Africa’s “Little Five” Small Wild Animals, African’s “Big Five” are the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. If you’ve been on safari, you’ve probably heard of them. People who go on safari love to “bag” views of these five famous animals because they are so beautiful and well-known.

There is, however, a less well-known category of wildlife items that focuses on much smaller African game, some of which are very small. These unique small wild animals are still very interesting.

You know about elephants, but what about the elephant shrew? Everyone goes to Africa to see the beautiful cats… but have you seen your first ant lion yet? The horned rhino bug is just as hard to find and interesting as the rhino.

Both the leopard and the leopard turtle have spots that make them stand out. Finally, everyone who has been on safari has seen the great Cape buffalo. But did you know that the buffalo weaver is a unique bird that flies over Africa?

The Elephant Shrew

Okay, the elephant shrew’s long nose does look a lot like that of its bigger cousin, but it is not the same animal. The elephant shrew is only nine inches long and weighs a little more than a pound. It does look like the face of an elephant and the body of a mouse were put together.

Elephant shrews are very small animals that eat bugs. Unfortunately, elephant shrews are eaten by snakes and birds of prey, so this small animal is very careful. This shy animal lives in forests and savannah fields. You’ll have to look very hard to find him.

That would be silly. This is not an ant-sized cat. They don’t look anything alike. But this little bug probably got its name from the way it acts, which is pretty mean. In the sand, the ant lion makes a small funnel-shaped hole that other ants and beetles get stuck in. It rules over the little jungle.

The leopard tortoise

The leopard turtle is the biggest of the “Little Five.” Its shell has a cool pattern that looks like the spots on a leopard, which is how it got its name. Largest leopard tortoises can get up to 18 inches long and 40 pounds heavy. They live in the savannahs of eastern and southern Africa.

wild turtle leopardia
Rhinoceros bug
The rhino beetle
With its single, protruding horn, the rhino beetle looks just as scary as its 4000 lb cousin. It is also surprisingly strong for its size. Rhino beetles are said to be able to move 850 times their own weight, and males are known for being mean to other rhino beetles.

Buffalo Weavers

The dark bird with the bright red beak doesn’t look at all like the full-sized buffalo that live on the fields of Africa. Also, unlike the grumpy African buffalo, this little bird is known for getting along well with other birds by making a lot of loud calls and squawks.

The buffalo weaver is also known for being a sloppy builder and housekeeper. They make community nests out of twigs and grass that are all over the place.

The “Little Five” from Africa are now known. If you’ve been looking for the “Big Five” all day, you might want to take a break and see these interesting little creatures up close in the woods and fields of Africa.