Cape buffaloes in Africa are referred to as the Black Death since they kill more hunters than any other animal on the continent; and if one of these huge animals decides to charge there is very little you can do to stop it.Cape buffaloes are capable of weighing 860 kg (1,919 lb) and thus rank as one of the most powerful animals in the African savanna; the thick shield formed by their horns covers their foreheads, and the sharp points on both sides can spread to a metre (39 in), making them a formidable weapon.Because of their short and muscular legs they are extremely powerful and their large bodies enable them to crush anything that gets in their way. So dangerous are they that lions usually stay away from a healthy adult Cape buffalo and prefer to attack young, injured or weakened animals instead.If a Cape buffalo directs its attention towards you, your chance of getting away without suffering serious injury will be very small. The best thing that might happen is that you survive the first attack and then hope it gives up before charging once more.Angie Heister was in Zimbabwe in 2011 when she was walking through the savanna and was suddenly attacked from behind by a male Cape buffalo, which gored her and left her with a huge wound over her torso.The impact resulted in serious damage to her spine and left her paralysed. Since the injuries she had suffered as a result of the attack were so severe, she needed spinal surgery.It was extremely lucky for Angie that the buffalo did not carry on with its attack, since cape buffaloes are known for charging several times and an animal weighing hundreds of kilograms can cause severe injuries as a result of one attack.It is clear now why these animals have gained such a fearsome reputation. When seen up close, an 860 kg Cape buffalo is not just a big wild animal but a strong and well-armed one which is capable of causing life-altering injuries within a few seconds.