Kariba – Who Drinks First at the Waterhole? 🐘🐭

The elephant chases the rhino, the rhino chases the giraffe – and the little mouse chases the elephant. Kariba is a light card game by Reiner Knizia, published by Helvetiq.

In this game for 2 to 4 players aged 6 and up, you play one or more cards of the same animal next to its number around the waterhole. When three or more of that animal gather, they chase away the nearest weaker animal – and you keep those cards. When the draw pile is empty and one player has played their last card, the player with the most cards wins.

🔢 Eight Animals

From the mouse (1) to the elephant (8) around one waterhole.

💨 Chase Them Away

Three of a kind scare off the closest weaker animal.

🐭 The Mouse Surprise

Only the mouse can scare away the elephant.

🃏 Draw Back to Five

After every turn you refill your hand to five cards.

Why You'll Love Kariba:

• 👨‍👩‍👦 For Families: easy rules from 6 years up.
• 🧠 Small Decisions: play now or wait for a bigger catch?
• 🎒 Compact: 64 cards and a small waterhole board. More ideas among our card games.

Quick facts

• Players: 2–4
• Playing time: about 15 minutes
• Age: 6+
• Designer: Reiner Knizia
• Illustrations: Felix Kindelán
• Publisher: Helvetiq
• Contents: 64 cards, 1 waterhole, rules
• Edition / language: English-German-French-Italian-Spanish-Dutch Edition or Slovenian-Bulgarian Edition – choose the variant

Is there a variant for older players? Yes – with three face-up cards you can choose what to draw.
How long is a game? About 15 minutes; the rules suggest playing three games in a row.

Gather your animals at the waterhole and play Kariba together. 🐘

⚠️ Warning: Choking hazard – small parts. Not for children under 3 years.