The Big Five, Big Six and the Special Seven are not, as they might appear, gangs from an Enid Blyton book. The Big Five are the five most dangerous species for the hunter to pursue : lion, buffalo, rhino, leopard and elephant.

Over the years, tourism has attached its own spin and these animals have become the most sought-after by visitors on photographic safaris. In the Eastern Cape, the whale has been added to the five to make the Big Six, although on balance I suppose whales might also be quite dangerous to hunt. Ask Jonah!

In the north of the country, cheetah and wild dog have been added to the five to make the Special Seven and give a marketing edge to those lucky enough to be home to all seven creatures. As it happens, cheetah and wild dog populations are fortunately on the rise, both species being seriously threatened in the wild.