Africa … aah sweet sweet Africa – the land that is home to many well known famous animals.
African Wildlife forever attracts visitors from all over the world to learn, view and come face-to-face with these incredible animals in their natural habitat.
Africa is almost synonymous with The Big Five Game Animals, being the:
- African Lion
- African Elephant
- Cape Buffalo
- African Leopard, and
- Rhinoceros
These animals originally came to be known as The Big Five by professional hunters of old who would hunt these wild animals in the shortest possible time … for trophies !! Because these animals are the most dangerous to hunt on foot, the “The Big Five” name was born.
But let’s not forget the other unforgettable African Animals that include Baboon, Cheetah, Giraffe, Meerkat, Springbok and Zebra, to name just a few.
If you have been fortunate enough to experience Africa’s Wildlife and would like a “keep-sake” to continue to enjoy the memory, then take a look at our Black & White High Contrast Photo-Art Images covering most aspects of South Africa – because we prefer ‘shooting’ our Wildlife through a camera lens.
These images will bring back the movie in your mind of lions roaring, elephants trumpeting, buffalos lurking and munching in long grass, leopords prowling in the darkness and rhinos standing stately under a thorn tree.
You can click on the images below to purchase any of these African Animal Pictures.
Appropriately know as the King of the Beasts.
They are charismatic, powerful, social animals who are very family-orientated. Females in the same pride often give birth to cubs around the same time in order to share the responsibilities of suckling and care.
Lionesses rule usually usually alongside a large dominant male who would have won the pride in fierce competition with other males. Female cubs remain with the pride, while young males leave at two to three years of age.
Elephants are the world’s largest and heaviest land animal.
They are extremely social animals who live in herds of up to 100.
Female Elephants rule and is headed up by a matriarch who leads, controls, chooses direction and pace. The herd will rarely stray away from the matriarch. Infact, it is known that most female family bonds can last up to 50 years.
As docile as they look, don’t be fooled as they are probably the most dangerous of the Big Five if you are on foot. Buffalos are also social animals that live in large herds.
To tell the difference between the males from the females, you will notice that the males are bigger, darker and display huge powerful horns that are joined in the middle.
Male Buffalos only fight for rank and females but not territory as most of their other Big Five counterparts do. When they fight, it has been said that the collision impact of their horns is equal to a car hitting a wall at 60km/h.
Of all African predators, the African Leopard is considered the most successful with its masterful stalking that is silent and ruthless. Their means of attack is surprise. Leopards are nocturnal animals and very elusive, so one would be very lucky to spot one.
Unless the Leopard is mating or with cubs, it roams alone in solitude and is very territorial. Because they don’t hunt in groups, they can’t afford to get injured and therefore try to avoid confrontation with other other animals and leopards.
There is the Black Rhino and the White Rhino, and their names has nothing to do with their colour. The White Rhino has broad lips that were referred to as “wyd” lips by early settlers, this was misinterpreted later as white.
To tell them apart, you will see the White Rhino grazing the grass (down) and the Black Rhino, with its more beak shaped lips grazing from twigs and leaves from trees (up).
The Black Rhino is more dangerous and more elusive and you would be very fortunate to spot one.
To see more Black and White Photo Art covering most aspects of South Africa – be sure to CLICK HERE.
Please feel free to ask me anything, drop a comment or make a suggestion, I am open to all. Alternatively, you can connect with me at hilary@goodiezonline.com.
Hey Laurie,
It’s amazing how little I knew about the big 5. I am glad I read your post as it gave some great information about this amazing animals.
What I find the most surprising is about how the Cape Buffalo are the most dangerous. I wouldn’t have guessed that for anything.
Best Regards,
Jim
Yeah Jim … a lot of interesting facts about our beautiful Wildlife – nice to have a story behind a African Animal Picture that is bought – don’t forget to browse the rest of our range.
Hi Hillary
Would love to order all the above. The picture with the Big 5 and the black and white of each individually…
Would need to ship to Canada. Can you let me know how big these are?
Thanks
Hi Sharon
Shipping to Canada is not a problem, but to select which ones you want and purchase then click here. You simply need to Add to Cart and then Checkout once finished (checkout found in right hand corner under My Account), there will be instructions on how to pay thereafter – if you need help, then just let me know. You will see a much bigger selection to choose from too. The size of the Block Mounted Photo-Art Images are 9.4 x 9.4cm
Thanks Hilary – so I’ve placed the order, just trying to complete the bank deposit. There are 6 prints. I usually use WorldRemit Money Transfer when sending dollars to South Africa. Found it to be the best one.
I need a 6 digit bank code. So the transit# and BIC dont work. Can you let me have that, and I can complete the transaction. Take between 1-3 business days to get 🙂
Thanks – love to you & Karen!
Hi Sharon – Yes thanks, we have received your order and getting it ready to send. If it is easier for you to use WorldRemit Money Transfer, then just let me know. But you will probably need the bank codes for this too. So these are the numbers I have
Branch Code is 050312
Swift Code is SBZAZAJJ
But you are probably also needing an IBAN code, which I will have to get and then will email to you.
xx