Buffalo Buffet

When Andrew, our guide at Rattray’s said, “we’re going to see some Buffalos”, we couldn’t have guessed what impressive spectacle was waiting for us. We drove up to the area and he parked the car .. We saw some buffalos, but they were a bit far off. I looked at Andrew a bit confused but he just leaned back and smiled.

Soon it became clear why…. More Buffalos came up on the field… and more… and more. Pretty soon the car was surrounded by a herd of hundreds of them (see picture below). I could have easily touched them. We’ve spent a good part of an hour with them, before they moved on.. slowly.

Know that, although it looks like your average herd of cows, buffalos are considered one of the most dangerous animals of Africa. They have no fear. You can feel that when you look in their eyes. We've been chased by a (wounded) Buffalo Bull once a couple of years ago, no pre-warning; he just attacked out of the blue. Just escaped from him hitting the rental car we drove - and I have a very healthy respect for them!

One of the nicest things about a herd of Buffalos is that they are always in the company of ‘Red Billed Oxpeckers’. These busy little birds feed on the ticks on the hide of the grazing Buffalos and they fill the air with their constant chatter.
Guess on this shot it's not really hard to see how they got their name.. :-)