---
okf_version: "0.2"
type: "Article"
title: "Beauties and beasts: the “Big Five” and “Ugly Five”"
description: "The Ugly Five carve out an existence in the shadow of the glamorous Big Five. What are the creatures that make it onto that ignominious list?"
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/botswana/big-five-and-ugly-five"
language: en
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 11
tags: ["Animals", "Nature", "Botswana"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/botswana"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/africa"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/wildlife-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/safari"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:13:04+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2016-07-18T19:08:25+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: big-five-and-ugly-five.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by travelmemo.com"
    last_modified: 2016-06-08
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:13:04+00:00
---

# Beauties and beasts: the “Big Five” and “Ugly Five”

> A safari reflection from Botswana introducing Africa's famous 'Big Five' dangerous game animals alongside the lesser-known 'Ugly Five' — a humorous designation for wildlife deemed ungainly or disproportionate in appearance.

## What to see
- **Lion** — Known as the 'king' of animals; one of the Big Five historically prized by big game hunters.
- **Leopard** — Described as the elegant big cat of the Big Five.
- **Buffalo** — Quick to attack and powerful; part of the dangerous Big Five.
- **Elephant** — Large animal noted for subtle social intelligence.
- **Rhinoceros** — Reclusive Big Five member, reportedly known to stomp out camp fires.
- **Marabou Stork** — Ugly Five member described as looking incompletely assembled, with a seemingly missing neck and absent tail feathers.
- **Warthog** — Ugly Five member with bulgy eyes, tusks, short legs, and an even shorter neck that forces it to kneel to graze.
- **Blue Wildebeest** — Ugly Five member with front-heavy proportions; a solitary bull can look rakish but standing still they appear awkward.
- **Hyena** — Ugly Five member with an ungainly body shape; the author's group had their bush plane mauled by hyenas, preventing takeoff.
- **Vulture** — Ugly Five member; considered almost normal-looking by comparison but noted for greedily tearing at carrion.

## Good to know
The 'Ugly Five' concept was encountered in Botswana and defined as African wildlife equipped with legs that are too short, too long, or a mismatched combination. The historical origin of the term is unclear — it may be a marketing tool for tourists.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Lion-Okavango-Delta-Jao-game-drive.jpg"
    caption: "Lion relaxing in the sun"
    keywords: ["Botswana", "Jao", "Jao concession", "Okavango Delta", "Safari", "Tubu Tree Camp", "Wilderness Safaris", "camp", "game drive", "lions"]
    captured: 2016-06-03
    credit: "travelmemo.com"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Okavango-Delta-Jao-game-drive.jpg"
    caption: "Leopard in the Okavango Delta"
    keywords: ["Botswana", "Jao", "Jao concession", "Leopard", "Okavango Delta", "Safari", "Tubu Tree Camp", "Wilderness", "Wilderness Safaris", "camp", "game drive"]
    captured: 2016-06-03
    credit: "travelmemo.com"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/buffalo-Chobe-National-Park-Botswana.jpg"
    caption: "And buffalos"
    keywords: ["Botswana", "Chobe", "Chobe National Park", "Chobe river", "Safari", "buffalo"]
    captured: 2016-06-01
    credit: "Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/elephant-Chobe-National-Park-Botswana-3.jpg"
    caption: "Elephants in the Chobe National Park"
    keywords: ["Botswana", "Chobe", "Chobe National Park", "Safari", "elephant"]
    captured: 2016-06-01
    credit: "Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rhino-Little-Mombo-Camp-safari.jpg"
    caption: "Das Nashorn"
    keywords: ["Africa", "Botswana", "Little Mombo Camp", "Moremi Game Reserve", "Safari", "game drive", "rhino", "travelmemo"]
    captured: 2016-06-08
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Marabou-Stork-Okavango-Delta-Jao-game-drive.jpg"
    caption: "Marabou Stork watching out"
    keywords: ["Botswana", "Jao", "Jao concession", "Marabuo stork", "Okavango Delta", "Safari", "Tubu Tree Camp", "Wilderness", "Wilderness Safaris", "camp", "game drive"]
    captured: 2016-06-03
    credit: "travelmemo.com"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/warthog-Victoria-Falls-Safari-Lodge.jpg"
    caption: "Warthog"
    keywords: ["Victoria Falls", "Victoria Falls Safari Lodge", "Zimbabwe", "garden", "warthog"]
    captured: 2016-05-29
    credit: "Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Wildebeest-Okavango-Delta-Jao-game-drive.jpg"
    caption: "Blue Wildebeest"
    keywords: ["Botswana", "Jao", "Jao concession", "Okavango Delta", "Safari", "Tubu Tree Camp", "Wilderness", "Wilderness Safaris", "camp", "game drive", "wildebeest"]
    captured: 2016-06-03
    credit: "travelmemo.com"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Running-Wildebeest-Okavango-Delta-Jao-game-drive.jpg"
    caption: "Running wildebeest herd"
    keywords: ["Botswana", "Jao", "Jao concession", "Okavango Delta", "Safari", "Tubu Tree Camp", "Wilderness", "Wilderness Safaris", "camp", "game drive", "wildebiest"]
    captured: 2016-06-03
    credit: "travelmemo.com"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Wilddog-blurry-Tubu-Tree-Camp.jpg"
    caption: "Ein der Hyäne ähnlichsehenden Wildhund"
    keywords: ["Botswana", "Safari", "Tubu Tree Camp", "Wilderness Camps", "camp"]
    captured: 2016-06-04
    credit: "Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Victoria-Falls-Safari-Lodge-vultures.jpg"
    caption: "Victoria Falls Safari Lodge"
    keywords: ["Africa Albida Tourism", "Victoria Falls", "Victoria Falls Safari Lodge", "Zimbabwe", "vulture"]
    captured: 2016-05-29
    credit: "travelmemo.com"
```