Cape Buffalo Hunting

Cape Buffalo hunting is the most popular of all the dangerous game hunting in Africa. Hunters may take one lion or leopard in their African hunting career but will keep coming back to hunt more buffalo.

Be warned - Cape buffalo hunting is the most addictive sport hunting in the world!

"You're going after African buffalo. You've read a lot about them and no doubt you're excited over the possibility of some thrilling encounters. Well, calm down. Chances are about five thousand to one against your meeting up with one of those much-publicized, murderously minded bulls. What you're more likely to see are the rapidly disappearing hind ends of hundreds of shy, apprehensive herds." Alexander Lake

Cape Buffalo Trophy Minimums

Syncerous caffer caffer (Southern Cape Buffalo)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
42"	64"	12	100"	112²/₈"	4

Syncerous caffer aequinoctialis (Northeastern, Nile Buffalo)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
38"	44¹/₄"	12	70"	91"	4

Syncerous caffer brachyceros (Northwestern, Central African Savanna Buffalo)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
37"	46¹/₈"	12	65"	82³/₈"	4

Syncerous nanus caffer (Dwarf Forest Buffalo)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
20"	28"	11	40"	51⁴/₈"	4

Cape Buffalo Facts

Habitat And Requirements

Good grazing - grass, swamp vegetation.
Reliable water source.
Shady areas for resting at hottest time of day.
Mud and swampy areas for wallowing.

Social Structure

Large herds are led by a senior matriarch cow.
Mature bulls live apart from the main herd and are solitary or in small bachelor groups. These bulls take turns to visit the main herd to mate. Known as 'dagga boys' as they are often covered in mud.

Gestation Period

11 months gestation - 1 offspring
Most adult females will be pregnant or have dependant young most of the time.

Cape Buffalo Gender Identification

Bulls are bigger, more muscular with a boss right across the forehead. This is soft and hairy in young buffalo bulls and hard and not hairy in old bulls. Bulls have a large penile sheath.
Cows are lighter in colour, smaller and less muscular. The horns don't usually have a boss and don't usually have the strong drop and curl of a bull. A large belly button should not be confused with penile sheath of a bull.

Cape Buffalo Hunting Methods

Hunting methods are based on their habit of needing to drink at least once a day and preferably twice a day, feeding and drinking in different locations and walking between and resting at the hottest time of day.
Roads are driven until tracks are found crossing the road and waterholes are checked for spoor.
Assess tracks for age, number in group, wind direction to decide whether the tracks are worth following.
Begin walking the spoor - this can be anything from a few minutes to many hours.
Buffalo hear, see and smell very well and can spot the slightest movement if looking in your direction.
Calibres of 375 H&H or more. Slow/deep penetrating soft point bullets or solid bullets are recommended.
Most buffalo are shot at ranges or about 60 yards or closer.

A Good Cape Buffalo Trophy

Having a good hunt/stalk is the primary objective.
Good solid boss is the most important feature. The reason a hard boss should be of prime importance is because it is the most accurate indicator of old age. The older bulls will have already passed on their genes to the next generation.
Spread should be as wide as possible but attached to a solid boss.
Good horn drop and curl complete the picture.
Some hunters prefer abnormally formed or broken horns or very worn tips as their trophy of choice.

Cape Buffalo Shot Placement

Heart and lungs are the largest target area. If the animal is standing at right angles to you, bring your crosshairs up the foreleg and divide the body in half and then in half again and the centre of the heart will be found at the top of that first (lowest) dividing line. If the animal is at an obtuse angle to you, remember the previous rule and aim at the opposite shoulder and you'll hit the same area. If the animal is standing facing away from you, aim at the root of the tail where it joins the body. If the animal is facing you, aim for the bottom of the V you'll see in the dewlap and in line with the shoulder joints. This particular shot is should be avoided if the hunter is using marginal or soft nose bullets or a 'just legal' calibre such as a .375 H&H. The reason for this is because the chest has a large dewlap of loose skin and fat that has a massive mattressing effect that absorbs energy from the bullet and reduces penetration. It is better to use a solid in this situation.
If the animal is facing you and feeding with his head down, it might be possible to place the bullet over his head and into his spine