What are the Big 5
Part 1- African/Cape Buffalo.
I have been thing lately it’s about time I sit down and write another blog post as it’s been a very long time.
I started to think about what to write, and it just came to me that I don’t think I have every done a post on what the Big 5 are and how they got the title “Big 5”.
Thinking about it, if I was visiting South Africa for the first time or Africa for that matter and wanted to do a South Africa Safari Tour.
I would want to know what on earth this term Big 5 is all about.
Well, here we go!
The simple answer is that the term “Big 5” originates from hunters. As you can imagine if you were going to hunt animals for food there would be no point in hunting a Lion or Elephant. Well, we don’t generally eat predators either and Elephant we what on earth are we going to do with all the meat?
So generally, if we were hunting for food, we would hunt things like, Kudu, Nyala, Warthog, Zebra, Eland, Impala and Wildebeest. Neither of these animals are difficult or dangerous to hunt with a firearm.
Buffalo might be a good one to hunt for food but generally hunters do not hunt Buffalo for food because they are so dangerous to hunt on foot.
So, this is where it all evolved, the Big 5 the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot! And who are these animals? Why would people hunt them? and why are they so dangerous to hunt on foot?
Below I have highlighted each of the Big 5 animals with a paragraph answering those three questions as well as adding in some of my stories and fun facts.
The Big 5, Number 1: African/Cape Buffalo
Why would anyone want to hunt Buffalo?
Well, Hunting has become a sport rather than the traditional concept which was hunting for food to eat and survive.
Buffalo are large herbivores the size or a Cow but much stronger in my opinion, they weigh in at as much as 1000 kilograms (2200 pounds). They are found either in large breeding herds that can range from 50 to 300 animals. We also find small bachelor herds or older “Dagga boys” (Muddy boys) who no longer can keep up with the speed of the breeding herds movements. Being together ensures safety in numbers from Lion attacks and companionship. You can also find them alone but if I was a Buffalo I would think I am being stupid being all on my own. My best chances of a long life would be to have mates that hopefully would be killed before me…
As you can imagine Buffalo are highly protective of their young so the older but not, so old male Buffalo tend to flank the main breeding herd to protect the females and young.
The older a Buffalo gets the larger its Horns and the more reason for them to be hunted by Trophy hunters and if you are a Trophy hunter you a more likely wanting to hunt them on foot so it’s more of a challenge then from a vehicle.
Buffalo are inquisitive when humans are on foot, but they are dangerous as hell! In my years of field guiding conducting Safari bush walks for high end ecotourism clients in the lodge industry, Buffalo were a pain in the ass.
I recall a time when I was working at Sabi Sabi and my tracker and I parked the open Safari vehicle above a drainage line as we were tracking Lions whose tracks entered the drainage line and did not come out the other side. So obviously they were down there somewhere, and our clients were desperate to see Lions as it was there last morning with us.
We had left a large herd of Buffalo about 200 meters away and did not think they would give us any issues however once we spotted the Lions and began to make our way back to the vehicle up the steep drainage bank, they were all over the place and very interested in us. They probably also could smell the Lions and Buffalo don’t mine chasing Lions around if they can see them.
My tracker and myself had to climb over the bonnet to ensure the Buffalo did not charge us, it also seemed like the most fun option to be honest, and the guests loved it!
So basically, Buffalo are not stupid, and it has been common over the years where a hunter has been tracking them on foot and the Buffalo have circled around and come up behind the hunter. They then get smashed from behind with those massive horns that they so dearly would love to display on the wall at home. It is also said that a Buffalo may hide by reversing into a Buffalo thorn (Ziziphus Mucronata) and lay in wait for the hunter to get closer before mauling him to death, this happens especially if they are injured and not killed by the hunter. There are some cool things about the Buffalo Thorn trees so click the bold text to learn more!
Want to read about our next Big 5 animal? What are the Big 5 part 2: African Lion!
I have been very fortunate over the years since I began my career in field guiding and tour guiding, to have been able to share my passion for wildlife.
In 2010 I started my tour company “Tim Brown Tours” where I was able to share even more with our overseas visitors. Moving from just wildlife into sharing South African and mostly Zulu culture and historical Anglo-Zulu Battlefields tours.
My focus has been to showcase KwaZulu Natal here on the Southeastern part of South Africa meaning we have become specialists in the area being now regarded as a highly ranked Safari Tour company through client’s reviews on the Tim Brown Tours Tripadvisor page.
If you are interested in travelling to South Africa, Durban is one of the best places to be for several reasons:
- Durban has a very moderate climate and beautiful beaches.
- Durban is within 3-hour drive to the world renowned and oldest game reserve in Africa “Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 game reserve”
- Durban is also within 3 hours of the majestic Drakensberg mountains and Lesotho the mountain kingdom, the highest country in the world.
- Durban is also within a 3-hour drive of the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer battlefield sites.
- Durban is again within 3-hours drive of KwaZulu Natal’s two world heritage sites: Isimangaliso Wetland Park (St Lucia) and the Drakensberg, ukhahlamba mountain range.
As you can see Durban, KwaZulu Natal is the best place to visit in South Africa with some much to offer.
If you are interested in visiting South Africa for a holiday? drop us an email or WhatsApp and we will ensure your time touring with us is magical!
