Buffaloes on the Rwindi plains. Virunga National Park, Congo (Democratic Republic)

"The park includes: part of Lake Edward (Lake Rutangize), the Semliki River valley, parts of the Rwindi, Ishasha and Rutshuru valleys south of the lake, the Virunga area within former Zaïre, and part of the Rwenzori range. Lake Edward belongs to the Nile river system and Lake Kivu to the Congo Basin river system. Some of the largest wild animal concentrations in Africa occur along the rivers of the park. Mammals in the savanna of the Rwindi area include: elephant, hippopotamus, buffalo (Syncerus caffer), numerous antelope including kob and Defassa waterbuck, warthog, lion, spotted hyena, bushbuck, and various monkeys. Savannah buffalo live in large herds containing 50 to 500 animals. Within these herds are a number of smaller social groups, made up of several females and their most recent offspring (up to two years of age) (Buchholtz, 1990; Nowak, 1991). The bond between females is very strong, and all animals will respond to distress calls, especially those made by calves. This cohesion also provides protection for weakened individuals." This photograph was taken when Maya Bracher accompanied Eliot Elisofon on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.