Wide-spread game

Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
Shoulder height   approx. 150 cm
Mass   bulls approx. 400 kg / cows 250 kg - 300 kg
Hue Kudu grey-brown to rufous, 6-10 vertical, white stripes, head darker with white band across the face, cows lighter in colour
Habitat mountains and shrubland
Occurrence wide-spread, except for desert regions
Staple food foliage, buds, fruits
Rutting season April - July
Breeding season November - February
Horns only males , spiral horns (up to 2,5, seldom 3 turns)
Other features   striking, big ears, elegant movements, extreme takeoff power, except for the rutting season Kudus gather in small herds
     

Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus)
Shoulder height   approx. 125 cm
Mass   approx. 160 kg - 180 kg
Hue Hartebeest fawn to golden-brown, black blaze down front of face
Habitat grassland and open savanna country
Occurrence concentrated in easterly Central Namibia
Staple food grass
Rutting season January - February
Breeding season August - September
Horns horns in both sexes, those of bulls are heavier, set close together at the base, curving forwards and out and then twisting in and back
Other features   normally in herds numbring from about 10 - 100, occasionally also bull herds, adult bulls are territorial
     

Oryx-Antelope (Oryx gazella)
Shoulder height   approx. 120 cm
Mass   approx. 190 kg
Hue Oryx distinct white-and-black markings on the head, body greyish-fawn with black streaks along flanks
Habitat open dry country, grassland, dune country
Occurrence wide-spread, except for the north and northeast
Staple food grass, seed-pods, fruits such as tsama melons
Rutting season December - January
Breeding season peak during August / October, otherwise throughout the year
Horns horns in both sexes, those of bulls are shorter and more robust
Other features   occuring in herds of about 30 - 50, solitary bulls are often seen, moving long distance to fresh vegetation growth following rain, availiability of water is not essential
     

Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)
Shoulder height   approx. 75 cm - 85 cm
Mass   approx. 35 kg
Hue Springbok dark red-brown band along flanks separates fawn-brown upperparts from white underparts. Head is white with a brown stripe running through eye to corner of upper lip
Habitat open, arid plains
Occurrence Throughout Namibia except northeast
Staple food Leaves, fruits, roots
Rutting season May - June
Breeding season November - February
Horns both sexes have heavily ridged, lyre-shaped horns but ram's are thicker and longer
Other features   occuring often in big herds, also bachelor herds, territorial rams are common. Name is descended from their ability to spring up to 3 m high and 5m wide
     

Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris)
Shoulder height   approx. 55 cm
Mass:   approx. 14 kg
Hue Steenbok rufous-fawn, varying from pale fawn to reddish-brown, black nose
Habitat open bush savanna
Occurrence throughout Namibia
Staple food young shoot, leaves
Rutting season Winter
Breeding season Summer
Horns only ram carries short, sharp-pointed, smooth-surfaced, vertical horns
Other features   occur often in pairs, need of water covered by food
     
     

Warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus)
Shoulder height   approx. 60 cm - 70 cm
Mass Warthog approx. 60 kg - 90 kg
Hue grey
Habitat shrub- and grassland, open plains
Occurrence throughout Namibia
Staple food short grass and grass roots, browse occasionally and rarely feed on animal matter
Reproduction dependend on rainfall
Other features   head disproportionately big compared with body, boar with two pairs of wart-like protuberances on face, sow only two one pair Canine teeths develop into long curved tasks
     
     

Predators

    

Leopard (Panthera pardus)
Lengths   male approx. 2 m / female approx. 1,85 m
Mass Leopard male approx. 60 kg / female approx. 32 kg
Hue spotted coat, basic body colour white to orange-russet
Habitat mountain, often in caves, also woodland
Occurrence throughout Namibia except coast
Main prey game and cattle up to 70 kg
Reproduction no fixed breeding season
Other features   nocturnal, normally solitary except for mating
     
     

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Lengths   approx. 200 cm
Mass Cheetah 45 kg - 50 kg
Hue off-white to pale fawn, dotted with black rounded spots
Habitat open savanna, light woodland
Occurrence mainly on farmland in Central Namibia
Main prey medium-sized mammals, hare, porcupine, ostrich
Reproduction no fixed breeding season
Other features   mainly diurnal, roaming vast areas
     
     

Braune Hyäne (Hyaena brunnea)
Lengths   approx. 140 cm
Mass   approx. 39 kg
Hue Brown hyaena light to dark-brown with black stripes
Habitat semi-desert, open savanna, areas with good hideaways
Occurrence coastal belt, seldom on farmland in Central Namibia
Staple food mainly scavanger, wide range of small vertebrates, insects, fruits
Reproduction no fixed breeding season
Other features   mainly nocturnal, also dusk, normally solitary except at carrions
     
     

Rare Game

  

  • Black Wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou)

  • Common Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)

  • Plains Zebra (Equus burchelli)

  • Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae)

  • Blesbok (Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi)

  • Impala (Aepyceros melampus melampus)

  • Eland (Taurotragus oryx)

  • Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

  • Roan (Hippotragus equinus)

  • Sable (Hippotragus niger)

  • Tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus)

  • Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)

  • Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

  • White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)


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