The Kruger National Park has a wide variety of antelope, some found in abundance and others a rare sighting. Impala are the most common, with over 130 000 adults in the park at any given time, while the roan antelope, with only about 70 animals, is a very rare sighting. Other species include kudu, eland, sable, waterbuck and tsessebe.
Everyone is always out to see the “Big Five” in the Kruger National Park. Although the Big Five is the ultimate goal, there is a wide variety of antelope in the Kruger National Park , some of them in abundance and others a rare sighting.
On first arriving in the Kruger National Park, you will more than likely come across herds and herds of Impala. The reason you will probably see Impala first is because there are over 130 000 adult impala in the park at any given time. You will notice that only the rams have horns. Rams stand a little under 1 metre at the shoulder and can weigh up to about 80kg. These commonly found antelope can gracefully leap over 3 meter fences and run at bursts of up to 80km/h. Impala live in herds of up to 50, with a single ram having a harem of ewes.
The humble Kudu is not scarce in the Kruger National Park, and can be found in thick woodland areas, most commonly found in the south western foothills and woodland area of the Sabie River catchment area. Kudu do not have huge herds, preferring to stay in small groups. As with the Impala, only the male kudu have horns. Kudu males can weigh up to 300kg and stand at 1.5 metres at shoulder height. There are many thousands of them in the Kruger National Park.
The largest of the antelope in the Kruger National Park is the Eland, standing at 1.8 metres at the shoulder and weighing in at around 940kg. Regardless of its size, this amazing animal can jump over a 2 metre fence with ease, and can run comfortably for long distances at a speed of about 20km/h. They can run at 40km/h for short bursts. The Eland is a gentle creature and will not even charge if it is cornered. Eland usually stay in herds and they are rarely seen as there is only about 300 in the Kruger National Park. They can be found on the savannah plains or woodland areas throughout the Kruger National Park.
Surely a good sighting in the Kruger National Park is the Roan Antelope. There are only about 70 Roan Antelope in the Kruger National Park and must not be confused with the very similar Sable Antelope. Roan Antelope are larger than Sable and can be identified by a distinctive white eye and muzzle patch. Standing at 1.5 metres and weighing in at 300kg the Roan Antelope is actually an endangered species in South Africa that rarely moves out of its territory. Should you be lucky enough to see them, you will notice that they also stay in herds of 2-5 animals in open grassland pockets within thick woodland. This is a very rare sighting.
Sable Antelope are large animals with distinctive white and black face, with both sexes sporting stunning long curved horns. Adult Sable can have horns up to 1.6 metre long. These antelope can weigh about 270 kg and stand about 1.4 metres at the shoulder. Sable Antelope have a lifespan of 15 years and can run 57km/h with ease. Sable graze on medium grasses and although they normally stay in smaller groups of 2-4, they do occasionally link up with other herds and then can be seen in groups of up to 30. Best place to see them is near Pretoriuskop or near Phalaborwa.
Commonly found around water, the aptly named Waterbuck is usually seen around Letaba. Waterbuck are well-built robust antelope easily identified by the white ring on the rump. Waterbuck will completely submerge itself in the water when pursued by predators. Only the male Waterbuck have horns which curve forward. They can weigh up to 250 kg and stand 1.2 metres at the shoulder. Their herds consist of between 10 and 30 animals.
The fastest antelope in the Kruger National Park is the Tsessebe that can run at a speed of 90 km/h, outrunning most of its predators. There are approximately 200 Tsessebe in the Kruger National Park. The Tsessebe is red/brown in colour and has shoulders that are higher than its hindquarters. Males can weigh in at 160kg and stand 1.3 metres high at shoulder height. Tsessebe are found in the sweetveld plains of the northern Kruger National Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest antelope in Kruger National Park?
The eland is the largest antelope in the Kruger National Park, standing 1.8 metres at the shoulder and weighing around 940 kg. Despite its size it can jump a 2 metre fence with ease, but it is rarely seen, with only about 300 in the park.
What is the fastest antelope in Kruger?
The tsessebe is the fastest antelope in the Kruger, running at up to 90 km/h and outrunning most of its predators. It is red-brown, with shoulders higher than its hindquarters, and about 200 live on the sweetveld plains of the northern Kruger National Park.
How do you tell a roan antelope from a sable?
Roan antelope have a distinctive white eye and muzzle patch, while sable have a distinctive black-and-white face and both sexes carry long, curved horns up to 1.6 metres long. Roan are a very rare sighting, with only about 70 in the Kruger National Park.
Why is the waterbuck called a waterbuck?
The waterbuck is aptly named because it is commonly found around water and will completely submerge itself when pursued by predators. In the Kruger it is usually seen around Letaba and is easily identified by the white ring on its rump.
Where can you see sable antelope in Kruger?
The best places to see sable antelope in the Kruger National Park are near Pretoriuskop or Phalaborwa. Sable usually stay in small groups of two to four but occasionally link up with other herds, forming groups of up to 30.
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