Cape Buffalo Fight
Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya
By Federico Veronesi
Nairobi, Kenya
www.federicoveronesi.com

the story behind the shot: “I watched these bulls fighting for approximately three hours. The sky was overcast, creating ideal conditions to photograph the huge creatures. To emphasize the texture of their skin and horns, I framed my shots from different angles and approaches. This tight composition is the image I prefer, as it captures the power and the struggle of the confrontation.”
Nikon D300; 600mm ƒ/4 lens; 1/640 sec at ƒ/4; ISO 200; car window mount; Manfrotto 503HDV head.

About the photographer: Federico Veronesi is a full-time wildlife photographer and guide for safaris based in Kenya since 2002. Born in Milan, Italy, he first came to Kenya on a 20-day safari with his parents when he was six years old. He now has his own tent in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where he camps among the African wildlife. Throughout the year, he accompanies small groups of photographers in the Maasai Mara and other parks of Kenya and northern Tanzania, sharing his passion for wild animals and photography with his guests.

About the cape buffalo: The Cape buffalo is one of Africa’s “big five” game mammals that were once hunted for food and sport. With its bulky build, massive horns, unpredictable nature, and running speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, it is considered highly dangerous to humans. The Cape buffalo inhabits open woodland savanna and montane rainforest, where there is abundant grass and drinking water. Highly sociable animals, African Cape buffalo travel in large, imposing herds that may consist of more than one thousand individuals. During the dry season, males form bachelor groups of three to four members that fight each other to establish dominance and a hierarchy.