Climate change in southern Africa is associated with warming, including a higher frequency of heatwaves, and changes in precipitation, including intense drought. The direct effects of these changes, together with indirect effects on the resources available to wildlife, may impact an animal’s health, susceptibility to disease, and ability to cope with infection. We investigated the link between infection, disease and climate-related variables, and body temperature patterns of free-ranging large herbivores, using African buffalo (Sycerus caffer) as a model species. African buffalo are economically and ecologically important species as they are wildlife maintenance hosts for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and foot-and-mouth disease viruses (FMDVs). In late 2024, 24 juvenile African buffalo (age range 1 – 2.5 years) were darted and surgically implanted with wireless temperature-sensitive data loggers in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Thereafter, data was retrieved from the animals, using the wireless connection, when they were darted for disease monitoring ~6 months later. We report how body temperature varied with changing environmental conditions and disease status. The results of this study will assist us in understanding how climate change impacts will alter disease progression and health of free-living large herbivores.