I accepted a challenge, a Cape Buffalo Hunt with a .500 NE, not my usual go-to rifle (my favorite is a 300 win MAG with a composite stock and a stainless steel barrel). Part of the challenge was to reload my own bullets. And that, was a challenge in itself! Oh, and did I mention this was with two weeks’ notice?
I had done no training whatsoever in preparing for the hunting safari, and Cape Buffalo Hunts require a reasonable amount of walking, on average around 6.5 miles per day. Thank goodness my average walking per day was around half that, so as long as we weren’t running, I was comfortable with the expected distance. I did, however, walk around with 6-pound weights everywhere I went for those two weeks leading up to my Cape Buffalo Hunt. This was in preparation for carrying the .500 (which is beautiful, but not light), and I feel it paid off.
I was fortunate enough to get a sponsor for my bullet tips. Ammunition for the .500 is rarer than more mainstream calibers due to its specialized use. The war in Israel contributed to the challenge of finding a store stocking the correct components, as a lot of ammunition and components imported from America are being redirected to Israel. Reloading demands meticulous attention to detail, as small variations in components can affect performance.
Reloading is both a skill and a learning experience. It was fun, I learned a lot, and I admit, I will load my 300 in the future. We reloaded around 25 rounds, and then I spent some time on the range. The .500NE is a powerful rifle primarily used for big game hunting and dangerous game because of its reputation for exceptional stopping power. Developed in the early 20th century, the .500NE has a rich history tied to big game hunting in Africa. The .500NE generates significant recoil, requiring shooters to be physically prepared and skilled in handling powerful firearms. The .500 I would be using, was a Verney Carron, and so well balanced that the recoil was very manageable.
This was not my first hunting safari in South Africa, and it would also be my second big game hunting animal. However, there is something about a game hunting safari targeting the buffalo that installs a healthy dose of fear. The Cape Buffalo’s nickname is “black death” or “the widow maker,” and for good reason.
Why is Cape Buffalo called the “black death?”
The Cape Buffalo is notorious for being grumpy and unpredictable. Cape Buffaloes are known as the “black death” or “widow maker” due to their unpredictable and aggressive behavior, especially when wounded or threatened. They are known to be one of the most dangerous big game animals in Africa and have been responsible for killing more hunters on the continent than any other large animal. The term “black death” highlights their formidable and lethal nature, while “widow maker” suggests he potential danger that they pose. Cape buffaloes are extremely dangerous to both humans and other animals. A wounded buffalo is one of the most dangerous animals to encounter while hunting in Africa.
Facing the “black death” on my Big Game Hunting Safari
On African Buffalo Hunts, accommodation is a matter of choice, from rough bush camps to 5-star lodges, depending on the hunting area. Hunting lodges in South Africa are fully equipped to deal with any special needs, dietary, or other requirements, and chefs are top-class and capable of serving a substantial variety of local and international dishes.
Transport, by ground or air, from all points of entry to the game hunting destination is affordable, runs on time, and the cost is often included in the safari, ensuring that there aren’t any hidden surprises.
Cape Buffalo Hunt: Day 1
On day one, we went to the shooting range and confirmed I was spot on with the .500. We spent the rest of the afternoon discussing strategy. The plan (as always with a buffalo was to make the first shot count) always consider the buffalo wounded when following up, and only if there is a charge, does the PH fire his weapon.
Needless to say (as with most hunting safaris!), things do not always go to plan.
Cape Buffalo Hunt: Day 2
Cape Buffalo Hunt: Day 3
Our tracker picked up the spoor of a lone buffalo bull. He had been kicked out of the herd. Male buffaloes, particularly among certain species like the African Cape Buffalo, may be kicked out of the herd for various reasons related to social dynamics.
There are a few reasons why this might happen:
- Mating Competition: Younger or subordinate males may be expelled from the herd by dominant, older males during the mating season. This ensures that the dominant males have better access to females and can maximize their chances of mating.
- Maturity and Independence: As male buffaloes mature, they naturally become more independent. This can lead to conflicts with the older males in the herd, prompting the dominant ones to drive the younger males away to establish their territories.
- Avoiding Inbreeding: To prevent inbreeding and maintain genetic diversity within the herd, dominant males may force related younger males to leave the group. This helps to prevent mating between closely related individuals.
- Hierarchy and Social Structure: Buffalo herds often have a hierarchical social structure. If a younger male challenges the dominant male or disrupts the established order, he might be ejected from the herd to maintain the stability.
- Resource Competition: In times of scarce resources such as food and water, competition among males for these resources can lead to conflicts. The dominant males may drive away or prevent subordinate males from sharing the limited resources within the herd.
The expulsion from the herd doesn’t necessarily mean isolation for the young males. They may form small bachelor groups or join other groups of males until they mature and potentially challenge for dominance or establish their herds. This behavior is part of the natural dynamics that contribute to the survival and reproductive success of the buffalo population.
