African Antelope: Species, Sizes, Facts and Photos

Wildebeest

Connochaetes gnou / C. taurinus

The wide plains of East Africa are home to the wildebeest, which looks quite different from a typical antelope. Also known as the gnu, it belongs to the genus Connochaetes. There are two species: the black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) and the blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus). The two differ in size, migration habits, and habitat.

In the black wildebeest, the male reaches 120 cm at the shoulder and can weigh 180 kg. The female is slightly smaller at 108 cm and 155 kg. Blue wildebeest are bigger: males stand 150 cm tall and weigh 250 kg, while females reach 135 cm and 180 kg. Measured another way, a wildebeest can grow about 4 feet and 10 inches in size and weigh about 270 to 600 pounds.

The black wildebeest sticks to open grasslands and only migrates short distances. The blue wildebeest is more adventurous, it explores many different habitats and travels much farther during its migrations. Wildebeest graze in the morning and late afternoons, and the favorite meal for the African lions is none other than the wildebeest.

During migrations, many wildebeest die crossing the Mara river. Some are caught by crocodiles, and others drown in the rushing water.

Roan

Hippotragus equinus

The roan (Hippotragus equinus) is found across West, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. It is the fourth largest antelope in Africa.

The roan gets its name from its reddish-brown coat. It is sometimes confused with the sable antelope, but the roan has cloven hooves, a goat-like beard, shorter horns, long tasseled ears, and striking red nostrils. It is a handsome antelope that looks like a horse, with a fawn-gray color, a pale belly, short decurved horns, and a light mane.

Some people say the roan looks like a cross between a goat and a horse. Both males and females weigh around 270 kg. Males stand about 140 cm at the shoulder; females are slightly shorter at 130 cm.

Roans are a very rare species that live in the lightly wooded savanna. They prefer grazing but will browse when food is scarce, and form a group of 5 to 15 animals with a dominant male.

Waterbuck

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is easy to spot: it has a white bib under its throat and a white ring around its rump. It lives mainly in Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa.

Despite its name, the waterbuck does not spend much time in water. However, it will run into a river or lake to escape from predators.

Males can weigh up to 300 kg; females reach up to 200 kg. The animal's shoulder height is generally 120-136 cm. Its reddish-brown coat gets darker as it ages.

Females form a herd of about 200 to 600 animals. Their meat has a very unpleasant flavor, so most predators leave them alone, and only the males of this species have horns.

Eland

Taurotragus oryx / T. derbianus

When it comes to large African antelopes, the eland tops the list, it is the largest antelope species in Africa. This ox-like antelope is light brown in color and has faint white vertical stripes.

The eland lives mainly in the central, eastern, and southern parts of Africa. It is at home on coastal plains, in mountain areas, and in semi-desert regions, as well as the montane grasslands. A herd of eland comprises over 100 animals grazing together. As elands mature, their light brown color turns more bluish gray, and the oldest eland looks almost black.

Sadly, the eland is also one of the more endangered antelope species. It has two subspecies: the common eland (Taurotragus oryx) and the greater eland (Taurotragus derbianus), also called the giant eland. Bulls can weigh up to 1,000 kg and stand 183 cm at the shoulder. Females can weigh up to 600 kg and reach 153 cm in height.

Both males and females have horns, and the males have larger horns. Measured in imperial units, the males are over 6 feet tall and weigh over 2,200 pounds, at the shoulder the bulls range from 59 to 71 inches tall. The greater (giant) eland has a reddish-brown color with vertical stripes, and its horns can grow up to 48 inches long. The giant eland is shy and elusive; unable to gallop for long, it can trot for hours and is known to jump over fences that are 6 feet high. The Western giant eland is a highly endangered species.

Gemsbok

Oryx gazella

The gemsbok is a strongly-built, sturdy antelope that has the likeness of a horse, and it is a member of the Oryx genus. Striking white and black markings on its face bear resemblance to the painted face of a tribal warrior, perfectly complemented by long, straight, spear-like horns.

