Of course everyone on an African safari vacation wants to see the famous Big Five. Who doesn’t? But what many travelers don’t realize is that there is much more to see in various eco-systems of Africa besides lions, elephants, rhinoceros, leopards, and Cape buffaloes.
Often underrated for their size, the Little Five are some of the most interesting and curious creatures to observe in the African wilderness. These five animals consist of the rhinoceros beetle, buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, and the ant lion.
See below for a description of each of the Little Five:
Elephant shrew: Growing up to 30 cm in length, the elephant shrew is an adorable little mammal that hops along the ground in search of yummy insects and grub. Their hops are so tremendous that some can reach anywhere between 2 – 3 ft. in one leap! They also have a long tail and nose that enables them to sniff for insects before projecting the insects into their mouths using their tongue.
Living in solitary pairs of two, the elephant shrew isn’t the most social creature in Africa’s southern region. In fact, the elephant shrew is so against socializing with others that it will mark its territory with a musky odor that is produced by a gland beneath its tail.
But although these creatures may be named after a shrew, they are in fact more closely related to aardvarks and moles.
Rhinoceros beetle: A frightening looking insect, the rhino beetle has a thick coating of pointy armor that makes it an intimidating sight to see in the wild! Growing up to 2.5 inches in length, the rhino beetle is one of the world’s largest species of beetle and actually ranks as one of the world’s strongest creatures—proportionately. Rhino beetles are so strong that they can lift nearly 850 times their weight.
Equipped with two large horns—hence the name rhinoceros beetle—the rhino beetle will use these horns to dig for food in trees as well as under rotting bark and beneath soil. They’ll also use these horns to defend themselves and fight other male beetles for mates.
Although these insects have a threatening appearance, they are harmless to humans as they do not bite or sting.
Image taken from (http://bugs.bio.usyd.edu.au/learning/resources/Entomology/internalAnatomy/imagePages/rhinocerousBeetle.html)
Buffalo weaver: Comprised of vibrant orange, black, and white feathers, this tricolored bird is one of Africa’s most beautiful bird species. Although this bird may appear graceful in pictures and at first glance, its actually a loud bird that causes quite a ruckus. With large communal nests comprised of thorns and twigs, the buffalo weaver is a social bird species that interacts with others using loud vocal callings and aggressive movements.
Found primarily in the dry savanna and acacia woodland in Eastern Africa, these birds feed on grass seeds, acacia, insects, and fruits.
Image taken by the Honolulu Zoo (http://www.honoluluzoo.org/whiteheaded_buffalo_weaver.htm)
Leopard tortoise: With shells comprised of unique carvings, patterns, and colors, the leopard tortoise is one of the world’s most beautiful reptiles and one of the most interesting. It can live to be 100 years old and can reach up to 18 inches in length and weigh nearly 40 lbs.
While most turtle species produce eggs that incubate for 90 – 120 days, the leopard tortoises’ egg incubation period can last for over a year before the eggs hatch. This lengthy incubation process happens beneath the ground in dry, grassy areas of southern Africa.
Image taken from http://www.leopardtortoise.com/
Antlion: A frightening and bizarre looking insect, the antlion’s name more accurately depicts its larval stage than its adult stage. Named for its large head, jagged jaws, and bristle-covered body, the antlion is a beast compared to most other ants.
When antlions are in their larvae form, they will dig little holes in the sand where they will wait for another insect to fall into their trap before eating them.
In adulthood, the antlion can reach roughly 1.5 inches in length with a wingspan of 3.2 inches in length. During their adult stages, the antlion looks completely different from its larval stage and resembles a dragonfly more than an ant.
Image Taken by Wayne Schmidt (http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/mybetterpictures.htm)
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