Antelopes Found In Akagera National Park

An antelope is a member of a number of even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in  in Africa, Asia, Middle East and North America. Antelopes can be found in grasslands, mountains, deserts and wetlands. There are 90 different species of antelopes in the world. Akagera National park has 11 species detailed below:

Cape Eland (Tragelaphus oryx)

Life spam: 15 to 20 years, up to 25 years in captivity.

Weight: 450 to 997 kilograms

Gestation period: About 9 months

Diet: Herbivorous

The cape or common eland is tawny with up to 12 white torso stripes and dark markings, which include foreleg garters, a short dorsal crest and neck mane, and the tuft of the hock-length tail. Both males and females have horns that spiral tightly, though female horns tend to be longer and thinner. Usually fawn or tawny-colored, they turn gray or bluish-gray as they get older; the oldest animals become almost black. A tuft of black hair grows out of the male’s prominent dewlap, the loose fold of skin that hangs down from the neck. Adult males also have a mat of hair on the forehead that grows longer and denser as the animal ages.

Roan (Hippotragus equines)

Life spam: 15years

Weight: 225-300 kilograms

Gestation period: 8-9 moths

Diet: Herbivores (grazers and by preference do not feed lower than approximately 15 cm from the ground).

The roan antelope is one of Africa’s largest bovid, only exceeded in size by the African buffalo and eland. Their name refers to their roan color, which means that it is a reddish-brown. It has a grey or brown coat, white underparts, a black-and-white clown-like facemask that is darker in males than females and long, tasseled ears. They possess a well developed, coarse and stiff mane. Females are similar to males but slightly smaller in size and with smaller and less heavily ridged horns. They are primarily found in west and Central Africa.

Topi (Damaliscus lunatus)

Life span: 15 years in the wild

Weight: 90 to 147 kilograms (198 to 324 pounds)

Gestation period: 8 months

Diet: Herbivorous

They are medium­-sized antelopes with a striking reddish-brown to purplish-red coat. Distinct black patches appear on their face, their upper forelegs, and on their hips and thighs. To complete their singular appearance, the topi’s yellowish-tan legs look like they are encased in stockings. Female topis are usually lighter in color than the males. Male establish ‘leks’ which are territories clustered together, the most dominant males occupy the center of the lek.  Both sexes have thick, heavily ringed lyre-shaped horns that are about 30 to 40 centimeters long. Topis have good sight and hearing and can run quite fast with a bounding gait.

Klispringer (Oreotragus oreotragus)

Life spam: 8 -14 years

Weight: 10-18 kilograms

Gestation period: 6 months

Diet: Herbivorous

The klipspringer” literally meaning rock jumper in Afrikaans” is relatively smaller than its cousins, and generally reaches 58 cm at the shoulder. It is well-known for its remarkable jumping skills; It can leap to a height of 25 feet, which is about 15 times its own height Males have fragile horns that are usually about 20-25cm long. With a thick and dense speckled patterned coat of an almost olive shade, klipspringers blend in well with the rocky outcrops on which they can usually be found. They never need to drink, since the succulent plants they consume provide them with enough water to survive

Common Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia)

Life span: Average 13 to 15 years in the wild (about 17 in captivity)

Weight: 40 to 60 kilograms (90 to 130 pounds)

Gestation period: Between 6 and 7 months

Diet: Herbivorous

The Duiker gets its name from the Afrikaans word ‘duiker’ which means to dive, relating to their zig-zag running style when they escape danger. The duiker avoids predators by lying quietly and motionless and then dashing away at the last moment. It runs and dives in a zigzag motion and uses its horns and sharp black hooves as defense.  The male common duiker has a small set of horns although in some areas it is common for females also to possess a pair. The colour of the upper parts varies from a greyish-buff to a reddish-yellow. The under parts are usually white. Most have a black band restricted to the lower part of the face near the nostrils. Males and females do share territories but only come together to mate. They spend a great amount of time grooming each others heads, which helps with pair bonding and also helps individuals identify their own species which discourages inter species breading. There are 22 subspecies to find, each with stubby horns and beautiful markings. They are split into 2 groups: bush duiker and forest duiker. Many of these are now endemic to a single park and you’ll mostly find them in the forest.

Impala (Aepyceros melampus)

Life span: Average 13 to 15 years in the wild (about 17 in captivity)

Weight: 40 to 60 kilograms (90 to 130 pounds)

Gestation period: Between 6.5 and 7 months

Diet: Herbivorous

Impala are abundant across East Africa plus large areas of Southern Africa. You’re likely to see them in big herds, harems protected by a male with impressive horns.   The impala is reddish-brown with white hair inside the ears, over each eye and on the chin, upper throat, underparts, and buttocks. A narrow black line runs along the middle of the lower back to the tail, and a vertical black stripe appears on the back of each thigh. Impalas have unique brush-like tufts of black hair that cover a scent gland located just above the heel on each hind leg. The female is similar to the male but does not have horns. The male’s graceful lyre-shaped horns are about 40 to 90 centimeters long. They are fastidious groomers and spend a large amount of time on their personal hygiene which is evident by their shiny coats. Allo-grooming or reciprocal grooming of one another is also practiced in the herds.

