The grasslands of the central Kruger Park supports several very large herds of African Buffalo, as well as numerous old bulls relegated to solitary lives. Encounters with Buffaloes are always exciting, for even when they’re in the best of moods they still look at you as if you are overdue on money owed to them. Though this is mostly for show and probably as much to satisfy their curiosity as it is a threatening posture (we’ve rarely been charged by buffalo while in a vehicle), these powerful animals deserve their dangerous reputation and should be treated with respect.
Buffalo bull just finished his mud bath
Two old Buffalo bulls resting in the Sabie River on a hot day
Young Buffalo cow
Young Buffalo bull
Buffalo bull
Buffalo bull
Buffalo Bull among mopane shrubs
Buffalo Bull
Herd of Buffalo crossing the road
Herd of Buffalo crossing the road
Herd of Buffalo crossing the road
Herd of Buffalo crossing the road
Herd of Buffalo crossing the road
Buffalo cow
Herd of Buffalo crossing the road (photo by Joubert)
Herd of Buffalo crossing the road (photo by Joubert)
Buffalo Bull
Buffalo cow with oxpecker
Young Buffalo bull peering down his nose over the long grass
Buffalo cow
Buffalo cow
Pregnant Buffalo cow
Buffalo calf (photo by Joubert)
Young Buffalo peering at us over the long grass (photo by Joubert)
Big herd of Buffalo blocking the road between Olifants and Letaba
Big herd of Buffalo blocking the road between Olifants and Letaba
Big Buffalo Bull (photo by Joubert)
Buffalo Bull in his prime (photo by Joubert)
Buffalo cow chewing on fresh grass (photo by Joubert)
Advancing Buffalo herd
Buffalo bull (photo by Joubert)
Smiling Buffalo (photo by Joubert)
de Wets Wild 
Jy’t ‘n lekker groot versameling foto’s hier! Hulle horings is nogal indrukwekkend! Ek hou van hoe jy hulle gesigsuitdrukkings beskryf 😁 … daardie laaste foto waar hy bietjie tande wys (al mag dit dalk soos ‘n glimlag lyk), sal my beslis op ‘n veilige afstand hou!
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Dis altyd beter met buffels om jou op n veilige afstand te hou en nie hul pad te blokkeer nie, al is die voertuig waarin jy jou bevind ook hoe groot. Maar dat hul asemrowende diere is, is gewis!
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I enjoy our encounters with buffalo. Your description of their looks is very apt. I also think some of them look wise and world-weary, as if they have ‘seen it all’.
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That is very true, Anne. Especially the old bulls have a “wiseness” about them. In a place like Kruger where lions favour preying on buffalo getting to that old is quite a feat!
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Hulle het darem indrukwekkende horings.
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Is so, Toortsie. Mens wil nie van naby kennis maak daarmee nie.
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Hulle bly maar net een van ons gunstelinge!
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Ook vir ons, Una. Of dit nou n groot trop is of n kwaai alleenloperbul, buffels bly interessant.
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Big, powerful animals. Great contenders for many other big animals, too. Thank you, D. 🙂
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Definitely not an animal to mess with. Thank you, H.J.
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Their horns are quite something and I really like the shot of all of them on the road, although that wouldn’t be so good if I were driving there. 🙂 I think they just look completely bored except for those last two shots which made me laugh. The bored shots make me think of the expression of a supercilious old lady looking down her nose at someone she considers her inferior and drawling something along the the lines of “Reeeeally, my dear, that’s simply NOT done!.” (Without the horns, of course. 🙂
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Find a herd occupying the road is very thrilling! Not a time to be in a hurry though.
Don’t you imagine some of those grumpy old ladies have their horns hidden in their buns?
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That’s entirely possible, although I’ve never actually seen any. 🙂
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I had to laugh at your description of them, Dries–as if you are overdue on money owed to them–but I think you nailed it.
I’ll let Dawn kiss their noses while Joubert snaps a photo!
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We’ll be watching from a safe distance, Lois!
😀
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Am I the only one that wants to hold their horns and kiss their noses?! Probably
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I think you may be a dare devil, Dawn!
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