Impala

The graceful impala is a slender, medium-sized antelope so adaptable that it is found from southern Africa to the northern limits of East Africa, moving in large herds.

The female is similar to the male but does not have horns.

During the rutting period (Autumn) the males vocalizes loudly, making a sound between a lion's roar and a dog's bark whilst they fight and display, in the process of sorting out their hierarchy, terminating in the dominant male taking over a harem of twenty or more ewes.

The remaining males form bachelor groups who test each other for dominance.

Dominant males can seldom hold their territories for more than a few months at a time or sometimes only a few days, before succumbing to predators or exhaustion.

They have a well defined lambing season starting at the end of October and in the following weeks, nearly every ewe is seen with a baby.

Impala have an unusual tuft of black hair covering a scent gland on the hind legs, above the hooves.

To escape their pursuers they employ a confusing, zig zag escape route, with sudden directional changes and exceptionally high leaps making it difficult for the pursuing attacker to strike.

Impala are also known as the Mc Donald's of Africa.