It has a fawn coat that often takes on a gray tint, with lighter patches on the bottom rear of the rump, a long flowing tail, and a brown stripe that extends from its chin to the bottom edge of its neck. This grazing animal prefers to dwell in deserts, scrubland, and bushland.

On average, males weigh 500 lbs and females weigh 475 lbs, measured another way, about 550 pounds for males and 460 pounds for females. They stand about 4.7 feet in height, and a gemsbok herd has about 10 to 40 animals. It is an expeditious runner: it can outpace a horse or a pack of African Hunting Dogs, reaching a speed of 56 kmph, or 35 miles per hour.

Gerenuk

Litocranius walleri

The gerenuk (Litocranius walleri) is a long-necked antelope that lives in the eastern regions of Africa.

One amazing fact about this animal is its very low need for water. The gerenuk never needs to drink, it gets all the water it needs from the plants it eats. That is why it is mostly found in the dry, arid regions of Africa.

Males weigh around 45 kg, which is heavier than females at around 35 kg. Males also stand taller, reaching up to 105 cm, compared to 100 cm for females.

Steenbok

Raphicerus campestris

The steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) is another small antelope of Africa. Found in southern and eastern Africa, it is also called the 'Steinbuck' or 'Steinbok'.

It stands just 45-60 cm tall at the shoulder and feeds on low-level plants and shrubs.

Like the gerenuk, the steenbok can survive without drinking water. It gets the moisture it needs from the food it eats.

Nyala

Tragelaphus angasii

You can tell male and female nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) apart just by their color. The male is dark brown with vertical white stripes along its body. The female is reddish-brown with clearer white vertical stripes.

Water holes in South Africa are often busy with nyala. They prefer dense forest areas and tend to feel uncomfortable in open spaces.

The male nyala weighs up to 114 kg and stands up to 110 cm tall. Females are smaller, at around 58 kg and 90 cm.

Klipspringer

Oreotragus oreotragus

The klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus) lives on the rocky hills of Africa and is known by the nickname 'rock jumper'. It is smaller than most antelopes, generally reaching 58 cm at the shoulder.

The klipspringer feeds on plants that grow among the rocks. When it stands, it balances on the very tips of its hooves, like a ballet dancer on pointe.

It is famous for its amazing jumping skills. The klipspringer can leap to a height of 25 feet, which is about 15 times its own height. No wonder it earned the name 'rock jumper'.

Kudu

Tragelaphus imberbis / T. strepsiceros

Kudus come in two types: the lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) and the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). The greater kudu is a woodland antelope of eastern and southern Africa, with long legs and a coat that ranges from brown and bluish-gray to reddish-brown, marked by 4 to 12 vertical stripes.

Lesser kudus live in East Africa. Males weigh up to 90 kg and females up to 70 kg. Their shoulder height is usually 90-110 cm.

Greater kudus are known for the massive, twisting horns carried by the males, they take a full 2½ twist, and females of this species have no horns at all. They live in eastern and southern Africa. Males weigh 190-270 kg and females weigh 120-210 kg (about 595 pounds for males and 463 pounds for females).

Hartebeest

Alcelaphus caama

This large African antelope is an even-toed ungulate of the Bovidae family. It is found in Southern Africa and is closely related to the topi and the tsessebe.

It has a tall horn that curves forward and then backwards in both males and females. It is about 5 feet in height and weighs around 440 pounds. The male hartebeest is dark brown in color, while females are yellow-brown.

Males turn territorial during courtship. The herd contains about 5 to 20 animals, but it can grow as large as 350 animals in one herd.

Lechwe

Kobus leche

The lechwe (Kobus leche) is a golden-brown antelope that loves floodplains and marshy areas. It feeds mainly on aquatic plants and is active during the day.

