Playing the Big Five Game in Zambia

If you've ever been on an African safari, you've probably heard of the "Big Five" game animals. Although I had heard of the term, I didn't know that it was originally coined to refer to the most dangerous African game animals to hunt on foot. During my safari in Zambia I was happy to shoot these animals, but only with my 300mm lens! 

I was able to check off Cape Buffalo (above), lion, leopard, and elephant within 24 hours of arriving in South Luangwa National Park. And by the time I visited Lower Zambezi National Park, I had multiple sitings of those animals, including my close encounter with two lazy male lions.  At Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park near Victoria Falls I checked off the last animal from my Big Five list, the rhinoceros.  So thank you, Zambia, for spoiling me rotten and making me think that seeing the Big Five is a piece of cake!

This elephant was heading straight for our safari truck in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.  He came so close to us that a moment after I took this image my telephoto lens would no longer focus. I put down the camera, let my adrenaline rush, and enjoyed the thrill of a gigantic creature walking within about ten feet of me! 

See the rest of the Big Five photos after the jump.

Post originale: http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2010/11/the-big-five.html