Meet the grumpiest member of the Big Five!

Here in Tanzania, the Cape buffalo often stands in the shadows of more celebrated members of the Big Five grouping, yetit is a formidable and fascinating creature deserving of recognition. These animals, found across Southern and East Africa, including Tanzania’s national parks and game reserves, are far more than just giant bovines. Their unpredictable temperament and impressive horns make them a significant force to be reckoned with! Let's find out more...

The Cape buffalo is the largest and most widespread of the four subspecies of the African buffalo. It is the most formidable of the African bovids, boasting a reputation that matches its size. Known for their grumpy disposition, buffalos tend to give you the "hairy eyeball" and look at you as if you owe them money! This inscrutable nature contributes to their status as one of the most dangerous animals in the African bush. Without any warning signs, they can charge suddenly, posing a substantial threat to humans and other animals alike.

Out on the plains of the Serengeti and in Tarangire, buffalos congregate in large herds, sometimes exceeding 1,000 individuals, especially during the dry season. You often see them at Nimali Serengeti and Nimali Mara, and over at Nimali Tarangire they are plentiful. They are bulk grazers, primarily consuming grass and spending most of their day feeding.

While lions are their primary predators, these formidable animals have a number of defence mechanisms. When a lion pride targets a buffalo, the herd often bands together to protect the vulnerable members. Adult buffalos will use their sharp horns to fend off lions, and protect the young and infirm, and buffalos frequently fend off their attackers and, in some instances, even kill them, goring them with those fearsome horns.

Herds are dominated by large bulls, easily identifiable by their massive horns that meet in the middle of their forehead to form a helmet-like structure called a "boss." In contrast, cows have narrower horns without a boss, making the bulls' dominance even more pronounced.

The bulls use their horns and bosses to establish dominance within the herd. This often involves sparring with one another, which can lead to serious injuries due to their sharp horn tips.Despite their aggressive nature, buffalos play a crucial role in the ecosystem.They help shape the landscape by grazing, which in turn affects the plant community and the availability of resources for other herbivores. Their interactions with predators like lions also influence predator behaviour and dynamics within the ecosystem. Additionally, their presence supports a variety of other species, from birds like oxpeckers and egrets to smaller mammals and insects.

Cape buffalos have poor eyesight and hearing but compensate with a highly developed sense of smell. They are excellent swimmers and are frequently seen crossing rivers and wallowing in the shallows of dams and waterholes. The mud in these areas acts as a natural insect repellent, protecting them from biting insects.

In Tanzania, where there are buffalo, there are oxpeckers. Both red-billed and yellow-billed oxpeckers are commonly seen on buffalos, feeding on the ticks and biting flies that infest them. Egrets are also a common sight, moving with the buffalo herds and feeding on the insects and other small creatures disturbed as the buffalo graze in long grass.

Buffalo calves can be seen year-round, asCape buffalos do not have a specific breeding season. However, they generally give birth at the start of the rainy season and mate again in late summer. The calves, born after an 11-month gestation period, are remarkably hardy, able to stand within 10 minutes of birth. The herd fiercely protects the calves, keeping them in the centre of the herd surrounded by a sea of sharp horns.

As bulls age and pass their prime, they leave the herd and become either solitary or form small groups with other older bulls. These groups are often seen wallowing in mud, earning the nickname "dugga boys" from a local term for mud, "dugga."

In terms of conservation, buffalos face threats from habitat loss, disease, and hunting. Efforts to conserve their populations include protected areas, anti-poaching measures, and disease management programmes. Understanding the ecological importance of these animals and ensuring their protection is vital for maintaining the health and balance of Tanzania’s savannah ecosystems.