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The African buffalo or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large sub-Saharan African bovine. Syncerus caffer caffer, the Cape buffalo, is the typical subspecies, and the largest one, found in Southern and East Africa. One of the "big five" African game, it is known as "the Black Death" or "the widowmaker", and is widely regarded as a very dangerous animal. According to some estimates, it gores, tramples and kills over 200 people every year.

The African buffalo is not an ancestor of domestic cattle and is only distantly related to other larger bovines. Its unpredictable temperament may have been part of the reason that the African buffalo has never been domesticated, unlike its Asian counterpart, the water buffalo. African buffaloes have few non-human predators aside from lions and large crocodiles. As a member of the big five game, the Cape buffalo is a sought-after trophy in hunting.

Oxpeckers are endemic to the savanna of Sub-Saharan Africa. Their names come from their habit of perching on large mammals and eating ticks, botfly larvae, and other parasites. They feed exclusively on the backs of large mammals. Certain species seem preferred, whereas others, like the Lichtenstein's hartebeest or topi are generally avoided. The smallest regularly used species is the impala, probably because of the heavy tick load and social nature of that species. In many parts of their range they now feed on cattle, but avoid camels. They feed on ectoparasites, particularly ticks, as well as insects infecting wounds and the flesh and blood of some wounds as well.

Oxpecker/mammal interactions are the subject of some debate and ongoing research. They were originally thought to be an example of mutualism, but recent evidence suggests that oxpeckers may be parasites instead. Oxpeckers do eat ticks, but often the ticks that have already fed on the ungulate host and there has been no proven statistically significant link between oxpecker presence and reduced ectoparasite load. However one study of impalas found that impalas which were used by oxpeckers spent less time grooming themselves suggesting they had fewer parasites. Oxpeckers have been seen opening new wounds and worsening existing ones in order to drink the blood of their perches. Oxpeckers also feed on the earwax and dandruffs of mammals, although less is known about the benefits of this to the mammal, it is suspected that this is also a parasitic behaviour. Some oxpecker hosts are intolerant of their presence. Elephants and some antelope will actively dislodge the oxpeckers when they land. Other species tolerate oxpeckers while they search for ticks on the face, what one author described as "appear[ing] ... to be an uncomfortable and invasive process."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_buffalo

simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxpecker

Baby elephant by Sumarie Slabber

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Photographed in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

African Buffalo by Heike Rosenbaum

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An African Buffalo grazes in the Duba Plains Concession with a yellow-billed oxpecker on his back.

Duba Plains Concession, Okavango Delta, Botswana

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Save the rhino from extinction by Sumarie Slabber

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Leopard by Rckr88

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Kruger National Park, South Africa

Itchy by Sumarie Slabber

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Photographed in Lion Sands Game Reserve, South Africa.

Portrait of a Giraffe by janetfo747 ~ vacation time

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When a giraffe is born, he has little bumps on his head that will eventually become his ossicones. These bumps are full of cartilage that isn't attached to his skull. The bumps start to grow and ossify, beginning at the tip and hardening down toward the base of the horns.

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King on a stroll by Kenyan Traveller

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Stretching Lioness look at that smile ! by janetfo747 ~ vacation time

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Seen in Samburu National Park, Kenya

The females in the pride tend to do the majority of the hunting. They work as a group and use intelligent hunting tactics to catch prey which they would not be able to catch alone as they are faster than them.

Léopard (Panthera pardus, leopard) by Grégory Rohart

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Léopard (Panthera pardus, leopard) dans un arbre mangeant une femelle nyala. Et apparemment, ça a l'air bon 😋

Phinda Private Game Reserve, Kwazulu-Natal, Afrique du Sud 🇿🇦

Lions on the hunt by Sumarie Slabber

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Photographed in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa

Young elephant / Jong Olifant by (Pixi2011) Amanda Grobbelaar

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embarking a tree for nutrition in the dry seasom in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

Elephants / Olifante by (Pixi2011) Amanda Grobbelaar