Buffalos are not bison

You might think that buffalos and bison are the same animals, but they are distinct species. The American bison, also sometimes called the American buffalo, inhabits the grasslands of North and South America, while the buffalo live in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Buffalos are formidable animals

The African buffalo is one of the largest land mammals2, weighing up to 2,866 pounds or 1,300 kilograms. Moreover, the common buffalo stands 1.7 meters tall and measures 3.4 meters long. Its features help it survive the rigors of its environment.

Buffalos are gentle giants

Despite their intimidating appearance, buffalos are generally gentle and pleasant. They use their strength to protect their herds rather than to intimidate others1.

Buffalos give birth in the rainy season

The gestation period of buffalo mothers lasts nearly 11 months, with the mating season aligned with the onset of the rainy season, which provides abundant resources, such as lush vegetation and water.

Buffalos are excellent swimmers

Despite their size, buffaloes are skilled swimmers. They can swim gracefully and efficiently in the water, floating through their fat-filled bodies, which act like natural life jackets.

Buffalos live for a long time

Wild buffalos can live for two decades, influenced by various factors such as food availability, diseases, predation pressures, and longevity. On the other hand, captive buffalos in zoos, national parks, or farms live for 25 years due to regular feeding and protection from threats.

Buffalos love mud baths

While it may seem leisurely, wallowing in mud helps buffalo survive in their habitats. Since the massive buffalo generate a lot of heat, mud baths help regulate their body temperature, similar to personal air conditioning systems. The mud also protects their skin against the harsh sun.

African buffalos hold elections

Next on our buffalo facts list: Besides their strength and social behaviors, African buffaloes communicate herd decisions by voting. Female buffalos vote in fair, democratic elections to decide where the herd goes next.

African buffalos hold grudges

Like elephants, the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) can remember past events, particularly negative ones. However, if the elephant doesn't forget, the buffalo never forgives.

Buffalos face several threats

Despite its role in balancing the ecosystem, the buffalo faces various threats. One example is the Asian water buffalo, which the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified as 'Endangered.' Hunters have killed them for their horns and meat, while human settlements and agriculture have destroyed their natural habitat.

African buffalos hold grudges

Like elephants, the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) can remember past events, particularly negative ones. However, if the elephant doesn't forget, the buffalo never forgives.

Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surface area.[9] With nearly 1.4 billion people as of 2021, it accounts for about 18% of the world's human population. Africa's population is the youngest among all the continents;[10][11] the median age in 2012 was 19.7, when the worldwide median age was 30.4.[12] Based on 2024 projections, Africa's population will reach 3.8 billion people by 2099.[13] Africa is the least wealthy inhabited continent per capita and second-least wealthy by total wealth, ahead of Oceania. Scholars have attributed this to different factors including geography, climate,[14] corruption,[14] colonialism, the Cold War,[15][16] and neocolonialism. Despite this low concentration of wealth, recent economic expansion and a large and young population make Africa an important economic market in the broader global context. Africa has a large quantity of natural resources and food resources, including diamonds, sugar, salt, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver, petroleum, natural gas, cocoa beans, and tropical fruit.

