African wildlife at African Game Lodge

Oryx – Gemsbok

Oryx, a powerfully built antelope and easily recognisable by its magnificent V-shaped pair of horns, as well as its distinctive facial markings is known by the locals as Gemsbok.

With a life span of approximately twenty years this formidable beauty can be found grazing in the early morning and late afternoons on mainly coarse grasses and thorny shrubs, making the Karoo environment their perfect home.

Oryx will drink water if it is readily available, however it is not a necessity of daily life as they can go days without drinking.

Their main predators are lions, wild dogs and hyena but with ringed horns that can reach over 30 inches long, only the very brave of opponents will take their chances against an Oryx.

Springbok

Springbok gets it’s name from being able to leap into the air, clearing a distance of 3,5 metres, and can reach speeds of 80 kilometres per hour, bounding 10 metres in a single leap.

Being a herd animal, they live in groups for protection, eating grasses and leaves. A springbok can go its entire life without drinking water; they receive all the water they need from the moisture in the plants they eat.

The springbok is also honoured and well loved by all South Africans as our National Symbol.

Black wildebeest

Black wildebeest, known as the clowns of Africa. Their most obvious feature is ironically their white tail. When alarmed, the animal swishes it long tail back and forth so vigorously that the loud whistling or hissing sound it creates can be heard for almost a kilometre. This is part of a ritual that may include loud snorting, high kicking with the back legs, and eventually a comical flight in which the herd will gallop off, wheel around, retrace its steps and halt, facing the real or imagined enemy.

Eland

The Eland is the world’s largest antelope and known endearingly as Africa’s cow as they are fairly timid in relation to other antelope. However measuring over 70 inches tall with horns averaging 50” on the males, one is urged not to test the Elands patience.

Like all antelope they are herbivores, using their massive horns to bring branches into their grasp. They have a tendency to fight with other males and battle wounds can often be seen on their pelts.

Kudu

We have recently reintroduced Kudu back into the area, which once you experience the grandeur of this animal you will understand why. With more of a grey pelt the Kudu has in many peoples opinion the most beautiful of all antelope’s horns. They are truly spectacular, reaching up to 72”, spiralling towards the heavens. The Kudu understands the splendour of his horns and therefore rarely uses them in conflicts with other males, predators or even in search for food; he rather pushes his head backwards and lays his horns on his back to move through the dense bush of the Karoo.

Baboons

These joys of playfulness in Africa travel between African Game Lodge and the other farms throughout the year reaping the benefits along the way. They stop off at the fruit farms to collect their healthy pickings and then seek seclusion with us.

Their bellowing calls can be heard coming from miles away interacting with each other as they are incredibly social creatures and rely on one another not only to survive but for companionship.

Zebra

There are two main breeds of Zebra, the Cape and Burchell Zebra. Here at African Game Lodge you will see the Burchell variaty.

The Zebra is a uniquely attractive animal, which is part of the horse family and stay in a close herd. The reason behind this is that they confuse their predators as they cannot distinguish one Zebra from the other and therefore cannot attack.

There are many theories as to why Zebras have stripes but no concrete reason has been stated to date, but one thing can be said that no two Zebras have the same stripes much like a fingerprint on humans.

Bontebok

Bontebok, which are indigenous to the Klein Karoo, were brought to the brink of extinction in the 19th century by over hunting and inter-breeding with the well-known Blesbok. Now, thanks to a group of far-sighted farmers who protected a handful of survivors, they have been removed from the endangered list.

African Game Lodge understands the importance of giving animals at risk the land and safety they deserve and require for breeding, thus that this near extinction will never happen again.