The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is one of the most successful large herbivores that live in Africa. They are found in the various environments of the continent, ranging from the forests to the savannah and from the mountains to the sea level plains. As one of the largest herbivores, the Buffalo are grazers and live in large social groups called herds; these include breeding males, bachelor males, females, and young. Herds can consist of hundreds of individuals, though numbers vary depending on the location of the herd. Each herd is usually divided into sub-herds, separating the breeding males, females, and young from the bachelors and older non-breeding males. The main group of females are usually related to each other as well as the breeding bulls. There is a linear dominance hierarchy for both males and females, and usually only one or two of the most dominant males are breeding. Calves stay with their mothers for a year, or until the cow has another offspring. Males join the bachelor herds after two years. When young are first born, they stay hidden for many weeks and do not join the herd until they are old enough to keep up. Even at that point they need extra protection and always stay in the middle of the group. Typically, the sub-herds will stay in close proximity and move as one large unit. Additionally, there is little movement of individuals between herds.

African buffalo have few predators. Lions are the only carnivores that can attack buffalo in their herds but the spotted hyena, leopard, and crocodile have been known to attack very young calves and solitary, older individuals in rare instances. Because they are the most vulnerable, young calves and older males are most commonly preyed upon. Buffalo have developed a specific defense behavior against lions that have attacked individuals in the herd. Caught buffalo have a unique call to warn the group that they have been attacked. The herd will then orient themselves in the direction of the call, form a compact group, and march slowly towards the lion pride that has attacked the individual. The buffalo in the front, usually the breeding males, will attack the lions by goring them with their horns or stomping on them. They have been known to frequently injure or kill lion, as well as running them up trees. The herd will exhibit this behavior, even if the caught individual is already dead.