Africa's Most Magnificent Creature

With its spiralled horns reaching up to 1.8m (6 feet) and its regal stance, the Greater Kudu is often regarded as Africa’s most magnificent creature. In recognition of its stature, the Kudu is revered by many and even adorns the official emblem and logos of SANParks, South Africa’s National Parks organisation.

This reverence also makes Kudu targets for hunters, their horns making prized trophies in their ego-inflated world. You can read more below under “conservation”.

The Kudu appear quite shy, travelling in small herds and often in bachelor groups whilst females were on their own or with one or two other females. I guess that will change by the rutting season, which is April to May. I was there in November.

Kudu Facts

Latin Name – Tragelaphus Strepsiceros
Weight (Female) – 200 kg
Weight (Male) – 250-300 kg
Horns – up to 1.8m or 6 feet
Life Span – up to 10 years in the wild


Breeding – A single young is born anytime during the year, peaking in late summer. Gestation Period – up to 9 months Birth Weight = 16 kg Horns – 125 cm
Habitat – Dense brush or forest
Diet – Herbivorous
Predators – Leopards, Hunting Dogs, Spotted Hyena, Humans

Spotting The Kudu

The current estimate of Kudu in Kruger is around 15,000. In comparison, there are around 150,000 Impala therefore Kudu are much less common to spot so keep your eyes open as they are an absolute treat when you do see them.

We found them mostly in the early morning nibbling fruits and pods from trees and shrubs.

They are quite shy so go easy and quietly observe them.

Conservation

There are only an estimated 100,000 Kudu remaining in the entire world. Unfortunately, these gentle creatures are hunted for their meat. We came across Kudu Bilton which I refused to eat (any Biltong for that matter). In Africa, Kudu are also prized for their horns, which are used as musical instruments, honey containers and as symbolic ritual objects.

Read more on the African Wildlife Foundation site.