INTERESTING
A collection of interesting facts (a mix of serious, practical, and entertaining) about the species found at De La Rouge Game Farm.
BLESBUCK
Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi
BLESBUCK
Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi
Identification:
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Easily recognised by the bold white facial blaze running down the face.
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Both males and females carry ringed horns. Females’ horns are usually slightly slimmer
BLESBUCK
Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi
Behaviour:
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Highly social; form large herds outside the breeding season.
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Territorial rams defend small grazing areas during rut.
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They’re gregarious and form single-sex herds outside the rut; during breeding males hold territories and court harem groups.
BLESBUCK
Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi
Ecology:
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Specialised short-grass grazers; thrive on open plains and burned veld.
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Historically hunted almost to extinction on open plains, they’ve made a huge comeback thanks to private reserves and game-farm breeding.
BLESBUCK
Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi
Fun:​
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Their “white face” once made them easy targets, nearly driving them to extinction — now one of South Africa’s conservation success stories.
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The name “bles” comes from Afrikaans for “blaze” — they have a very distinctive white blaze down the face that makes them easy to spot at distance.
WHITE BLESBUCK
Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi
WHITE BLESBUCK
Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi
Identification:
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A colour variant of blesbuck with a mostly white or cream coat and darker neck/legs.
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Horn shape identical to normal blesbuck.
WHITE BLESBUCK
Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi
Fun:​
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Their striking appearance makes them popular for photography and marketing images.
WHITE BLESBUCK
Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi
Genetics / Breeding:​
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Result of selective breeding, not albinism (they have normal eye colour).
BLUE WILDEBEEST
Connochaetes taurinus
BLUE WILDEBEEST
Connochaetes taurinus
Identification:
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Large head, sloping back, beard, and dark vertical stripes on shoulders.
BLUE WILDEBEEST
Connochaetes taurinus
Behaviour:
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Strong herd instinct; safety comes from numbers.
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Bulls become fiercely territorial during mating season.
BLUE WILDEBEEST
Connochaetes taurinus
Ecology:
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Pure grazers; shape grasslands and stimulate new growth.
BLUE WILDEBEEST
Connochaetes taurinus
Fun:​
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Known as the “clowns of the bush” due to their awkward gallop and sudden direction changes.
BUFFALO
Syncerus caffer
BUFFALO
Syncerus caffer
Identification:
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Massive body, wide horn boss in mature bulls.
BUFFALO
Syncerus caffer
Behaviour:
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Extremely social; herd defence is aggressive and coordinated.
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Old bulls may form bachelor groups.
BUFFALO
Syncerus caffer
Ecology:
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Heavy grazers; create grazing lawns and wallows.
BUFFALO
Syncerus caffer
Fun:​
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Often described as “Africa’s most dangerous game” — they never forget a threat.
BUFFALO
Syncerus caffer
Hunting / Safety:​
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Requires experienced Professional Hunters and strict safety protocols.
ELAND
Taurotragus oryx
ELAND
Taurotragus oryx
Identification:
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Mature bulls darken with age, sometimes appearing slate-grey or black.
ELAND
Taurotragus oryx
Behaviour:
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Dominant breeding males; often solitary or loosely attached to herds.
ELAND
Taurotragus oryx
Fun:​
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Dark bulls look dramatic at sunset — favourites for photographers.
GEMSBUCK
Oryx gazella
GEMSBUCK
Oryx gazella
Identification:
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Long straight horns, bold black-and-white facial markings.
GEMSBUCK
Oryx gazella
Behaviour:
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Confident and defensive; will stand ground rather than flee.
GEMSBUCK
Oryx gazella
Fun:​
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Can raise body temperature to avoid sweating — a built-in air-conditioning system.
GEMSBUCK
Oryx gazella
Ecology:
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Desert-adapted; can survive long periods without drinking water.
GOLDEN WILDEBEEST
Connochaetes taurinus
GOLDEN WILDEBEEST
Connochaetes taurinus
Identification:
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Light golden or cream coat with reduced dark striping.
GOLDEN WILDEBEEST
Connochaetes taurinus
Genetics:
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Colour morph selectively bred; not albino.
GOLDEN WILDEBEEST
Connochaetes taurinus
Fun:​
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Highly eye-catching and often the first animal guests ask about.
GIRAFFE
Giraffa camelopardalis
GIRAFFE
Giraffa camelopardalis
Identification:
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Tallest land animal; unique coat patterns per individual.
GIRAFFE
Giraffa camelopardalis
Behaviour:
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Loose social structure (“towers”); calm and observant.
GIRAFFE
Giraffa camelopardalis
Fun:​
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Their tongue can be over 45 cm long and is dark to prevent sunburn.
