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Nyala

South Africa’s reputation as a paradise of good weather, stunning nature, and abundant wildlife is unmatched. Famous for its plethora of nature reserves and game parks, scores of travellers descend on the Republic’s shores each year eager to explore and discover one of Africa’s gems. At the heart of South Africa’s dedication to the glory of Mother Nature, is the world-famous Kruger National Park. With a stunning array of animal species and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, the Kruger Park is wildly popular amongst foreigners and locals alike. The Nyala is an imposing member of the Antelope family and is a South African native - its name originating from the local Zulu language. Distributed throughout the country in many private game farms, the Nyala’s numbers are most numerous at the Kruger Park. As this animal is quite secretive and prefers night time to be active, visitors to the park are advised to take a special game drive if they want to see these species in action. The Nyala can be distinguished from other antelope by its shaggy fur coat that has vertical white stripes and spots on its flanks. It features a white chevroned face and has a pair of horns that curve upwards. Visitors to the Kruger Park are likely to find the Nyala in dense woodland areas near water systems as they readily prefer to feed on leaves, flowers, and fruits; in fact, it is their varied diet that probably ensures their continued survival. There are a few interesting facts about the Nyala that park-goers may find useful during their expedition. Juvenile Nyala males tend to look like females; this in effect provides a camouflage protecting the young males against the jealous eyes of the dominant rams. Although the Nyala is a fairly silent animal, it does have use a few noises to communicate with other members. Calls that visitors can listen out for include a throaty sound a mother makes when tending her calves or the warning yelp from a ram to warn the herd of impending danger.