Tag: cape buffalo

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Little Vampires taking a Ride

Red-billed Oxpeckers and Cape Buffalo. usually live in a symbiotic relationship. The Buffalo provide the ticks filled with blood and the Oxpeckers rid the Buffalo of the annoying parasites.

But sometimes the small birds turn themselves into ‘vampires’. If the Buffalo (or any other large herbivore) has any bleeding injury (eg from a large thorn or from an abandoned predator attack) then the Oxpeckers often continue to peck at the open wound for a continuous blood stream.

They love feasting on the fresh blood without ‘tick packaging’ ! When eating ticks their target is actually the blood which the ticks had extracted from their host animal.

#Thandasafari @thandasafari #christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

📷 Picture by Christian Sperka

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DUGGA BOY …

… is the term for an old Cape Buffalo bull who is no longer with a herd. As this specimen demonstrated last night at Thanda, such bulls love to wallow in mud as means to cool down and to give them some protection from parasites and the sun.

Such solitary bulls are extremely dangerous as they are notoriously bad tempered and ready to attack at any time.

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

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RELAXING

This is the view from the waterhole-deck at Thanda Safari’s Villa iZulu – While my guests were relaxing while watching the wildlife come and go a few Cape Buffalo bulls were also relaxing around the water.

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THEY DO NOT LIKE CATS

This herd of Cape Buffalo went into alert mode when they heard Lions roaring nearby. These formidable bovines hate cats and will chase and kill them if they get a chance.

But on this occasion the two protagonists of the drama never met.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

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THE DAILY POST – UPSET!

As the sun set yesterday evening I took this picture of a Cape Buffalo being upset with insects and Oxpeckers bothering it.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

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THE DAILY POST – BULL FIGHT – AFRICAN STYLE

This morning I had my favorite Buffalo sighting, ever! My guests enjoyed this energetic Bull Fight – African Style. I was able to shoot many good images and this short video clip with one of my favorite tunes from the overture of George Bizet’s opera Carmen as soundtrack.

Have a good week 😊

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

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THE DAILY POST – COUNT?

Yesterday this large herd of Cape Buffalo crossed the Thanda Safari savanna. We used this aerial shot to count them. Can you guess the correct number?

PS: It is a quite tricky question because it is often difficult to make out the calves in the mother’s shade …

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

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THE MORNING POST – IMPRESSIVE

This is a Cape Buffalo portrait I shot yesterday evening. This bull had mudded his horns to look more impressive and intimidating. I am not sure it worked 😊

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

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THE EVENING POST – DRINKS AT SUNSET

After a day in the office I decided to spend an hour before sunset at Mgankla dam. It was very quiet at the waterhole so I decided to listen to an audio book. After about 30 minutes all by myself I heard a slight rumble. It was the start of a large herd of Cape Buffalo arriving for evening drinks.

This is my favorite picture from this evening taken with my iPhone.

Have a good evening.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

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THE MORNING POST – EYES

A Cape Buffalo bull having an eye on me! Enjoy your Sunday 😊

#Thandasafari @thandasafari #christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

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