Category: buffalo

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Close up and personal!

I often get asked why African Lion, Leopard, African Elephant, Black Rhino, and Cape Buffalo are called the ‘Big Five’. It is not a modern marketing term as many suspect, it is an old hunting term. These five mammals are the most dangerous to hunt on foot. Whereas most animals will run away when confronted by Humans, the Big Five will often rather attack, especially if a hunter injures them, but does not manage to kill them.

The two most dangerous of these five to encounter are Black Rhinos and Cape Buffalo bulls (either solitary or in small groups, called Dugga Boys). When confronted by Humans they will often attack without any warning. Most other mammals (including Lions and Elephants) will either run away or try to warn their opponent to back off before a possible attack.

This is a Dugga Boys picture of two taken from my Suzuki Jimny. On Thanda Safari our Buffalo are quite used to vehicles, which allowed me to lower my window and get this close-up portrait. I could feel the breath of first bull on my hand while holding the phone.

Note: I recommend not to get that close to Cape Buffalo if you do not know the temperament of the individuals you’re looking at (for example when driving yourself in a National Park). As with Black Rhinos (see yesterday’s post) a close encounter could lead to a lot of work for your panel beater!

Technical data: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max | Main Camera | 24mm / f1.78 | ISO80 | cropped to 80 of the original image | Shot taken at 7:00am

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

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On the money!

Did you know that the Big Five feature on the recently re-designed South African Rand banknotes?

White Rhinos or Imikhombe (in isiZulu) decorate the green R10 bill, African Elephants or Izindlovu the brown R20 bill, African Lions or Amabhubesi the red R50 bill, Cape Buffalos or Izinyathi the blue R100 bill, and Leopards or Izingwe the orange R200 bill.

But if you are a ‘Big Five purist’ then the creators of the new money made a slight mistake. White Rhinos, strictly speaking, are not part of the Big Five. It is the Black Rhinos (as in my collage) that should be on the Ten Rand note.

The term Big Five is an old hunting term, which defined the five most dangerous creatures in the African wilderness (to hunt on foot). The Black Rhinos (=Hooked-lipped Rhinoceros) and not the White Rhinos (=Square-lipped Rhinoceros) are part of that exclusive club!

But nowadays the Big Five are very important for African tourism marketing and all Rhinos (white or black) are now included!

… and all of them live around my home at Thanda Safari.

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

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Dugga Boy…

… is the term for a Cape Buffalo bull who is no longer with its herd. Such bulls life either in small groups or alone.

The separation from their herd can have one of two reasons. They might be very old and no longer able to keep up with the herd and/or no longer willing to fight the younger bulls for position.

Or they might just be taking a time-out from rank fighting and looking after the ladies. In that case they will stay away for a while, improve their condition by feeding well and getting strong to return back to their herd in due course. This picture shows such a Dugga Boy!

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

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A Thanda Safari waterhole drama in four acts!

Act 1

A herd of Cape Buffalo arrives at a waterhole and the mud-bathing Elephants get so alarmed that they run from the water protecting their young.

Act 2

The Elephants realize that the new arrivals are no real threat but are rather small ‘cow-like’ things. So some of them return to the water and chase the Buffalo around.

Act 3

While the Elephants and Buffalo run around a group of Nyala, a family of Warthogs and many different birds arrive to get their share of the water.

Act 4

Only two Elephant bulls remain to suck the pipe which supplies fresh water to the waterhole. Everything has calmed down and all the different species share the place!

#Amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

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CHECKING THE AIR!

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

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A bit muddy after the rain!

#Amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

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Greetings by a true dugga boy!

I was quite glad I was in my vehicle when this Cape Buffalo Bull appeared from nowhere as I was taking some bird pictures at a waterhole. He snorted a bit and shook his head at me, so I backed off a bit, and he was happy to settle again in the mud.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

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Very Big Five!

Cape Buffalo are one of the Big Five, which are the most difficult and dangerous five species to hunt on foot.

And many would argue that Buffalos are most dangerous of them all!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

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The Big Five in one drive!

We went on game drive this afternoon to find Elephants, but we got much more. As we left the Thanda Safari Lodge we encountered two male Lions and when we stopped to watch a few Warthogs and Impalas we spotted a large male Leopard hunting. After this very special encounter we continued on our Elephant quest and almost immediately ran into a White Rhino. And towards the end of the drive we finally found the long-noses.

What a day! The Big Five on one drive.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

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