“Is a game drive still worth it if you don’t see the Big 5?”. This is a question our travel specialist Cat is often asked when speaking to our guests. Read her answer below.
Lions, elephants, and leopards, oh my! Add in the buffalo and rhino, and you have the famous Big 5 that so many people hope to see when on a safari. It’s a question I receive a lot when I first speak to guests interested in taking one of our tours – “but will I see the Big 5?”
Honestly, no. Well, maybe yes. But it is never something we can guarantee – whether it’s the Serengeti, Samburu, Kruger, or Mara, it’s never going to be possible to say that you’ll see these specific animals. Certain places and times of year make it very likely of course, but does that mean you should be disappointed if you don’t see them?
My answer is absolutely not!
A game drive isn’t just about seeing the animals. There is so much more to experience. The thrill of setting off in the jeep, jostling over the bumpy roads, and not knowing what the day will hold. The anticipation of trying to spot something hiding in the low grass or behind the trees, and the excitement of trying to beat the guide to it. The beauty of the landscape, as you feel the sun on your face when you drive through these incredible parks. The whole experience is a special one, and of course seeing the wildlife makes it more special – but it's truly a magical and freeing feeling to know you are cruising through Africa, at one with nature.
That is not to say that you will not see anything though.
Any second the radio can go off, the guide communicating with one of their colleagues, to hear about where the latest lion has been spotted, or where a leopard is hanging out in a tree. Any second you might turn the corner and see a herd of elephants gracefully moving along, or some giraffes patiently crossing the road in front of you.
Having visited Samburu National Park in Kenya in November of 2025, I was lucky enough to have an initial high of seeing one of the most beautiful sights I have seen on safari, with a group of elephants and baboons playing in the Ewaso Nyiro River. I thought nothing would top that experience, and for about 2 more hours, I was right.
We drove through the landscape constantly on the lookout for more, and not that much more came. But what did come was the sheer peacefulness of exploring Samburu. There were very few jeeps meeting us on the road, and I almost felt like the park was ours alone to explore. Just as we felt we were all ready to go for the day, our guide said: “let’s give it one more try”. We did, and it paid off. Out of the blue emerged a whole family of giraffes, and we spent a long time just watching them in silence. But would I have been disappointed if we hadn’t had that last experience? Not at all. Because I had already had the joy of the whole experience itself. I got the icing on the cake, but I had already had my fill.
So please don’t feel that the only reason to go on safari is to check off the Big 5. Sometimes it’s not about what you think you have to see, but instead what it feels like to embark on such an adventure.
Cat,
TourCompass – From tourist to traveller
