Monthly Archives: June 2014

Common Eland

Tragelaphus (Taurotragus) oryx

The common eland is the biggest antelope occurring in South Africa. Eland are bulky animals, the bulls weighing up to 950kg and standing over 6 feet (1.8m) high at the shoulder. Cows weigh up to 700kg. Eland differ from their close relatives – the kudu, nyala and bushbuck – in that both sexes carry horns and not only the males.

Eland cow

Eland bull

Eland

Eland bull

Eland

Eland in the long, dry grass

For their size eland are remarkable jumpers!

Eland

Eland occur in an extremely wide variety of habitats, from high mountains to the arid extremes of the Namib and Kalahari deserts. They are herbivorous, browsing and grazing on a huge assortment of plants, and are able to forego drinking water for extended periods.

Eland bull

Eland herd

Eland calves

Eland (photo by Joubert)

An Eland, our biggest antelope

Herd of Eland

Immature Eland at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve

Eland cow

Eland cow (photo by Joubert)

Huge herd of Eland on the plains of Lammertjiesleegte

Eland cow

Eland cow (photo by Joubert)

Eland Bull

Eland Bull (photo by Joubert)

They are social animals, keeping in mixed herds numbering from three to several thousand. The bigger herds form mainly during the wet season and when the animals migrate, sometimes over vast distances. Despite their hefty physiques, eland are surprisingly agile, with even the biggest bulls easily managing to jump fences two to three meters in height.

Eland on Kwalata Drive

Eland

Herd of eland on a mountain slope

Eland were the main reason the Giant’s Castle reserve was proclaimed

At night, Eland often shelter in the camp

Eland on the run along the Bushmans River

Eland were the main reason the Giant’s Castle reserve was proclaimed

Eland in the mopane bush

We found this Eland near the Mphongolo River

Eland in the mopane bush

Eland gathering at a watering hole north of Babalala

Eland herd

Eland in Mapungubwe National Park

Fight between two Eland bulls (photo by Joubert)

Eland bull in Mapungubwe National Park

Eland moving through Leokwe Camp in Mapungubwe National Park

Eland silhouette in Mapungubwe National Park

Eland

Big herd of Eland

Eland

Single calves are born mostly just before or during the rainy season, and have a life expectancy of between twelve and twenty years.

Eland herd

Eland bull

Eland cow

Eland bull

Eland cow

Eland herd

Eland bull

Eland cow

Eland herd

Eland

Eland cow

Young Eland

Eland youngsters

Eland

Eland Bull (photo by Joubert)

Rietvlei scenery (photo by Joubert)

Eland Bulls

Eland herd on the run

Eland

The IUCN estimates the total population of the common eland at about 136,000 and regards it to be safe (“least concern”) in conservation terms. In South Africa, we consider the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the Giant’s Castle Game Reserve among the most reliable places to see these incredibly big antelope in their natural habitat.

Eland

Imposing Eland bull

Hidden eland

Eland

Eland herd on the move

Eland cresting a nearby hill

Eland bull

Eland herd

Eland near Bowkerskop

Eland Bull

Eland Herd

Eland cow

Eland

Eland herd (photo by Joubert)

Eland

Eland calves with the herd

Eland

Large herd of Eland

Eland on the run

Eland Bull

Eland

Eland showjumper (photo by Joubert)

Eland bull

Eland herd

Eland

Eland running across the road

Eland bull

Eland in the mist

Eland bull

Young eland cows

Eland

Contrast

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Baobab sunset, near Shimuwini in the Kruger National Park

Contrast

“Contrasts” is the theme for the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge

Bushbuck

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Tragelaphus scriptus

As its name suggests, the bushbuck is a denizen of densely vegetated habitats, ranging from riverine woodland and thickets in mountain valleys to the deepest jungles of tropical Africa.

They live mostly solitary lives, or in small and very unstable groups of ewes and lambs, and often associate with baboons and monkeys to take advantage of any fruits dropped by the foraging primates (their diet consists mostly of leaves and succulent shoots though).

