Antelope Species at Sable Ranch

Imagine witnessing a herd of graceful impalas leaping through the lush greenery of the bush, or catching a glimpse of the regal kudu with its spiraled horns reaching towards the vast African sky. Our expertly guided game drives offer you the unique opportunity to observe these remarkable creatures up close and personal, immersing yourself in their natural habitat and experiencing the beauty of the wilderness in its purest form.

Sable Antelope

The sable antelope is a large antelope which inhabits wooded savanna in East and Southern Africa. It has a compact build, thick neck, and tough skin. Males are heavier and taller than females, with arching ringed horns. Requiring high levels of calcium and minerals, they have been known to chew bones. When sable antelopes are threatened by predators, including lions, they confront their attackers and fight-back aggressively.

Roan Antelope

The roan antelope is a large species in the Hippotragus genus. Known for its horse-like build, it has distinctive grayish brown hair, white facial patches, and long tufted ears. These antelopes live in small herds led by a dominant male, with males often fighting for control using their horns.

Blue Wildebeest

The blue wildebeest is a big antelope that is one of two types of wildebeest. This antelope has strong shoulders and a sturdy face. Blue wildebeests have very strong muscles that help them move efficiently, with most of their energy used for moving rather than being wasted as heat. They can go up to 80 km (50 mi) in 5 days without drinking water, even in hot weather up to 38 °C (100 °F).

Nyala

The nyala is a medium-sized antelope from southern Africa. Females and young males have white stripes on their sides, while only males have yellow-tipped horns. Nyala are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. They eat during the day in temperatures of 20–30 °C (68–86 °F) and at night during the rainy season.

Springbok

The springbok is a slender antelope with long legs and long curved black horns, found in southern and southwestern Africa. They are active during dawn and dusk, living in groups. One unique behavior is pronking, where they jump into the air stiff-legged with a bowed back. Springboks eat shrubs and succulents and can survive without drinking water by eating juicy plants.

Kudu

The greater kudu is a tall animal with long, upward-curving horns. Their name was imported into English in the 18th century from isiXhosa iqhude, via Afrikaans koedoe. They rely on thickets for protection and blend into their environment with their brown and striped fur. Males are only with females during mating season in groups of 5-15, including offspring. Calves become independent at six months. Kudus can deliver a strong kick and are skilled jumpers, able to clear a 5-foot fence easily.

Bushbuck

The Cape bushbuck is a common type of antelope found in various habitats in sub-Saharan Africa. Only males have horns that can grow over half a meter long with a twist. They eat trees and shrubs but not grass, are active during the day, but are more active at night around people.

Impala

The impala, also known as a rooibok, is a medium-sized antelope commonly seen in eastern and southern Africa. Female impalas are without horns and are smaller in size compared to the males, which grow elegant, lyre-shaped horns. One unique behavior of impalas is their self-grooming and grooming of other impalas, a behavior known as allogrooming. They have a specialized dental structure in their lower jaw that aids in the removal of parasites.

Klipspringer

The klipspringer is a small antelope from eastern and southern Africa. It has a yellowish-gray to reddish-brown coat that helps it blend in with rocks. The males have short, spiky horns. They are active at night and rest during the day. Klipspringers are social animals that form strong bonds with their mate, staying close together to watch for predators and face danger as a team.

Steenbok

The steenbok is a small antelope found in southern and eastern Africa, standing only 45-60 cm tall. Males have straight horns, and the tail is short at 4-6 cm. They eat low plants and roots, don't need much water, and are active both day and night. Steenboks evade predators by running in a zigzag pattern and checking behind them.

Waterbuck

The waterbuck is a big antelope seen across sub-Saharan Africa. Male waterbucks are bigger than females and have long, curved horns. They usually stay in herds of 6 to 30. Although they aren't keen on water, they will go in to get away from danger. They live in scrub and savanna areas near water sources for food.