Tsessebe

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Damaliscus lunatus lunatus

The Tsessebe is considered to be Africa’s most athletic antelope, though you would probably not immediately guess that when looking upon their ungainly physiques for the first time. Not only are they the fastest antelope (up to 80km/h), but they have tremendous stamina, being able to maintain a speed of 60km/h over distances of up to 5km.

Tsessebes are large antelopes, much larger than their close cousin the Blesbok, weighing in at an average of 140kg and standing up to 1.3m high at the shoulder. Bulls have thicker horns than cows.

Tsessebe Calf
Tsessebe Cow
Tsessebe Bull

These fleet-footed antelope live in open woodlands, lightly wooded and open grasslands and flood plains, where they require easy access to drinking water and shade. They subsist almost exclusively on grass and are especially attracted to new growth sprouting after veld fires.

Tsessebe like open areas
Tsessebe
Tsessebe in Mokala National Park
Tinhongonyeni in Kruger National Park is a reliable spot to find Tsessebe
Tsessebe along the Nshawu Marsh in Kruger National Park
Tsessebe like open areas
Tsessebe
Tsessebes
Tsessebe
Tsessebe
Tsessebes
Tsessebe

Tsessebes are territorial animals. In areas with low population density they live in stable herds consisting of a single territorial bull, 2 to 6 cows and their dependent calves with large home ranges, while in more densely populated areas, specifically during the rutting season, bulls establish small territories into which they try to herd traversing cows for mating. Solitary bulls and bachelor groups also occur, and move along the edges of the territories. Territories are maintained through ritual displays (including horning the ground) and fighting, and demarcated with scent glands and dung heaps by both sexes. They are normally found in small herds of up to eleven animals, but can at times congregate in huge numbers when conditions are favourable. Herds are lead by the most dominant cow. Tsessebes often associate with other herbivorous animals, regularly occurring in mixed herds with waterbuck, wildebeest, zebras and ostriches. They are very curious and will even approach something unknown for a closer look, or when fleeing run away for only a short distance before turning around to check up on what frightened them, often with deadly consequences for the tsessebe.

Tsessebe at rest
Tsessebe are very athletic
Tsessebe at a waterhole in Mokala National Park
Tinhongonyeni in Kruger National Park is a reliable spot to find Tsessebe
Tinhongonyeni in Kruger National Park is a reliable spot to find Tsessebe
Tsessebe in the Pilanesberg
Tsessebe in mopane vegetation in Northern Kruger National Park
Tsessebe at Nshawu Marsh in Kruger National Park
Tsessebe in Ithala Game Reserve
Tsessebe at Mooiplaas in Kruger National Park
Tsessebe and zebra at Mooiplaas
Tsessebe searching for fresh growth following a fire in the Pilanesberg
Tsessebe at Nshawu
Tsessebe at Mooiplaas
Tsessebe
Tsessebes
Tsessebe silhouette

Single calves are born at the onset of the rainy season after a gestation of around 240 days, and are able to keep up with the herd shortly after birth. Females can stay in the same group their entire lives, but young bulls are driven from their maternal herd at about a year of age. Tsessebe and their calves feature on the menu of all Africa’s medium to large predators, and have a natural life expectancy of about 12 years.

Tsessebe in thornveld vegetation in Ithala Game Reserve
Tinhongonyeni in Kruger Park is a reliable spot to find Tsessebe
Posturing Tsessebe Bull at Tinhongonyeni in the Kruger Park
Protective Tsessebe cow with her calf
Tsessebe herd grazing on the plains north of Shingwedzi
Tsessebe
Tsessebes on Tshwene Drive
Tsessebes on Tshwene Drive
Grazing Tsessebe on Tshepe Drive
Grazing Tsessebes on Tshepe Drive (photo by Joubert)
Tsessebe and suckling calf
Tsessebe
Tsessebe
Tsessebe with calf
Tsessebe close-up
A Tsessebe dwarfed by the landscape
Tsessebes
Tsessebes

Africa is home to five different races of Tsessebe, also called Topi, Korrigum and Tiang according to the subspecies they belong to, numbering an estimated 300,000. The IUCN estimates the total population of the southern race of Tsessebe (D.l. lunatus) at around 30,000, with the overall population increasing steadily despite pressures from habitat loss. They are rare in South Africa, though numbers are increasing, with small populations being protected in the Kruger, Marakele, Mokala and Pilanesberg National Parks, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Ithala Game Reserve.

Tsessebe (6)

29 thoughts on “Tsessebe”

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      I’ll bet their meat is very sinewy, being such long-winded athletes. Rather appreciate them alive and running – if you visit Mokala National Park you are guaranteed to see them.

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