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, and Ruaha National Park.

There are two types of this prehistoric looking species in Africa - the white and black rhino, with only two and three subspecies left, respectively. The black and white rhino are not distinguishable by their color, but rather by the shape of their lips, size and habitat. Tanzania is home to the eastern black rhino, which differentiates itself from its southern equivalent by its grooved skin and long, curved horn. Unfortunately, this 1.7 to three-ton loner is a popular target for poachers. Eastern black rhinos can be spotted in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.