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Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger)

THE HERBIVORES AND OMNIVORES

Sable Antelope

Poised with majestic bearing and attired in a formal coat of resplendent black and white, the sable antelope is unmatched by any other animal for sheer grandeur and magnificence. A large, truly noble antelope, it is somewhat higher at the shoulders than at the rump and its strong neck proudly supports the great sweeping horns. These thick and formidable weapons are curved back over the body in an imposing arc, rippled by indented rings for the greater part of their length. Females have shorter horns, not as strongly curved as those of the male.

Full-grown males have a shining black coat with strongly contrast ing pure white areas on the belly, rump and face. Females are more variable, but a glossy chestnut-brown tends to dominate in their coats. Immature animals are generally light brown.

About 1 900 sable are distributed throughout the length of the area, in open bushveld away from the dense forests or sparsely covered plains. They feed on both leaves and grass and are usually found in herds of up to 30.

The gravel road which travels past the Hlangulene and Mzanzene picnic-sites, the circular drives around Pretoriuskop and the road between Phalaborwa and Letaba are ideal for sighting herds of sable.