Hunting Impala in South Africa

IDENTIFICATION: Athletically-built, medium sized antelope. They have got black bands on the tail and buttocks. Patches of black hair are present above the ankles. Only the males have horns.

HABITAT: Woodland, thorn-thickets and grasslands edges, usually within a few kilometers of water.

BREEDING: 1 calf born after a gestation period of about 6.5 months (180 – 210 days); most Impala’s young are born between November and December.

DIET: Impala are both browsers and grazers. They utilize a wide variety of plants and drink regularly. They remain persistently in overgrazed areas.

CHARACTERISTICS: They have acute hearing and have been known to frighten elephant by uttering loud snorts when alarmed by the approach of humans. They fight a great deal during the mating season, uttering long, drawn out snorts, and are quite capable of killing one another at such times.

Impala are excellent jumpers. They can often be seen in the company of baboons, and are preyed upon by lion, cheetah, leopard and, to a great extent, the Cape hunting dog. In overcast, windy weather they often lie down. The black tufts above the hooves on the hind legs conceal scent glands.