We saw a number of species of gazelle throughout our trip, but one of my very favorites is the Impala. They are beautiful in form and seem designed specifically for speed and grace.
They are socially divided into two groups. There will be herds of bachelor males who are growing stronger and looking after each other, and there are herds of females led by a single male. These harems can have anywhere up to 40 females and the male is kept so busy looking after them and chasing off other prospective males that they can typically only hold that position for a few weeks before being ousted from exhaustion.
But that splintered social group is clearly successful as they were present in nearly every park we visited and in great numbers. They often travel with baboons as well with each species on the lookout for predators and eating different foods so they are not in competition with each other.
They are socially divided into two groups. There will be herds of bachelor males who are growing stronger and looking after each other, and there are herds of females led by a single male. These harems can have anywhere up to 40 females and the male is kept so busy looking after them and chasing off other prospective males that they can typically only hold that position for a few weeks before being ousted from exhaustion.
But that splintered social group is clearly successful as they were present in nearly every park we visited and in great numbers. They often travel with baboons as well with each species on the lookout for predators and eating different foods so they are not in competition with each other.
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