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Unprovoked Cape Buffalo attack: A close call in the African bush
Things can change quickly in the African bush.
In May 2025, I was joined by three hunters from Hungary in camp, and we had just left the shooting range on the first morning of their hunt. While sighting in the rifles, the excitement tangible in the air, we heard a group of wildebeest snorting on the plain to the east of us. I told my trackers, Sam and Danial, that we should check out where those wildebeest were as soon as we finished at the range.
We drove toward the plain, planning to stop at the edge so I could scan the area with my binoculars. The road to our vantage point was overgrown, with only a narrow passage for the Land Cruiser. I asked Sam to stop about 70 meters from the edge. I emerged from the Land Cruiser, told the hunters to stay put as I won’t be long, and began walking out. The Land Cruiser had a clear line of sight to the road, so everyone could see me as I moved away.
I did not have my rifle with me. We hunt plains game in this area for 250-plus days a year, and I do not carry my trusty .375 Ruger unless we are hunting Cape Buffalo. Even if I’d had it, I doubt it would have made a difference in what happened next. The rifle would have probably just slowed me down, and something heavy to carry on my narrow escape.
About 50 meters down the road, I reached a spot where the Vaalbos was particularly thick. Visibility was zero on either side, and the road narrowed even more. I kept looking forward, trying to see what the wildebeest were up to on the plain. The only sound I heard was my footsteps on the gravel.
Suddenly, I heard a loud crack in the bush to my left. I froze, unsure what it was or what was coming. Then, all hell broke loose!
In what felt like a split second, a big, old, hard-bossed Cape Buffalo bull crashed through the bush, right where I was walking. He was close enough that I could have easily touched him without much movement. He was much closer than I would ever want a buffalo to be! I only saw him clearly when he broke cover, and by then, he was almost on top of me.
There was nothing for me to do but move… and fast!
As the buffalo charged, he swung his head to hook and toss me, but fortunately, he missed by mere inches. Later, Danial showed me the tracks and said the only reason I escaped was that the buffalo’s back legs slipped on the gravel road. I do not remember making a conscious choice to run into the bush from the direction from which the buffalo came, but that and the buffalo’s slip probably saved my life.
I spotted a gap in the Vaalbos to my left and went straight for it as the buffalo recovered from his slip and followed me, still moving fast. I made it into the bush and lost my hat and sunglasses in the scramble, with the buffalo crashing into the bush after me, still less than a meter behind (not at all worried about expensive sunglasses!). He burst through a Vaalbos slightly behind me, probably losing sight of me as I dodged through the thick bush, and he missed me again, but not by much.
Everyone in the vehicle witnessed the sequence of events. I picked myself up, grabbed my hat and sunglasses, muttered a few curse words, and emerged from the bush onto the road. Gazing back at the Land Cruiser, I saw Sam and Danial getting out to help me, fearing the worst had happened to me as myself and the buffalo (my now very close acquaintance) had disappeared from their view. They were just starting to head my way when the buffalo reappeared at the vehicle. Sam and Danial made a short dash back onto the Land Cruiser – just in time, as the buffalo bull ran right past them, swinging his big head and snorting. This time, he was gone for good.
I will never forget the look on the faces of those three Hungarian clients: They had just had an exciting intro to Africa on the first morning of their hunt. I finally made my way safely back to the Land Cruiser, a bit shaken but acting like it was just another day in Africa.
Everyone wanted to know if I was okay. All I could utter was “I got very lucky!” and walked away with only a few scratches thanks to the Vaalbos.
The lesson? Never let your guard down in the bush. No matter how well you know an area or how often you hunt there, things can change in an instant. Stay alert and always be ready for the unexpected… especially when buffalo are around!
Stay safe out there and respect the bush.
Things can change quickly in the African bush.
In May 2025, I was joined by three hunters from Hungary in camp, and we had just left the shooting range on the first morning of their hunt. While sighting in the rifles, the excitement tangible in the air, we heard a group of wildebeest snorting on the plain to the east of us. I told my trackers, Sam and Danial, that we should check out where those wildebeest were as soon as we finished at the range.
We drove toward the plain, planning to stop at the edge so I could scan the area with my binoculars. The road to our vantage point was overgrown, with only a narrow passage for the Land Cruiser. I asked Sam to stop about 70 meters from the edge. I emerged from the Land Cruiser, told the hunters to stay put as I won’t be long, and began walking out. The Land Cruiser had a clear line of sight to the road, so everyone could see me as I moved away.
I did not have my rifle with me. We hunt plains game in this area for 250-plus days a year, and I do not carry my trusty .375 Ruger unless we are hunting Cape Buffalo. Even if I’d had it, I doubt it would have made a difference in what happened next. The rifle would have probably just slowed me down, and something heavy to carry on my narrow escape.
About 50 meters down the road, I reached a spot where the Vaalbos was particularly thick. Visibility was zero on either side, and the road narrowed even more. I kept looking forward, trying to see what the wildebeest were up to on the plain. The only sound I heard was my footsteps on the gravel.
Suddenly, I heard a loud crack in the bush to my left. I froze, unsure what it was or what was coming. Then, all hell broke loose!
In what felt like a split second, a big, old, hard-bossed Cape Buffalo bull crashed through the bush, right where I was walking. He was close enough that I could have easily touched him without much movement. He was much closer than I would ever want a buffalo to be! I only saw him clearly when he broke cover, and by then, he was almost on top of me.
There was nothing for me to do but move… and fast!
As the buffalo charged, he swung his head to hook and toss me, but fortunately, he missed by mere inches. Later, Danial showed me the tracks and said the only reason I escaped was that the buffalo’s back legs slipped on the gravel road. I do not remember making a conscious choice to run into the bush from the direction from which the buffalo came, but that and the buffalo’s slip probably saved my life.
I spotted a gap in the Vaalbos to my left and went straight for it as the buffalo recovered from his slip and followed me, still moving fast. I made it into the bush and lost my hat and sunglasses in the scramble, with the buffalo crashing into the bush after me, still less than a meter behind (not at all worried about expensive sunglasses!). He burst through a Vaalbos slightly behind me, probably losing sight of me as I dodged through the thick bush, and he missed me again, but not by much.
Everyone in the vehicle witnessed the sequence of events. I picked myself up, grabbed my hat and sunglasses, muttered a few curse words, and emerged from the bush onto the road. Gazing back at the Land Cruiser, I saw Sam and Danial getting out to help me, fearing the worst had happened to me as myself and the buffalo (my now very close acquaintance) had disappeared from their view. They were just starting to head my way when the buffalo reappeared at the vehicle. Sam and Danial made a short dash back onto the Land Cruiser – just in time, as the buffalo bull ran right past them, swinging his big head and snorting. This time, he was gone for good.
I will never forget the look on the faces of those three Hungarian clients: They had just had an exciting intro to Africa on the first morning of their hunt. I finally made my way safely back to the Land Cruiser, a bit shaken but acting like it was just another day in Africa.
Everyone wanted to know if I was okay. All I could utter was “I got very lucky!” and walked away with only a few scratches thanks to the Vaalbos.
The lesson? Never let your guard down in the bush. No matter how well you know an area or how often you hunt there, things can change in an instant. Stay alert and always be ready for the unexpected… especially when buffalo are around!
Stay safe out there and respect the bush.
