The Mammals of africa

Antelope

hoofed animals

Eland

Tragelaphus oryx

Unmistakable as the largest antelope, the eland is tawny in colour and the males have a large dewlap on the throat. Both sexes have short, spiralled horns

Gerenuk

Litocranius walleri

One of the most charachteristic antelope of East Africa with long legs and long neck. The gerenuk is also called the "giraffe antelope".

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

It is a tawny, sleek and elegant creature living in herds varying in size but the beauty is often overlooked due to its abundance.

Klipspringer

Oreotragus oreotragus

A small sure-footed antelope found in rocky hill areas of Africa where it moves about on the tips of its hoofs. Colouration varies from yellowish-grey to grey-brown.

Kudu

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Characteristic antelope with tawny coat and whites stripes down the body. The males have dramatic, long spiralled horns

Lechwe

Kobus leche

Medium-sized antelope with hindquarters which are considerably higher than their forequarters. They have chestnut upper parts and flanks, and white on the under sides.

Nyala

Tragelaphus angasi

Male and female are very different with male larger and darker in colour than red-rusty female and male has spiraled horns. Both have white stripes down body.

Oryx

Oryx gazella

Large black and white antelope of the arid areas of Africa with both sexes having long rapier-like horns. Commonly called gemsbok in southern Africa.

Sable antelope

Hippotragus niger

The sable is also one of the most beautiful African antelope. Males are jet black on body and females are reddish-brown with both having a white underbelly.

Springbok

Antidorcas marsupialis

The only gazelle species occurring in southern Africa. Tawny upperparts with a white belly and a brown stripe bordering the white.

Steenbok

Raphicerus campestris

A small rufous coloured antelope with white underparts charachterised by large rounded ears and the male having short, sharp horns.

Tsessebe

Damaliscus lunatus

Known as the Topi in East Africa. Although the topi and the tsessebe are classified as the same species there are a few cosmetic differences.

Waterbuck

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Rugged and robust animals with conspicuous white rings on rear ends. defassa waterbuck (one of the two sub-species) have a solid white patch on their rump. Only the males carry the long forward-swept horns.

Wildebeeste blue

Connochaetes taurinus

Three sub-species occur and is probably the most abundant antelope in Africa with millions migrating across the plains of east Africa.

  • Killing for fun

    Killing for fun

    Killing for fun

    It has been said that man is the only animal that kills for fun and not for survival. This question has been discussed in depth with no solid answers. However, after witnessing a number of incidents I have put my thoughts down for comment.

    Discover more
  • Elephant

    Elephant

    Age of an elephant

    How old does an elephant get? The answer to this depends on a number of factors with probably the most important one been the food that elephants eat ...

    Discover more