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African Buffalo

Q: What are the chances of seeing an African Buffalo in Lake Nakuru National Park?

Likely. About 60% of wildlife watchers report an African Buffalo sighting in Lake Nakuru National Park on a given day, based on 235 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 7th most-seen of the 20 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see an African Buffalo in Lake Nakuru National Park?

March and August. In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report an African Buffalo in Lake Nakuru National Park on a given day, against about 40% in November, the lowest month.

Q: What time of day is best to see an African Buffalo?

Between 7 and 10 am. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most African Buffalo sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Lake Nakuru National Park the best place to see an African Buffalo?

9th of 41. Of the 41 parks where we can rate African Buffalo sightings, Lake Nakuru National Park ranks 9th at about 60%. The best odds are in Kidepo Valley National Park (Uganda, about 80%), Aberdare National Park (Kenya, about 80%) and Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda, about 70%). All parks ranked.

Q: Which relatives of the African Buffalo live in Lake Nakuru National Park?

Same family: Bovidae. The closest relatives of the African Buffalo that you can see in Lake Nakuru National Park (family Bovidae, Bovids) are Impala (about 80%), Common Eland (about 60%) and Waterbuck (about 60%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Q: Where does the African Buffalo sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the African Buffalo is recorded against all the mammals logged in Lake Nakuru National Park (235 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Syncerus caffer

Silhouette: Jan A. Venter, Herbert H. T. Prins, David A. Balfour & Rob Slotow (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey) · PhyloPic

LCNTNear ThreatenedVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassMammalia (Mammals)
OrderArtiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans)
FamilyBovidae (Bovids)
GenusSyncerus (African Buffaloes)
SpeciesSyncerus caffer (African Buffalo)

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

at Lake Nakuru National Park

In 3 days >90%

235 Verified sightings at Lake Nakuru National Park From 2019 to 2026

5,499 In all 41 parks

March Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

Challenge The Big Five AfricaMedium

Challenge Gorillas in the Mist BookAfricaHard

About the African Buffalo

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large species of true buffalo native to Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is found in a number of disconnected ranges stretching from south-eastern Senegal through West and Central Africa to South Africa. The adult African buffalo's horns are its characteristic feature: they have fused bases that form a continuous bone shield, referred to as a "boss", across the top of the head. The African buffalo is more closely related to Asian buffalo (Bubalus) species than it is to other bovids such as American bison or domestic cattle. Its unpredictable temperament may be part of the reason that the African buffalo has never been domesticated and has no domesticated descendants, unlike the wild yak and wild water buffalo, which are the ancestors of the domestic yak and water buffalo, respectively. Natural predators of adult African buffaloes include lions, African wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and Nile crocodiles. As one of the Big Five game animals, the Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer), the largest subspecies native to eastern and southern Africa, is a sought-after trophy in hunting.

The African buffalo is a very robust species. Its shoulder... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:22