The average lechwe stands 90-100 cm at the shoulder and weighs 70-120 kg. When a predator gets close, the lechwe runs into knee-deep water to hide.

Here is an interesting fact: the lechwe's knees are coated in a special substance that repels water. This lets the animal run faster even when wading through a river or wetland.

Springbok

Antidorcas marsupialis

The springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) is mostly found in South Africa, where it is also the national animal. This beautiful gazelle is between 27 to 31 inches tall and can weigh anything between 60 to 105 lbs, depending on its gender.

It is famous for leaping high into the air (sometimes up to 13 feet) in a stiff-legged move called pronking. The springbok does this by jumping repeatedly into the air with an arched back and lowered neck, while lifting the flap along its back. The sharp black side stripe, where white meets tan, gives it a striking look.

Males weigh between 33-50 kg and females between 26-40 kg. The springbok can reach a top running speed of 80-90 kph, making it one of the fastest animals on the savanna. Once a dominant migrating species, springbok still roam the wild in large numbers, but are also common on farms and ranches.

Sable Antelope

Hippotragus niger

The sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) lives in the wooded savanna of East Africa, Southern Kenya, and Southern Africa. It is a majestic-looking animal with long, swept-back horns.

It stands 120-140 cm at the shoulder and can weigh 200-270 kg. Measured in imperial units, it stands between 46 to 55 inches tall and weighs up to 517 pounds, with males larger than females. The male is a deep, shiny black, while the female is chestnut to dark brown. Both have white cheeks, a white chin, and a shaggy mane on the back of the neck.

The sable antelope is bold when threatened. It will turn and face attackers (including lions) using its curved, scimitar-shaped horns as weapons. Those enormous horns sweep back in a majestic arch and may grow over a meter long in males.

Tsessebe

Damaliscus lunatus

The tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus) has a bold look: a black stripe running from its forehead to the tip of its nose, black chest and legs, and a rusty-red coat.

Its horns are a record of its age, as the animal gets older, its horns gradually wear down.

This large antelope can reach a body length of 150-230 cm. Males weigh up to 137 kg and females up to 120 kg.

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

Sleek, elegant, and graceful, those are the best words to describe the impala (Aepyceros melampus). This antelope is best known for its amazing leaping abilities.

Male impalas weigh around 46-76 kg; females are lighter at 37-50 kg.

The impala is a common sight across a wide range, from southern Africa all the way to the northern edge of East Africa.

Oryx

Oryx gazella

The oryx (Oryx gazella) is one of the large antelope species of Africa. It lives mainly in near-desert conditions and can go without water for long periods.

Both males and females carry horns, which they use to protect themselves and their young from predators.

The male oryx can weigh between 167-209 kg and reach a shoulder height of 1.2 m.

Bongo

Tragelaphus eurycerus

This inhabitant of South Africa is divided into two subspecies, the Western or Lowland Bongo and the rare Eastern or Mountain Bongo. The lowland bongo is nocturnal and resides in dense jungles.

Its coloring exemplifies the diverse appearance of African antelopes. With a coat that looks like an artist's creation, its reddish-brown color is broken by vivid, vertical yellow-and-white stripes that provide perfect camouflage.

This large antelope is similar in proportion to the eland. On average, males weigh 660 pounds and females weigh 530 pounds. Both male and female bongos have spiral horns that take the shape of a lyre and slope over the back.

Royal Antelope

Neotragus pygmaeus

Contrary to its name, the royal is the smallest antelope in the world, often sharing its proportions with a hare. It usually weighs under 10 lbs and is about one foot tall at the shoulder.

This endangered antelope inhabits regions where there is dense vegetation, and is shy and nocturnal by nature. Its hind limbs are tucked under its body and are longer than its forelimbs, like those of a rabbit.

The similarity to a rabbit extends to its face, large eyes, and small, translucent ears. It has a narrow muzzle, long tongue, and a smooth, shiny coat.