BULAWAYO - You will recall my analogy last year of the wounded Buffalo in the Jesse. Well I thought today I should revisit this situation and find out just what has happened since then.
Visibility in lowveld Jesse is not more than 5 metres and when wounded, a typical buffalo will quickly find refuge in such bush where he can wait for the inevitable pursuit. Anyone who has hunted Buffalo will know they are extremely wily and dangerous. They will back track and wait alongside their recent spoor to see what is coming and stand completely still until they can start that short furious dash that so often has resulted in a rather painful flight into a nearby thorn bush or worse still impalement on his horns and possible death for the hunter.
In our case the buffalo has been mortally wounded and he knows it - but there is a lot of life in the old bull and he has some real dagga boys with him. He knows pursuit is inevitable but has time and the environment on his side. The question is what are his tactics?
Well, first he understands this is a fight to the finish. Secondly he knows that stealth and silence are essential, so he keeps his true intentions a closely guarded secret. Thirdly, deception is a great help when it is available. Cut off from the rich grass of the riverine bush and the vleis' his other need is nutrition and water. Both are scarce and the sun is hot over head.
They have found a patch of rich grass and browse at a place called Marange - there they are finding the resources and water for the fight back. They know the hunters are aware of the secret grazing but are confident that because it is well into the Jesse they cannot be approached without warning.
For the rest they understand that there is little they can do if the hunters catch up with them and are able to train their weapons on them before the bulls get going and therefore they strategise every day - constantly moving and hiding in different locations - always watching what is happening and keeping an eye on the weather.