Two of the biggest African antelope species, eland and gemsbok, are both attributed with mythical qualities, and strong connections to their past and habitat. Fossils found in Africa and France of the common eland date back 20 million years. The gemsbok is connected to ancient tales of the unicorn in the legends of Egypt. Both eland and gemsbok are striking in their elegance and proud stance, and are favourites amongst wildlife lovers on safari in Africa.
The handsome gemsbok, Oryx gazella, is the largest species of oryx. Often referred to as "the spirit of the desert" this African antelope is large and muscular, light brownish-grey to tan in colour. The dramatic black and white mask-like face markings, which extend in a black stripe along the bottom of the neck, side of the flanks, and into the top half of the legs, and their long black tails, make the gemsbok one of the most striking antelope species in Africa.
The gemsbok, a desert-adapted antelope, is found in the dry-arid regions of southern Africa. While males can grow to roughly 300kg / 660 lbs, females are smaller, both sexes have magnificent, straight, back-pointing rapier sharp horns. The horns grow up to 85 cm / 33 inches on average and are used for defence against rivals and against predators like lions. The female gemsbok’s horns tend to be more slender but longer. Unlike antlers, the gemsbok’s horns are a permanent feature that grows throughout their lifespan. They feed on desert grasses, thorny shrubs, roots, and tubers to supplement their water intake. Gemsbok can survive for days or even weeks without water and are the ultimate desert survivors.
This iconic African antelope is the national animal of Namibia and can be found on this desert country’s coat of arms. Oranjemund, a desert town at the mouth of the Orange River, is famous for its free-roaming gemsbok which nibbles on the grass in the parks and takes shelter amongst the town's shady trees.
Gemsbok are alert, fast, and feisty. Fortunately, despite being a popular trophy animal hunted for their horns, with around 373,000 animals, they are not considered endangered.
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The eland is the largest antelope species in the world, standing at over 2 meters / 6 ft 5 inches. Taurotragus oryx, the common eland is tawny with white torso stripes and can weigh more than a ton. Yet, for all their hefty weight, an adult can still leap over a 1.5-meter (or higher) fence from a standing start. Being so bulky, however, makes them the slowest antelope species.
Eland belongs to the spiral-horned antelope tribe, Tragelopini, along with kudu, nyala, and bushbuck. The females have slightly longer and thinner spiral horns and their colouring is usually shaded between ochre and tan. The bulls have shorter, thicker horns and are a darker shade that turns to a dark shade of bluish-grey that deepens as they age. All eland sport pendulous dewlaps (a flap of skin) under their necks, usually bigger in the males, which helps with thermoregulation in their hot and arid habitats. These ruminants can be found in grasslands, mountain, and woodland areas, and can survive without drinking water for days or even weeks.
The San people (formerly called bushmen) - the first people of southern Africa - often painted eland in their rock art as beautiful, refined cave paintings. According to their beliefs, the San tribe of the Karoo region believed the mythical eland was God's favourite animal and the first animal he ever created. An animal with great powers, the eland is associated with the sun in African cultures because of its light colouring. They are highly prized for their nutritious milk, large yield of tasty meat, and useful hides.
Eland antelopes are docile and often congregate in herds. Their sheer size makes them one of the sought-after African safari animals to see.
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Known as the “spirit of the desert”, the best place to see gemsbok is unsurprisingly in the arid areas of southern Africa. The best place to see gemsbok is in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa, Namibia, or Botswana.
Though widely distributed throughout southern Africa, eland are shy and reclusive animals. They favour semi-arid environments, savannahs, and open woodland.
When on safari in Africa, the Big 5 animals are at the top of the list, but there is plenty more to see. Revered by the San people, the eland is the biggest antelope in the world, and its beauty, power, and grace make it an African safari must-see. The gemsbok, with its unique desert adaptations, is synonymous with the more arid regions of southern Africa. Both antelope, distinctive and remarkable, are integral to the African safari experience.
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