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Roan Antelope

South Africa has become the choice for many travellers when it comes down to taking a well-earned vacation. Blessed with gorgeous natural spectacles and a favourable climate, South Africa is world-famous for its excellent wildlife parks and nature reserves. Game viewing is a popular past time in this neck of the woods with the iconic Kruger National Park being one of the Republic’s top-rated destinations.

While known for its Big 5 viewing opportunities, the Kruger Park, situated in the province of Mpumalanga, is also home to a kaleidoscope of different animals especially the various members of the interesting Antelope family.

One of these available to view is the Roan Antelope. Visitors to the park are likely to spot these fawn-coloured animals during the early hours of the day as they are active then and a good way to distinguish them from other antelopes are by the distinctive black and white facial marks they have on their faces. Other physical features include long tufted tails and heavily ringed scimitar-shaped horns. The Roan Antelope has been described as a fairly unwary sort of animal who will run away from a predator for a little bit before stopping to search out any more danger.

When the animal is feeling really pressured, it can reportedly run up to 57km/h for long periods of time. When it is cornered, the Roan Antelope is known to defend itself vociferously using its sharp horns as an effective weapon during battle. Unfortunately, largely due to hunting efforts, the Roan Antelope is one of the more endangered and rare antelope species with just 70 members living in the Kruger National Park. Rigorous conservation efforts by the Park have helped the antelopes survive total extinction and it is a privilege for visitors to view these semi-gregarious animals living and interacting in a natural habitat.