Both male and female buffalo have horns, but those of the males are much longer and end in broad cartilages. In older animals, these cartilages join on the forehead.

Buffalo are normally quite peaceful and only become aggressive when they feel threatened. For example, it is reported that buffalo which were shot, closed in on the hunter in a circle and attacked him.

Game reserves: Kruger National Park, Pretorius Game Reserve (Free State), Chobe National Park (Botswana).

The largest buffalo population in South Africa, about 15,000, can be found in the Kruger National Park. Here often large herds of a hundred animals can be observed. To avoid the heat, they prefer to graze in the cool hours of the morning or evening and even at night. They very much like to wallow in the mud and so build up a protective layer against mosquitoes and other insects on their skin.