In the heart of Africa’s wild terrain, few rivalries match the intensity and raw spectacle of the age-old blood feud between lions and buffalos. These two members of the Big 5 are locked in a cycle of survival, bound by nature’s oldest code: kill or be killed. Their battles echo across the savannah – not merely as predator and prey, but as ancient foes shaped by millions of years of coevolution.
The Buffalo: The Deadliest Member of the Big 5
The Cape Buffalo is a formidable animal. Weighing up to 900kg (nearly 2 000 lbs), this massive herbivore is more than just a grazer of the land – they are survivors. Buffalos spend their days feeding in herds that can number in the thousands, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.
Buffalos are often considered the most dangerous member of the Big 5, not just because they are known to be aggressive but because of their unpredictability, strength and loyalty to the herd.
The Lion: A Strategic Predator with a Taste for Risk
The African lion (Panthera leo) is the only true social cat – and perhaps the most celebrated predator on the continent. Males can weigh up to 250 kg (550 lbs), with females averaging around 150 kg (330 lbs). Their diet is purely carnivorous, and while they commonly prey on zebra, wildebeest, and antelope, taking down a buffalo is considered a prize – but a risky one.
Buffalos are not easy prey. Lions must work together in highly coordinated hunts, using stealth, strength, and surprise. Yet even with teamwork, a buffalo hunt can go horribly wrong. Lions have been trampled and fatally wounded during attempts to bring down these brawny herbivores.
Mobbing Behaviour Explained
One of the most remarkable behaviours in this blood feud is what’s known as mobbing. When lions attack, buffalo herds don’t scatter in panic – instead, they often regroup, rallying together to fight off their attackers.
This mobbing behaviour involves coordinated charges, loud vocalisations, and displays of force aimed at rescuing a fallen herd member or intimidating the predators into retreat. It’s a breathtaking sight: a wall of buffalos charging at a pride of lions, horns lowered, eyes blazing.
These moments reveal that buffalos are not passive prey – they are intelligent, organised, and capable of collective defence against their rivals even lions.
Revenge: Blood that Runs Deep
What sets this rivalry apart from many other predator-prey relationships is the apparent memory and retaliation observed in buffalo herds. Some herds have been seen returning to exact vengeance on weakened or sleeping lions, years after traumatic encounters.
This is why many wildlife experts describe the lion-buffalo dynamic not just as a hunt, but a blood feud – a multi-generational war for dominance where each side bears the scars of the other.
A Different Kind of Wild at Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve
At Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve, the iconic lion-buffalo rivalry unfolds in a different way. While we honour the natural history and instinct behind this enduring feud, our focus lies firmly on ethical conservation and animal welfare.
The lions at Inverdoorn have been rescued from the canned hunting industry, where they were bred for profit and denied any real quality of life. Today, they live freely in a large and secure enclosure, designed to reflect their natural environment and provide the space they need to roam, rest, and engage with their pride.
Most importantly, the social bonds between lions are preserved. They continue to live as functioning prides, maintaining their natural hierarchies, behaviours, and interactions – free from external interference, yet safe from the dangers they once faced.
A Safari with Purpose
Book your stay at Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve and experience an unforgettable Big 5 safari. Come face to face with two of Africa’s most iconic foes – the lion and the buffalo – and witness the legacy of their ancient rivalry in person.
