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Buffalo
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| Setswana name | Nare |
| Scientific name | Syncerus caffer |
| Shoulder height | 1,4m; tail 70cm;mass 550kg (Cow), 700kg (Bull) |
| Average horn length | 100cm along curve from center of boss to tip |
| Record horn length | for Southern Africa (Zimbabwe) 124,8cm |
| Identification pointers | Cattle-like appearance: large size; uniform dark- brown or black colouring; heavily built; characteristically massive horns |
Description: Buffaloes are massive, heavily built, cattle-like animals. Adult bulls are dark brown to black in colour but the cows are usually not so dark and calves are reddish-brown. They have stocky, relatively short legs, with large hoofs, those on the forefoot being larger than those on the hindfoot. The horns are heavy and massive, and the central horn base or 'boss' is particularly well developed in the bulls. The horns first curve down and outwards and then inwards, narrowing towards the tips. When viewed from the front the horns form a shadow 'W'. The horn boss of the cow is much less pronounced and is absent in younger animals. Ears are large and hang below the horns. The tail is cow-like with a tip of long brown or black hair.
Habitat: The buffalo has a fairy wide habitat tolerance but requires areas with abundant grass water and cover. It shows a preference for open woodland savanna and will utilize open grassland as long as it has access to cover. The buffalo is widely distributed in the northern parts of Botswana, occurring throughout Okavango and Chobe to the northern Makgadikgadi.
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Behaviour: The buffalo is a gregarious animal occurring in herds that may number several thousands. Smaller groups may break away from the main concentration only to rejoin it later. Bachelor groups may form away from the main herd and solitary bulls are quite commonly encountered. Adults bulls within the mixed herd maintain a dominance hierarchy, the complexity of which is influenced by the size of herd. The cows also establish a 'pecking order' amongst themselves. The dominant bull or bulls will mate with cows that are receptive or in breeding condition. Buffalo herds have clearly defined home range and herd areas rarely overlap. They come to water in the early morning and late afternoon and seek out shade during the heat of the day. Most feeding takes place at night.
Food: Predominantly grazers but buffalo also occasionally browse.
Reproduction: Buffalo are seasonal breeders with majority of calves being dropped in the wet and warm summer months. A single calf, weighing about 40kg is born after a gestation period of about 340 days. Calves are born within the herd.
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