Page 105 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

FIELD GUIDE  103

Black Wildebeest
Species: Connochaetes gnou • Best Seen: Golden Gate
LC
Another South African endemic hunted
close to extinction by early European settlers,
the black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu is
rather more handsome than the more
widespread blue wildebeest, from which
it is most easily distinguished by its off-white
mane and tail. Some authorities regard it
as extinct in the wild, since the only surviving
herds are farmed or semi-captive, but the
Blue wildebeest population of several thousand is high
enough for it to be IUCN-listed in the “Least
Blue Wildebeest Concern” category. It might be seen from the
Species: Connochaetes taurinus • Best Seen: Kruger, roadside on farmland anywhere in the
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Sabi Sands central highveld northwest of Lesotho.
LC
Although common in southern-hemisphere
grassland habitats from the Serengeti-Mara to
KwaZulu-Natal, the blue wildebeest is totally
absent north of the equator. It is a highly greg-
arious creature, particularly in areas where it
follows an annual migration, often assembling in
groups of several hundred. Its dark grey-brown
coat precludes confusion with other antelopes,
but at a distance it could be mistaken for a
buffalo, although its slighter build and shaggy
beard are distinguishing features. Black wildebeest bull
Nyala
Species: Tragelaphus angasii • Best Seen: Hluhluwe-
Imfolozi, Kruger, iSimangaliso
LC
Intermediate in size between the related greater
kudu (see p100) and bushbuck, the nyala
typically occurs in small family groups in
thicketed habitats close to water. The male is
truly spectacular – dark chestnut-grey in gen eral
coloration, but with a grey-black leonine mane,
light white stripes along the sides, yel low leg
stockings and handsome lyre-shaped horns that
A lone bushbuck grazing in a forest clearing can grow to a length of 80 cm (2 ft 8 inches).
Hunted to near-extinction in most of its former
Bushbuck range, the nyala would probably be listed as
Species: Tragelaphus scriptus • Best Seen: Kruger, endangered were it not for the population of
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg 25,000 animals (70 per cent of the global total)
LC in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The closest thing in Africa to a Bambi lookalike,
the bushbuck is a widespread medium-sized
antelope of forest and riparian woodland. The
male is usually dark brown or chestnut in col our,
while the more petite female is generally pale
red-brown. Both sexes have white throat
patches, and a variable combination of white
spots, and sometimes stripes on the coat. The
bushbuck usually moves singly or in pairs
and, although common, tends to be rather
furtive in its behaviour. The spectacular-looking male nyala
Key to Field Guide icons see p72

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