Small it may be , but the male bushbuck is a tenacious fellow and rather dangerous when wounded, as several hunters and their dogs have found out to their detriment.

With a total population estimated at well over a million animals, the bushbuck is one of Africa’s most wide-spread and numerous antelope. In our experience, the best places to see bushbuck in South Africa is at Cape Vidal in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, at Letaba in the Kruger National Park, and at Swadini in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.

The bushbuck is a smaller cousin of the kudu and nyala, with a shoulder height of only 60 to 100cm and an average weight of less than 50kg.

Doesn’t it look just like the African version of Bambi!?

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ram

Subadult bushbuck ram

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck are common near Skukuza

Bushbuck

Bushbuck are very common along the Sabie

Shy bushbuck ewe

Baby bushbuck

Alert bushbuck ewes

Bushbuck Ewe

Young Bushbuck Ram

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck

Bushbuck lamb in Hilltop

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck

Bushbuck near Skukuza

Bushbuck mingling with baboons and impala along the Sand River

Bushbuck hiding in a thick reedbed, Moreletakloof

Bushbuck ewe in hiding

Bushbuck ewe with unwelcome visitors

Bushbuck

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck Ram at sunset

Bushbuck at the water’s edge

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck lamb on the banks of the Vurhami Spruit

Bushbuck ewe at rest in Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp

Bushbuck ewe in Crocodile Bridge

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck lamb in Letaba

Bushbuck ewe at Timbavati

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck in Tamboti

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck lamb

Bushbuck ewe

Young Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ram and ewe

Young Bushbuck ram

Young Bushbuck

Bushbuck ram

Very old Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck ewe

Very old Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ram outside our cabin in the dark of night

Bushbuck

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck

Greying old bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ewe wading into the dam at Tlopi

Bushbuck ewe and lamb

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ewe crossing the shallows of Tlopi’s dam

Bushbuck Ram just outside the entrance into Tlopi Tented Camp

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ewe (photo by Joubert)

Bushbuck ewe wading into Tlopi’s dam to feed on water plants

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck ewe (photo by Joubert)

Bushbuck hiding behind himself

Cheeky Bushbuck (photo by Joubert)

Bushbuck ewe (photo by Joubert)

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck

Bushbuck ram

Bushbuck

Bushbuck ewe

Bushbuck

Bushbuck ewe

In northern Botswana and along the Zambezi River occurs the distinct subspecies T. s. ornatus, known as the Chobe Bushbuck.

Chobe Bushbuck ewe

Chobe Bushbuck ram

Chobe Bushbuck ewe

Between

57 Replies

There’s a very close bond between the members of an elephant herd, and they are extremely protective of their young, always trying their very best to ensure that the little ones are kept safely between the adults when on the move (but there’s bound to be at least one little rebel, isn’t there?)

Between

“Between” is the theme for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge. This photograph was taken in the Pilanesberg National Park.

Nyala

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Tragelaphus angasii

The graceful nyala is one of our favourite antelope, and a close relative of the kudu. They occur naturally in the south-east corner of Africa, ranging from Malawi to South Africa’s eastern provinces.

Nyala couple

Big Nyala bull

Nyala ewe (photo by Joubert)

Nyala Bull

Nyala calf

Nyala bull (photo by Joubert)

Nyala calf

Nyala on the run (photo by Joubert)

Young Nyala bull (photo by Joubert)

Nyala lamb

Nyala bull

Nyala lamb (photo by Joubert)

Young nyala bull (photo by Joubert)

Nyala ewe and young bull

Nyala ewe (photo by Joubert)

To the uninitiated, the adult bulls in their dark, shaggy, coats and the ewes dressed in bright chestnut seem to be from two different species altogether. Bulls are almost double the size of the ewes, and can weigh up to 130kg.

