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Hoofed mammals
African buffalo
African buffalo · Syncerus caffer
With its strength and characteristic horns, the African buffalo shapes the image of the African savannahs.
Fact file
- Size
- Up to 1.70 metres shoulder height and up to 900 kilograms in weight
- Males and females
- Bulls are larger, more powerful and have more massive horns, cows have smaller horns
- Sounds
- Grunts deeply, snorts when agitated, sometimes makes snorting sounds
- Diet
- Feeds mainly on grasses, occasionally herbs and bushes
- Offspring
- A calf is usually born shortly before or during the rainy season
How to identify African buffalo
The African buffalo is a massive wild bovine with impressive horns. Its coat is dark brown to black, while young animals often show a reddish tint. The sweeping horns of adult animals curve upwards at the tips and form a heavy horn shield on the forehead. This feature clearly distinguishes African buffalos from other savannah inhabitants.
Adult African buffalos reach shoulder heights of up to 1.70 metres and weigh up to 900 kilograms. Their bodies are stocky and powerful, and the head with its deep-set eyes is usually carried low. The tail ends in a dark tuft. The strong, almost rectangular silhouette is distinctive and particularly easy to recognise in groups.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- 36 places where you can see African buffalo
Where African buffalo live
Discover African buffalo on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
