The Game
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While hunting or game wieving, you may also see numerous other animals such as jackal, baboon, ververt monkeys and a large number of birds endemic to our area.
Kudu The beautiful greater kudu is one of the largest antelopes. It prefers savanna with fairly dense bush cover. Kudu are light grey in colour with six to ten vertical white stripes along the sides and with a white chevron between the eyes. The horns, carried only by males, form large spirals, and an old buck can have up to two complete twists. Kudu live in small herds of females and their young. The normally solitary males occasionally band into small herds. Kudu are mainly browsers and can eat a variety of leaves. Kudu can easily clear obstacles over 2m high and are known for the unhealthy habit of leaping in front of oncoming vehicles. Size: height at shoulder 150 cm; up to 310 kg.
The Eland is Africa's largest antelope - a mature bull can weigh up to 1 ton. Both sexes have horns about 65 cm long, with the spiral starting at the base of the horn and then sweep straight up. The male has a much hairier head than the female, and its horns are stouter and shorter. Eland prefer savanna scrub, and feed on grass and tree foliage in the early morning and late afternoon. They normally drink daily, but can go for a month or more without water. Eland usually live in groups of around 6 to 12, but herds can contain as many as 50 individuals. A small herd normally has only one male, but in larger herds there may be several males. Size: height at shoulder 170 cm; weight up to 1 ton in the male.
Gemsbok, also known as the South African Oryx, this large beige antelope is a solid but stately animal, with impressively long, straight horns, an attractive greyfawn body with black on the flanks and white on the underside, and a black and white pattern on the face. The tail is hairy, like a horse's. Gemsbok are principally grazers, but will also browse on the thorny shrubs. They can survive for long periods without water. Herds vary from 5 to 40 individuals, but the bulls normally prefer a solitary existence. Size: height at shoulder 120 cm; weight up to 300 kg.
The Nyala is one of Africa's rarest and most beautiful antelopes. Males are grey with a mane and long hair under the throat and hind legs. They also have vertical stripes down the back and long, lyre-shaped horns with white tips. Females are a ruddy colour with vertical white stripes, but have no horns. They browse on trees and bushes. During the dry season they're active only in the morning and evening, but during the rains they more often feed at night. Female nyala and their young live in small groups. The young may be taken by baboons and birds of prey. Size: height at shoulder up to 107 cm; weight up to 126 kg.
The Waterbuck has a bull's-eye ring around its rump, and white markings on the face and throat. It's a solid animal with a thick, shaggy, dark brown coat. Only the males have homs, which curve gradually outwards before shooting straight up to a length of about 75 cm. The bulk of the waterbuck's diet consists of grass. They never stray far from water and are good swimmers, readily entering the water to escape predators. Herds are small and consist of cows, calves and one mature bull, while younger bulls live in bachelor groups apart from the herd. Predators go for the young calves and females, but mature waterbuck are not favoured prey because their flesh is tough and has a repellant turpentine odour. Size: height at shoulder 170 cm; weight up to 270 kg.
Impala are very graceful antelopes. Males have long, lyre-shaped horns averaging 55 cm in length. They are gregarious, and during the rut males defend harems of female impala. Single males form bachelor groups. Impala are known for their speed and ability to leap; they can jump as much as 10 m in a single bound or 3 m off the ground - and frequently do - even when there's nothing to jump over! And it's lucky they can, as impala are the rabbits of Africa - they're low down on the food chain and they make a tasty meal for the large predators, including lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and even hyenas. Size: height at shoulder 90 cm; weight up to 70 kg.
The Blesbok has an overall dullish appearance. The antelope graze on short grass, and as with many antelope, males are territorial, while females form small herds. Both sexes carry horns. Size: height at shoulder 100 cm; weight up to 95 kg.
Blue wildebeest (also known as brindled gnu) are very gregarious and sometimes move about in herds up to tens of thousands strong, often in association with zebras and other herbivores, and accompanied by a cacophony of amusing snorts and low grunts. In Southern Africa, numbers are now much smaller than they used to be. The wildebeest's ungainly appearance makes it unmistakable. It has been described as having the forequaters of an ox, the hind parts of an antelope and the tail of a horse. Males are territorial, and attempt to herd groups of females into their territory. Wildebeest are grazers, and move constantly in search of good pasture and water. Because they prefer to drink daily and can survive only five days without water, wildebeest will migrate large distances to find it. During the rainy season they graze haphazardly, but in the dry season they congregate around water holes. Major predators include lion, hyenas and wild dog. Size: height at shoulder 150 cm; weight 250 kg.
The warthog's social organisation is variable, and groups usually consists of one to three sows with their young. Males form bachelor groups or are solitary and only associate with the female groups when there is a female in season. Their most endearing habit is the way they trot away with their thin tufted tail stuck straight up in the air like an antenna. They have two sets of tusks: the upper ones curve outwards and upwards and on average grow as long as 20 cm; the lower ones are usually less than 15 cm long. Warthog feed mainly on grass, but can also eat fruit and bark. In hard times they'll burrow with their snout for roots and bulbs. They rest and give birth in abandoned burrows, or in excavated cavities in abandoned termite mounds. Size: height at shoulder 70 cm; weight up to 105 kg, but averages 50-60 kg.
The name "giraffe" is derived from the Arabic word zarafah (the one who walks quickly). Both sexes have "horns", wich are short projections of skincovered bone and may be a remnant of what might once have been antlers. Despite the giraffe's incredibly long neck, it still has only seven cervical vertebrae - the same number as all mammals, including humans. Giraffe browse on trees, especially acacaia. They must go through all sorts of contortions to drink. They're at their most vulnerable at waterholes and always appear hesitant and visibly nervous when drinking. If they feel the slightest uncertainty about the safety of the situation, they'll often forgo drinking altogether. Size: females 4.5 meter tall, males up to 5.2 meter tall; weight 900-1400 kg.
The zebra is easy to recognize with their black and white stripes. Zebras are grazers but occasionally browse on leaves and scrub. They need water daily and rarely wander far from water. They often mingle with other animals, such as wildebeest, elephant and impala. During the breeding season, stallions engage in fierce battles for control of a herd of mares. Lion are the zebra's worst enemy, but they're also hunted by hyena and wild dog. Size: height at shoulder 140-160 cm; weight up to 390 kg.
The steenbok bears a resemblance to duikers and to the grysbok, with a short tail and proportionally long and slender legs. The back and hindquaters range from light reddish-brown to dark brown, and on the upper edge of the nose is a black wedge-shaped spot. Males have small, straight and widely separated horns. Steenbok live mainly on open plains, but can be found almost anywhere in this region. They're solilitary animals, and have contact with others only during the mating season. Steenbok are active in the morning and evening, but may stay out late when there's bright moon. At other times, they seek out high grass for protection from predators, including leopard, jackals and hyenas. Size: height at shoulder 50 cm; weight up to 11 kg.
Common duiker, also known as grey duiker, are usually solitary, but are sometimes seen in pairs. The common duiker is greyish light-brown in colour, with a white belly and a dark brown vertical stripe on the face. Only the males have horns, which are straight and pointed, and grow to only 20 cm in length. Common duiker are almost exclusively browsers and prefer areas with good scrub cover, though they appear to supplement their diet with insects and even guinea fowl chicks. They're capable of going without water for long periods but will drink whenever water is available. Size: height at shoulder 50 cm; weight up to 21 kg. |
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