It is one of the largest and one of the most formidable animals you will encounter while on safari. It is also, sadly, one of the most hunted trophy animals. The Cape buffalo is a member of the Big 5, and it is an animal that you are almost guaranteed to see when embarking on one of the many Kruger Park drives offered by touring companies such as Kurt Safari.
With a massive horn span and a moody disposition, the Cape buffalo has quickly gained a reputation for being an animal to be wary of. Those conducting Kruger Park drives have plenty of respect for this beast, and will not put you or the animal at risk.
While gazing at the buffalo from the safety of a safari vehicle, you would be mistaken for thinking that the docile creature munching away on grass is unable to switch moods at the drop of a hat! But this bovine is a tough prey for lions, and other predators, to take down simply because of its nature. Often, when predators attempt to tackle the buffalo, they are left licking their wounds.
Contrary to their feisty nature, and even though they can fix you with a rather unfriendly stare, the buffalo is a social animal when amongst the members of its herd. Herds can consist of thousands of buffalo, moving and grazing as one. For them, there is safety in numbers, and it is usually when you see an approaching dust cloud that you know herd is nearby. You will very seldom see a solitary buffalo.
Unlike the other members of the Big 5, buffalo do not fight for territory. But as with most herd animals, the males do fight for dominance over their clan. Within a herd, there can be a number of smaller clans. So, this means that within one herd there can be a number of dominant males. There is also a status hierarchy within the herd. Older animals usually have a higher status and will walk at the front of the herd, away from most of the predatory danger and nearest to the food.
If you are going to be enjoying one of the many Kruger Park safaris available, your best opportunity to spot buffalo will be near to Satara. However, this is not the only place that buffalo roam. They are rather well spread throughout the Kruger National Park. The best sightings are usually near water holes or rivers. In these instances, the buffalo move as one towards the water and it can be quite something to see them all coming for a drink.
