We all know about Africa’s Big 5, but what exactly are Africa’s Ugly Five and where are they found?
Learn more about Africa’s abundant wildlife and discover that there’s more to Africa than only the Big 5. In fact, Africa is not only home to the Big 5, but also the Small Five, Shy Five, and Ugly Five! Find out what makes the Ugly Five such an incredible (and yes hideous as well!) set of animals.
Table of Contents
Africa: A Home to Wildlife Big and Small
When planning an African hunt or learning more about what this fascinating continent has to offer in terms of its abundant wildlife, one of the first terms or groupings of animals you will encounter is Africa’s Big 5.
The Big 5 are seen as the most dangerous, vicious, and challenging animals to target on foot during a game hunting safari, including the lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, elephant, and rhino. These animals are notorious not only for being challenging to hunt, but they can also crack a nod for their good looks. Think about it: The African lion with its golden mane billowing in the wind, or the imposing Cape buffalo, a literal wall of muscle, or perhaps even the elusive leopard with its beautiful spotted coat. All exquisite in their own rights.
Africa is also home to the Small 5! Although these species will not be targeted on an African hunting adventure, they can be seen (if you are very careful!) while enjoying a game drive. They include the buffalo weaver, leopard tortoise, elephant shrew, antlion, and rhino beetle.
Africa’s Shy 5 are seen as some of the shyest animals you will ever encounter while hunting in Africa. The meerkat, aardwolf, aardvark, porcupine, and bat-eared fox make up this group of elusive animals. They are exceptionally difficult to target and hunt, making them sought-after trophies when hunting in Africa.
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but let’s be honest here: Have you seen what they look like? Some of these species only a mother could love and even that is pushing it! The Ugly Five are in a class of their own, and as their name says, they won’t be winning any Miss South Africa or Miss World pageants any time soon!
Africa’s Ugly Five
When I came across the concept of Africa’s Ugly Five, I sat and wondered which animals might fit this category. I was thinking perhaps a rat or mouse, as they aren’t exactly rolling in modelling contracts with those long tails and whiskers. Maybe even the okapi, found in the Congo Basin? Nope, I was way wrong with this one, but looking back, I can quite see why these animals are ranked right up there in terms of being last in line when it came to looks!
The Marabou Stork
The marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) is a large wading bird, native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Personally, I am not surprised that this bird has the nickname “The Undertaker.” Have you ever seen it? From the back, it looks like some dodgy old man, with thin long legs, and the way the stork moves and walks on these long quivering legs has a person envisaging someone sneaking up on you! The tiniest patch of white fluff (hair) on its head (if any!) also lends itself to the analogy of an aged undertaker, getting on in years.
The marabou stork is a sight worth seeing on any game hunting safari, and you will certainly not miss it when out on a drive, as it’s quite remarkable in terms of appearance – and very large! They are renowned for having the largest wingspan of any landbird, averaging around 8 feet, but reaching lengths of up to 10 feet.
The “undertaker” is an enormous bird, weighing close to 20 pounds and standing nearly 5 feet tall, with females being slightly smaller. It has a mostly bare head (apart from some fine white hair found on some), with a black back, and a white underbelly. The marabou stork has a large bill, with a pink throat sack. It is also not a bird to be messed with and is known to be bad-tempered, even on good days!
As a scavenger, the marabou stork feeds on carrion, scraps, and even faeces but is also known to go after live prey, such as pigeons, doves, and a variety of small chicks. Unfortunately, the marabou stork has moved into more urban areas due to their natural habitats diminishing and are known to hang around garbage dumpsites in search of food. They are truly scavengers, eating anything that is left there.
In the wild, adult marabou storks are rather intimidating and don’t have many natural predators. However, members of the African cat family, including the lion and leopard, will hunt this huge stork. Humans also target it for its feathers which are used in jewellery and items of clothing.
Does it warrant its inclusion in Africa’s Ugly 5? Sadly, for this member of the stork family, I must agree that it certainly is a rather hideous-looking individual!
Interesting Facts about the Marabou Stork
- They form monogamous pairs that bond and mate for life
- They are social birds that are known to hang out around mammals, including humans
- They are the largest of the stork family
- Because of the lack of hair on their heads, they often get blisters due to the searingly hot African sun
The Vulture
Africa is home to more than 10 species of vultures and is right up there in terms of competing for the title of Africa’s Ugly Five poster child! Vultures are known scavengers and will target dead or dying animals to prey upon.
The lappet-faced vulture, also known as the Nubian vulture (Torgos tracheliotos), is often mentioned and linked to the Ugly Five, perhaps confirming that this vulture is seen as the ugliest of them all! This lappet-faced vulture is a large bird weighing close to 20 pounds and stands 39 inches high. They are found throughout Africa and the Middle East, preferring habitats of savanna, semi-arid, and arid regions. Scattered trees are essential in their habitats, and they use them for roosting and nesting.
This vulture is easily identifiable due to its large head and enormous bill. It has a bare pink head and a big fold of flesh on either side of its neck, as well as dark feathers. These folds of skin are called “lappets” and this is how this scavenger bird got its name.
Believe it or not, these are some of the shyest vultures you will ever encounter, and they live in pairs, except during breeding time and feeding time. When it comes to feeding time, they are far more dominant and will chase other vultures and scavengers, such as jackals, away. They are known to steal food from other raptors and will also prey upon and kill small birds.
These vultures play an extremely important role in the food chain, by eating and disposing of carrion, as well as the skin and bones of animals. Fortunately for them, their looks (or lack of them) aren’t significant!
