Buffalo

Vast herds of formidable Cape buffalo enjoy sanctuary in the Kruger National Park. They are smaller than their continental cousins, the North American bison - but with more prominent horns. If you are interested in seeing these large bovines in nature, consider a safari in Botswana or South Africa.

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Description

The African buffalo is a large wild bovine species found throughout the African continent. Both male and female buffaloes have horns, with the most significant difference between the sexes being that males' horns are thicker.

Cape buffalo can be found in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, from Kenya and Tanzania to Zambia, Botswana, and Malawi. They occur in northern South Africa and down to the South Coast of South Africa. These giant herbivores are one of the easier sightings to come across when looking for the Big Five, thanks to their widespread distribution across the continent. The Kruger National Park is one of the best places to find this aggressive bovine species.

Name
Cape Buffalo
Scientific Name
Syncerus caffer
Weight
800Kg (M) 750Kg (f)
Shoulder Height
140cm (M) 132cm (F)
Mating Season
April, May

Best Safari Tours for viewing Buffalo

9 Days From: ZAR 69,270 pp Top-End Code: S04

Large herds of buffalo can be seen in the wilderness areas of Botswana. This safari explores the country from its fines lodges.

7 Days From: ZAR 69,270 pp Personal Code: KP10

Experience three unique areas of South Africa's premier safari area, based at luxury lodges.

5 Days From: ZAR 69,270 pp Luxury Code: S17

This package combines a safari in the Chobe National Park with a visit to Victoria Falls from the Zambian side of the Zambezi River.

Status

The Cape buffalo is not going anywhere anytime soon, with significant populations and mega-herds still grazing the savannas of Africa, even though they are a favorite prey for large prides of lion. It may be one of the reasons why their populations are doing well – their only natural predator has suffered significant population declines. As a result of several factors, the Cape buffalo can be considered the "least concern." This species has adapted well to the ever-changing 21st century that we live in today, despite more land in Africa being allocated to agriculture, industry, and housing and more grasslands being devoured by domestic cattle.

Habitat

Buffalos favor open grassland areas and shrublands or savannahs, where they eat a variety of grass and shrub species. In the Kruger National Park, they can be found just about anywhere but are more frequently seen and easier to spot grazing in the open grasslands near the rest camps of Satara and Orpen, where fewer trees are shielding their presence. Savanna areas with more trees and wild bushes that support a herd may also serve as a regular habitat to call home, such as those found in the neighboring regions of the Sabi Sands and Timbavati, which also have great buffalo populations.

Social Organization

Buffalo, like most other grazing herbivores, organize themselves into herds. These herds typically include mothers with their young, although all-male herds are also common among mature and juvenile males, though these are typically smaller in size. The all-male herds, known as bachelor herds, join female herds to mate during the wet season, leaving when food resources get scarce during the dry season. They often graze with other species, impala most common among them.

Finest Safari Areas in Africa for Encountering Buffalo

We recommend the following National Parks and Private Reserves for the best chances of spotting the buffalo on safari game drives and bush walks.

Social Behavior

Because of their large size, buffalo require lots of food and water to survive. For this reason, they can usually be found near a water source or extensive grasslands where they graze. Young bulls or even calves can be seen play-fighting and chasing each other during the day while mothers keep an eye on them. After the whole herd is done eating and they decide to move to another location, a high-ranking female or male will usually send out a deeply pitched call indicating that they are going to move, and so their social endeavors continue. They also groom, lick and clean each other during the day. It mainly occurs between mothers and their calves. Adults often mudbath, exfoliating their skin and protecting it from the worst of the sun's rays while also killing lice and other pests, keeping these giant beasts healthy.

Reproduction

After the first rains have fallen, calves will usually be born with lots of vegetation around them to ensure they will be strong and big enough to survive their first dry season. Males typically start to battle it out for mates during the later stages of the rainy season, with the stronger males mating with the more desirable females and weaker males often landing no mates. The gestation period of buffaloes is about 11 and a half months – just long enough for the calves to be born at the beginning of the next rainy season and start the cycle yet again. Female buffaloes start calving or having young at five years old, while males only start competing for mates some three or even four years later.

Anti-Predator Behavior

These animals might seem tough and strong, but even they have natural predators. Lions and crocodiles are the only ones big enough to make prey on buffalo. They stick together when attacked, making it very hard for even a pride of lions to pick one off and deliver the final blow to an adult, though calves always remain vulnerable. Once a buffalo sends out a call of distress, the whole herd responds aggressively. They form a circle, with the calves in the middle, and fend off predators with their large horns, sometimes injuring or even killing an overly invested lioness.

The Big 5

Lion
Buffalo
Elephant
White Rhino
Black Rhino
Leopard