Africa

#	Country	Population
(2024)	Land Area
(Km²)	Density
(P/Km²)
1	Nigeria	232,679,478	910,770	255
2	Ethiopia	132,059,767	1,000,000	132
3	Egypt	116,538,258	995,450	117
4	Democratic Republic of the Congo	109,276,265	2,267,050	48
5	Tanzania	68,560,157	885,800	77
6	South Africa	64,007,187	1,213,090	53
7	Kenya	56,432,944	569,140	99
8	Sudan	50,448,963	1,765,048	29
9	Uganda	50,015,092	199,810	250
10	Algeria	46,814,308	2,381,740	20
11	Morocco	38,081,173	446,300	85
12	Angola	37,885,849	1,246,700	30
13	Mozambique	34,631,766	786,380	44
14	Ghana	34,427,414	227,540	151
15	Madagascar	31,964,956	581,795	55
16	Côte d'Ivoire	31,934,230	318,000	100
17	Cameroon	29,123,744	472,710	62
18	Niger	27,032,412	1,266,700	21
19	Mali	24,478,595	1,220,190	20
20	Burkina Faso	23,548,781	273,600	86
21	Malawi	21,655,286	94,280	230
22	Zambia	21,314,956	743,390	29
23	Chad	20,299,123	1,259,200	16
24	Somalia	19,009,151	627,340	30
25	Senegal	18,501,984	192,530	96
26	Zimbabwe	16,634,373	386,850	43
27	Guinea	14,754,785	245,720	60
28	Benin	14,462,724	112,760	128
29	Rwanda	14,256,567	24,670	578
30	Burundi	14,047,786	25,680	547
31	Tunisia	12,277,109	155,360	79
32	South Sudan	11,943,408	610,952	20
33	Togo	9,515,236	54,390	175
34	Sierra Leone	8,642,022	72,180	120
35	Libya	7,381,023	1,759,540	4
36	Congo	6,332,961	341,500	19
37	Liberia	5,612,817	96,320	58
38	Central African Republic	5,330,690	622,980	9
39	Mauritania	5,169,395	1,030,700	5
40	Eritrea	3,535,603	101,000	35
41	Namibia	3,030,131	823,290	4
42	Gambia	2,759,988	10,120	273
43	Gabon	2,538,952	257,670	10
44	Botswana	2,521,139	566,730	4
45	Lesotho	2,337,423	30,360	77
46	Guinea-Bissau	2,201,352	28,120	78
47	Equatorial Guinea	1,892,516	28,050	67
48	Mauritius	1,271,169	2,030	626
49	Eswatini	1,242,822	17,200	72
50	Djibouti	1,168,722	23,180	50
51	Réunion	878,591	2,500	351
52	Comoros	866,628	1,861	466
53	Western Sahara	590,506	266,000	2
54	Cabo Verde	524,877	4,030	130
55	Mayotte	326,505	375	871
56	Sao Tome and Principe	235,536	960	245
57	Seychelles	130,418	460	284
58	Saint Helena	5,237	390	13

African elephants (Loxodonta). African bush elephant (L. africana) and the smaller African forest

This resource was generated with AI. You can create your own using our AI Image Generator.

Beautiful shot of an african elephant walking on the road with a blurred background

Beautiful shot of an african elephant walking on the road with a blurred background

Attack by dangerous male elephant in Africa

Dangerous male africa elephant attack. Attack by dangerous male elephant in Africa........... 

African Forest Elephants’s Movements Depend on Their Personalities

African forest elephants roam the dense rainforests of West and Central Africa where they subsist largely on a diet of fruit. They shape forests by dispersing fruit and seeds, browsing, and creating an extensive trail network.

African Marigolds

These tall and stately plants make beautiful borders along fences, at the back of perennial beds to set off other flowers, and as a large patch all on their own. African marigolds (Tagetes erecta) are good for cutting for arrangements with long, sturdy stems and good vase life. They are relatively low-maintenance summer flowers and thrive in hot, dry conditions. Here are a few of the prettiest varieties of African marigolds to try:

African Striped Weasel (Poecilogale albinucha)

The African Striped Weasel is a small and brave creature found across the savannas and forests of Africa. They have a striking striped coat that helps them blend into the background and avoid predators. These nocturnal animals eat small rodents, birds, insects, and fruit.

During mating season, the females give birth to 2-3 blind and helpless babies. These little ones grow up quickly and show the same resilience as their parents.

African Rock Python (Python sebae)

The African Rock Python is a large snake species native to sub-Saharan Africa, thriving in savannas, rainforests, and marshlands. 

They are known for their impressive size; on average, they can stretch up to 11 feet. However, some specimens reached almost 20 feet. Their skin features dark brown blotches on a light brown or olive backdrop, which helps them blend into their surroundings.

African Rock Pythons prey on rodents, monkeys, antelopes, and crocodiles. Their hunting technique involves constricting their prey.

North African Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata)

The North African Crested Porcupine is one of the largest rodents in the world. Its black or brown body is covered with porcupine quills that can reach up to 14 inches. It prefers rocky terrain, where it spends most of the day in complex burrows. 

While generally peaceful, the Crested Porcupine will fight back when it perceives an immediate threat.

Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)

The Cape Porcupine has black quills with white or yellowish stripes, a crucial defense mechanism. It lives in a wide range of habitats across Africa. 

While primarily an herbivore, Cape Porcupines also gnaw on bones to supplement their diet with calcium. They are also good swimmers and climbers.