The Cape buffalo or African buffalo: Latin: (Syncerus caffer), is a large
bovine with an average weight of between 550 and 900 kg. Their colour range
from a dark reddish brown to black.
Although buffalo look like domestic cattle, they are an specie on their
own and not related to the domesticated cattle. Of all the bovine species on
earth, the Cape buffalo has never been domesticated.
Very distinctive is the magnificent curved horns of the buffalo, with
horn-spans of up to a meter across.
The African buffalo is considered to be one of the most dangerous animals to
hunt in Africa. The buffalo will stand its ground against predators, and
this unpredictable aggressive behaviour has cost the live of many a hunter
and lion. Lion are the main predator of the buffalo.
The buffalo is very depended on water, and need to drink once a day. This
restrict their ranges in Southern Africa, and they are basically on found in
areas with permanent water and good grazing.
Being one of the Big 5 animals, various Southern African safaris cover the
regions where the buffalo are to be found. The buffalo occur in various
Parks and Game Reserves in northern and north-eastern South Africa, with the
Kruger Park, the most famous for its buffalo.
In Botswana, the buffalo is restricted to north of Maun (Okavango Delta), in the Moremi, Savuti and Chobe Reserves.
In Namibia you will only found buffalo at the Waterberg Plateau Park, and then in the far north Mahangu and Caprivi regions.