Along the trail at MalaMala a herd of Cape Buffalo caused us to double back. Although they will not win any beauty contests, what they lack in good looks they make up for in viciousness. One of the 'Big Five' together with the lion, leopard, elephant and rhinoceros, they are best given a wide berth. Despite their placid cow-like appearance, some sources claim they are responsible for more human deaths in Africa than any other large animal.
They congregate in large herds up to several hundred. I'm glad this herd was much smaller!
They were plagued by swarms of flies in the warm sun - this one was also crusted with mud. Older males often leave the herd and spend a solitary, wandering life. They are then vulnerable without protection of the herd and often fall prey to lions. They can reach a top speed of 35 mph enabling them to outrun lions if given a head start, but are slow to accelerate and therefore vulnerable to ambush tactics used by lions.
This same day, while out later on the evening game drive, a radio call informed us of a lion kill. On arrival we discovered nine females and young males (no manes on males until they reach 3 years of age) devouring a huge Cape Buffalo they'd brought down.
Though not a pretty sight by any means, it was bloody and noisy, I understood it was a fact of Nature that these big cats hunt for food to survive and feed their families, it is the only way.
Again, I decided not to share my more graphic photos so that any children looking will not be upset.
I'll close this post with a handsome, stately animal, the male Waterbuck. A gregarious antelope who is a good swimmer and dependent on daily water for drinking.
You may be wondering how many more posts I can possibly come up with about the African safari! Such an awesome trip......so many stories......so many photos. Yes, a few more of each to share so hope you'll keep coming back.
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