One of the most exciting sightings (and we had many!) of our Satara Summer was this epic battle between two big Kudu bulls, encountered near the Kruger National Park‘s Nhlanguleni picnic site. At times the fight was so heated that we were sure one of them was going to break the other’s neck or stab a hole straight through his adversary. After several minutes the fight ended abruptly when they found themselves in thicker vegetation and one of the combatants threw in the towel.

Kudu bulls in serious fight

Kudu bulls fighting

Kudu bulls in serious fight

Kudu bulls fighting (photo by Joubert)

Kudu bulls in serious fight

Kudu bulls fighting (photo by Joubert)

Kudu bulls in serious fight (photo by Joubert)

Kudu bulls fighting

Kudu bulls in serious fight

Kudu bulls fighting (photo by Joubert)

Moving into denser vegetation, the fight soos came to an end

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

The striking kudu is one of the largest, and according to many nature lovers one of the most beautiful, of South Africa’s antelope.

Kudu bull

Kudu cow

Kudu bull

Kudu

Young kudu

Kudu bull

Magnificent Kudu seen near Mavumbye

Greater Kudu

Kudu cow

Kudu Bull

Kudu bull

Kudu calf

Young Kudu bull

Kudu bull (Photo by Joubert)

Kudu bull

Weighing up to 315kg and standing up to 1.6m high at the shoulder, kudu bulls are considerably bigger than the cows.

Subadult kudu bull

Kudu bull

Subadult kudu bull

Kudu bull

Subadult kudu bull

Kudu bull

Subadult kudu bull

Alert kudu cow

Impressive kudu bull

Older kudu

Kudu bull

Kudu female

Kudu family

Kudu near Charters Creek

Kudu bull with an oxpecker irritation

Sleepy kudu

Frightened kudu

Kudu crossing the road

Kudu

Kudu Bull

Kudu

Adult bulls are solitary or move around in bachelor groups, associating with the herds of cows and their calves only during the rutting season. Though the bulls are not territorial, they do maintain a strict dominance hierarchy through fighting, sometimes leading to the death of one or both combatants through injuries or having their horns inextricably interlocked.

Kudu cow

Kudu bull

Juvenile Kudu

Majestic Kudu Bull

Kudu cow close-up

Kudu calf

Immature Kudu Bull at Biyamiti Weir

Big Kudu Bull

Mating Kudus

Graceful Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)

Young Kudu bull

Kudu bull

Magnificent Kudu bull

Kudu inhabit a variety of bush- and shrubland habitats, and, being browsers, subsists on an extremely wide variety of leafy vegetation, being particularly fond of the thorny Acacias. While they can survive for extended periods without water, they will drink daily if it is available.

Kudu cow

Kudu family caught in the rain

Kudu cow

Kudu cows drinking

Kudu herd on the move

Kudu close-up

Two kudu bulls in the bed of the Letaba

Kudu and impala at Renosterkoppies

Kudu herd

Kudu

Kudu bull

Kudu herd

Cheeky Kudu calf

Kudu

Kudu cow

Enormous Kudu bull in the Mfabeni Swamp

Kudu bull close-up

Kudu bull

Kudu hiding in the shade of a small Wild Date Palm

In South Africa, most calves are born in the summer months between December and March. Newborn calves are kept hidden in thick vegetation for up to three months after birth, with the cows returning to them every couple of hours to nurse. They can live to the age of 18, but being a favourite prey item for all Africa’s large predators as well as being prone to drought and cold conditions, and susceptible to a range of diseases, few kudus wil reach that age in the wild.

Kudu calf

Kudus

Kudu bachelors

Kudu cow and calves

Young kudu bull

Kudu calves

Kudu Calf

Kudu bulls in serious fight (photo by Joubert)

Kudu bulls fighting

Kudu at sunset

Beautiful Kudu bull

Beautiful kudu bull

Kudu before sunrise

Young Kudu heifer

Kudu cows

Kudus occur widely across South Africa, both in and outside of formal conservation areas, and are still relatively numerous. The IUCN regards their conservation status to be of “least concern”, estimating the total population to stand at almost 500,000 individuals.