If the Cape buffalo is high on your wish list for sightings during the safari you are lucky since they are easy to tick off. In Uganda the Cape buffalo or African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is found in all the national parks with savanna like Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison Falls national park and Kidepo Valley national park. The Cape buffalo qualifies as one of the famous “big 5” together with lion, elephant, leopard, and rhinoceros.
Being commonly seen during game-drives it is one of those animals we can pretty much promise you to see while on safari in Uganda. During daytime they are usually seen resting in water or mud to help regulating the body temperature. But don’t be fooled by the docile look of buffaloes resting, Cape buffalo is actually one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. With their defensive and changeable moods as well as weight of around 600-900 kg they deserve to be treated with respect.
Cape buffaloes are herbivores who are not so picky with their habitat, as long as there is grass and water around they can make it a home. This together with the fact that they don’t have many enemies have made them a successful species. Besides humans adult buffaloes don’t have many enemies. Lions are known to take them but the buffaloes will put up a fight as a distress call from one buffalo is answered by the heard coming to assist. The young calves are prey for a few more predators as they can be taken by crocodiles, cheetah, leopard and spotted hyena as well as lion, but the herd does its best to protect its young ones keeping them at the center of the herd when a threat is around.
Chances for good sightings of Cape Buffalo
If going on a boat-cruise on Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park or on the Nile in Murchison Falls national park you will see Cape buffaloes wallowing in the shallow waters. During a morning or evening game-drive you have the chance to see big herds out on the savanna.
Popular Safaris with chances to see cape buffalo
Take a look under “safaris” in the menu at the top of this page for more itinerary options.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH SAFARI – 4 DAYS
Have time to explore Queen Elizabeth National Park, go for a boat-cruise on Kazinga channel, enjoy an early morning game-drive, trek chimps in Kalinzu forest and relax by the lodge enjoying the magnificent view over Queen Elizabeth National Park.
7 DAYS Uganda safari
During this popular safari you’ll experience the amazing mix that Uganda can offer with game drives on the savannas in Queen Elizabeth national park and Lake Mburo National Park as well as trekking of Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
12 DAYS Uganda safari – Big 5 & gorillas
Search for the Big 5 and trek for mountain gorillas as well as chimps. Four of the Big 5 roam freely in National Parks in Uganda, this is the lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant. The 5th of the Big 5 is the rhino, that was hunted to extinction in Uganda in the 80’s, but is now being reintroduced thanks to the great efforts of Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.
