The African buffalo, or Cape Buffalo is the largest one in Southern and East Africa. The adult African buffalo's horns are its characteristic feature: they have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head referred to as a "boss". It is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous animals on the African continent, and 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. Natural predators of adult African buffaloes include lions, hyenas, and large crocodiles. As a member of the big five game, the Cape buffalo is a sought-after trophy in hunting.

The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe is a subspecies of giraffe ranging from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. It has rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves.

In 2016, the population was estimated at 31,500 individuals in the wild.

The common eland, also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. It is a species of the family Bovidae. An adult male is around 1.6 metres tall at the shoulder (females are 20 centimetres shorter) and can weigh up to 942 kg with an average of 500–600 kg, 340–445 kg for females. It is the second largest antelope in the world. It was scientifically described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1766.

Mainly an herbivore, its diet is primarily grasses and leaves. Common elands form herds of up to 500 animals, but are not territorial. The common eland prefers habitats with a wide variety of flowering plants such as savannah, woodlands, and open and montane grasslands; it avoids dense forests. It uses loud barks, visual and postural movements and the flehmen response to communicate and warn others of danger. The common eland is used by humans for leather, meat and milk, and has been domesticated in many areas. Eland milk contains more butterfat than cow milk, and can keep longer without pasteurising.

The common eland's population is decreasing, so it is classified as of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN).

    

A pretty nice and relaxing afternoon and we were totally alone by the pool!

 

  

Before we went for our afternoon guided tour, we visited the animal park behind the lodge.  

    

To explain the elephant poo, our guide showed what the elephants eat. Quite inimageable to see how the elephants can manage to pick the green leaves from these very sharp and spiky bushes.

  

And this is the result, goes straight through the bowls and still come out … as grass.

   

  

Meeting more Rhinos!