Escape Safari Co.

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Escape Safari Co.

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About Us

Safari Experiences

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   Beach and Safari
  Mobile Camping Safari
  The Great Migration
  The Cape and The Winelands
  Cultural Experiences
   Walking Safari
   Gorilla Trekking
   Chimpanzee Trekking
  Wildlife, Wellness and Yoga
  Horseback Safaris
  Luxury Train Safaris
  Golf on Safari
  Helicopter Safari
  Secret Safari
   India Safaris
   Leopards in India
   Tigers in India
  The Congo Basin Expeditions
 
  Tailor Made Safari
  Privately Guided
   Solo Travel
  Honeymoon and Couples
  Family Safari
  Groups and Incentive Travel
  Photographic Safari

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Destinations

  Botswana
   Namibia
  South Africa
  Zambia
  Zimbabwe
  Kenya
   Tanzania
  Uganda
  Rwanda
  Rep. of Congo
  Seychelles
  Maldives
  Zanzibar
  Mozambique

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Escape Safari Blog

Escape Blog

Our blog is where we share what we’re learning, what we’re noticing, and what’s worth knowing before you go. Field notes, destination guides, seasonal updates.

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Every great safari begins with a single conversation. Whenever you’re ready, we’re here.

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Videos

See Africa the way we see it, through the eyes of people who never stopped looking.

Conservation

We only work in wild places we’re committed to protecting. Here’s what that looks like in practice.

FAQ'S

Honest answers to the questions worth asking before you go.

Big Five Safari

There is a moment on every Big Five safari that stays with you, but arrives differently for everyone. Sometimes it is the lion, low and unhurried in the early morning light, moving through the long grass with a confidence that reminds you exactly where you are in the natural order of things. Sometimes it is the elephant, closer than you expected, grazing past your vehicle. The lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino are the benchmark by which most safari-goers measure their first trip to Africa.

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THE BIG FIVE SAFARI EXPERIENCE

The term Big Five was originally coined by big game hunters to describe the five most dangerous animals to pursue on foot. Today, it means something quite different: The five most sought-after wildlife sightings on the continent and the foundation of the classic African safari experience. What makes pursuing them so compelling is not just their size or their power, but their elusiveness. The black rhino and leopard in particular demand patience, knowledge and a guide who knows the territory intimately.

Africa offers several exceptional destinations for Big Five game viewing, each with its own distinct character and conservation story. In Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater concentrates an extraordinary density of wildlife within a collapsed volcanic caldera. The Serengeti’s open plains offer lion prides at dawn, cheetahs on the hunt and leopards draped in fever trees. Kenya’s Masai Mara, particularly between July and October, delivers some of the most dramatic predator activity on the continent.

In South Africa, the private conservancies bordering Kruger National Park, like Sabi Sands, Timbavati and Klaserie, offer a level of exclusivity that the national park itself cannot. Many are actively involved in rhino protection, meaning your visit contributes directly to the preservation of the species you have come to see. Namibia’s Etosha, built around a vast mineral pan that draws in wildlife during the dry season, offers a completely different but equally exciting Big Five experience.

LION
The African lion is an iconic big cat, recognized by its majestic mane in males. Lions are apex predators and live in groups called prides. They are known for their strength, stealth, and cooperative hunting strategies. Lions are often associated with bravery and royalty in various cultures.
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LEOPARD
The African leopard is a solitary and elusive big cat with a beautiful coat adorned with distinctive rosette patterns. They are skilled climbers and opportunistic predators, known for their adaptability and ability to thrive in various habitats, from forests to grasslands.
Big Five Safari, Leopard, Escape Safari Co
AFRICAN ELEPHANT
The African elephant is the largest land animal, known for its immense size, distinctive trunk, and prominent tusks. They are herbivores and play a crucial role in shaping and maintaining their habitats. African elephants are highly intelligent, social creatures with complex social structures.
Big Five Safari, Elephants, Escape Safari Co
BLACK RHINO
Both black and white rhinoceroses are large, thick-skinned herbivores with two distinctive horns on their heads. Rhinos are critically endangered due to poaching for their horns, which are highly valued in illegal markets. They are essential for the ecosystem and are known for their gentle demeanor.
Big Five Safari, Rhino, Escape Safari Co
AFRICAN BUFFALO
The African buffalo is a robust herbivore with a distinctive, large, and curving set of horns. They often live in large herds and are known for their unpredictable behavior, making them one of the most dangerous animals to hunt. Buffaloes are vital to the ecosystem, shaping vegetation patterns through their grazing habits.
Big Five Safari, Buffalo, Escape Safari Co
Big Five Safari, Leopard, Escape Safari Co

PLANNING YOUR BIG FIVE SAFARI WITH ESCAPE SAFARI CO.

Knowing where the Big Five live is one thing. Knowing when to go, which camps offer the best access, which guides have the instinct to find the elusive ones, and how to combine destinations for the most complete experience, that is where decades of firsthand knowledge make a genuine difference. 

The Big Five are out there. Let us help you find them, in the right place, at the right time, with the right people beside you.

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