Of Buffalo Encounters...

And the Interesting Happenings That Define the African Experience

My brother recently bought a motorcycle, a Honda Ace Tuff 125cc, which he loves with the passion of young love. To delight in it, discover its limits, and test its long-distance capability, he took a trip to Lake Elementaita Hot Springs, a popular tourist destination in my country.

Lake Elementaita Hot Springs

On arrival, he decided to leave his bike at the gate and explore the park on foot after the park ranger informed him of an additional motorcycle fee–300 Kenya Shillings(USD 2.4).

He did not hesitate to choose the ‘on foot’ option because Lake Elementaita National Park isn't known for predators.

Its habitat largely supports herbivores such as giraffes, impalas, and monkeys.

Still, he inquired about safety. The park ranger assured him that buffaloes were the most dangerous, but he was safe as long as he avoided the forested area. The buffaloes rarely left the forest.

With a pep in his step, he proceeded to enjoy a solitary walk in the park all the way to the hot springs. He took photos and closed his eyes in bliss, enjoying the fresh air. 

That was until the gentle rustling of a solitary buffalo jerked him out of his reverie. The fates had decided to test his gamble. 

A solitary buffalo is the most dangerous of buffaloes as it is most likely to charge an intruder. So much is the threat it poses that it has been nicknamed 'widowmaker' and 'the black death.'

—Kenya Wildlife Service

The African Buffalo, an adult, can weigh up to 900kg

With that knowledge beating in his skull, all the zen my brother had accumulated disappeared. He immediately shifted his body at an angle to keep the buffalo in sight, then slowly started walking towards the makeshift rough road that would see him run back to the gate.

Unfortunately, the buffalo was closer to the road than he was, having emerged from the forested area near the spring. My brother was on the opposite end.

With each step forward, the buffalo made one in tandem, all the while taking a measure of him.

Hah! Trouble.

You know that South African song:

🎶Of course, I effed up,

Who never effed up hands in the air?🎶

That was the moment my brother knew—he effed up!

While trying to figure out what to do, he heard noises from up the road. The buffalo cocked its head as well. The encounter with my brother had already revved the buffalo up, so it did not think twice. It charged the new group of tourists.

To hear my brother tell it, two members of the tourist group fainted immediately, and the others screamed their hearts out. Luckily, a nearby ranger heard the screams, stepped out, and shot in the air. The gunshot scared the buffalo, which made it stop charging and run back to the forest.

As my brother was leaving, the rangers were performing first aid on the two people who had fainted. He acknowledged them, then quickly made his way to the gate, where he took his motorcycle and left.

When he got home, he narrated the encounter. I tried hard to be stoic and commiserate with him, but I failed. Instead, I burst out laughing (sister privileges). Eventually, he joined me in the laughter, swearing up and down that he would never again make that mistake.

Anyway, why am I telling you this? Despite all the issues in this continent, the broken systems, and the messed-up politicians, it is also only here that one would have such ridiculous and entertaining encounters.

Africa should work for Africans so they do not feel the need to leave and miss out on such eclectic and fascinating encounters.

---

That’s all for today. Thank you for reading. Have a brilliant rest of the week, and enjoy more photos from my personal gallery of wild animals in parks across Kenya.

Giraffes and Hippos from Maasai Mara National Park

If you enjoyed this piece, kindly:

¹

1. Africa: Not an Afterthought: We lead the conversation on how Africans can leverage Technology, Trade (AfCFTA), pan-Africanism, and Regional Integration to build a continent that is no longer an afterthought.