Ungulates Of The Kruger National Park And Surrounding Areas

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Wild Ungulates Of South Africa

Ungulates, which are hoofed mammals, are buy far the most common animals you are likely to see inside conservation areas.

With out these antelope we would not see predators such as Lion, Wild Dog and Cheetah as they are dependant on ungulates for survival.

Ungulates can weigh from 4kgs to about 1000kgs and there are many different species. The shy Steenbok has the widest distribution of all antelope but is very difficult to watch and observe. You might be lucky enough to see these beautiful but fragile ungulates all over Southern Africa, but you are more likely to see them in the Kruger Park or other protected conservation areas.

The largest antelope or ungulate species in South Africa are Giraffe, African Buffalo, Blue Wildebeest, Burchell's, Cape and Hartmann's Mountain Zebra. The largest specie of antelope in the world the Common Eland. Eland are nocturnal and can weigh up to 1000 kilograms. They form herds of 2-300 and when in large numbers are spotted easily. The indigenous people of the South African bush called the Khoi Khoi or Bushmen used to hunt these antelope at night. A few men, of about 5, would sit beside a tree in the darkness of the night and wait for the large herds of Eland to walk past. The Bushmen did not have night vision to see these antelope and so listened for them as when the Eland walk or run a clicking sound comes from their legs. The Bushmen then would get up and stab the Eland that was closest to them and wait for it to die.

The Greater Kudu are another large antelope which can weigh up to 300 kilograms. They are truly one of the greatest sites and you are likely to see these Kudu on journeys into the National Parks. The males carry very long spiralling horns that can reach up to 1 metre in length. They have the longest horns of any ungulate in Africa.

Of the many different habitats we will be driving through, for each one there are different species of antelope. For example in the drier open bushveld there are Red Hartebeest, Gemsbok and Eland, but in the thicker well watered vegetation Bushbuck, Suni and Waterbuck occur. The possibilities are endless and you will never know what you might see with hooves and horns.

In the Kruger National Park, occur the most species of ungulates in any National Park around the world!

Have you ever seen an Impala and thought to yourself Not another one. Well you should not feel that way as Impala attract predators and they have very interesting habits which when observed can be fun to watch. The young Impala will attract Eagles, Vultures and Caracals whereas the older ones will attract Leopard, Cheetah, Hyaena and Lion. There have even been records of Fully Mature male Impalas getting ambushed by Pythons and being eaten whole.

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