Bahor reedbuck ( Redunca redunca)

Life span: 10 years

Weight: 36-55 kilograms

Gestation period: 7.6 months

Diet: Herbivores (a grazing animal and prefers grasses with high protein and low fiber).

Male are not only larger than females but their markings are more defined as well. Male also have forward-facing hook-shaped horns. Male are not marking. The color of reedbucks ranges from yellow to a grayish brown, but in general bohor reedbucks are yellower than other reedbuck species. Bohor reedbucks have a round bare spot beneath each ear along with white underparts and white marking under their tail.

Defassa waterbuck; Kobus (native African name) ellipsiprymnus defassa

Life span: Average 13 to 15 years in the wild (about 17 in captivity)

Weight: 160 – 300kgs.
Gestation period: 9.3 months

Diet: Herbivorous

Despite its name, the waterbuck is not actually aquatic. Rather, they are frequently found in the vicinity of rivers and lakes. It does however; take refuge there to escape predators.   The defassa waterbuck is a large, robust animal with long, shaggy hair and a brown-gray coat that emits an oily secretion from its sweat glands, which is believed to deter certain predators. It also has large, rounded ears and white patches above the eyes, and around the nose and mouth and throat. Only the males have horns, which are prominently ringed and as long as 100 centimeters (40 inches). The horns are widely spaced and curve gracefully back and up.  In East Africa, two types occur: The common waterbuck has a conspicuous white ring encircling a dark rump, while the defassa has wide white patches on either side of the rump which they use as a ‘follow me’ sign. If one of the group spots a predator and runs, the rest will follow to avoid becoming prey.

Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii)

Life span: 22 years in captivity

Weight: Males weigh 70-125 kg, females only about 35-57 kg.                                          Gestation period: 7 months

Diet: Herbivorous (leaves, buds, shoots, fruit, reeds, and grasses).

The amphibian habitat of sitatunga is part of what makes them so unique. They generally live in the swamps of south eastern Africa, They make trails through swamps that normally lead to clusters of reeds where they can sleep. Many people who see the sitatunga comment on their rather odd shape. These animals look like they are always hunched over because their hindquarters are higher than the forequarters and this strange placement helps them to balance better in marshy areas. Another weird fact about sitatunga legs is that their pasterns, which are the part of the leg above the hoof, are actually flexible. This unusual leg construction makes it easy for sitatunga to run on damp surfaces. The coat is very shaggy, greasy and fairly long, with an erectile dorsal crest running the length of the back. The colour is dull brown with faint white spots stripes in males, and reddish brown with marked spots and stripes in females. There is some variation in coat colour among populations or subspecies. Only the males wear twisted horns which may reach a length of 50-92 cm.

Bushbuck ( Tragelaphus Scriptus)

Life span: 12 years

Weight: Males weigh 40-80 kilograms                       Females weigh 25-60 kilograms

Gestation period: 6 to 7 months.

Diet: Herbivores (Browsers, bushbuck eat leaves and herbs, twigs and flowers of a large number of plant types. On occasion they will also consume grass).

Bushbuck will live anywhere from sea level to mountain-tops in all types of habitats from rainforest to sub desert terrain.  The colour varies depending on geographic location. Eastern and southern bushbucks are yellow in colour with relatively few markings. Its markings vary but include white patches on the neck and throat and vertical stripes or rows of spots on the sides. Northern and western bushbuck are reddish coloured with stripes and spots. Its markings vary but include white patches on the neck and throat and vertical stripes or rows of spots on the sides. Both sexes darken with age. Horns, present in males, are spirally twisted and relatively straight.

Oribi (Ourebia ourebi)

Life span:  up to 14 years in captivity.

Weight: 14- 22 kilograms.

Gestation period: about 7 months

Diet: Herbivorous (predominantly grazers with a marked preference for short grass, but occasionally browse).

Found throughout the savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa, The oribi has a slender build and is long-limbed and long-necked. The hair is fine and silky and the upper coat is pale brown to reddish, the under part is pure white. Females are slightly larger than males, but only the males Carrie horns, which grow up to 19 cm.  There is a distinguishing feature in the oribi – a crescent shape of white fur just above its eyes and there is a large black patch just below each ear. This bald patch is a glandular one, as are the vertical creases on either side of the face (the latter of which give off an odour that allows the animal to mark its territory).

Email us : info@astepintonature.com for you Akagera  National park safari either 1 day or 2 days .