Lichtenstein’s hartebeests are mostly a yellowish-brown tan colour, except for their bottom, which is a lighter colour. The tips of their tales and shins are black.
Lichtenstein’s hartebeest live in small herds of up to 15 animals. These herds are made up of a dominant male, females and calves. Other mature males roam the bush on their own or form small herds with other single adult male hartebeests.
Hartebeests rest during the day when it’s hot, but become more active as it gets cooler. You’re more likely to see a Lichtenstein’s hartebeest in the early morning or late afternoon when the weather’s cooler. This is especially so in the very hot summer months.
You might even see a male hartebeest standing on top of an ant hill or termite mound. They do this to get a good view of the surrounding area. If you do come across this, remember to look for other members of the herd. They could be very close by!
The animals that hunt Lichtenstein’s hartebeest are:
- African wild dog
- Leopard
- Lion
- Spotted hyena
Lichtenstein’s hartebeest have good eyesight, but a poor sense of smell, so they may not be aware of what’s creeping up on them! This can make it easy for predators to launch an attack from behind!
