Buffalo Pee in the Tree

Amboseli had many many African buffalo. These creatures are not only big ugly and apparently not particularly good eating, but they are also incredibly mean. They are not carivorous but enjoy killing just for the fun of it. So most of our research team is terrified of them. On our drive out of Amboseli we were heading on a walk up observation hill, a hill with a ramshakle lookout tower of the plains and my kilimanjaro. Beautiful. Aurbree and I were heading up after everyone else and all of sudden we realized that our whole team was running down the hill arms flailing for the safety of the van. We stood ther confused and trying not to laugh. Maybe a lion was coming over the other side? Charlie our driver was a little more rational and explained that from atop the hill they could see some buffalo at ground level. One of the buffalo had looked up and snorted and that sent everyone running like hell. (Of course the buffalo has then gone back to eating grass in a most disinterested fashion). Paul got some video of the fleeing and its hilarious. It was later explained to us that the buffalo will chase you until you run up a tree (we're not clear what happens if there is no tree around). Once you are in the tree the buffalo will pee on its tail and flick the urine up at you until you are good and soggy. Apparently buffalo pee makes you itch so badly you fall out of the tree and the buffalo can then maul you to its hearts content. Seriously.