• Mammals |
  • Other antelope |
  • Bushbuck

 

Bushbuck

(Tragelaphus criptus)

lion

Bushbuck look similar to nyalas, but are slightly smaller, don't have stripes on their sides and have smaller horns (males). They prefer very dense vegetation, associated with riverine habitat. They can also become rather tame around people, and the best places to see them up close are in Letaba camp and Timbavati picnic site where they walk freely among the visitors. Please don't feed them or try to pet them. They may get a fright and injure someone!

Male
Female
bushbuck male bushbuck female
Shoulder height:

±80cm / 32in

 Shoulder height:

±70cm / 27.6in

Weight:

±45kg / 99lbs

 Weight:

±30kg / 66lbs

Features:

Larger and darker coloured than females, and has horns

Features:

Smaller than males with a lighter, reddish-brown colour –no horns


More bushbuck facts:

Habitat:

Bushbuck are generally found along rivers in the Kruger National Park

Active:

They are most active at night, but also on overcast days

Food:

Mostly leaves, but also grass

Herds:

They usually walk alone, but small herds of 5 or 6 may be found together

Gestation:

±180 days

Calves:

One

In Kruger:

To learn more about how to find bushbuck in Kruger, check out the right-hand sidebar.

 


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How to find bushbuck in the Kruger National Park:

waterbuck

Stay at these camps:
Letaba
Skukuza
Punda Maria

Drive these roads:
H4-1 tar road
S63 gravel road
S56 gravel road

Top tips:
If you really want to see bushbuck up close, stay in Letaba camp, where there are many semi-tame ones.

Drive along rivers with dense vegetation on their banks to give yourself a good chance of seeing bushbuck.

Driving slowly will increase your chances of seeing this shy and well camouflaged antelope.

Check out our Kruger antelope gallery:antelope gallery



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