Gabon · 2019

Recording0:37

South Africa · 2025

Recording0:16

Congo - Brazzaville · 2019

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Known range (Mammal Diversity Database, Marsh et al. 2022)Our parks where it lives In captivity: 49 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~80%
2	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~80%
3	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~70%
4	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~70%
5	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~70%
6	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~70%
7	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~70%
8	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~70%
9	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~60%
10	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~60%
11	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~60%
12	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~60%
13	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~60%
14	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
15	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~60%
16	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~60%
17	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~60%
18	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
19	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~50%
20	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~50%
21	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~50%
22	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
23	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	~50%
24	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~50%
25	Odzala-Kokoua National Park	🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo	~50%
26	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~50%
27	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
28	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~50%
29	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~40%
30	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
31	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~40%
32	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~40%
33	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
34	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
35	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~30%
36	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	~30%
37	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
38	uMkhuze Game Reserve	🇿🇦 South Africa	~20%
39	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~20%
40	West Coast National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
41	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Pairi Daiza	🇧🇪 Belgium	In captivity
2	Denver Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
3	Copenhagen Zoo	🇩🇰 Denmark	In captivity
4	Lisbon Oceanarium	🇵🇹 Portugal	In captivity
5	Cabarceno Natural Park	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
6	Réserve africaine de Sigean	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
7	San Diego Zoo Safari Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
8	Ridiyagama Safari Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	In captivity
9	Safaripark Beekse Bergen	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
10	Safari West	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
11	Nehru Zoological Park	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
12	Haller Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	In captivity
13	Badoca Safari Park	🇵🇹 Portugal	In captivity
14	Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo	🇹🇭 Thailand	In captivity
15	Givskud Zoo	🇩🇰 Denmark	In captivity
16	Safari World	🇹🇭 Thailand	In captivity
17	National Zoological Garden of South Africa	🇿🇦 South Africa	In captivity
18	Selwo Aventura	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
19	Leofoo Village Theme Park	🇹🇼 Taiwan	In captivity
20	Africam Safari	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
21	Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
22	Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
23	Diergaarde Blijdorp	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
24	Fort Worth Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
25	Lisbon Zoo	🇵🇹 Portugal	In captivity
26	Zoo du Bassin d'Arcachon	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
27	Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden	🇭🇺 Hungary	In captivity
28	Thiruvananthapuram Zoo	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
29	African Village	🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	In captivity
30	Valencia Bioparc	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
31	Reserva Zoológica Oasys MiniHollywood	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
32	National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	In captivity
33	Rahim Yar Khan Wildlife Park	🇵🇰 Pakistan	In captivity
34	Wamerú zoo	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
35	Parc exotique de Nguerigne	🇸🇳 Senegal	In captivity
36	The Seas with Nemo & Friends	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
37	Aquarium Barcelona	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
38	Quirijnstokpark	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
39	Blue Planet Aquarium	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	In captivity
40	Aquarium Berlin	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
41	Centro de Recuperación de Rapaces Brinzal	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
42	Africké safari Josefa Vágnera	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
43	Aquatopia	🇧🇪 Belgium	In captivity
44	Centro de Recuperação de Animais Silvestres	🇵🇹 Portugal	In captivity
45	Gunma Safari Park	🇯🇵 Japan	In captivity
46	Kung Fu Corals	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
47	Parc animalier de Sarakawa	🇹🇬 Togo	In captivity
48	Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary	🇰🇪 Kenya	In captivity
49	Zoo León	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity

Show all 49 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Lake Nakuru National Park

Aepyceros melampus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Taurotragus oryx

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Eudorcas thomsonii

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Nanger granti

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Phacochoerus africanus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Giraffa camelopardalis

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Hippopotamus amphibius

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Papio anubis

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Ceratotherium simum

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Equus quagga

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an African Buffalo in Lake Nakuru National Park?

Likely

About 60% of wildlife watchers report an African Buffalo sighting in Lake Nakuru National Park on a given day, based on 235 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 7th most-seen of the 20 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an African Buffalo in Lake Nakuru National Park?

March and August

In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report an African Buffalo in Lake Nakuru National Park on a given day, against about 40% in November, the lowest month.

What time of day is best to see an African Buffalo?

Between 7 and 10 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most African Buffalo sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Lake Nakuru National Park the best place to see an African Buffalo?

9th of 41

Of the 41 parks where we can rate African Buffalo sightings, Lake Nakuru National Park ranks 9th at about 60%. The best odds are in Kidepo Valley National Park (Uganda, about 80%), Aberdare National Park (Kenya, about 80%) and Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda, about 70%). All parks ranked.

Which relatives of the African Buffalo live in Lake Nakuru National Park?

Same family: Bovidae

The closest relatives of the African Buffalo that you can see in Lake Nakuru National Park (family Bovidae, Bovids) are Impala (about 80%), Common Eland (about 60%) and Waterbuck (about 60%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the African Buffalo sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the African Buffalo is recorded against all the mammals logged in Lake Nakuru National Park (235 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Lake Nakuru National Park

African Buffalo

About the African Buffalo

Sounds

Recent sightings of African Buffalo in Lake Nakuru National Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Lake Nakuru National Park

Impala

Common Eland

Waterbuck

Thomson's Gazelle

Grant's Gazelle

Common Warthog

Northern Giraffe

Common Hippopotamus

Olive Baboon

Vervet Monkey

White Rhinoceros

Plains Zebra

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an African Buffalo in Lake Nakuru National Park?

When is the best time to see an African Buffalo in Lake Nakuru National Park?

What time of day is best to see an African Buffalo?

Is Lake Nakuru National Park the best place to see an African Buffalo?

Which relatives of the African Buffalo live in Lake Nakuru National Park?

Where does the African Buffalo sighting chance come from?