What Kind Of Buffalo Is This? And Why Is It So Dangerous?
Another edition of our wild Safari adventures: 5 camps in three countries over 19 days last year. From South Africa to Botswana and Zimbabwe, we had the adventure of a lifetime, including meeting one of the most dangerous animals on earth!
Meet the Cape Buffalo that came with our room at Singita Boulders in South Africa – or more accurately, just hung round outside a lot!
The Cape buffalo is a large, powerful bovine native to southern and eastern Africa. As the largest subspecies of the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), adults can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand about 5.5 feet tall at the shoulder. They are famous for their massive, curved horns that form a hard shield across the forehead called a “boss”.
They love to graze in marshes and muds, and here is one right outside our room doing just that:
The African Cape buffalo at Singita Sabi Sand, where we were staying, is widely considered one of Africa’s most dangerous, un-domesticated big game animals..
A Cape buffalo is extremely dangerous, widely considered one of Africa’s most lethal large mammals, earning nicknames like “The Black Death” and “The Widowmaker.” They kill an estimated 200 people a year, charge without warning at speeds up to 35–40 mph, and notoriously ambush or hunt pursuers when wounded.
So, our Guide was very cautious as we encountered a herd of wild Buffaloes nonchalantly crossing our dirt road:
They really seem docile and serene but are anything but – the key is for an expert Guide to stay a safe distance and when they wander toward us, stop the engine and sit still and let them pass.
Here is how close they got to us:
Now, it’s important not to confuse the Cape buffalo with the Wildebeest, because they look alike in many ways. Cape buffalo have heavy, curved horns that fuse at the center of the head to form a solid armor-like bone structure called a boss.
Here is a Wildebeest:
Wildebeests have curved horns that sweep outward and upward without any central fusion.
Here is a Wildebeest grazing by us in Botswana’s Kalahari desert, oh and casually defecating as well:
The Kalahari Desert was fascinating as well, because there is little water or rainfall, so you have to be very adept at surviving there – luckily, traditional Bushmen taught us this:
We took a walking tour of the Kalahari Desert of Botswana, where Bushmen showed us how to make a fire and also find water as well…see it all here:
The Kalahari Desert was filled with wildlife, like these Lions enjoying the warm soft sand – on our road!
Yes, when the Lions take the right of way, you sit and enjoy!
See all of our Kalahari Desert encounters here:
Thanks to those of you who are following along as I share all of our incredible safari adventures here….there is still more to come!
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Categories: Africa, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, safari, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir
johnrieber 
Wow! Because they were hanging out close to your room, did you have to be careful?
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When we were on holiday in Kenya, we were told that the Water Buffalo was the most dangerous animal, and the one most likely to kill or injure us. Shared on Twitter, John.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Huh! I love animals and would be pretty comfortable on a safari jeep methinks BUT I definitely do not like the look in their eyes . . . some vindictive thoughts living in their brains methinks 🙂 !
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A cousin of this buffalo is domestic in Asia and they are rather docile….interesting that the Cape is such a danger……cool stuff yet again….your adventure was truly amazing. chuq
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When we filmed “Survivor: Africa” in Kenya, I was walking with an armed park preserve ranger scouting locations. He told me not to worry about the lions, because they are lazy during the day and would likely not bother us. He told me if an elephant charged, it would be terrifying, but to stand my ground, as they are “bluff” charges. When it came to the Cape Buffalo, however, he told me if one charged, I was to find the nearest tree, run as fast as I could and climb it while he tried to shoot it. True story. Those things are DANGEROUS as hell.
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