Travel Glossary · Safari & Africa
Little Five
Definition
Little Five: The Little Five are the elephant shrew, ant lion, rhinoceros beetle, buffalo weaver, and leopard tortoise, small animals named after the Big Five and best found on foot.
The Little Five is a playful counterpart to the Big Five, pairing each heavyweight with a small namesake. The elephant shrew, or sengi, is a tiny insect-eater with a long, mobile snout. The ant lion is a larva that traps ants in cone-shaped pits in the sand. The rhinoceros beetle carries a horn, the buffalo weaver is a bird that builds bulky, untidy nests, and the leopard tortoise wears a blotched, leopard-like shell.
Finding them requires slowing down, which is the point. They are easiest to spot on a walking safari or a slow drive with a guide who loves the details, and they reveal how much happens beneath the big game. Children often enjoy the challenge of the hunt.
Ask your guide to point them out, especially on a walking safari or a family safari, where small discoveries keep younger travelers engaged between big sightings.
Related terms
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- Travel GuidesYour First Safari: How to Plan an African SafariPlanning your first African safari: where to go, how long to stay, lodges vs tented camps, what a safari day looks like, packing, health and tipping.
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