Low Bridge, Everybody Down: Barging in Europe: Royal Malewane, Kruger Private Reserve in South Africa Part Two

The Cape Buffalo can develop a beautiful patina on their "shield or boss" from rubbing against trees. This is a male cape buffalo. The "boss" is part of the horns which go across the forehead. Notice the birds hitching a ride and getting a free meal. The birds remove biting and sucking insects. Apart from humans, cape buffalo are hunted only by lions and crocodiles.

Most everyone who travels to Africa want to see the "Big Five." They are the African Lion, African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, African Leopard and the Rhino both Black and White. Members of the Big Five were chosen for their difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved, rather than their size. We were certainly hunting for the Big Five, but only to take their pictures. We succeeded beyond our wildest dreams! We had an amazing safari and brought home many memories and photo's that we will be enjoying for the rest of our lives.

We came across these Cape Buffalo blocking the road. No way were we going to argue with them.

The Cape Buffalo have exceptional memories. They have been known to attack people that have harmed them even years after the event. The hide on a bull buffalo's neck can be as thick as 2 inches in places, which protects it during battles with other bulls for dominance.

Cape Buffalo have large ears that tend to droop. This is a female. She doesn't have the large "boss" over her head.

Cape buffalo enjoying a mud hole.

Do you know the difference between a White Rhinoceros and a Black Rhinoceros? It isn't their color. The White Rhinoceros has a wide mouth which is perfect for grazing. They're like lawn mowers always with their enormous heads lowered to the ground eating the grasses. The Black Rhinoceros has a pointed mouth. They are browsers that get most of their sustenance from eating trees and bushes. They use their lips to pluck leaves and fruit from the branches.

The extremely rare Black Rhinoceros.

Black Rhino

Black Rhino.

After a mud bath this Black Rhinoceros moved through the brush like he was on a mission.

This Black Rhino was moving fast. We were lucky to snap a few pictures.

The White Rhino are always grazing.

Close up of the White Rhino.

Giraffe.

The hippo is the world's third largest land animal after the elephant and the rhino. Their predators are humans, lions and crocodiles. They eat mostly grass.

A bloat of Hippopotamus.

The hippo's look like stuffed sausage. The hippo is considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.

Warthogs.

We had a night of entertainment in the bush after a fantastic day of hunting animals. Jane Lee Winters (our intrepid leader/travel agent) is kicking up her heels with the rest of the troop.