- Baboon
- Buffalo
- Bushbuck
- Cheetah
- Duiker
- Eland
- Elephant
- Giraffe
- Grysbok
- Hippopotamus
- Hyena (Spotted)
- Impala
- Jackal (Black-Backed)
- Klipspringer
- Kudu
- Leopards
- Lion
- Mongoose (Banded)
- Nyala
- Porcupine
- Rhino
- Roan Antelope
- Sable Antelope
- Smaller Carnivores
- Steenbok
- Tssessebe
- Vervet Monkey
- Warthog
- Waterbuck
- Wilderbeest (Blue)
- Wild Dog
- Zebra
Impala (Aepyceros melampus)
THE HERBIVORES AND OMNIVORES
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It is perhaps a pity that these animals are so abundant that their presence becomes monotonous and their grace and beauty tends to be ignored or taken for granted.
The most numerous of the medium- and large-sized mammals, with more than 150 000 impala occurring throughout the Park, they are particularly abundant in the central and southern parts. Commonly found in groups of about 10 to 30 head, there are nevertheless many herds which contain more than 100 of these agile antelope.
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The herd structure varies according to the reproductive phase of the animals. The impala's mating season generally lasts from April to early June, and during these months bachelor herds will form. These are males incapable of securing their own small harem of females. During this mating season dominant aggressive males will fight fiercely with their horns, the two dueling opponents grimly facing each other with lowered heads, horns pointed forward, with sudden rushes they attempt to stab each other, but, almost invariably, the result is a loud clash of interlocking horns. Pushing and wrestling, they will at tempt to unbalance each other. After a while they suddenly separate, their heaving chests fighting for air, acutely aware of each other and awaiting the next rush. Often, having done battle for a while, one of the males will sense that he is the weaker of the two and when an opportunity arises will turn and run. The victor will then gather a small herd of females with which he alone will have the right to mate.
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After the mating season males become less aggressive towards each other and the mating herds and bachelor herds break up to be replaced by mixed herds in which the two sexes intermingle peacefully.
In early November the first of the young impala are born, and lambing continues until about the end of December. Large numbers of these small but delightful impala can then be seen all over the Park.
Only the male impala have horns, and they also emit a loud, deep throated raspy sound which serves to alert the herd. Readied by this warning, the animals will scatter at the least further sign of danger, leaping over shrubs or other obstructions. Occasionally when startled they may run across roads and give displays of very high and graceful bounds, often without any obstruction or other obvious reason to do so.
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