PLAINS GAME
SPECIES
The baboon is intelligent, cunning and almost human. Baboons live in groups and display a highly developed form of social behaviors.
- Height at shoulder: approx. 100cm,
- Weight: approx. 20kg,
- Age: up to 45 years
The Afrikaans name is “Kameelperd”, a combination of “kameel “ and “luiperd”. They believed the giraffe to be a mixture of a camel and a leopard (Girafla Camelopardalis).
- Height at shoulder: approx. 550cm,
- Weight: approx. I 500kg
- Age: up to 28years. Speed: 50km/h
The largest reptile on earth and belongs to the oldest surviving creatures.
- Crocodiles have been around for more than 60 million years.
- Height at shoulder: approx. 40cm
- Weight: up to 100kg.
- Length of body: up to 600cm
Zebras use their stripes to regulate their body temperature. On cold days they turn their bodies to the sun in order to absorb as much warmth through the black stripes. On hot days they turn their predominantly white rumps to the sun, in order to reflect the heal.
- Height at shoulder: approx.
- 136cm, Weight: approx. 320kg,
- Age: up to 35 years,
- Speed: 60km/h
The mountain zebra is not a s common as Burchell’s zebra nor does It have “shadow*stripes.
It is smaller, has longer ears and no stripes on its belly.
- Height at shoulder, approx. 120cm.
- Weight: 300kg.
- Age: up to 35 years,
- Speed: 6 5 km/h
The largest antelope in South Africa. Both male and female bear horns, the bulls being massive and short, the cow’s being elongated and slender. They live In herds of up to 60.
They can leap remarkably high, up to 2.4m.
- Height at shoulder approx. 170cm.
- Weight: approx. 650kg,
- Age: up to 12 years.
- Length of horn: up to I 10cm
Mary describes the Kudu as ‘one of the most beautiful in the world*. The magnificent horns, borne only by the males, are spread in beautiful open spirals. They live In small herds of 5 to 10. They can leap up to 2.5m.
- Height at shoulder approx. I 50cm,
- Weight: 300kg
- Age: up to 11 years
- Length of horn: up to 181cm
The roan is the largest of the antelope after the Eland, and resembles the sable in some ways.
The roan antelope is one of Africa’s largest bovids, only exceeded in size by the African buffalo and eland. It has a grey or brown coat, a black-and-white clown-like facemask — that is darker in males than females — and long, tasseled ears.
- Height at shoulder: approx. 150cm.
- Weight: approx. 285kg.
- Age: up to 19 years
- Length of horns: up to 99cm
The sable with its regal bearing is one of the most beautiful antelope. Its heavily ringed horns rise vertically and sweep back in a semicircular curve. The bulls arc black and the under parts are white. In Afrikaans it is called Swartwitpens: “black-white belly”. Both
sexes bear horns.
- Height at shoulder approx. 140cm.
- Weight: approx. 220kg.
- Age: up to 19 years.
- Length of horns: up to 155cm
It is easily recognized by its white collar and it Is at home in thick bush and close to water. Bushbucks are aggressive, brave and quite dangerous. It will tackle leopard, dogs and even human beings.
- Height at shoulder: approx. 80cm,
- Weight: approx. 54kg.
- Age: up to 9 years.
- Length of horns: up to 55cm
The Impala is the most prolific antelope In South Africa. This is the most common antelope of the bushveld regions of South Africa. A very graceful, rufous-fawn antelope, with white underparts
Only the ram bears horns.
- Height at shoulder: approx. 90cm.
- Weight: approx. 65kg.
- Age: up to 9 years,
- Length of horns: up to 65cm
As its name denotes it is at home in areas rich in reeds. But it does not like to go into water.
It can be recognized by a characteristic whistle. Only the ram bears horns.
- Height at shoulder: approx. 90cm,
- Weight: approx. 70kg,
- Age: up to 9 years
- Length of horns: up to 46cm
Mountain Reedbucks are at home in mountainous regions and lives in small groups. It is smaller and shyer than the Reedbuck.
Only the ram bears horns.
- Height at shoulder: approx. 78cm,
- Weight: approx. 26kg.
- Age: up to 8 years,
- Length of horn: up to 23cm
This Is the national animal of South Africa. It has an amazing ability to jump vertically as high as 3m and horizontally as far as 5m. Both sexes bear horns.