GIRAFFE
Giraffa camelopardalis
Ecology:
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Browsers; shape tree growth and open savanna structure.
GIRAFFE
Giraffa camelopardalis
Fun:​
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A giraffe kick can kill a lion — distance is essential.
IMPALA
Aepyceros melampus
IMPALA
Aepyceros melampus
Identification:
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Slender build, reddish coat, black “M” on rump.
IMPALA
Aepyceros melampus
Behaviour:
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Famous for high, twisting escape jumps.
IMPALA
Aepyceros melampus
Fun:​
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Can leap over 3 m high and 10 m long.
IMPALA
Aepyceros melampus
Ecology:
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Mixed feeders; thrive in varied habitats.
IMPALA BLACK
Aepyceros melampus
IMPALA BLACK
Aepyceros melampus
Identification:
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Dark brown to black coat due to melanism.
IMPALA BLACK
Aepyceros melampus
Genetics:
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Rare mutation; selectively bred on some farms.
IMPALA BLACK
Aepyceros melampus
Fun:​
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Often mistaken for a different species by first-time visitors.
KUDU
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
KUDU
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Identification:
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Large spiral horns, vertical white stripes.
KUDU
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Behaviour:
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Shy and alert; prefers dense bush.
KUDU
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Fun:​
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Known as the “grey ghost” due to its ability to vanish silently.
KUDU
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Ecology:
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Browser; feeds on leaves and pods.
KUDU
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Hunting:​
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One of Africa’s most sought-after plains-game trophies.
NYALA
Tragelaphus angasii
NYALA
Tragelaphus angasii
Identification:
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Sexual dimorphism: males dark with stripes and horns; females reddish with no horns.
NYALA
Tragelaphus angasii
Behaviour:
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Shy, forest-loving antelope.
NYALA
Tragelaphus angasii
Fun:​
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One of the most visually striking antelope species.
NYALA
Tragelaphus angasii
Ecology:
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Browser; prefers riverine and dense bush.
RED HARTEBEEST
Alcelaphus buselaphus caama
RED HARTEBEEST
Alcelaphus buselaphus caama
Identification:
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Long narrow face, forward-curving horns.
RED HARTEBEEST
Alcelaphus buselaphus caama
Behaviour:
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Extremely fast and vigilant.
RED HARTEBEEST
Alcelaphus buselaphus caama
Fun:​
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Looks awkward standing still but incredibly graceful at full speed.
RED HARTEBEEST
Alcelaphus buselaphus caama
Ecology:
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Open-plains grazer.
ROAN ANTELOPE
Hippotragus equinus
ROAN ANTELOPE
Hippotragus equinus
Identification:
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Large, horse-like antelope with backward-curving horns.
ROAN ANTELOPE
Hippotragus equinus
Behaviour:
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Territorial and wary.
ROAN ANTELOPE
Hippotragus equinus
Fun:​
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One of Africa’s rarest antelope on private land.
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ROAN ANTELOPE
Hippotragus equinus
Ecology:
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Requires good grassland with nearby cover.
SABLE ANTELOPE
Hippotragus niger
SABLE ANTELOPE
Hippotragus niger
Identification:
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Jet-black mature males with white facial markings.
SABLE ANTELOPE
Hippotragus niger
Behaviour:
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Confident and aggressive when threatened.
SABLE ANTELOPE
Hippotragus niger
Fun:​
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One of the most photogenic antelope species.
SABLE ANTELOPE
Hippotragus niger
Ecology:
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Prefer woodland and water access.
SABLE ANTELOPE
Hippotragus niger
Trophy:​
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Extremely prestigious plains-game trophy.
WARTHOG
Phacochoerus
WARTHOG
Phacochoerus
Identification:
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Facial “warts,” upward-curving tusks.
WARTHOG
Phacochoerus
Behaviour:
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Kneels to graze; uses burrows.
WARTHOG
Phacochoerus
Fun:​
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Runs with tail straight up like an antenna.
WARTHOG
Phacochoerus
Ecology:
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Opportunistic feeder.
WATERBUCK
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
WATERBUCK
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Identification:
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Shaggy coat; white rump ring.
WATERBUCK
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Behaviour:
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Strong swimmers; stick close to water.
WATERBUCK
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Fun:​
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Their oily coat smells strongly — predators dislike the taste.
WATERBUCK
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Ecology:
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Grazers near wetlands.
ZEBRA
Equus quagga
ZEBRA
Equus quagga
Identification:
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Unique stripe pattern per individual.
ZEBRA
Equus quagga
Behaviour:
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Social; often form mixed herds.
ZEBRA
Equus quagga
Fun:​
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Stripes may confuse flies and predators — still debated!
ZEBRA
Equus quagga
Ecology:
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Pioneer grazers; improve pasture for other species.
