The large aquatic beasts and formidable bovids decided to enjoy a civil drink together at a waterhole close to the Umkumbe property. Renown for their big cat sightings and unique predator activity; the Sabi Sand is a premier reserve classified as a hotspot for wildlife.
Today, we’ve pushed the big cats to the background and have allowed our beautiful buffalo and hippo to take their place in the spotlight. While you may balk at the size of a lion’s jaw and the razor sharp claws of a leopard, you should take a step back when it comes to hippo and buffalo. In these photos we actually have two of the safari world’s most dangerous animals!
Hippos are notoriously territorial creatures and together with crocs and buffalo, have killed more people in Africa than any other animal. They’re moody, aggressive and quick to react. One must never be fooled by their bloated and rather cumbersome appearance – they move quickly and unexpectedly.
Look at how this hippo protects its dam while the buffalo bend down to drink. It seems to sidle up closer to the action! A cacophony of honking sounds would most certainly have taken place if this amphibious creature felt under threat. Another iconic territorial sign is the wide-mouthed display, designed to show onlookers the size of its teeth.
At night, hippos silently emerge from the water to indulge in a bit of foraging. They utilise well-worn pathways and if under threat, they’ll rapidly retreat back to their aquatic domain.
Buffalo are, of course, land dwelling bovids and form part of the big five animals. They have a temperament similar to that of the hippo and are very unpredictable. The old bulls are the ones to watch out for as they have been ousted from their herd and no longer have protection of their kin. They can often be found in bachelor groups at waterholes, spending their days wallowing in mud.
But it’s not only the old bulls that enjoy the mudholes and water. All buffalo need to drink at least once a day because of the copious quantities of dry vegetation they digest throughout the day. They’re bulk grazers and will even digest less palatable grasses and shoots.
The large herds make their way down to waterholes by following one single buffalo called a pathfinder which are those individuals that lead the herd. They’re not always the dominant one in the herd but certainly are responsible for determining the movements of the herd.
Yet another successful day while out on game drive with Umkumbe Safari Lodge. Moments caught on camera by ranger Marius Zeilinga are always memorable.
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