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.

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

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 bull
Nyala bull
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
Nyalas are very common patrons at Kumasinga
Nyala ewe
Nyala bull
Nyala near Skukuza
Shy Nyala bull
Nyala bull
Nyala ewe

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 lamb
Nyala
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

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
Nyala display
Nyala display
Nyala display
Adult nyalas use ritualised posturing to try and intimidate one another
Adult nyalas use ritualised posturing to try and intimidate one another
Dueling nyala bulls
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.

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34 thoughts on “Nyala”

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  15. scrapydo

    Hul is tog maar redelik skugter as ek reg onthou. Mens het hul nie sommer gesien nie.(dis natuurlik jare gelede wat ek nou aan dink- was in 2003 laas in Kruger Wildtuin) Is hul nou meer sigbaar omdat daar meer van hulle is, of hoe?

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Met die dat ons nou n paar jaar se goeie reens gehad het het die njala bevolkings goed aangewas Ineke. Hulle sukkel mos maar in die droee tye. En ek dink met die dat die Noorde van die Krugerwildtuin nou meer besoekers ontvang raak hulle die menslike teenwoordigheid meer gewoond. Daar bo by Pafuri is die njalas regtig meer talryk as die rooibokkies op die stadium.

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