Nyala bull

Nyala ewe

Habituated antelope, like this nyala bull, roam freely through the bush at OuKlip

Nyala and buddies

Nyala female

Nyala cow

Immature Nyala Bull

Nyala bull on the Salitje Road

Nyala bull (photo by Joubert)

Young Nyala bull at Ndzhaka Camp in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Nyala Bull

Nyala ewe

Nyala bull

Nyala

Nyalas inhabit thickets and woodland near water, and will often forage in adjacent clearings. They’re mixed feeders, subsisting on a diet of leaves, succulent shoots and short grass.

Nyala ewe

Subadult nyala male

Nyala bull

Nyala ewe

Young nyala bull near the hide

Alert nyala ewe

Nyala at the Hluhluwe River bridge

Nyala bulls coming for a drink

Nyalas drinking

Nyalas are very common patrons at Kumasinga

Nyala ewe

Nyala bull

Nyala near Skukuza

Shy Nyala bull

Nyala bull

Nyala ewe

Nyala bull and kudu cow

Nyala

Being social animals, nyalas occur in small groups consisting mostly of adult females and their offspring, with adult males tending to form bachelor groups. Lambs are born at any time of the year, though mostly in the wetter summer months.

Nyala bull

Nyala ewe

Nyala bull

Nyala lamb

Nyala ewe and lamb

Nyala bull

Nyala lamb

Nyala

Nyala lamb

Nyala lambs

Nyala ewe

Nyala along the Sabie

Nyala lamb

Nyala bull

Nyala at Ubhejane Hide

Nyala near Charters Creek

Nyala lamb

Nyala Bull

Nyala calf

Playful warthog piglets at Mpila (photos of Joubert)

Nyala calf

Nyala ewe

Nyala calf

The stiff-legged dominance display – you could even call it a dance! – of the adult bulls is one of nature’s most intriguing spectacles.

Nyala display

Adult nyalas use ritualised posturing to try and intimidate one another

Dueling nyala bulls

The bulls also have the curious habit of horning the ground at mud puddles, carrying the caked mud off with them on their headdress…

Battle-scarred nyala with muddy horns

Nyala with muddy horns

The IUCN consider the nyala’s conservation status to be of “least concern“, with a population of at least 32,000. The best places in South Africa to see these graceful antelope is the Kruger National Park (especially at Pafuri in the far north of the Park), Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, uMkhuze Game Reserve, and Tembe Elephant Park, though they occur in a number of other state and private reserves as well.

Stately Nyala bulls

Splendid Nyala bull

Nyala ewe and lamb

Beautiful nyala bull

Nyala bull

Nyala cows and calf

Nyala bull

Nyala cow

Nyala ram

Young Nyala bull

Friendly Nyala bull ( (photo by Joubert)

Nyala bull

Nyala calf

Nyala ewe just outside the Skukuza nursery

Nyala bull (photo by Joubert)

Nyala bull – go buy some manners! (photo by Joubert)

Nyala ewe

Nyala bull

Nyala ewe and lamb

Nyala bull (photo by Joubert)

Nyala bull

Nyala bull (photo by Joubert)

Nyala bull

Nyala calf

Nyala bull

Nyala bulls mingling on the banks of the Olifants River (photo by Joubert)

Nyala bull

Nyala bull (photo by Joubert)

Nyala ewe

uMkhuze Game Reserve’s Kumasinga Hide is one of the very best places to watch Nyala behaviour.

Nyala bull

Nyala bull horning the mud

Nyala bull horning the mud (photo by Joubert)

Nyala ewes (photo by Joubert)

Nyala ewe and lamb

Nyala bull

Nyala bull (photo by Joubert)

Nyala bull

Nyala bull horning the mud

Nyala bull horning the mud (photo by Joubert)

Nyala bull horning the mud

Nyala bull with horns covered in mud

Young nyala bull also horning the ground (photo by Joubert)

Nyala bull in dominance display

Nyala bull

Nyala bull horning the mud

Nyala bull

Nyala bull horning the mud

Nyala Bull in stiff-legged dominance display

Extra!

