Southern Reedbuck

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Redunca arundinum

As its name suggests, the reedbuck is an antelope with very special habitat requirements; occurring in reedbeds and areas of long, often flooded, grasslands, always within easy reach of a permanent water source.

Reedbuck (8)

Rams are slightly larger than the ewes, standing approximately 90cm high and weighing as much as 80kg. Only the males carry horns, that normally reach lengths of around 38cm.

Young reedbuck ram
Reedbuck ewe
Adult reedbuck ram

Reedbuck live alone, in pairs or in small family groups within a territory defended by a mature ram, while the ewes dictate where and when the group moves. They graze mostly from dusk to dawn, preferring to hide in shady reedbeds and patches of long grass during daylight hours. They are not very fast nor agile, and rely heavily on camouflage to evade predators (all of Africa’s large meat-eaters prey on reedbuck). Ewes give birth to single lambs, mostly in the rainy season, and hide them away for two to four months before joining up with the family group again.

Reedbuck pair
Reedbuck males squaring of
Reedbuck ewe hiding in the shade
Young reedbuck ram
Young reedbuck ram
Reedbuck lamb
Reedbuck lamb
Southern Reedbuck
Reedbuck are often encountered along the Nshawu Marsh
Reedbuck are often encountered along the Nshawu Marsh
Reedbuck are often encountered along the Nshawu Marsh
Reedbuck female
Reedbuck
Reedbuck
Reedbuck
Southern Reedbuck in the Nshawu Vlei
Southern Reedbuck pair
Southern Reedbuck ram
Reedbuck ewe
Reedbuck ewes
Southern Reedbuck
Reedbuck ewe
Southern Reedbuck ewe (photo by Joubert)
Southern Reedbuck
Southern Reedbuck (photo by Joubert)
Southern Reedbuck ram
Southern Reedbuck ewe
Common Reedbuck
Common Reedbuck
Common Reedbuck
Southern Reedbuck ram
Common Reedbuck
Common Reedbuck
Common Reedbuck
Common Reedbuck
Common Reedbuck
Common Reedbuck
Common Reedbuck

In South Africa, the reedbuck occurs mostly in the wetter eastern part of the country. While there’s a small population of reedbuck in the Kruger National Park (sightings there are special treats), the country’s (and probably the continent’s) biggest concentrations can be found along the shores of Lake Saint Lucia, in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in Kwazulu-Natal Province. We’ll share some photos from our December visit to the Western Shores of Lake St. Lucia with you in our regular Friday post this week.

Reedbuck (2)

34 thoughts on “Southern Reedbuck”

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  14. scrapydotwo

    Dit is beslis n besonderse bok. Het nie geweet dat daar nie meer so baie in Kruger Wildtuin is nie. Is hul uitgeroei of het hul maar net nie oorleef nie? Baie mooi fotos, heerlik saam gekuier weereens

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Altyd lekker wanneer jy inloer Ineke! Daar’s nog n paar honderd rietbokke regoor die Wildtuin versprei, maar n mens is regtig gelukkig as jy hulle te siene kry. Onthou jy n tyd toe hulle meer volop was daar?

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      1. scrapydotwo

        Ja maar dit was rerig baie lank terug. Ook maar altyd in ruigtes en naby water. Hul is natuurlik ook nie n trop dier soos Rooibokke nie. Het in 2005 – 6 laas daar gekuier en dit was nog n nagrit ook! Het n kompitisie gewen en kon toe vir nagrit gaan . Ons het gesien hoe n hiena n luiperd in n boom opjaag. Was regtig n belewenis wat mens nie kan vergeet nie.

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      2. de Wets Wild Post author

        Nagritte is altyd baie lekker, ne Ineke. Mens sien soveel ongewone diere en voels, en as mens dan nog so gelukkig is as wat julle was dan stem ek saam dat dit n onvergeetlike belewenis is!

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      3. scrapydotwo

        Dit was my eerste en enigste nagrit en dit het besonderse tonele opgelewer. Ons het ook n fantasiese gids gehad.

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      I suppose it’s all relative Lois; they’ll easily outrun a human but when it comes to lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs it’s a different story altogether…

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thanks Joey 🙂

      Indeed, we’re in the midst of a nice February heatwave, in the mid to upper thirties, but thankfully here at altitude we don’t have the sticky humidity to contend with.

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