For many, Africa is defined by its great mammals: elephant, rhinoceros, giraffe.
These and the hippopotamus and buffalo belong to the group of African mammals known as the "Big
Five". For many who visit Africa on safari, the trip is incomplete without having checked each
of them off the list. Whether the endeavor succeeds or not, these big animals are impressive. They
rank among the world's biggest land animals, and have complex behavior much of which is
still poorly understood.