If most people have to guess what the world’s most dangerous animal is, the African or Cape Buffalo would get very few votes. However, many experts proclaimed there is no animal more dangerous to man than a wounded African or Cape Buffalo. They are prized by big game hunters due to their viciousness.
They are a member of the big 5 in Africa along with elephants, lions, leopards, and rhinos. However, they caused more human deaths than the others in their group. Only the hippo and crocodile killed more humans yearly in Africa.
They are large animals with their shoulders about 5 ½ feet off the ground. Males will weigh up to 1750 pounds and females about 100 pounds less. What is strange is that both sexes have the fearsome horns.
If an African or Cape Buffalo is wounded it will attack the hunter. This is done by circling around the hunter and stalking them. The Cape Buffalo waits for the right opportunity to charge the hunter and gore them with their horns. This ugly cow like appearance animals will attack humans with the smallest provocation.
If they catch their main enemies, the Cape / African Buffalo will just keep attacking and destroying humans and lions. With their ability to reach speeds of up to 35 mph, they can outrun lions and make difficult targets for humans.
They are extremely difficult to kill instantly unless the shot hits their spine. The minimum safe caliber is a .375 Magnum from 50 yards or less. This really increases the risk for the hunter.
Cape / African Buffalo are not endangered but some countries require a special permit to hunt them. The most common way to hunt them is by foot. The best places in Africa to hunt these unpredictable oxen like animals include Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
The best places to find the Cape / African Buffalo are in the dense forests and open plains. They will avoid wide open areas that shade is not available. Most of the day is spent grazing. The Cape / African Buffalo is destructive to man. They are known to break fences, raid cultivated crops and may even spread bovine diseases to livestock.
African Buffalo normally congregate in herds of several hundred members. On occasion, these herds can be up to 2,000 Cape Buffaloes. Older males tend to leave the herd and become a solitary wander.
There is no question than coming across or hunting these large angry animals should be done carefully. Otherwise, the human may be the victim and not the African Buffalo.
