The shy but beautiful sable antelope is one of Pilanesberg’s specialities. The sable is a grazer that prefers wooded savannah and is mostly seen in the western section of the park.

Characteristics

At 1.5 metres shoulder height and 230 kg the male sable is quite a stately antelope but the most impressive attribute of this antelope are the metre-long horns. The males have a black coat with white markings and a slight mane covering the strong neck. The females are only slightly smaller and are chestnut coloured.

Behaviour

Sable antelopes live in groups of females with only one bull. Juvenile males leave the groups at the age of 3 years and form groups with other males. When confronted by a predator a sable will confront its opponent and can inflict serious injuries.