The kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), or greater kudu, is a large grey-brown antelope of the Kruger's woodlands, recognised by the bull's magnificent spiralling horns, which reach up to 1.8 m, and its thin white body stripes. Bulls weigh around 300 kg; the hornless cows are smaller. Kudu are common browsers on a Kruger safari.
Name
Kudu or Greater Kudu [Tragelaphus strepsiceros]
Appearance
Kudus are a species that show a strong Sexual Dimorphism in the fact that the males boast massive, spiraling horns that can reach lengths of up to 1.8m. The horns reach their full length after six years. The Horns the males boast is much longer than those of the females. The bulls reach a massive weight of 300 kg and stand at the shoulder 1.4m. The females weigh only 260kg and stand only 1.25m high at the shoulder. Their coat is a light brown, almost tawny in colour, with white stripes on their flanks that all differ in shape and size. They have a v-shaped band on their foreheads with white spots on their cheeks. They have long manes that extend from their necks and stretch all the way to their tails.
Diet
Kudus are browsers, which means they feed on leaves from a variety of shrubs, trees and bushes, they favour fruits, pods, creepers and forbs. They have also been known to eat succulents like spekboom and even aloe.
Breeding
The rutting season for Kudus is through April and ends in May. A single calf is born during January and March after a gestation period of about 9 months. There are occasions where young are born out of season and it isn’t actually very rare. Calves will lie in hiding within the first 6 weeks and are visited by their parents to be nursed.
Behaviour
Herds of that exceed 20 members will usually split into much smaller groups. Cows and their young will form a social group containing between 4 and 10 members. Cows will remain with their mothers while the bulls will leave the group when they reach sexual maturity. The bachelors will join female herds during mating season and will travel around when outside of mating season. There is no fighting over territory between males, instead they have a size based hierarchy were the biggest bull is in charge. Age also plays a big roll in dominance between Kudus.
Habitat
Kudu prefer living in open Knobthorn woods in the Kruger and on game farms in Mpumalanga. They can also be seen living in Mopane and Miombo woods up in the Northern and North Western areas of South Africa. These giants are a rather common sight during a Kruger National Park Safari.
Where can they be found?
Kudu is a very popular antelope and is widely found in South Africa and are very common in game reserves, Private game farms and also seen wild on many farms throughout South Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is a kudu and how long are its horns?
Kudu are among Africa's largest antelope. Bulls weigh around 300 kg and stand about 1.4 m at the shoulder, while cows are lighter at roughly 260 kg. Only bulls carry the long, spiralling horns, which can reach 1.8 m and take about six years to grow to full length.
What do kudu eat?
Kudu are browsers rather than grazers, feeding on leaves from a wide range of shrubs, trees and bushes. They favour fruits, pods, creepers and forbs, and have even been recorded eating succulents such as spekboom and aloe, a diet that keeps them in wooded country rather than open plains.
Where can you see kudu in the Kruger National Park?
Kudu are a common sighting on a Kruger safari, favouring open knobthorn woodland where they browse among the trees. They occur throughout the park and the surrounding Mpumalanga bushveld, and range north into mopane and miombo woodland. Their grey coat and white stripes make them well camouflaged in dappled shade.
Are kudu dangerous to humans?
Kudu are shy, non-aggressive herbivores and pose no real threat to safari visitors. Bulls do not fight over territory, settling dominance by size instead. The main hazard is on the roads, where these large antelope can leap suddenly in front of vehicles, so drive slowly near wooded verges at dawn and dusk.
How do kudu breed and raise their young?
The kudu rut runs through April into May, and a single calf is usually born between January and March after a gestation of about nine months. Calves lie hidden in cover for their first six weeks, visited by the mother to nurse, which helps them avoid predators while they are too weak to run.
