When threatened, they often take to the water to defend themselves in shallow water, or hide in reeds submerged up to the nose. Wounded male waterbucks will attack humans. When game is plentiful, predators ignore Common Waterbucks because their flesh is tough, stringy, rank and musty-scented. Waterbucks are gregarious and live in herds of 5-30, led by an old bull. Young males often form separate, independent groups of about the same size.
Waterbucks also associate freely with impala and other antelope.
Common Waterbucks are found in woodland and savanna habitats, but always near permanent water. They are widely distributed in Africa South of the Sahara, particularly in the east and southeast. They prefer to eat plant species that impalas and other grazing mammals to not like. They require large quantities of water. Males are highly polygamous and defend the harems of cows in their territories against other bulls.