- Height at shoulder: 75cm,
- Weight: 35kg.
- Age: up to 10
- Length of horn: up to 48cm
The Rhebuck lives in larger groups. It is small, aggressive and bravely defends its territory.
Height at shoulder approx. 75cm
- Weight: 22kg.
- Age: up to 9 years,
- Length of horn: up to 29cm
Klipspringers lives only on rocky hills and mountains. Generally lives in groups and is both a grazer and browser.
- Height at shoulder: 60cm
- Weight: 16kg,
- Age: up to 8 years,
- Length of horn: up to 16cm
Lives in pairs, but only the buck bears horns. Its habitat is the steppe and open woodland.
Needs very little water and is active during the day.
- Height at shoulder 50cm,
- Weight: 12 kg,
- Length of horn:
It has a disproportionately large head compared to the rest of the body The female has 2 and the male has 4 warts on either side of the head. When they trot along they hold their tails like antennae.
- Height at shoulder approx. 75cm.
- Weight: 70 – 100kg,
- Age: up to 20 years.
- Speed: 30 – 50 km/h.
- Length of body: up to 60cm
Looks similar to its domesticated cousin and lives in groups of 5 to 20 in thick bush, woodland or forests. It Is aggressive and known to have attacked human beings with
serious consequences.
- Height at shoulder: 80cm,
- Weight: 55 – 75kg,
- Age: up to 20 years,
- Length of body: up to 18cm
They have a docile appearance but are extremely fast runners who can maintain their pace for long distances. Both sexes bear horns.
- Height at shoulder: 130cm.
- Weight: 160kg,
- Age: up to 20
- Speed: 65km/h,
- Length of horn: up to 66cm
The Tsessebe occupies the position both physically and geographically between the Blesbok and the Bontebok. However It strongly resembles the Red Hartebeest. It is reputed to be the fastest African antelope, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h, and can run 7 miles and be as fresh as It was from the start.
- Height at shoulder: 120cm,
- Weight: 160kg,
- Age: up to 20 years
- Length of horn: up to 48cm
They live in herds of up to 40 animals and can survive without water for long periods. They live In herds, are aggressive and always ready for a light. Wounded animals can be dangerous.
Both of the sexes bear horns, those of the cow being longer and slimmer.
- Height at shoulder: 120cm,
- Weight: 200kg.
- Age: up to 19 years
- Length of horns: up to 122cm
It is a stately looking beast with well ringed horns, borne by males only. Generally found close to water and bears a peculiar white marking on its rump that would suggest that the prototype waterbuck sat on a freshly painted toilet seat.
- Height at shoulder: 130cm
- Weight: 250kg
- Age: up to 12 years
- Length of hrns: up to 99cm
Also known as black-tailed gnu. The Blue Wildebeest is ox-like in build and has buffalo shaped horns. It lives in herds and is often seen with Zebras, Impalas and Giraffe.
- Height at shoulder: approx. 135cm.
- Weight: approx. 250kg
- Age: up to 20 years
- Length of horns: 83cm
The Black Wildebeest is smaller than its *blue* cousin. Is generally referred to as the black wildebeest and its natural habitat is the highveld and the Karoo regions of South Africa.
- Height at shoulder: 120cm,
- Weight: 180kg,
- Age: up to 20 years,
- Length of horn: up to 68cm
The Black Wildebeest is smaller than its *blue* cousin. Is generally referred to as the black wildebeest and its natural habitat is the highveld and the Karoo regions of South Africa.
- Height at shoulder: 120cm,
- Weight: 180kg,
- Age: up to 20 years,
- Length of horn: up to 68cm
The Letswe looks like a cross between an Impala and a Waterbuck. It lives mainly in swamps and lagoons.
- Height at shoulder, 82cm,
- Weight: 120kg.
- Length of horn: up to 68cm
It was named after its characteristically colored coat. It was applied by the Dutch settlers and means ‘pied’ or ‘variegated” buck. It nearly became extinct and is at home only in the South Western Cape. Both sexes bear horns.
- Height at shoulder: 90cm,
- Weight: 64kg.
- Age: up to 8
Looks very similar to the Bontebok. but it is smaller, has a lighter coal and Is more prolifk.
Both sexes bear horns.
- Height at shoulder: 95cm,
- Weight: 80kg,
- Age: up to 9
- Length of horn: 51 cm