Two tries apiece from Francois Hougaard and Pierre Spies helped the Bulls maintain their stronghold at the top of the Super 14 table with a 50-35 victory over the Highlanders in Pretoria.
The defending champion did not have everything its own way, though, as the visitor fought back after looking like it was in for a mauling after the opening quarter.
Israel Dagg scored a hat-trick for the New Zealand side to give his side the consolation of a bonus point, but the host's seven-five try-count enabled it to make it 10 wins in a row in the competition.
And it wasted little time getting on the board, grabbing the opening score after six minutes when Morne Steyn's clever short pass to Danie Rossouw sent the big lock on a strong run, before Hougaard, Fourie du Preez and Zane Kirchner all combined to set up Gary Botha to dive in.
After adding the conversion, Steyn then set up the next with an excellent burst of pace through the middle that allowed Pierre Spies to pick up and send Hougaard over.
It was then 21-0 after 13 minutes thanks to a fine individual effort from winger Gerhard van den Heever, who was thrown the ball in his own 22 as he danced his way through the Highlanders' defence to run in on the right corner.
The momentum was briefly halted not long after when Dagg capitalised on a loose ball inside his own half and raced away to net the opening points for his side - Matthew Berquist making it a seven pointer with his conversion.
That proved only a blip for the home side as it then grabbed the bonus-point try after just 24 minutes - Kirchner's up-and-under not dealt with by Berquist allowing the Bulls forwards to move the ball out to Wynand Olivier for his fourth touchdown in four games.
Steyn missed the conversion, but Spies then grabbed his first try thanks to a strong run from Stephan Dippenaar.
Two minutes before the break, Dagg's perfect run along the line allowed him to take Sean Romans pass on the run for his second try, Berquist again converting, but a Steyn penalty on the stroke of half-time put the host 36-14 ahead at the break.
It looked a different ball game after the restart with the Bulls seemingly going to sleep allowing the Highlanders to dominate play for the next 15 minutes.
They scored through Tim Boys - the try converted by Berquist - but should possibly have done more with the large amount of possession.
The gap was 15 at that stage, but the host showed its ruthlessness when a lineout ball worked excellently for Hougaard's diagonal run.
That seemed to seal the win and, despite further tries from Robbie Robinson and Dagg, Spies' late second made sure there was no chance of an upset.
Bulls 50
Tries: Olivier, Spies 2, Hougaard 2, Van Den Heever, Botha
Con: Steyn 6
Pen: Steyn
Highlanders 35
Tries: Boys, Dagg 3, Robinson
Con: Berquist 3, Dagg 2
HT: 36-14