Antelopes and Gazelles in Kenya
The Magic of Wildlife in Kenya
All gazelles are antelopes, but not all antelopes are gazelles. Gazelles are a genus of antelope group and antelopes belong to the bovidae family. That distinction is more an academic exercise than it is an observable trait in the real world of safari. Combined they make up quite a distinct and miscellaneous group that includes impala, kudu, roan, gazelle, oryx, waterbuck, eland, wildebeest and many more.
Antelopes and gazelles, all handsome, graceful and swift, and so commonly found in Africa, including Kenya’s savannahs and grasslands, are rather delicately build, making them easily recognizable. Both antelopes and gazelles, including the cow-size eland and waterbuck, are built for speed and agility, helping them to nimbly escape predators like lions and cheetahs. They trusts their speed, brill agility, or to that deceptive appearance called protective mimicry to thrive and survive.
“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion, or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up, it knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or a gazelle – when the sun comes up, you’d better be running”.
Antelopes and gazelles are, without doubt, the largest subgroup in the wildlife preserves, subdivided into many groups. Both males and females of some species have horns, typically long and curved. Gazelles usually have slim, slightly curved horns, while the larger antelopes may have spiral or lyre-shaped horns. One of the most iconic species in Kenya, the Thomson’s gazelle, or “Tommies,” is small, slender, and incredibly fast. They have distinct black stripes along their sides, too.
Other commonly sighted antelopes in Kenya are impalas. They are medium-sized with slender, graceful bodies and lyre-shaped horns on males. They live in herds and are found in savannahs and woodlands. The largest of all antelopes, eland, is distinguished by its massive body and spiral horns. Despite their size, elands are remarkably agile and can jump great heights. In Kenya, you can see antelopes and gazelles in all the national parks, reserves, game sanctuaries, and conservancies.
A Pictographic Gallery of Antelopes in Kenya
Hunters Hartebeest
Hirola or Hunter’s Hartebeest is a local variant of the Hartebeest with horns longer than those of the common Hartebeest and bear some resemblance to those of the impala. It is far smaller than the Kongoni and slightly larger than the impala. It has a long, gainly face, red coat and lyrate horns similar to the impala’s. It’s highly endangered and inhabits a small area on the north bank of Tana.
Bohor Reedbuck
Known as Tohe in Swahili, it is easily recognized by its unusual horns which bend at the tip to form hooks. Often seen in open country, it sports a yellowish to brown coat with a white under belly. The head-and-body length is typically between 100–135 cm
Roan Antelope, (Korongo)
Standing 5 feet at the shoulder, and just slightly smaller than the Eland and Bongo, this large and powerful antelope is sighted in open country containing patches of woodland. The horns, present in both males and females, curve backward and are tightly ringed. It’s colour is mostly red-brown with a white belly, and the face has black and white markings.
Sable Antelope, Palahala
Also known as Mbarapi, the Sable is slightly smaller than the Roan but has larger horns that’re sharply curved. Found mainly in the Coast Region, this handsome antelope with a shiny blackish to brown coat, a white under belly and manned down the neck and halfway along the back, is widely known for its magisterial horns.
Topi, (Nyamera)
Easily recognized by its glossy coat of bright red-brown with black marks on the face and on its upper limbs, the Topi bears resemblance to the Hartebeest. The dark markings distinguish its from the Kongoni. Found in grasslands and in semi-desert regions it has exceptional speed.
Coke’s Hartebeest
More proper the Kongoni, this is a popular plains game native to Kenya and Tanzania. It sports a light-brown coat with bracket-shaped horns and steeply sloping hindquarters. Much like its close kin the Topi, it’s always alert and has intense stamina and agility, making it difficult to hunt down.
Grant’s Gazelle
Swala Granti in Swahili, it is a commonly seen animal across Kenya. This dainty and graceful gazelle has lyre-shaped horned which sometimes reach 2 feet. The general colour of its upper body is fawn, with a white rump bordered on each side by a dark stripe. The face has a chestnut streak down the centre – with a novel black spot above the nose.
Thomson’s Gazelle
Swala Tomi in Swahili, this is smaller and brightly coloured in comparison to its closest kin, the Grant’s gazelle. Its white under belly and rump are bordered by black bands and its upper body is ruddy in colour with a pale band along its flank. Like the impala, it continually twitches its black tail.
The Steinbok, (Dondora)
It is a reddish-brown antelope with a darker head marked with black and straight horns raising vertically to about 7 inches. The Steinbok, unlike other gazelles, prefer to live singly or in pairs, often sighted in grassy country, living many miles from water.
Oribi, (Taya)
Is similar in appearance and habits with the Steinbok. They differ in that the Oribi has dark grandular patches beneath the ears with its horns set at a slight angle backward. Although it was once extant on the slopes of Mt. Kenya, the Oribi is now confined to bushland and open country.
The Dikdik, (Suguya)
Standing barely over a foot in height, it is one of the smallest antelopes in Kenya. These dainty antelopes, usually seen in pairs, are easily distinguishable by their long noses and greyish colouring.
Klipspringer, (Ngurungu)
Also relatively small in size, it’s best sighted in rocky outcrops and hills in the bush country. Its uniquely grizzled coat is coarse and springy, acting as a cushion against collision and it seems to walk on the tips of its hooves so as to grip rocks. Its smalls horns, sometimes present in females, are vertical on the broad head.
Gerenuk, (Swala Twiga)
This unusual looking antelope is usually seen in the bush country, mainly around Samburu and in northern Kenya. Rather easy to identify by its long neck and long legs, it may be seen singly or in groups, feeding off acacia thorn trees, often rearing on its hind legs to reach higher branches.
