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Impala
Within the boundaries of the monumental Kruger National Park, the term Impala refers to the medium-sized antelope originating from the continent of Africa. The Kruger National Park is home to approximately ten thousand herds of Impala, each herd averaging 11 to 12 members.
Impalas are distinguished by their reddish brown coats and white underbellies and feature a characteristic “M” marking on its rear. The males, known as rams, have two lyre-shaped horns that can reach nearly 90cm tall, while the females, called ewes, have no horns. The breeding season for impalas in the Kruger Park, also known as ‘rutting’, begins towards the end of the rainy season in May and approximately lasts for 3 weeks. The foals are born after 7 months with the mother ewe able to delay the birth by an extra month if environmental conditions are harsh. The female impala usually gives birth in an isolated spot away from the herd and will keep the newborn in isolation for a few days or even weeks before returning to the herd.
Impalas are generally dominant amongst species in the savannahs because they can adapt to whatever environment they find themselves in; they can survive in areas where pure grazers cannot. When an impala is frightened by an oncoming predator, a survival mechanism they employ is jumping together as a unit to confuse their attacker; impalas can jump distances of 9m high and 2.5m wide.
While on your visit to the Kruger National Park, you may be treated to the fascinating sight of a herd of impala approaching a watering hole. This display of solidarity serves the express purpose of constant vigilance; many pairs of eyes and ears reduce the risk of an attack on the herd.