African buffalo

Scientific name: Syncerus caffer

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Heavily built bovine with a dark brown to black coat, often appearing almost black when wet or in shadow. Males are notably larger and more muscular than females, with massive, heavily ridged horns that curve downward then upward; females have lighter, smaller horns.

Size and weight

Males 550–920 kg, body length 210–250 cm; females 430–540 kg, body length 190–210 cm.

Habitat

African buffalo inhabit grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands, typically from sea level to 4,000 m elevation. They favour areas with permanent or seasonal water sources and moderate to dense grass cover.

Distribution

Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Sierra Leone to the Cape, absent from dense rainforest and extreme desert. Most abundant in East and Southern Africa within protected areas and wildlife zones.

Diet

Primarily grazes on medium to tall grasses; in dry seasons shifts to browse, sedges, and fallen fruit. Water dependency is high.

Behaviour

Predominantly diurnal grazers active early morning and late afternoon; nocturnal in hunted areas. Highly social, forming herds of 50–500 individuals; old bulls often solitary or in bachelor groups. Move predictably between water and grazing grounds.

Hunting tips

Read sign at waterholes and along grazing circuits—large, rounded hoofprints and large dung piles. Approach from downwind in open country using ridge lines and scattered cover; buffalo rely heavily on smell. Glass from high vantage points at dawn/dusk when herds move between water and pasture; solitary old bulls are typically less wary but unpredictable and dangerous when cornered.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 12 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.