Magnificent Kudu seen near Mavumbye

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
Kudu bull
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
Kudu bull
Kudu bull
Kudu bull
Subadult kudu bull
Kudu bull
Subadult kudu bull
Alert kudu cow
Impressive kudu bull
Older kudu
Kudu bull
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
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
Big Kudu Bull
Mating Kudus
Graceful Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)
Young Kudu bull
Kudu bull
Magnificent Kudu bull
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Young Kudu bull
Kudu calf nursing
Kudu calf suckling
Prancing Kudu cow (photo by Joubert)
Kudu bull
Young Kudu bull
Kudu
Kudu
Kudu
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 cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
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
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 cow
Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)
Kudu bull
Kudu calf
Kudu couple
Kudu bull
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
Kudu calf
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)
Kudu (photo by Joubert)

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.

Kudu herd
Kudu herd
Kudu herd
Young Kudu bull
Kudu herd
Kudu Bull (photo by Joubert)
Nervous Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)
Nervous Kudu bull
Curious young kudu bull
Small group of Kudu ewes
Kudu on the run
Kudu on the run
Kudu on the run
Kudu cow (photo by Joubert)
Kudu cow
Kudu bull
Leaping Kudu
Kudu cow
Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)
Kudu cow
Beautiful Kudu bull
Young Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)
Kudu cow (photo by Joubert)
Kudu cow
Kudu bulls on a hilltop
Young Kudu
Young Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)
Kudu bull
Kudu bull
Young Kudu bull
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow and calf
Kudu bull
Kudu Bull
Kudu Bull
Kudu Cow (photo by Joubert)
Kudu Cows
Kudu Cow
Young Kudu bull
Kudu Bull
Young Kudu bull
Kudu Cow
Kudu cow
Kudu bull
Kudus
Kudus
Kudu bull
Kudu calf
Kudu Bulls
Kudu Bull (photo by Erlo van Aswegen, Joubert’s friend who was visiting with us)

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Always nice sharing our country and its incredible wildlife with people like you that has an appreciation for it Lindy. Thanks very much for the support!

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      1. M-R

        So hideously true. We are made of such base metal, and on the lowest rung of the animals – ability to reason included !

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      I don’t think they continue growing throughout their lives Liz, but they do grow to incredible lengths: the longest on record being over 180cm (6 feet)! Adult bulls in their prime normally have three “turns” in their horns, with the average length about 120cm.

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