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Hoofed mammals

Bontebok

Bontebok · Damaliscus pygargus

The bontebok impresses with its sharp colour contrast and is best spotted in the open grassland of southern Africa.

Fact file

Size: Shoulder height up to 1 metre, weight between 50 and 80 kilograms
Males and females: Both sexes have horns, males are usually more heavily built
Sounds: Sharp alarm snort to warn of danger
Diet: Mainly grasses, occasionally herbs and leaves
Offspring: A single calf is born after about eight months, usually at the beginning of summer

How to identify Bontebok

Bontebok stand out thanks to their strikingly contrasting coat. A rich dark brown on their back and flanks forms a strong contrast with their pure white belly, a white marking on the rump and the white stripes on their head and legs. The coat gleams in the sunlight, especially in the early morning.

With a shoulder height of around one metre, bontebok look slender and graceful. Both sexes have curved, ringed horns, although those of females are usually a little finer. Their face is unmistakable thanks to the broad, bright white blaze down the forehead.