AFRICAN (CAPE) and AMERICAN BUFFALO

Buffalo are common across Africa and in N. America (especially in Yellowstone and other locations in Montana).  The Cape Buffalo is extremely dangerous and best photographed from a vehicle.  I have stalked these animals on foot for pictures (in Mana Pools and Hwange National Parks,  Zimbabwe, and in Savuti, Kings Pool, and Machaba, Botswana).  The foot safari features the sheer joy of experiencing the real Africa! with its smells, dust, and sense of adventure.   Being careful not to surprise a bull in deep grass, and always keeping some trees around, this was pretty exciting stuff.  However, my best photographs did come from a car-window mounted telephoto that allowed closer approaches than one would want to attempt on foot.

The American Buffalo is also dangerous and accounts for more injuries in Yellowstone than any other large mammal.  They look docile while chewing cud, but can spring up and attack  without warning.  Again, a telephoto lens and due caution recommended.  One of the best experiences to be had with bison in Yellowstone is to photograph them in winter around the geyser basins.  The snow thins due to the underground heating, and so animals congregate and often interact with the steam vents.  Once while cross-country skiing near Old Faithful, a minor earthquake occurred.  The Buffalo went nuts, charging skiers and photographers for no reason, etc.  The revenge of the Bison. 

Hot spots:   Enkog Narok Swamp, Amboseli National Park, Kenya, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.  Mana Pools and Dom Pan, Hwange Park, Zimbabwe.  Lake Manyara, Tanzania, Mombo Camp, Botswana.  Yellowstone.