The Cape Buffalo that we were tracking, however, seemed not to be a younger bull but an older bull colloquially known as a “Dagga boy.”
What is a “Dagga boy?”
- “Dagga boy” is a term used to describe an older, solitary male buffalo, particularly in the context of African Cape buffaloes.
- The term is commonly associated with mature buffalo bulls that have chosen a more solitary lifestyle, often distancing themselves from the main herd. The term “dagga” is derived from a Zulu word meaning mud. “Dagga boys” are often characterized by their preference for wallowing in mud, which helps them cool down and protects their skin from insects.
- These older males are typically no longer actively participating in the breeding activities of the herd and may choose to live independently.
- “Dagga boys” are known for their toughness and experience, having survived numerous battles and challenges.
- They may have been dominant males in the past, but as they age, they tend to avoid the constant competition within the breeding herds.
- These older males are often recognizable by their worn-down and sometimes broom-shaped horns, which result from years of use during fights and displays of dominance. While “dagga boys” may appear formidable due to their scars and worn horns, they are generally more solitary and less likely to engage in aggressive behaviors unless provoked.
- The term captures the image of a seasoned, mature buffalo that has chosen a more relaxed and independent lifestyle in the latter stages of its life.
We tracked him to the point where I could set up the sticks, but as Murphy would have it, there was a lovely tree in front of him preventing a decent shot. When he did decide to move, he moved on at a relatively fast pace, and I was not comfortable shooting him on the run. Our tracker was decidedly peeved at me for not taking the shot, but he got over it.
At the end of the day, it’s important not to let anyone else pressure you into taking a shot with which you are not comfortable.
So, we started back on new tracks, another older lone buffalo bull. Did I mention that we were in the Limpopo province in South Africa in the middle of summer?? Hydration is important, and every time we saw the vehicle, we got water. Temperatures were reaching upwards of 1000°F and it was boiling hot!!
We were hot on the tracks of this bull when suddenly we looked up, and he was casually standing under a tree around 50 yards away! There was no time for sticks, it was off the shoulder, and I squeezed the trigger… click.. a sound no hunter ever wants to hear!
I am always hyperaware of gun safety and have been walking without bullets in the rifle. In super speed, I popped two rounds into the .500 and again off the shoulder and squeezed the trigger… BAM.. somewhere on the shoulder I thought, I fired off the second shot, but it was high and missed. The adrenaline was off the charts, and we started running after him!
This buffalo was in no mood to be caught, thank goodness he didn’t charge, but man, did he make me work for him! We tracked and followed him for the next 4 hours, getting him in our sights only once long enough to take another two shots at him (while using a thorn tree as a dead rest, not the most comfortable position), but managed to hit him again. They are said to be very cunning creatures, and he most definitely was, as he just disappeared again. We followed his spoor, by now the light was starting to fade, and then there he was again (I swear he was looking straight at me).
Taking the final shot just before light faded was nerve-wracking, and within minutes we had lost enough light to warrant us going back to camp for spotlights. It’s never a good feeling going to bed knowing there is a wounded animal out there, so we were determined to find him and make sure he was down. We went back to camp, got the necessary lights, and were off again.
After a few hours searching for my buffalo, we found him, standing broadside as we approached. There were two final shots, and he ran a few yards but went down quickly. The PH went after him in the dark and took a final spinal shot to ensure he would not get up ever again!
My Cape Buffalo Hunt was one of my most memorable and certainly the most dangerous. One always knows the risks of hunting a buffalo on foot, and everyone always repeats the mantra that you must anticipate, after the first shot, that you are chasing down a wounded buffalo. The realization only sank in a while later that I was chasing down a wounded buffalo, not just anticipating it, but actually living it!! In that moment you only focus on the present, and only afterwards do you realise what you have accomplished and how much could have gone wrong!
They say Cape Buffalo Hunting is addictive, but I think that’s an understatement. The pure and constant adrenaline rush from start to finish is something I struggle to put into words, and the pure exhilaration of surviving, a completely different story.
My Cape Buffalo bull was a magnificent animal, he had probably been kicked out of the herd because he was ill, as he was very skinny for such an old bull. He did, however, have a beautiful hard boss, and his horns had deeply pitted ridges and a textured pattern, which added to the overall visual impact. These ridges extended along the length of the horns.
My Cape Buffalo horns scored 65 points on the Rowland Ward measurement system (minimum being 64) and an SCI (Safari Club International) score of 110 7/8 (minimum being 101). Cape Buffalo Hunts are not for the faint of heart! Pursuing Cape buffalo can be mentally demanding. The unpredictable nature of these animals and the potential dangers require a hunter to remain composed, focused, and adaptable in high-pressure situations.
Would I do it again?? In a (rapid) heartbeat!!