There’s no better place to get into the bush than the iconic Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in the world and a kingpin in South African conservation.

For families with kids, a safari holiday has so many spin-off benefits. It’s a fantastic opportunity for children to be immersed in a vibrant living laboratory, learning about nature, plants and animals, and ecosystems. On family game drives curiosity is ignited in both parents and kids. Wildlife spotting is elevated by being able to identify different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects, and then finding out more about their habits, behaviours and roles in the ecosystem.

To make it easy for mom and dad to answer questions and keep young ones entertained on game drives, here’s the Kruger Gate Hotel Fun Fact Sheet on Buffaloes:

1. The Buffaloes of the Kruger Park are known as Cape Buffaloes. They are the largest of the five sub-species found in Africa and the only one you will see in the wilds of the southern region of the continent.

2. With males weighing in at over 800kg, Kruger’s Buffaloes proudly take their place in Africa’s famous Big 5 – Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Lion and Leopard. For many visitors to South Africa, seeing the Big 5 is one the main goals of their safari holiday.

3. Cape Buffaloes are part of the bovine group of mammals which includes domestic cattle, Bison and some large spiral-horned antelope such as the Eland. What they all have in common is that they power their great big bodies eating tough grasses and chew the cud or ‘ruminate’ to digest their food. Buffaloes, like other bovines have a unique digestive system which includes a stomach with four different chambers.

4. Buffaloes like each other’s company and live in herds all their lives. In the Kruger, Buffalo herds can include many hundreds of individuals. Buffalo society is complex and well-organised.

5. As bulk grass-feeders, Buffalo play an important ecological role in mowing down tall grasses to create large areas of shorter grass that enable other more selective grazers to find the plants they prefer to eat.

6. Both male and female buffaloes have large and impressive horns with a formidable boss that protects their skulls. This is necessary for defence against predators such as Lions and Spotted Hyenas. Male buffaloes also clash horns in bouts of fighting with each other to establish their dominance in the male hierarchy of the herd.

7. Cape Buffaloes have a reputation for being grumpy and intolerant! They are known for being short-tempered, easily aggravated and even, vengeful. This is why no one has ever tried to make a domestic animal out of a Cape Buffalo!

8. Buffaloes work very effectively together to protect the most vulnerable members of the herd. It will take a determined pride of Lions or clan of Spotted Hyenas to bring down a Buffalo. They will mostly try to isolate vulnerable young, sick or old Buffaloes. But the herd has a strong instinct to protect their own, and their common tactic is for the strong to encircle the vulnerable and present their horns to the predator. A charging Buffalo can easily kill a Lion or Hyena.

9. Buffaloes are water-loving, visiting rivers and waterholes at least once every day. Most visitors to the Kruger Park spot them making their way down to the river or having a good wallow. Water cools them down on hots days, and muddy wallows help protect their skins from insect bites.

10. There’s gentle giant side to Cape Buffaloes. Although they are known for their fierceness they make alliances with some species of birds. If you spot a herd of Buffalo, watch out for Yellow-billed Oxpeckers clinging on to their big bodies or Cattle Egrets strolling along with the herd. These insectivorous birds keep their skins clear of ticks and other parasites. This peaceful relationship between bird and beast is known as mutualism.