Afrikaans Name: Njala
Tragelaphus angasii

Statistics:

Horn Length (m only)

General: A smaller model of the Kudu, and the fourth in the series of spiral-horned antelope, after the Eland, Greater Kudu and Bongo, and followed by the Sitatunga, Lesser Kudu and Bushbuck.





Left and Right: Two large rams.






The Nyala ram is of nut-brown to dark brown colour. Immature males have a distinct blueish-grey cast to their skins. There is an irregular number of narrow white stripes on the body, running from the white strip on the back about three quarters of the way down the body. The width of these stripes varies in the same animal, and they are most pronounced in the young rams.

With age, the ram's colour darkens and the stripes fade. The ram has a distinct mane, and shaggy long hair on his neck and under his chest and belly. Bottom of the neck ruff is a white strip, encircling the lower third of the neck. In young rams, this band is often interrupted by dark hair a the very bottom of the neck. A narrow dark patch separates two chevron-like, horizontal white strips between the eyes. White spots on the cheeks, and muzzle and chin are also white. There are usually three white spots on the upper haunch, and the underside of the tail is also white, as is the inside of the thigh. There are four white patches on the insides of the upper legs. The lower half of the legs is a sandy colour. Hooves are black. The body is very narrow in relation to its depth.



Left: Note absence of dark back stripe on full-grown female.


Right: Note dark ridge strip and very bushy tail on young female.








Left: Male and female are about as different as chalk and cheese!



Right: Note how narrow the body is.






Except for the shape, females are entilrely different! The body colour is a light orange, shading to a light orangy-brown in older animals, and sandy on the legs. In young females, the neck ridge is dark brown instead of the white of the male, and the tail is much bushier, with the long white hair on the underside of the tail forming a white fringe on the outside. In older ewes, the brown back ridge disappears, and the tail is not as bushy, showing less white at the margin.

The white body stripes are very pronounced and are present from the forward edge of the chest to the end of the body, though they are often absent from the haunches. As in the male, the width of these stripes varies in each individual. Most stripes are rather narrow, but one or two can be up to about 10mm wide. Nor are they evenly spaced. The number of stripes is highly variable, and I have counted from 10 to 16! Other white markings are the same as in the male, but less pronounced.

Food: Mostly leaves, but fresh, green grass is also taken. As with all the other browsers, flowers, fruit and seed pods are popular.

Habitat: Thick bush in dry country, provided there is permanent water.

Sounds: A loud bark, similar to that of a kudu, but not quite as loud, though somewhat stronger than that of a bushbuck.

Habits: Both diurnal and nocturnal. Move freely during the day, but rarely stray far from cover. Females and immature males form loose groups ranging to small herds, with or without a dominant male in attendance. Otherwise, mature males are solitary or move in pairs, or attach themselves to other animals, notably Impala. Baboons are also often found in such mixed groups.This is done for mutual protection. Females and young males move freely between groups.



Left: Two ewes drinking and a yearling walking up.



Right: Young ram in Mopani scrub. He's only 10m in, and already hard to spot!


Where persecuted, Nyala are exceedingly shy and secretive, and become almost totally crepuscular and nocturnal. So much so, that their presence in a particular area is often not suspected! For instance, in the early years of the Kruger Park, no-one realised that there was a considerable population of Nyala in the north of the Park, particularly along the Pafuri and Limpopo Rivers!

So Nyala are usually difficult to hunt, but that adds to the attraction. When you succeed, you have a magnificent trophy, very tasty meat, and an attractive, durable hide. You will also know that you have earned your trophy!

Range: From the St. Lucia area of KwaZulu/Natal up to and along the Limpopo. Thence north to eastern and northern Zimbabwe and on into Malawi. Nyala have been introduced to a number of game raches in South Africa, outside their natural range.

Endnotes:
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