While tourists fight for Big Five photos, I’ve spent many years tracking Africa’s most fascinating tiny creatures – the Small Five. Ever seen an ant take down its prey? Trust me, it’s more dramatic than any lion hunt you’ll watch on Netflix!

⇒ please explain what the small five are, thank you!

Essential Small Five Spotting Gear

Before we dive into locations, here’s what you’ll need to maximize your chances:

• A good magnifying glass or macro lens
• Small LED flashlight for night viewing
• Light-colored clothing (makes it easier to spot beetles that land on you)
• Field notebook for marking locations and patterns
• Patience – lots of it

1. Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa – Elephant Shrew Central

Forget about their bigger namesakes for a minute. These tiny creatures, with their elephant-like trunks, can sprint at speeds equivalent to 150 mph if they were human-sized. At Sabi Sands, they’ve got their fan club among guides who know exactly where these speed demons hang out. Head to the rocky outcrops near Singita Boulders Lodge at sunrise – that’s when these fascinating creatures do their morning sprints between rocks, hunting insects with ninja-like precision.

Best Viewing Tips:

• Book a specialized walking safari
• Look for them during the cooler morning hours
• Listen for their distinctive high-pitched squeaks
• Scan areas with scattered rocks and leaf litter
• Focus on areas with dense ground cover near water sources
• Watch for their distinctive bouncing movement pattern

Seasonal Tips:

• Best viewed during winter months when vegetation is sparse
• More active after brief summer rains
• Most visible during breeding season (October-December)

2. Namib Desert, Namibia – Ant Lion Paradise

Ever seen a real-life sand trap predator? Antlions are nature’s original trappers, creating perfect cone-shaped pits in the sand to catch their prey. The Namib Desert’s red dunes are dotted with these mini death traps, and watching an ant lion flip its prey into the air is better than any wildlife documentary. The best spot? The dunes near Sossusvlei, where these crafty creatures build their traps in the shade of desert bushes.

How to Find Them:

• Look for small, perfectly round pits in fine sand
• Visit early morning when the pits are freshly made
• Carefully drop an ant near a pit (yes, really!)
• Watch the lightning-fast capture technique

3. Kruger National Park, South Africa – Rhinoceros Beetle Kingdom

These tiny tanks can lift 850 times their body weight – that’s like you lifting six fully grown African elephants. At Kruger’s Skukuza Rest Camp, these mighty mites regularly show up around the lights at night, proving that size really doesn’t matter when it comes to strength. The males battle each other with their horns in miniature sumo matches that’ll have you completely forgetting about the big five.

When to Watch:

• Summer evenings after the rain
• Around camp lights at night
• Near decomposing logs during the day
• In areas with plenty of fruit trees

4. Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya – Buffalo Weaver Territory

These social birds might be small, but their massive communal nests can weigh more than an actual buffalo! Lake Nakuru’s fever trees are prime real estate for buffalo weavers, where entire colonies create apartment-like complexes that look like something out of a bird-sized sci-fi movie. The early morning chaos as hundreds of birds renovate their homes is pure entertainment.

Viewing Hotspots:

• The fever tree forests near the lake
• Around the larger acacia trees
• Near the park’s southern entrance
• Around old abandoned buildings

5. Matobo Hills, Zimbabwe – Leopard Tortoise Haven

These spotted shells are the speed demons of the tortoise world (okay, that’s not saying much). But what they lack in pace, they make up for in personality. Matobo’s granite domes create perfect basking spots for these surprisingly agile creatures. Watch them navigate massive boulders with the skill of a rock climber – they can even swim! The kopjes near Rhodes’ grave are a particularly good spot to find them sunbathing.

Finding Tips:

• Early morning on sun-warmed rocks
• Around water sources after rain
• In grassy areas between the kopjes
• Near aloe plants during the flowering season

6. Mapungubwe National Park, South Africa – The Full House

Want to tick off all five in one go? This UNESCO World Heritage site is the jackpot. The diverse landscape of riverine forests, sandstone formations, and savannas creates perfect micro-habitats for all the Small Five. The park’s walking trails are specifically designed to showcase these miniature marvels, and the guides here are passionate about their tiny charges. The recently introduced Small Five tracking course teaches you to spot and identify tracks smaller than your fingernail.

Must-Do Activities:

• Join the specialized Small Five walking safari
• Book a macro photography workshop
• Take the early morning habitat walk
• Visit during summer when all species are active
• Participate in the citizen science program tracking Small Five populations
• Join a night walk to spot nocturnal beetle activity

Photography Tips:

• Use a ring flash for macro shots
• Bring a bean bag for low-angle stability
• Focus on eye level with your subjects
• Morning dew adds magic to close-ups

7. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania – The Unexpected Hotspot

Everyone visits for the big game, but the crater’s varied habitats are a small five paradise. The mix of grassland, forest, and wetland creates a perfect environment for all five species. The best part? While other tourists chase lions, you’ll have these fascinating creatures all to yourself. The crater rim’s forested areas are particularly good for elephant shrews and rhinoceros beetles. Recent research has shown that the crater’s unique microclimate creates ideal conditions for year-round Small Five activity.

Local Secrets:

• Book a specialized small five-guide
• Focus on the crater rim rather than the floor
• Visit during the green season
• Explore the lesser-used northern trails
• Check fallen logs after rain for beetle activity
• Look for buffalo weaver nests in the yellow fever trees
• Track tortoise movements along the crater’s eastern rim

Conservation Note: The Small Five face their conservation challenges. Climate change affects ant lion pit construction, while habitat loss impacts elephant shrew populations. Supporting parks that protect these species helps ensure their survival for future generations.

The Small Five Challenge

Think spotting the Big Five is hard? Try finding all these tiny treasures! But here’s the real secret – while tourists spend thousands chasing lions and elephants, you’ll discover a whole new world of African wildlife that most people never see. And trust me, once you’ve watched an ant lion snare its prey, those big cats might just seem a bit… boring!

Remember: The best safari moments often come in the smallest packages. Just don’t tell the lions I said that!