Sitatunga, (Nzohe)
Happy in the swamps, this shy antelopes often submerges until only the face is above water when it is frightened. It is sturdy and fairly common, rarely found far from water. It sports a greyish-brown coat, and only the males carry the broad ringed horns. Its elongated hooves that spread out helps it navigate the soft ground.
Waterbuck, (Kuro)
Is another antelope which like to be near water and sports a thick greyish-brown coat. A gregarious animal, the waterbuck may form herds consisting of eight to thirty individuals, led by a single male. A much larger white patch on the ramp distinguishes the Defassa from the common waterbuck.
Yellow Backed Duiker
Nysa in Swahili, this rare and fairly large antelope, native to West Africa, is found in small numbers in Mau Reserve. The broad triangle of yellow hair on its back and rump show up well against the blackish of its body. It is nearly three times larger than its close relative the Blue Duiker.
The Puku
Standing about one metre at the shoulder and weighing 80 kgs, the Puku which sports a sandy brown coat is distinguished by its long-haired coat and its forward-pointing horns reaching over 20 inches in the males. It is a social antelope thriving in small herds, with a single male taking charge.
Bushbuck, (Mbawala)
“The bushbuck relies on forest
coverage for shelter and food” and is seen more in forests than in the open country. It may be seen singly or in groups and is widely spread throughout the woodlands in Africa – including South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.
Oryx, (Choroa)
This handsome antelope is best known for its unique long horns that bend slightly backwards. In medieval England the Oryx horns were marketed as unicorn horns. Standing at 4 feet, this strapping animal is a master of semi-desert and desert habitats and is able to be extant with no or little water.
Eland, (Mbunja)
Sometimes known as Pofu in Swahili, this is a storky antelope, and at nearly 6 ft at the shoulder and weighing in at half a ton it is the largest antelope to be seen in Kenya. Although so well-built, it is agile and can make spectacular leaps. It thrives in the savannas.
Wildebeest, (Nyumbu)
It is probably the commonest antelope on the plains, regularly gathering in herds numbering many hundreds. Its grey body, long beard, buffalo like horns, shaggy mane and odd cavorting gait makes the Gnu one of the ungainliest looking creatures in Kenya. It can live up to 40 years and walk 1,000 kms in a year.
The Bongo
Quite unmistakable for its pretty mahogany-red and white vertical stripes, this is mostly a nocturnal forest antelope spotted in limited habitats like Mau Range, Mount Kenya and Aberdare. Standing 4 feet at the shoulder, Bongo is the largest forest-dwelling antelope.
Lesser Kudu, (Tandala)
This is more or less a smaller version of the Kudu or greater Kudu, and is rather similar in general appearance – the major differences being the lack of a beard, more numerous vertical white stripes on its body, less developed spiral-ringed horns.
Kudu, (Tandala Kubwa)
It probably has the most unique horns of the antelopes with long magnificent spiral ringed horns. In contrast with the lesser Kudu, it has a throat fringe, males have a beard and they have less strips.
Related Pictographic Galleries
Kenya certainly has enormous touring resources. There are no less than sixty national narks, reserves and game sanctuaries, covering approximately 11% of the land surface. Each of these diverse and stunning national parks and reserves offers unique wildlife experiences and unique, breathtaking landscapes.
Index of National Parks & Reserves in Kenya
Baringo County - Lake Baringo National Reserve, Lake Bogoria National Reserve, Kerio Valley National Reserve, Lake Kamnarok National Reserve, Bomet County - The South Western Mau National Reserve, Busia County - Malaba Sanctuary, Elgeyo Marakwet County - Rimoi National Reserve, Embu County - Mount Kenya National Park; Irangi Forest Station, Mwea National Reserve, Garissa County - Bour-Algi Giraffe Sanctuary, Rahole National Reserve, Arawale National Reserve, Boni National Reserve, Homa Bay County - Ruma National Park, Isiolo County - The Bisanadi National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Shaba National Reserve, Kajiado County - Amboseli National Park, Kakamega County - Kakamega National Reserve, Kilifi County - Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve, Watamu Marine National Park, Malindi Marine Reserve, Kisumu County - Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, Ndere Island National Park, Kitui County - Mwingi National Reserve, South Kitui National Reserve, Kwale County - Shimba Hills National Reserve, Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve, Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park & Reserve, Lamu County - Dodori National Reserve, Kiunga Marine National Reserve, Machakos County - Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, Makueni County - Chyulu Hills National Park, Ngai Ndethya National Reserve, Mandera County - Malka Mari National Park, Marsabit County - Losai National Reserve, South Island National Park, Marsabit National Park & Reserve, Sibiloi National Park, Meru County - Meru National Park, Mombasa County - Mombasa Marine National Reserve & Park, Nairobi County - The Nairobi National Park, Nakuru County - Mount Longonot National Park, Crescent Island Sanctuary, Hell's Gate National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Nandi County - Bonjoge National Reserve, Narok County - Masai Mara National Reserve, Nyeri County - The Aberdare National Park, Samburu County - Samburu National Reserve, Maralal National Reserve, Siaya County - Lake Kanyaboli Reserve, Tana River County - Kora National Park, The Tana Primate National Reserve, Taita Taveta County - Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Tharaka Nithi County - Mutejwa National Reserve, Trans Nzoia County - Mount Elgon National Park, Saiwa Swamp National Park, Turkana County - Central Island Reserve, South Turkana Reserve, West Pokot County - Nasolot National Reserve
