Species Information

The graceful Impala is a slender, medium-sized antelope so adaptable that it is found from southern Africa to the northern limits of East Africa.

The Impala measures three feet in height. The male horns are shaped like a lyre measuring around two feet. The Impala has brownish-red fur with a white belly. They are fun to watch because of their jump when startled. Many tourist call them Maasai gazelles as they can jump high in a stationary position like the Maasai during their dances. They are found in large numbers in open grassland and bushes.

This species is a survivor. It lives on the African plains where there is seldom rain and where they are under constant attack from lions, cheetahs and many other predators. The impala lives in herds of up to one hundred animals. It is a grazer; it does not have a constant diet as the Impala changes its diet according to the season and the area it is in. Impalas generally eat tender young grass shoots in the wet season and herbs and shrubs at other times. During the dry season they must drink daily.

When the impala eats he usually consumes grass and leaves. Since Africa is full of grasslands the impala has a variety of choices for food. He must drink after his meals, so his feeding ground is usually around a watering hole. When the dry season comes around the impala is able to survive by drinking the dew from the leaves to quench its thirst.

The impala's sense of sight, hearing, and smell are extraordinary. They use these three senses in grazing and most important in defense against predators. The impala has a straight back this acts as a shock absorber when it does its high leaps. The impala also has a built in tracking device, he has a scent gland above his hoof, and the impala is able to lay a scent down for use as a tracking device to find his way back to his herd.

Almost one half of the young do not survive, due to predators.

The young are killed by jackals and the smaller cats, baboons, eagles and pythons. When in danger, impalas will "explode" in a magnificent spectacle of leaping. In their zig-zag leaps, they often jump over and across their companions, probably to confuse predators. They perform a high kick of the hind legs, a movement thought to release scent from the glands on the heels, making it easier for them to stay together.

During periods of intense mating the male vocalizes loudly, making a sound between a lion's roar and a dog's bark. Exhausted by such activity, males seldom can hold their territories for more than a few months at a time.

The impala is not extinct and its numbers are reported to be strong.

Information source: The African Impala,