Tag: antelope

Steenbok male

In Europe, a steenbok is a big and impressive curly-horned mountain goat. In South Africa, it is the cutest little antelope. The male has two twig-like horns on its head, the female has no horns. They are extremely shy and will run away at any suspicion of danger. It’s a blessing to find one that stands still for long enough to be photographed!

Klipspringer resting on a rock

One of my favorite animals since we first saw them in a zoo in the Netherlands. Klipspringer literally means ‘rock jumper’, and it is one of the things they do best. You can find them on rocky outcrops, although they are hard to spot because their coat blends in so well with the environment. Klipspringers are largely monogamous, and partners generally stay within five meters of each other. Females are generally a bit larger than the males, but only the males have short and spiky horns. Such a joy to find these in the wild!

Puku

The puku is a relatively common antelope in Zambia. It can be distinguished from the impala by its more rough coat. Pukus like the marshy grasslands in the Kafue and Luangwa valley. The southern most region where pukus occur is Chobe National Park in Botswana.

Photo taken in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Klipspringers

This cute couple is Mr. and Mrs. Klipspringer. Klipspringers – literally it means ‘rock jumper’ – are small antilopes, reaching a maximum shoulder height of 60cm. They enjoy acrobatic jumps on rocky outcrops. Because their habitat is often inaccessible and commercially not interesting, klipspringers are doing relatively well in large parts of Africa.

Photo taken in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa