Cape Buffalo
| Common name | Scientific name | Average weight of adult male | Average length or shoulder height | Diet | How do they live | Feeding time | Gestation period | Number of young at birth |
| Buffalo, Cape | Syncerus caffer | 750 kg | 1,4 m | herbivorous mainly grazer | herds | day | 11 months | single calf |
There is no way to mistake this large cow-like animal of the family Bovidae for anything else with their massive built and low-slung horns. The bulls in particular develop heavy central bosses which they use to defend themselves.
Hunters regard them as formidable, well-respected adversaries and they could be very dangerous if they are wounded. When wounded, they are known to hide in dense bush and then to suddenly attack the hunter and trackers. Sometimes they would even circle their persuiers and attack from the rear. Many hunters already paid the ultimate price for not being alert enough...
In well-suited areas they form herds of thousands of animals. Young and old bulls sometimes leave the large herd to form bachelor herds. Bulls sometimes are loners and is easy prey for lions. Even so, many lions were already killed by buffalo.
They can eat leaves but prefer coarse grass and they need water daily.