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Sometimes, you’re forced to get out of the car in big-five territory, for a little extra (unplanned) adventure, like I had to here in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 😀

Extra

“Extra, Extra” is the theme for this week’s WordPress photo challenge

Greater Kudu

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Tragelaphus strepsiceros

The striking kudu is one of the largest, and according to many nature lovers one of the most beautiful, of South Africa’s antelope.

Kudu bull

Kudu cow

Kudu bull

Kudu

Young kudu

Kudu bull

Magnificent Kudu seen near Mavumbye

Greater Kudu

Kudu cow

Kudu Bull

Kudu bull

Kudu calf

Young Kudu bull

Kudu bull (Photo by Joubert)

Kudu bull

Young Kudu bull

Weighing up to 315kg and standing up to 1.6m high at the shoulder, kudu bulls are considerably bigger than the cows.

Subadult kudu bull

Kudu bull

Subadult kudu bull

Kudu bull

Subadult kudu bull

Kudu bull

Subadult kudu bull

Alert kudu cow

Impressive kudu bull

Older kudu

Kudu bull

Kudu female

Kudu family

Kudu near Charters Creek

Kudu bull with an oxpecker irritation

Sleepy kudu

Frightened kudu

Kudu crossing the road

Kudu

Kudu Bull

Kudu

Adult bulls are solitary or move around in bachelor groups, associating with the herds of cows and their calves only during the rutting season. Though the bulls are not territorial, they do maintain a strict dominance hierarchy through fighting, sometimes leading to the death of one or both combatants through injuries or having their horns inextricably interlocked.

Kudu cow

Kudu bull

Juvenile Kudu

Majestic Kudu Bull

Kudu cow close-up

Kudu calf

Immature Kudu Bull at Biyamiti Weir

Big Kudu Bull

Mating Kudus

Graceful Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)

Young Kudu bull

Kudu bull

Magnificent Kudu bull

Kudu cow

Young Kudu bull

Kudu calf nursing

Kudu calf suckling

Prancing Kudu cow (photo by Joubert)

Kudu bull

Young Kudu bull

Kudu

Kudu calf

Kudu cow portrait

Kudu bull

Kudu inhabit a variety of bush- and shrubland habitats, and, being browsers, subsists on an extremely wide variety of leafy vegetation, being particularly fond of the thorny Acacias. While they can survive for extended periods without water, they will drink daily if it is available.

Kudu cow

Kudu family caught in the rain

Kudu cow

Kudu cows drinking

Kudu herd on the move

Kudu close-up

Two kudu bulls in the bed of the Letaba

Kudu and impala at Renosterkoppies

Kudu herd

Kudu

Kudu bull

Kudu herd

Cheeky Kudu calf

Kudu

Kudu cow

Enormous Kudu bull in the Mfabeni Swamp

Kudu bull close-up

Kudu bull

Kudu hiding in the shade of a small Wild Date Palm

Kudu cows

All ears! Kudu calf (photo by Joubert)

Kudu cow

Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)

Kudu bull

Kudu calf

Kudu couple

Kudu bull

Fighting Kudu bulls

Kudus

In South Africa, most calves are born in the summer months between December and March. Newborn calves are kept hidden in thick vegetation for up to three months after birth, with the cows returning to them every couple of hours to nurse. They can live to the age of 18, but being a favourite prey item for all Africa’s large predators as well as being prone to drought and cold conditions, and susceptible to a range of diseases, few kudus wil reach that age in the wild.

Kudu calf

Kudus

Kudu bachelors

Kudu cow and calves

Young kudu bull

Kudu calves

Kudu Calf

Kudu bulls in serious fight (photo by Joubert)

Kudu bulls fighting

Kudu at sunset

Beautiful Kudu bull

Beautiful kudu bull

Kudu before sunrise

Young Kudu heifer

Kudu cows

Kudu (photo by Joubert)

Kudus, impalas and ostriches sharing a waterhole

Kudu cow and calf

Kudus occur widely across South Africa, both in and outside of formal conservation areas, and are still relatively numerous. The IUCN regards their conservation status to be of “least concern”, estimating the total population to stand at almost 500,000 individuals.