While visiting the Mopani area of the Kruger National Park this past weekend, we (myself and three very good friends) came across these waterbuck bulls involved in a massive fight about a patch of the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) and the eligible cows that inhabit it. As is the case with several antelope species in the Park, their rutting season will be coming to an end soon and these bulls are quite desperate to sire their share of the calves that will be born towards the end of the year.
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
Dueling Waterbuck Bulls in the Nshawu Vlei (marsh) near Mopani in the Kruger National Park
DeWetsWild 
WoW… die kringatte stamp kop!!
Great capture… great shots! 😉
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Thanks AJ. Wat n belewenis hoor!
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Pingback: Wrapping up the “Dads Trip to Mopani” | de Wets Wild
Wow. Just wow! That would have been something to see. I imagine there was a lot of noise that went along with it?
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Spot on Joanne – when those horns clashed it sounded like a gunshot or something similar!
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Great captures! Was the dueling also noisy?
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Extremely so, Hien – When those horns clashed it sounded like a clap of thunder!
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Wow! Great photos!
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Thank you again!
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OMG. Never seen anything like those.
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Certainly an unusual and memorable encounter!
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Wow! What good photos. Must have been an experience to see it live.😊
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You know it, John!
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Speechless.
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Our sentiments exactly!
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Wow! Cool! ❤
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Couldn’t have put it better myself, Teresa!
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Fantastiese aksiefoto’s, veral die een wat jy heelbo geplaas het! Wat ‘n besondere ervaring om dit te aanskou, Dries.
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Absoluut, Dina en baie dankie! Gewoonlik hou die bulle en ramme mos op baklei as mens naby kom, maar hierdie twee was regtig in n ernstige onderonsie gewikkel.
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Spectacular photos guys. I hope neither of them was badly injured!
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Given the speed with which the loser vacated the scene I think it is only his ego that was hurt, Kim. 😉
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Good!
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Wonderfully dramatic pictures.
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All thanks to nature, instinct and testosterone!
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Great photos! What luck you had to be able to see and photograph that!
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Thanks, Montucky! It’s a sighting I won’t soon forget.
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That is so cool! Great shots!
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Thanks, Jan!
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Fantastic shots! So much action here. I wish I could have seen this in person!
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Thanks, Michelle! It’s a sighting we will remember for a very long time!
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WOW……did it end badly for one of them as it sadly does, or just a few bumps and scratches? Amazing photos.
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Thanks Julie! The last shot where the one bull turns away from the other to dive into the bush was the end of the fight – the loser was then chased away quite purposefully and at great speed but unfortunately I wasn’t in a good position to photograph that.
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😁
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Great shots! Must have been quite something to witness.
janet
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It was incredible, Janet, and we were left in absolute awe!
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