Elandspoort Wildlife
Following is abbreviated information about the wildlife that you might encounter during your stay at Elandspoort.
Eland
Either of two species of easily tamed, oxlike antelope (genus Taurotragus) found in herds on the plains or in lightly wooded areas of central and southern Africa. The largest of the antelope, they may stand up to 6 ft (1.8 m) tall at the shoulder and weigh as much as (1,000 kg). They have a short, dark mane, a dewlap hanging from the throat, and long horns twisted in a tight spiral. The common eland is pale brown, becoming blue-gray with age, and often marked with narrow, vertical white stripes. The giant, or Derby, eland is reddish brown with a blackish neck and vertical white stripes and horns heavier than those of the common eland.
Kudu
Slender African antelopes of the genus Tragelaphus. The greater kudu lives in small groups in hilly bush country or open woods. It stands about 51 in. (1.3 m) high at the shoulder and has a fringe on the throat and a crest of hair on the neck and back. It is reddish brown to blue-gray, with a white mark between the eyes and narrow vertical white stripes on the body. The male has long, corkscrewlike horns. The lesser kudu lives in pairs or small groups in open bush country; it stands about 40 in. (1 m) high, has more tightly spiraled horns, and has two white patches on the throat and no throat fringe. Both species browse on shrubs and leaves.
Impala
Swift-running, graceful antelope (Aepyceros melampus) found in large herds, usually near water, on the savannas and open woodlands of central and southern Africa. Impalas are noted for their jumping ability; when alarmed, they bound off in leaps up to 30 ft (9 m) long and 10 ft (3 m) high. Lightly built, the impala stands 30 – 40 in. (75 – 100 cm) high at the shoulder. It has a golden to reddish brown coat, white underparts, a vertical black stripe on each thigh, and a black tuft behind each hind hoof. The male has long, lyre-shaped horns.
Springbok
Species of antelope (Antidorcas marsupialis), native to treeless plains of southern Africa, the national emblem of South Africa. It stands about 30 in. (80 cm) high at the shoulder, and both sexes have ringed, lyre-shaped horns. A fold of skin from midback to rump can be opened to display a crest of white hair. The reddish brown upper body has a broad horizontal dark-brown band on each side; the underparts, head, tail, and rump are white. When excited, the springbok, with head down, hooves bunched, and back arched, makes a series of stiff-legged, vertical leaps up to 12 ft (3.5 m) high, an action called pronking.
Waterbok
Species of antelope (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) that lives in herds, usually near water, on plains and floodplains and in woodlands and swamps of sub-Saharan Africa. Waterbucks are almost 5 ft (1.5 m) high at the shoulder. Males have long, heavily ridged horns that curve backward and then upward. The coarse, shaggy coat is grayish, and the rump has a white ring.
Blesbok
The Blesbok, or Blesbuck, (Damaliscus albifrons) is a subspecies of the Bontebok and it is purplish antelope with a distinctive white face and forehead. They are close relatives of the Bontebok and are only found in South Africa (mostly in protected herds). They were first discovered in the 17th century, but it is not known whether this is because they are a relatively new species or because they have been so elusive.
Fallow Deer
A small Eurasian deer (Dama dama) having a yellowish-red coat spotted with white in summer and broad, flattened antlers in the male. In wilderness, they are very vigilant; it is difficult to approach them due to their excellent vision, hearing, and olfaction. Fleeing deer rise a tail, displaying a bright white patch bordered by black hairs.
Duiker
Any of 19 species of small, shy antelope. They live in most of Africa but are rarely seen by humans. The gray, or bush, duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) has long legs and lives where there is bush or grass cover. It stands 22 – 26 in. (57 – 67 cm) tall at the shoulder. Only males have horns, which are short and straight.
Black Wildebeest
The Black Wildebeest or White-tailed gnu (Connochaetes gnou) is one of two gnu species. The natural populations of this species, endemic to the southern region of Africa, have been almost completely exterminated, but the species has been reintroduced widely, both in private areas and nature reserves throughout most of Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa and Namibia
Aardvark
Heavily built mammal (Orycteropus afer) of sub-Saharan forests and plains. Its stout, piglike body ("aardvark" is Afrikaans for "earth pig") may be as long as 6 ft (1.8 m), including a 2-ft (60-cm) tail. It has a long snout, rabbitlike ears, short legs, and long toes with large, flattened claws. It feeds at night by ripping open ant and termite nests and lapping up the insects with a long (1-ft, or 30-cm), sticky tongue. Though not aggressive, it uses claws to fight off attackers. Its classification with regard to other mammals is uncertain.
Zebra
Any of three species of black-and-white-striped equines that subsist almost entirely on grass. Zebras stand 47 – 55 in. (120 – 140 cm) tall. The Burchell's zebra, or bonte quagga (Equus quagga), of eastern and southern African grasslands, has wide, widely spaced stripes. Grevy's zebra (E. grevyi), of arid areas in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, has narrow, closely spaced stripes and a white belly. The small mountain zebra (E. zebra), of dry upland plains in Namibia and western South Africa, has a gridlike pattern on the rump. Small zebra groups consisting of a stallion and several mares and foals may coalesce into large herds but retain their identity.
Gemsbok
The gemsbok or gemsbuck (Oryx gazella) is a large African antelope, of the Oryx genus. The name is derived from the Dutch name of the male chamois, Gemsbok. Although there are some superficial similarities in appearance (especially in the colour of the face area), the chamois and the oryx are not related.
Leopard
The leopard is an agile and stealthy predator. Although smaller than the other members of the Pantheragenus, the leopard is still able to take large prey given its massive skull that well utilizes powerful jaw muscles. Its body is comparatively long for a cat and its legs are short. Head and body length is between 125 and 165 cm and the tail reaches 60 to 110 cm. Shoulder height is 45 to 80 cm (18 to 31 in). The muscles attached to the scapula are exceptionally strong, which enhances the leopard's ability to climb trees. Leopards show a great diversity in size. Males are about 30% larger than females[ weighing 30 to 91 kg (66 to 200 lb) compared to 23 to 60 kg (51 to 130 lb) for females.