Steenbok

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Raphicerus campestris

Steenbok Ram
Steenbok Ewe
Steenbok Ewe
Steenbok Ram
Steenbok Ewe
Steenbok Ram
Steenbok
Steenbok
Steenbok
Steenbok
Steenbok
Steenbok
Steenbok

The little Steenbok is one of South Africa’s best known and most widely distributed small antelope. They weigh 11kg on average, and have a shoulder height of between 43 and 52cm. Only the males carry the straight little horns of between 9 and 19cm in length.

Steenbok
Steenbok pair
Steenbok
Steenbok ram
Steenbok ewe
Steenbok
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Steenbok ewe
Steenbok on the run
Steenbok
Steenbok

Steenbok have an extremely wide habitat tolerance, occurring from deserts to grasslands and bushveld and even in farmlands and on the edge of suburbia. They reach their highest population densities in open areas with short to medium length grass and only a scattering of trees and shrubs. They’re not dependent on water, but will drink when it is available. They feed on grass and leaves in about equal measures and will also ingest seeds, pods, fruit, roots and bulbs.

Alert Steenbok ram
Steenbok feeding
Steenbok close-up
Steenbok ewe
Steenbok
Steenbok ewe
Steenbok Ram
Steenbok ewe
Steenbok ewe
Steenbok ewe
Steenbok ewe
Steenbok ram

At high population densities individual steenbok of both sexes mark and defend small territories, while at lower densities pairs that share a common home range is more usual. Within their territories the Steenbok has preferred areas for feeding and resting. Steenbok are mostly diurnal animals, most active around dawn and dusk and resting up in deep shade during the heat of the day, though they do tend to be more nocturnal in their habits in areas where they are frequently disturbed. When threatened, Steenbok will prefer to try and hide, even in holes in the ground, and will wait until the last possible moment before jumping up and darting away at breakneck speed. Most interestingly, Steenbok defecate and urinate in scrapes they hoove in the ground and then cover again with soil, just like a cat.

Steenbok
Steenbok
Steenbok ewe
Steenbok Ram
Steenbok pair
Steenbok ram
Steenbok ewe
Steenbok
Steenbok
Steenbok
Young Steenbok
Inquisitive Steenbok (photo by Joubert)

Single lambs are born at any time of the year, though mostly in the rainy season, and are hidden in long grass, thickets or holes in the ground for the first few weeks of their life. Only about half of the lambs reach the weaning age of 3 months. They are fully grown by 14 months of age. All Africa’s larger predators, from the size of eagles, pythons and jackals to lions, prey on the Steenbok, and their natural life expectancy is only 6 to 10 years.

Steenbok
Steenbok
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Steenbok (photo by Joubert)
A Steenbok drinking from a puddle in the Ngobeni streambed
Steenbok ram in close-up portrait
Steenbok ewe
Steenbok ewe

With an estimated population in excess of 600,000, and stable both inside and outside protected areas, the IUCN considers this common little antelope’s conservation status “least concern”. They can be found in all South Africa’s provinces, and are especially easy to observe in the Kruger National Park, Pilanesberg National Park, and Willem Pretorius Game Reserve.

Steenbok (10)

56 thoughts on “Steenbok”

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      12. de Wets Wild Post author

        Ek sal jok as ek se dat ek dit nie al oorweeg het om die haas te gebruik om n roofdier te lok nie. Maar ou Snoesie is so intelligent, sy sal weet mens voer iets in die mou.

        Lekker naweek AJ!

        Liked by 1 person

  12. ilargia64

    Oh!!! Very interesting…I did notimagine they were able to hide in holes….
    May be they cover their urine and faeces to avoid being followed by other predators?
    Just thinking… Thanks a lot for sharing your posts!!!! Have a great weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

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  21. Helen C

    Is it just me? Several animals look alike and I have a hard time to remember which one is which ;-( This one has pretty ears though (which I don’t remember see on others. And pretty nose too 😉
    Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful day!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      No Helen, you are quite correct, and many people at first find our antelope population confusing. The Steenbok, and the Grysbok we introduced last week, are closely related for instance, and often people see a grysbok and confuse it for the much better known steenbok.

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thanks Monica. We’re definitely blessed to be living in a country so rich in wildlife, but sadly even here they are mostly confined to nature reserves and national parks and, to a lesser extent, farmland.

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