Blue Wildebeest

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Connochaetes taurinus taurinus

The Blue (or Common) Wildebeest must be one of Africa’s most familiar antelope, although it will probably never be included in a list of the continent’s most elegant creatures. Bulls stand around 1.5m high at the shoulder, and weigh about 240kg, while cows are more lightly built at around 180kg.

Blue Wildebeest bull close-up
Blue Wildebeest calf close-up
Blue Wildebeest cow close-up
Blue Wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Large concentration of blue wildebeest at Langklaas waterhole
Blue Wildebeest having a rest in the shade
Blue Wildebeest with an unusual chevron mark on its muzzle
Blue Wildebeest herd

Blue wildebeest inhabit open grasslands, savannas and semi-deserts, where they subsists almost exclusively on short grasses and require a reliable supply of water, even in arid regions.

Blue wildebeest are curious creatures
Blue wildebeest graze on short grass
Vigilant blue wildebeest bull
Blue wildebeest require regular access to drinking water
Always on the move
Blue wildebeest like open terrain
Blue wildebeest too nervous to drink
Blue wildebeest on the move
Wildebeest herd kicking up dust at Makhadzi
Big herd of blue wildebeest at the water
Blue wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Even Blue Wildebeest appreciate a beautiful spot, like Bhekapanzi Pan
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest in the rain
Blue wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest (photo by Joubert)
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest calf
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest in Mapungubwe National Park
Blue Wildebeest in Mapungubwe National Park
Blue Wildebeest in Mapungubwe National Park
Blue Wildebeest at Mooiplaas
Blue Wildebeest

These diurnal herbivores congregate in herds of up to 10,000 (but mostly much smaller – a few dozen or so), consisting mostly of cows and calves traversing the territories of mature bulls. Smaller bachelor herds made up of bulls unable to maintain a territory of their own also occur. They will cover enormous distances trekking after fresh grazing and water. Blue wildebeest are commonly found associating with other game species, especially impala, giraffes and plains zebras, and have a curious love for rolling in mud and dung!

Blue wildebeest at rest after a stormy night
Blue wildebeest cow
Blue wildebeest often associate with other animals
Blue wildebeest “teenagers”
Blue wildebeest love rolling in mud or dung
Blue wildebeest “teenager”
Blue wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Curious Wildebeest Calf
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest

Calves are born in the herd at the onset of the rainy season and can walk within 10 minutes of birth. Blue wildebeest have an expected life span of around 15 years, fall prey to all Africa’s large predators and also suffer from several parasites and sicknesses.

Whispering sweet nothings?
Blue wildebeest calf
Blue wildebeest youngsters
Blue wildebeest twins
Blue wildebeest calf staying close to mom
Blue wildebeest calf staying close to mom
Blue Wildebeest
Blue wildebeest cows
Juvenile Blue Wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Blue wildebeest cousins
Blue wildebeest herd
Blue wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest

In South Africa, Blue Wildebeest can be found in all of the northern provinces, though mostly confined to national parks, nature reserves and game ranches. Large populations can be found in Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Pilanesberg National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Ithala Game Reserve and uMkhuze Game Reserve. The IUCN considers the Common Wildebeest (C. taurinus) to be of least concern in conservation terms, estimating the total population at around 1,5-million, of which 130,000 belong to the southern subspecies, the Blue Wildebeest (C. t. taurinus).

Wildebeest silhouette
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Fleeing Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest creche
Baby Blue Wildebeest with mom
Blue Wildebeest drinking
Newborn Blue Wildebeest
Newborn Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeests
Newly-born Blue Wildebeest stretching his legs
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Wildebeest pest (photo by Joubert)
Wildebeest pest (photo by Joubert)
Wildebeest pest (photo by Joubert)
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest

A unique colour-variation of the Blue Wildebeest, known as the Golden Wildebeest, is sometimes seen on game ranches.

Golden Wildebeest
Golden Wildebeest
“Golden” Blue Wildebeest
“Golden” Blue Wildebeest

63 thoughts on “Blue Wildebeest”

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  12. Dan Drews

    Thanks for the great pics and info. You said, that among other places, some of these animals can be found on game farms. Is their meat marketable or is this just for big game hunters?

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Glad you enjoyed our blue wildebeest post, thanks Dan. They are hunted mostly for their venison, which is quite good – especially as biltong, which is a traditional salted, dried meat treat that we South Africans eat in enormous quantities.

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  13. lexklein

    At the same time that I find wildebeests very ugly and almost scary-looking, I also find them utterly fascinating. They seem to be from another time and place. Your photos are great!

    Liked by 1 person

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  18. Ladybuggz

    Why are they called blue? I didn’t see any blue on them, but I had a Yorkshire Terrier that was “blue” but in reality he was a grayish colour ? Does the same go for the Wilda beasts? T. 🙂

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  20. boesmanpos

    Op die oop stuk veld voor ons huis, waar daar minder matjarras en akasias groei en die gras in die somer amper soos weiding lyk, hou ‘n eensame (dink ek) bejaarde blouwildebeesbul. Op ‘n Sondagmiddag l^e hy rustig in die skadukol digby die watergat en snags hoor ons hom proes. Jacobus s^e hy is leeukos en ons hou ons harte vas elke oggend. Soms verdwaal hy na ander vlaktes op die plaas en dan verwelkom ons hom soos ‘n ou vriend wanneer hy weer een warm middag skielik langs ons snork terwyl ons met die honde gaan stap

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Ek wonder of die ou nie aanvoel dat dit veiliger vir hom is so naby aan die mense nie? Wat n wonderlike voorreg om so naby aan die ongerepte natuur te kan leef!

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  22. Pat

    Thanks for this post! I have been fascinated by these curious creatures for some time now. Such a strange face. And horns that look more like the buffalo than an antelope. I’ve heard some say they can go through grass like a lawnmower! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Glad to know you enjoyed our blue wildebeest post so much, Pat – look out for our black wildebeest post next week. They are very efficient grazers, and unlike cattle (and buffalo) do not pluck the grass out of the ground when grazing on their favourite short shoots, so their favourite fields can start looking like neatly manicured lawns at times.

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  28. iAMsafari.com

    You’re on the money, Dries. I think I never took taken one single photo of a wildebeest; they graze, migrate and act as a food source for the more notorious inhabitants of the Savannah, so go kind of unnoticed for me…

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  29. scrapydo2.wordpress.com

    Al is hul nou nie hoog op lys van skoonheid/mooiheid nie het jy hul rerig baie mooi voorgestel in jou fotos. Hul is baie interessante diere vr my. Hul lyk of hul velle so sag soos fluweel voel- veral die gesig en neus deel. Baie mooi man!

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