Why are they called the Big Five?
The Big Five are the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo. The name was not invented by tourism: it came from hunters, and it was never a list of the biggest animals — it was a list of the five most dangerous to hunt on foot. That's why the leopard (60 kg) is on it and the giraffe (1,200 kg) is not. The list has outlived the hunting; today it's the checklist every safari starts with.
This post is two things: the story of each of the five, and a look at the Big 5 Fridge Magnet set we sell — made in Kenya, KES 1,500 — which, you'll notice, has six magnets in it.
Who are the Big Five?
Lion — simba
The only truly social cat. A pride is run by the females; the males patrol and defend. On safari the giveaway is the ears — look for round black-backed ears in long grass at first light, when they're still active. Kenya's best-known lions live in the Maasai Mara; the Tsavo lions are famous for the males having little or no mane.
Leopard — chui
The hardest of the five to see and the one guides are proudest of finding. Solitary, mostly nocturnal, and strong enough to haul a kill twice its weight up a tree. Scan the horizontal branches of big sausage and fig trees, and watch for a tail hanging down.
Elephant — tembo
Africa's largest land animal. Herds are led by the oldest female, who carries the map of every waterhole in her head. Amboseli's elephants are the most photographed on Earth because of Kilimanjaro behind them; Tsavo's are red from dust-bathing in the park's iron-rich soil.
Rhino — kifaru
Two species. The black rhino is the smaller, hook-lipped browser with the short temper; the white rhino is the larger, square-lipped grazer ("white" is a mistranslation of the Dutch wijd, meaning wide). Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy is home to the last two northern white rhinos in the world.
Buffalo — nyati
The one the old hunters feared most. Unpredictable, herd-minded, and known to circle back. A herd can be a thousand strong; an old bull on his own (a "dagga boy") is the one to give space to. The curved boss of horn across the forehead is the field mark.
So why six magnets?
Because every set includes a sixth, round magnet: the Kenya flag, with the Maasai shield and crossed spears. The five animals say where you were; the flag says which country. Together they're the whole trip on one fridge door.
Each animal magnet is die-cut to the silhouette of the animal — not a rectangle with a picture on it — with a painted savanna behind it, a small Kenya flag and the animal's name in script. They come in Memory Scapes' Keep Travelling gift box, which is why they survive a suitcase.
Where people put them
- The fridge, obviously — but arranged in the order you saw them, with the flag last.
- The office whiteboard — the leopard holds the important note.
- Gift packs — tour operators and lodges drop the box into a welcome pack; it's flat, light and unmistakably from here.
- The thank-you gift for the host when you've been staying with someone abroad and want to bring something from Kenya that isn't tea.
- The classroom — five animals, five Swahili names, one flag. It's a lesson.
Questions people ask
How many magnets are in the set?
Six: lion, rhino, elephant, leopard, buffalo and a round Kenya flag magnet.
Are they made in Kenya?
Yes, by Memory Scapes KE.
Do they come boxed?
Yes, in a gift box, so they're ready to give.
Can I buy them in bulk for a hotel or tour company?
Yes — email info@mysafaribooks.com with quantities.
Do they ship internationally?
Yes, from Nairobi. Free delivery within Nairobi.
Pairs well with
- Mambo Safari Adventure Book — the Big Five plus the Little, Shy, Beautiful and Ugly Fives, and where to find them.
- Kenya Fridge Magnet — the word to go with the animals.
- The Swahili names of Africa's most iconic animals — the names on the magnets, explained.
To see all five in a week: Holiday Bazaar's Kenya safaris are built around exactly that, and their Out of Africa itinerary pairs Lake Naivasha with the Maasai Mara — lion, elephant and buffalo country, with leopard and rhino for the lucky.
Get the Big 5 Fridge Magnet set — KES 1,500 →
Sources and further reading
Kenya Wildlife Service for the parks and their wildlife; Ol Pejeta Conservancy for the northern white rhinos; Big Five game for the history of the term.
Written by Ruhan Shah, co-founder of My Safari Books and co-author of the Mambo Safari Adventure Book and Bahari Safari: Coastal Quest. Updated 20SEP2026.