Tswalu Game Reserve
Sable antelope (Hippotragus niger)
When we were heading to the Kalahari Gemsbok Park in December, we took the long dirt road.. adventure time.. tyre blow out and all.. which if you missed the post CLICK HERE… However on this road one passes the Oppenheimer’s (of diamonds and DeBeers fame) farm Tswalu. this is a magical place that I wish we could afford to visit, but if you want to read a bit about their conservation and farm CLICK HERE…
Whilst passing along the road next to their game fencing I spotted these Sable antelope.. unfortunately there seemed to be no male in sight, as he is the magnificent beast of the two.. Men Rule in the animal kingdom… but I borrowed this photo from Wikipedia…
The sable antelope is a large species. It ranges from 117 to 143 cm (46 to 56 in) tall at the shoulder and measures 190 to 255 cm (75 to 100 in) long, not counting a tail of 37–76 cm (15–30 in). Sable antelope can weigh from 150 to 270 kg (330 to 600 lbs.)
The males is bigger than the female and his horns can reach a length of 110 cm (44in) and the females 100 cm (39 in).
The Sable male has a harem of between 10 and 30 females, so this group we saw would have had one male and unfortunately he was nowhere to be seen and with electrified fencing, I certainly was not going to look for him.
They feed on grasses and leaves and in the heat of the day normally lie up in the shade…
I am of the opinion that they are on the endangered list, so the Oppenheimer family are doing there bit to save the antelope… well done Oppenheimers.. maybe they will read this and allow me to come on the farm for a day to just take photos… one is allowed to dream…
Here are the photos I took through the fence of the females we saw……
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 