Antelope Pictures

When you go on an African safari, one thing is certain: antelope pictures opportunities will present themselves daily. Which species you'll see and photograph depends on where you go exactly.

In South Africa's Kruger National Park, it's impala that appear around each bend. In Namibia's Etosha National Park it is springbok. In Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara National Parks, the wildebeest are known for their annual migration, when these antelope trek across the savannah in their masses in search of greener pastures.

But not all antelope show themselves as easily as the ones mentioned above. For example, klipspringers live around rocky outcrops (as their name - translated directly from Afrikaans it means "rock jumpers" - indicates)

Duikers, bushbuck and others stick to the undergrowth of more bushy areas, making them difficult to spot and photograph.

The size of antelope vary. The largest African antelope is the eland (6'/1.8m high at the shoulder) while the dik-dik for instance is only about 13.8"/35cm at the shoulder.

Impala

Impala

Although it is one of the species most numerous in quantity (not only among antelopes), it remains one of the most photogenic. You should have plenty opportunity to photograph the rams fighting over territory, a herd in flight or perhaps a creche.

Blue wildebeest or gnu

Wildebeest

Best known for the annual migration in the Serengeti and Masai Mara parks of East Africa. However they are widely spread across African safari countries. They have the nickname Harley Davidsons because their warning call sounds like the motorbike!

Sable

Sable

A beautiful species with a fare share of chutzpah. It's not the type to make a run at the first sign of trouble. Instead, it will defend itself with that lovely pair of horns unless it sees a way out.

Kudu Bull

Kudu

You would also pose for photos if you had such an impressive set of armour! The age of a kudu bull can be determined by the number of curves its horns have.

Gemsbok

Oryx (Gemsbok)

A very interesting antelope - its body is a well designed machine that can handle extremely dry conditions. It has a beautiful pair of straight horns that even lions are wary of.

Klipspringer

Klipspringer

If you know where to look, chances are good that you might see klipspringer on safari. You won't get a picture of one slipping on the rocks though, for their hooves were especially designed for a "hard" life.

Waterbuck

Waterbuck

A gregarious buck with a distinctive white ring on its backside which makes it quite an interesting photographic subject. Look for them near water.

Eland

Eland

The largest of all the African antelope.

Dik Dik

Dik-dik

My, what large eyes you have! The dik-dik is definitely one of the smallest that will feature in your antelope pictures portfolio, if not the smallest. They also blend in well with their shrub land habitat, making a dik-dik picture a prized possession.

Springbok

Springbok

The ultimate safari photo of this African gazelle is one where it performs its "pronk" show by jumping and hopping around while displaying its fluffed up snow white tail.