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Tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus)

THE HERBIVORES AND OMNIVORES

With long legs and a jaunty appearance, tsessebe are reputed to be the swiftest of the African antelope. A lean athletic body slopes from the high shoulders to the somewhat lower buttocks. The body is a rich plum-brown but there are blackish- brown patches on the face, shoulders and lower rump. Short rippled horns which curve outwards from the head are a feature of both sexes.

Tsessebe prefer the grassy plains and open mopane-scrub country to the north of the Letaba River. The bulk of the roughly 900 population can be found in this area, although scattered herds roam as far south as Pretoriuskop. They are grazers, generally found in herds between two and 20 strong, and often mix with groups of zebra and wildebeest.

The gravel road between Letaba and Shingwedzi, which passes the Shawu and Hlamfu dams, is very good for seeing tsessebe.

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