Roan Antelope

Afrikaans name: Bastergemsbok

Roan Antelope in the Mokala National Park

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Hippotragus equinus

Interesting facts about Roan Antelope

Roan Antelope are related to Sable Antelope. The males measure around 140 cm at the shoulder and weigh about 270 kg. Females are smaller.

They like areas where it is lightly wooded with good access to water. They are normally seen in small herds that consist of bachelor males, or a dominant male with females and juveniles.

Roan prefer eating the tops of the grass stems and so like areas with grass that is neither too high nor too short.

Unfortunately Roan Antelope are quite rare. In Kruger National Park there is only around 70 of them. There are higher numbers of them at some of the other parks including Mokala National Park.

Above - Roan Antelope

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Above - Roan Antelope

Photo © Johan van Zyl

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References and further reading

An Introduction to the Larger Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Joanna Dalton - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 280

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 23

Chris and Tilde Stuart's Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 192

Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Year Published: 1997 - Page: 130

Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Year Published: 2001 - Page: 192

Field Guide to the Mammals of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. de V. Pienaar et al. - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 128

Kruger National Park Questions and Answers - Author: P.F. Fourie - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 143

Land Mammals of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Reay HN Smithers - Year Published: 1986 - Page: 185

Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Burger Cillier - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 127

Mammals of the Kruger and other National Parks - Author: The National Parks Board - Year Published: 1980 - Page: 120

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 416

Signs of the Wild - 3rd Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Year Published: 1986 - Page: 201

Signs of the Wild - 5th Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Year Published: 1996 - Page: 184

Wild Issue 19 - Author: - Year Published: 2012 - Page: 29

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 226

List of South African Mammals