The Big 5 is historically a hunting term, which is why we don't particularly like it, but it seems to have stuck, and is still used in some African safari guides. The big 5 are the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinocero. Our holidays obviously involve taking camera shoots, not any other kind.

Wildlife Worldwide Founder Chris Breen on 'the big five' ...

"The 'Big Five' - lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant. These were the African mammals considered by the so called 'great white hunters' of the early 20th century to be the most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt and were therefore the most prized of all. To me however, the term 'Big Five' conjures up grotesque images of dead animals lying at the feet of rifle-bearing people and as such, it is a phrase which I avoid at all costs."

"It is a controversial subject of course, and there is a very strong argument to say that hunting has its place, since most of Africa's finest parks are surrounded by a buffer zone in which hunting is generally permitted. So, given the choice, would I accept of hunting in order to retain and preserve some of Africa's greatest wildernesses? Of course, who wouldn't... But that doesn't mean that I either like it, or want to have anything to do with it."

"I avoid this phrase because it grew out of the game hunting fraternity, who used it to refer to the five most difficult animals to hunt"

Countries where the big five can all be found include Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana.