A large, fawn coloured antelope that at first glance seems strangely misshapen and less elegant than other antelopes. The Hartebeest is clumsy in appearance, it is hump shouldered with a sloping back, slim legs and a long, narrow face. It is one of the fastest antelopes and most enduring runners.

The hartebeest is one of the most sedentary antelopes (making it easy to hunt), but it does move around more when larger groupings form during the dry seasons or in periods of drought, to seek water and better grazing. At other times the females form small groups of five to 12 animals that wander around their home range. Most mature males become solitary and spread out in adjoining territories.

Hartebeests go to water regularly, but in some circumstances territorial males appear to go without drinking for rather long periods. The home ranges are usually densely populated. When a territorial male returns from watering, he may find another in his place.

Habitat: Open plains. Hartebeest are mainly found in medium and tall grasslands, including savannas. They are more tolerant of high grass and woods than other alcelaphines (archetypical plains antelopes).

 

Diet: Herbivorous grazers; the hartebeest feeds almost entirely on grass, but is not very selective and quite tolerant of poor-quality food.

Reproduction: Single young born any time of the year. Gestation is about 8 months.

The ungainly gnu earned the Afrikaans Name wildebeest, or "wild beast," for the menacing appearance presented by its large head, shaggy mane, pointed beard, and sharp, curved horns.

Wildebeest are continually on the move as they look for supplies of grass and water. Active both day and night, they have a tendency to string out in long single columns when on the move. They cover long distances at a slow rocking gallop but can run fast when necessary.

During mating season smaller breeding groups of about 150 animals form within the massive herds. In these small groups, five or six of the most active bulls establish and defend territories that females wander through. The bulls perform antics, galloping and bucking around their territories. They paw the ground and rub their heads on it, spreading secretions. They also urinate and daefecate in a certain spot and toll in it to signal to other bulls to stay away

Habitat: Open grasslands where water is available

Diet: Strictly grazers, wildebeest prefer short grass. They are unable to go without water for more than a few days.

Reproduction: Birth is timed for the onset of the rains, after a gestation period of approximately 8.5 months.

The Zebra belongs to the horse family. Its distinguishing marks are its unique black stripes believed to serve as unique individual indentification. Various theories exist about why a Zebra has stripes. One theory is that the stripes help the zebra cool down through creating circulation around the skin from the different temperatures achieved by the white and black lines. Other theories claims that they're used for socialisation while another believe the stripes were developed for camouflage purposes. The stripes are also used as camouflage to confuse predators when zebras huddle in great numbers or mingle with herds of antelopes.

The Zebra enjoys grazing the plains & savannahs during the day and sleeping during the night roaming in groups with one or two members acting as lookouts during the night. If an animal is attacked, its family will come to its defense, circling the wounded zebra and attempting to drive off predators.

Habitat: Woodlands and open plains. Burchell's zebras inhabit savannas, from treeless grasslands to open woodlands; they sometimes occur in tens of thousands in migratory herds on the Serengeti plains. Grevy's zebras are now mainly restricted to parts of northern Kenya. Although they are adapted to semi-arid conditions and require less water than other zebra species, these zebras compete with domestic livestock for water and have suffered heavy poaching for their meat and skins.

Diet: Zebra are herbivores and avid grazers. Both Burchell's and Grevy's zebras are in constant search of green pastures. In the dry season, they can live on coarse, dry grass only if they are within a short distance of water holes.

Reproduction: Single young born any time of the year. Gestation is +/-12 months.

Impalas are medium-sized antelopes that roam the savanna and light woodlands of eastern and southern Africa. The body is reddish-brown with white hair inside the ears, over each eye and on the chin, upper throat, underparts and buttocks.A narrow black line runs along the middle of the lower back to the long tail, and a vertical black stripe appears on the back of each thigh. Unlike other antelopes, impalas have large, brushlike tufts of long, coarse black hair that cover a scent gland located just above the heel on each hind leg.

Herds offer protection from predators, such as lions. An alert impala will bark out an alarm that puts the entire herd to flight—and a fleeing impala is no easy prey.
Impalas are fleet runners who are able to leap distances of up to 10 meters and 3 meters high. Not only do they use this technique to escape predators but sometimes simply to amuse themselves. Typically, a running impala will simply jump over anything in its path.

This graceful antelope is known for its long, spiral horns, which males use to challenge each other in tests of strength. Older impala males stake out mating territories and herd groups of females that they jealously guard against any rivals. During this exhausting mating period, the male must fight off challengers, herd his females, and mate with them. Unsuccessful bids to take over a male's territory usually end with the loser retreating to join a bachelor herd.

Habitat: Savanna and light woodland. Impalas are found at grassland and woodland edges, usually very close by water.

Diet: Grazers and browsers, Impalas eat tender young grass shoots in the wet season and herbs and shrubs at other times. During the dry season they drink daily.

Reproduction: 6 to 7 months, a single fawn is born.

Warthogs are members of the same family as domestic pigs, but present a much different appearance. These sturdy hogs are not among the world's most aesthetically pleasing animals—their large, flat heads are covered with "warts," which are actually protective bumps. Warthogs also sport four sharp tusks. They are mostly bald, but they do have some sparse hair and a thicker mane on their backs.

Though warthogs appear ferocious, they are basically grazers. They eat grasses and plants, and also use their snouts to dig or "root" for roots or bulbs. When startled or threatened, warthogs can be surprisingly fast, running at speeds of up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) an hour.

Warthogs are adaptable and are able to go long periods without water, as much as several months in the dry season.

When water is available, warthogs will seek it and often submerge to cool down. They will also wallow in mud for the same purpose—and to gain relief from insects. Birds also aid these hogs in their battle with insects; oxpeckers and other species sometimes ride along on their warthog hosts, feeding on the tiny creatures invading their hides.

These African hogs often utilize empty dens created by aardvarks. Rather than fight, they often choose flight, and search for such a den to use as a hidey-hole. They typically back in, using their tusks to effectively guard the entrance.

Habitat: Found in moist and arid savannas avoiding deserts and high mountains.

Diet: Grazer; Mainly a grazer the warthog has an interesting practice of kneeling on its calloused, hairy, padded knees to eat short grass. Using its snout and tusks, it also digs for bulbs, tubers and roots during the dry season.

Reproduction: 1 to 7 piglets per litter, gestation fom 170 to 175 days.

Like other Old World monkeys, baboons do not have prehensile (gripping) tails. But they can and do climb trees to sleep, eat, or look out for trouble. They spend much of their time on the ground.

A strong social structure exist within groups ranging in size from less that ten too more than one hundred. Groups lead by a dominant male who controls all aspects of the troop even meeting out punishment in the form of pinching or hair pulling.

Habitat: Woodland, grassland, acacia scrub and semi-desert habitats, including small hills, seaside cliffs and mountains up to 2980m, near to a freshwater source.

Diet: Grass, roots, tubers, fruits, nuts, invertebrates, small birds and mammals, and crustaceans when near the coast.

Reproduction: Baboons breed year round with seasonal peaks in some areas, gestation period of 187 days, females give birth to one infant.