Interesting Facts about Vultures
- They have bald or clean heads to avoid them getting dirty when scavenging for food
- Their strong, broad wings allow them to glide for hours at a time, on the lookout for their next meal
- They eat as much as they possibly can during a meal, as they are never sure when and where they will get another one
- They are present worldwide, except for Antarctica and Australia
- They often visit water holes after eating, to wash and clean themselves, especially their faces
The Wildebeest
When you first spy this herbivorous mammal, you give it a quick glance (it’s rude to stare!) and then another. Its appearance is so….shall we say unusual….that it warrants that second glance without a doubt!
The animal has large forequarters, with slightly built hind legs that are (seemingly) out of proportion. They have a large boxlike head with curved horns. These herbivores reach weights of up to 600 pounds and stand 5 feet at the shoulder.
Wildebeest are forever on the move and rarely stay in one place for a prolonged period, inhabiting south, central, and east Africa. Wildebeest prefer a habitat of savanna, grassland, woodland, and bush. They are social animals, living in herds numbering ten to over a thousand.
Wildebeest hunting in Africa is a popular pastime, with this antelope, also referred to as a gnu, being a sought-after African plains game hunting trophy. Unfortunately for them, man is not the only predator who has them on their radar, with leopards, lions, crocodiles, and hyenas being the wildebeest’s natural predators.
Interesting Facts about the Wildebeest
- There are two sub-species of wildebeest, namely the Blue Wildebeest and the Black Wildebeest
- They are herbivores and are water-dependent
- They can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour
- They are social animals and live in large herds
The Hyena
Hyenas are undoubtedly very dubious-looking creatures, with looks perfectly suited to be a predator and scavenger (Note to self: Do not trust any animal that can laugh manically without a joke being told!).
Their powerful forequarters and gnashing jaws tick the boxes in establishing them as a distinguished hunter, with the less muscular back legs looking quite out of place on this muscular beast, which has established itself as a powerful predator in the African savannas.
Hyenas have often been given the bad rap of being classed as purely scavengers, when in fact they are quite skilled predators. While striped and brown hyenas tend to scavenge more than spotted hyenas, more than 90% of the spotted hyena’s diet consists of animals that it has actively hunted, such as impala, wildebeest, zebra, and kudu. Hyenas hunt in packs and are seen as a force to be reckoned with in the animal kingdom.
Brown and striped hyenas live mainly solitary lives or live in small groups, with the shy and elusive aardwolf also living a solitary lifestyle, apart from their mating season. Spotted hyenas live in clans that can number up to 80 members and they are far more sociable than the other species.
These nocturnal creatures rest during the heat of the day and use the cover of darkness, along with their excellent night vision, to successfully hunt at night.
When targeting a hyena on an African hunting adventure, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between a male and female hyena, as females have a “false” penis and therefore from a distance do look remarkably similar. However, females are usually larger than their male counterparts and are also more dominant. When it comes to hyena hunting in Africa, go for the largest specimen that you can ethically hunt, utilizing good shot placement techniques to swiftly and humanely target the animal.
Interesting Facts about the Hyena
- There are four species of hyenas: The spotted, striped, and brown hyena, as well as aardwolf
- The spotted hyena has a bite force of psi 1,000
- Their pooh is white. They digest basically everything, and the only thing left is the calcium
- The spotted hyena has a laugh that sounds like a mad witch. It is incredibly eerie to hear this, especially at night on an African hunt.
Warthog
African hunts and warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) go together like peanut butter and jelly! Warthogs are found throughout southern Africa, and they are extremely common and easy to spot on a game hunting safari.
Warthogs are untidy-looking hogs with brown to black bodies, and little to no hair on them. They have a long, flat face with two sets of tusks visible that protrude from the mouth and turn upwards. They have manes running down their backs as well as a long tail with a tuft for fur on the end. Warthogs have warts on either side of their faces, with males having two sets, while females only have one.
Sadly, their inclusion in the Ugly Five comes as no surprise, as they are certainly no beauties, but in terms of their contribution to the ecosystem, they are a “gardening” species, providing great aerating services while searching and scavenging for food. This assists plant growth, allowing for the continuation of Africa’s abundant flora range and providing food sources for many different herbivorous species.
When it comes to hunting in Africa, few species are as exciting to hunt, or offer such fast-paced hunting adventures!
Interesting Facts about the Warthog
- Warthogs love to wallow in mud, it assists them in keeping cool as well as cleaning their skin and protects them from the harsh African sun
- When warthogs eat, they kneel on their front legs, with their hind quarters in the air
- When warthogs walk or run, their little tails shoot up in the air, like an antenna, or aerial
- Their conservation status is that of “least concern”
The Ugly 5: Worth More Than Just Their Looks
Each member of the Ugly 5 plays a significant and pivotal role within their ecosystem. With two herbivores, and three scavengers/predators, each member of the Ugly Five is a much-needed element of the ecosystem, allowing it to thrive.
Be sure to keep a look out for these intriguing species on your next African hunting adventure, whether they are a target on your African hunt, such as the hyena, warthog, or wildebeest, or perhaps purely indicating where an animal has fallen or died and indulging in their next meal, such as the marabou stork and vulture.
While some may continue to simply see these animals as the Ugly Five, many other game hunting enthusiasts will come to their rescue, citing their redeemable qualities, their unique characteristics, and many reasons to love and respect these vital members of the animal kingdom. I definitely concur with this line of thought. Each animal has their place within the great African wilderness, and who are we to judge, based on looks? As the old saying goes, “ One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and in this case, these diverse and unique-looking animals are most definitely Africa’s treasures.
If you enjoyed reading about the Ugly Five, check out our blog relating to the Shy 5: Targeting Africa’s Shy 5 During an African Hunting Safari.
Author: B. Hershensohnn