Both beasts can fight back and do, unlike some others favourite animal species which only run away.

One reason is it is African habit to promote everything as death defying, only real man kind of stuff to do. The PH or DG client stands head and shoulders above lesser men ...

It is Aussie habit to down play everything, saying it is easy mate, no problem, only a pussy needs to use anything more than a .303 or .308 to shoot anything ...

Actually the cape buff during European colonial days was often thought quite reasonably huntable with common deer and plains game rifles such as the .30-06, 8x57mm/60mm, .318 etc.

Huge numbers (thousands at a time) were shot for meat and hide processors using such rifles.

WDM Bell thought his 6.5x54/.256 Mannlicher was his ideal cape buffalo rifle.

I think the "Black Death" image largely started since the end of colonial citizen hunting and the wish to promote death defying hunting to clients.

Not to say Cape Buffalo are not dangerous game. But my experience in Parks in Africa, Sri Lanka, and Australia, is when the animals are not hunted they act very similar. Stand around to be photographed, unconcerned, whether man in is a vehicle or on foot. Of course approaching too close is unwise. Where hunted hard, both species of buffalo can be very wary and flee at the first sight of humans.

It is not possible or at least very difficult to hunt water buffalo where they have been always wild, as they are often considered endangered wildlife today. Hunts can be done in feral populations in South America, Australia and Philippines. Perhaps in Vietnam where they could be from truly wild populations (?). Per historical accounts they were considered dangerous game and especially when one takes into account the thick jungle conditions in which they were often hunted.

I have hunted a fair number of water buffalo but hunted only one cape buff bull, with a rifle at least. Have stalked them a number of times without rifle and only camera, in the Okavango, on the Zambezi in Zambia, Zimbabwe etc. But per knowledgeable hunters and PHs who have hunted more cape buff as well as some water buff, they actually say water buff is potentially harder to kill. Yet both species are sometimes easy to kill, sometimes tenacious.

I believe cape buff are more aggressive due to their environment, dealing with hunting lion prides etc. Their ribs may also have a different structure to a water buffalo.

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Irrespective of the above, BOTH are great fun to hunt, deserve respect, and dangerous if wounded and needing follow up. I want to hunt BOTH again and as many times as opportunities allow.