Page 97 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

FIELD GUIDE  95

KEY FACTS
Feeding
Primarily a grazer, the Syncerus caffer
African buffalo requires a Local names: Inyathi (Zulu),
significant proportion of Nare (Tswana), Buffel
grass in its diet, although (Afrikaans)
it can supplement
Buffalo herd gathering at a waterhole to Size Shoulder height: 1.2–
drink and wallow this by feeding on low
trees and shrubs. Large 1.7 m (4–6 ft); Weight: 500–
herds are common in most grassland habitats, 800 kg (1,102–1,764 lb).
while forests support smaller herds. The
buffalo feeds throughout the day, but Lifespan 20–25 years.
Population in South
will readily adopt a nocturnal feeding Africa 30–60,000.
pattern in areas where it is repeatedly Conservation status LC.
disturbed. It must drink at least Gestation Period
once every 24 hours, and also 11–12 months.
enjoys wallowing. Herds rarely Reproduction Females
stray more than 10–15 km mature at the age of 4–5
(6–9 miles) away from a years and give birth to a
reliable water source. single calf at the start of
the rainy season.
Habitat Mostly non-arid
environments.
Top Places to See
Kruger, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi,
Communication and Voice Pilanesberg.
The African buffalo is generally far Sighting Tips
quieter than its mooing domestic The buffalo is still present
counterpart when it comes to day- in some places where
to-day communi cation. However, unguided walking is
upon sighting a predator it makes permitted, such as the
an explo sive snorting alarm call iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
that swiftly mobilizes the rest of
the herd into defensive mode. Friends and Foes
A threatened animal may also Cattle egrets flock around
grunt aggressively. The buffalo herds of buffalo to feed on
has an acute insects that are disturbed
sense of smell and as the mammals move
through the grass.
exceptional hearing,
but poor eye sight, Facts and Trivia
which may cause The Zulu military formation
a herd to stand and “Impondo Zekomo” –
stare myopically at Buffalo Horn – consisted of
a perceived intruder. a strong body of troops
with two flanking “horns” to
Buffalo herds tend to walk in single file when cut off escape routes.
covering long distances

Female calves stay with their
A courting male buffalo will birth herd, but males may be Large prides of lions
rest his head on the female’s rump forced out upon reaching sometimes attempt to prey on
as a prelude to mating. sexual maturity. buffaloes, with mixed success.

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