Africa is home to one species of buffalo, with four subspecies: the woodland buffalo, the West African savanna buffalo, the Central African buffalo, and the southern savanna buffalo (also known as the Cape buffalo).
Wild buffalo roam the savannas of Africa and Asia and weigh as much as a small truck. They come in a wide range of sizes, and their horn forms and coat colours are just as diverse.
Young are typically a ruddy brown, while adults are usually a dark grey or black (may appear red or white if they have been wallowing in muck of that colour).
Many savanna buffaloes in western Uganda are also red or pale orange instead of black, but the smaller forest buffalo keeps its red colouring even as an adult. Generally speaking, bulls and cows have a gradual but steady loss of hair as they become older.
Horns that are thick and ridged and either grow straight out from the head or curve downward and then up are a distinguishing feature of both sexes. The horns serve as formidable weapons against predators and in struggles for territory within the herd, with the males using them especially.
Cape buffaloes’ horns may be used to accurately determine their age and gender. Females and juvenile males lack the thick bone that big adult males have at the base of their skulls to protect them from injury.
Cape buffaloes are highly sociable animals that congregate in massive mixed herds of up to 200 individuals. There is a distinct male-female power structure, with males at the top. Buffalos in the same social group tend to sleep close together, sometimes even with their heads on each other.
The African buffalo is sometimes misidentified as the Asian water buffalo since the two species share so many similarities.
Water is never more than a day’s walk away for a Cape buffalo. Particularly so during the dry season, when their diet consists largely of dried grasses.
When trapped or hurt, cape buffalo have a reputation for being dangerous. Many stories were reported by big game hunters from the early part of this century of wounded buffalo that turned around and gored or killed the shooter.
A hunt for the water buffalo is renowned as one of the most difficult African big game hunts, fitting only for the most experienced safari hunters.
Hunting water buffalo on foot is a thrilling experience. You should begin your search for the Buffalo by looking for fresh tracks or dung around waterholes or on gravel roads. After locating your target, you’ll have to cautiously stalk your trophy to get into the best position to kill your bull.
Typically, you’ll be able to get within twenty or thirty yards. Older bulls often go their own way, living alone or in tiny groups of bachelors known as Dagga boys.
In order to kill a buffalo, your shot should penetrate important tissue and, ideally, break a bone. Any seasoned PH will tell you to head to the “boiler room.” If you hit it hard enough, the animal will grunt and gallop away, frequently giving a dying yell as it does so.
Only rounds that hit a mature bull in the spine are likely to bring it to the ground, regardless of calibre. A herd animal that has been injured will often separate from the group and seek shelter in a more concealed area.
BEWARE: wounded buffalo are among the most dangerous animals, and every circumstance is different. They may be heavy, but these creatures are lightning fast and incredibly skilled at hiding in plain sight.
Hunt24 the premier outfitter in South Africa for the pursuit of a world-class trophy water buffalo, and our services give especial focus to buffalo hunting.
Our South African Buffalo hunts are conducted in large, top-tier hunting areas and feature fair chase. We take great satisfaction not only in providing hunts of the highest trophy calibre, but also in providing our clients with a genuine and exciting hunt from start to finish.
