The dangerous seven game of Africa

An erroneous safari query is the genesis of this post. We received an email from someone looking to go on safari. We receive numerous emails requesting safari pricing, but this one was different. This person was looking for a hunting safari. According to their email, they’ve been on several hunting safaris and are now keen to hunt the big seven. The term has its roots in hunting culture, but today most safari travelers encounter these animals in a very different context: wildlife viewing, photography and conservation. If you're not looking for a hunting safari or into creepy taxidermy sites, this post may be for you.

What are the dangerous animals of Africa?

Like the Jackson 5, the dangerous seven started out with fewer members. Big game trophy hunters used the term ‘big five’ to describe the five most dangerous African animals to hunt on foot, mainly due to their size and personalities. In today's parlance, the big five describes wildlife most visitors to Africa wish to shoot from within the comfy confines of their safari vehice, and with a camera, not a rifle. This is a wonderful thing, since some of the big five animals are facing extinction. 

The big five animals continue be a big lure for photography safari enthusiasts and, appearing in alpha order, are:

African buffalo  (also called cape buffalo)

Elephant

Leopard

Lion

Rhino

What are the dangerous seven animals of Africa?

The dangerous seven game includes all of the big five plus two more animals which certainly merit being called dangerous, as they each account for at least 300-500 human deaths each year. The last two animals of the danger seven are: 

Hippopotamus

Nile crocodile

Can you see all of the dangerous seven animals on safari?

It is possible, but seeing all seven on a single safari is no small feat. The biggest challenge is habitat: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhino may share the same parks and reserves, but hippos and Nile crocodiles require access to suitable rivers, lakes or wetlands. Travelers hoping to tick off the full dangerous seven should look for safari destinations that combine strong big five populations with permanent water sources. Even then, wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, which is rather the point of seeing animals in the wild.

Where to see the dangerous seven animals on safari

Some destinations give travelers better odds than others. Parks and reserves with established big five populations and healthy river or wetland systems are the strongest candidates, particularly in South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya and possibly Botswana. When comparing safaris, look beyond the country alone. The specific parks included in an itinerary matter, as does the time spent in each one. A safari that combines predator-rich savannah with rivers or lakes gives you a much better chance of seeing the full cast.Your African Safari has a list of all national parks and reserves where the big five can be found. All score either a 9/10 or 10/10 for safari suitability. The score is based on park size, quality of wildlife, ease of access and park infrastructure.

The big seven animals of Africa

As you now know, the dangerous seven is the big five plus the Nile crocodile and hippopotamus. The dangerous seven is used primarily by trophy hunters. Safari enthusiasts looking to shoot their wildlife with a camera will be after the big seven: the big five plus wild dogs and cheetah. This combination is more difficult to come by and may require visits to more than one park or reserve.
Our top choice for spotting wild dogs: South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.
For cheetah: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Kruger is also home to the big seven. 

YAS was created to help preserve, protect and promote African wildlife. As such, trophy hunting safari tours are not condoned or allowed. Several members of the dangerous seven remain under significant conservation pressure. African elephants, rhinos and large carnivores continue to face threats including habitat loss, poaching and conflict with people. Conservation status also varies by species and, in some cases, by subspecies and region. The IUCN Red List remains the standard reference for assessing extinction risk and is updated as new population and conservation data become available.