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Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger)

Classification
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Hippotraginae
Genus: Hippotragus

Other names
Afrikaans: Swartwitpens
French: Hippotrague noir
German: Rappenantilope
Dutch: Sabelantilope
Portuguese: Antílope do sable

There are 4 subspecies of Sable Antelope: Zambian (Hippotragus niger kirkii), Common or Southern (Hippotragus niger niger), Eastern (Hippotragus niger roosevelti), and the Giant or Angolan (Hippotragus niger variani).

The species is mostly known by its English name, "Sable" - meaning somber or dark, it refers to the species’ beautiful dark coat.

The Sable Antelope stands 120 to 140 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh 200 to 270 kilograms, males being larger than females. Female Sable Antelope are chestnut to dark brown darkening as they mature, while males are chestnut to jet black, darkening as they age. Both sexes have a white underbelly, white cheeks and a white chin. They have a shaggy mane on the back of their neck. Sable have ringed horns which arch backward, in females these can reach a metre, but in males they can reach over one and a half metres.

Habitat
Sable inhabit dry open woodlands and medium tall grass savannas. They generally avoid dense woodlands and short grass savannas. They are diurnal but are less active during the heat of the day.

Reproduction and social life
Sable form herds of ten to thirty females and calves led by a single male. Sable Antelope males will fight among themselves; they drop to their knees and use their horns.
Single young are born any time of the year. The gestation period is about 9 months.

Conservation status
The Kirki, Common, and Northern subspecies are listed in the lower risk category. The Giant Sable Antelope is listed in the critically endangered category.

Has anyone had recent sable antelope sightings? Over the past few decades, I have had several such lucky encounters, and mainly in these areas:

1. On the dirt road just south of Nhlanguleni picnic spot

2. Jones' dam area between Skukuza and Tshokwane

3. Shitlhave dam near Pretoriuskop

Anyone of seen these magnificent creatures somewhere else?

Two weekends ago on the Mlondozi dam road, a first for me in the Kruger in over 20 years:-)

Pretoriuskop area is too densely vegetated for good sightings - grass too long. I suggest taking the dirt road up from Jones' dam (just off tar road between Skukuza and Tshokwane), drive up to Nhlanguleni and Muzandzeni picnic spots. This area is quite promising for sable sightings, maybe better even in the winter, around the big dams in mid-morning. The herds seem to come drink here, and then swiftly move back into the bush without delay. Patience is a virtue, as always...

Last February we saw some near Pretoriuskop, not too far off, but just far enough that I couldn't get any decent shots of them unfortunately.

We have had good sitings at Punda on the tar between Punda and Pafuri. Pretoriouskop has also been good to us. On the dirt road to Phalaborwa gate also.

Try not seeing one for 15 years..

But what you say it so true madash. Every animal sighting is amazing...if you have been there once or 100 times, it will always be amazing...sigh...wish I was in the park now.

For sable try the dirt road between the Skukuza-Tshokwane tar that heads northwards to Muzandzeni and Nhlanguleni picnic spots, passing Jones' dam, Manzimhlophe. It is a fairly quiet road, but apart from sable I've seen lion, elephant, buffalo herds and white rhino there.

I was once lucky enough to spot a little herd of tsessebe near Numbi gate! In the north, between Mopani and Shingwedzi, it is quite easy to see tsessebe, though. I once saw my only roan antelope ever there, too.... I have also encountered tsessebe north of Lower Sabie.

Talking about rare antelope, I have seen a Liechtenstein's hartebeest near Pretoriuskop on the Voortrekker road. On the same road, I have seen herds of eland too.

Especially for u W@H. I Got to c this near the Napi boulder.

Spoke to KNPS and he advised ok to post this pic.

Just to make you all a bit more jealous ... not only do they see great animals, but they can take brilliant pictures as well.



PS: I put the Copyright there .. just to acknowledge the photographer ...

Almost every time I visit the park with my grandfather we manage to get some sable on this road. We did so again in Feb 2004, the most recent trip with my grandfather. Saw a group of between 20-30 sable.
We have also on numerous occasion found a big herd of buffalo on this same road. Saw them again 2 weeks ago when I was there for the day. In excess of 100 buffallo. Sometimes there are more, can't always see the whole herd.

Saw a lone Sable on Voortrekker road, just before the turn off to Jock's birthplace, in July last year.
Also saw 2 Roan on the H1-1 near Napi a day or two before.
And we saw a pack of Wilddogs lazing on the H1-1 about 10 km from P/kop on the same day we saw the Sable.
Guess we were quite lucky

Now if I can only find a Rhino!!!!

I've had some excellent luck with sable (one of my favaourite animals to view in the park, along with serval).

Anyway the west of the park, offers reasonable opportunities. Particularly near any permanent water sources, which these antelope are highly dependent on.

1. Pretoriuskop area
2. Jones / Manzimlopho Dams ,West of Tshokwane
3. Sable Dam
4. Punda Maria area, main road to Pafuri

It's encouraging to hear that Roan have been seen near P/kop. I thought that this population was extinct. The only places that I have seen roan in the park is in the north. Nshawu Dam, near Shingwedzi and then heading north to Pund Maria and Pafuri.

Only ever seen one Lichtensteins, on the main road heading towards Pafuri.