Bachelor herds are made up of either young male impala or adults that have been ousted from their territories. Impala males will continually test their strength against one other.

Breeding herds are made up of females and young males that have not reached sexual maturity yet. Out of rutting season, herds may still be seen together.

In southern Africa the rutting season starts at the end of the rainy season (May) and lasts about three weeks. In East Africa the season is extended to most of the year and the dominant males do not last long as they are hard put mating and keeping challengers at bay.

Young are born after a seven month gestation period. Impala are known to delay birth for up to a month if conditions are not favourable.

The impalas of East Africa are visibly bigger than those southern Africa. This may be due to the fact that the mating season is extended and that the eastern males have to be stronger.

Male impala have a harem of females during the rutting season that they protect from other males. During the ‘off season’ male impala will fight amongst themselves for dominance. The strongest will then challenge territorial males for their space and females. The male is kept very busy during this time.

Growls and snorts

One of the more unusual (yet characteristic) sounds in the African bush is the sound of the male impala during the rut! Their call is a combination of growls and snorts and is very unlike anything that an antelope should make.

They spend so much time in mating and fighting that they do not have much time for eating and thus lose strength. When a male is ousted he will join the bachelor herd again and may later return to challenge a dominant male. It may be because of this continuous struggle for dominance that the east African impalas are bigger than the southern African ones.

Impalas are known to be able to jump up to three meters in height and eleven meters in distance. When chased by predators a herd will disperse in all directions. The ability to jump great distances means their chance of escape is greater.

Impala are often found in close proximity to baboons. At the time of birth of impala young, a strange phenomenon occurs that cannot be properly explained. Male baboons will kill and eat the young impala, unwilling to share the spoils with any other baboons.

Predators

In many areas impala are the most common source of food for predators. Leopards, cheetah, lion, wild dog and hyena will prey on impala.

Python have been observed preying on impala and in an unusual sighting in Botswana a martial eagle was seen taking an adult impala. Young impala are preyed upon by many predators including baboons and jackal.

When a predator is sighted by one of the herd it will snort to alarm the others which may join the snorting. They will either move away or keep the predator in sight until they are secure that the danger is past.