As one of the rarest antelopes to see in southern Africa, the Sharpe’s Grysbok is a species we are lucky to see fairly frequently at Ingwelala.
With a population estimate of roughly 300 in the Kruger National Park, this secretive, striking antelope is always a special sighting.
At a tiny 45-60cm in height, the Sharpe’s Grysbok (Raphicerus sharpei) is one of the smallest antelopes we see here and is often confused with the Steenbok. Being similar in colour, a gorgeous reddish-brown, it is the finer details that set them apart. A Sharpe’s Grysbok has a rough-looking texture to its coat, with white or grey blotches of hair mottled throughout, making it more difficult to see the lighter underbelly clearly. The Steenbok, on the other hand, has a glossy, smooth coat with a distinct white underbelly, and lacks the mottled patches on the coat.
Although sightings at Ingwelala are more frequent than in most places, this tiny antelope is elusive and as such its behaviours are not well documented in comparison to most others. Although they are mostly solitary and territorial, they are largely nocturnal and as such we do not know many intricacies of this species in general.
Did you know?
With the tiny size of this antelope, and being active during the day and night, the main mammalian predators of the Sharpe’s Grysbok are the Leopard, African Wild Dog, African Civet and even the African Wild Cat. Lambs are absolutely tiny at birth, making easy prey for even the smallest of cats. Given their minute stature, even adults can fall prey to large birds of prey such as Martial Eagles.
Fun Fact:
- There are only two species of Grysbok in South Africa - this species and the Cape Grysbok, found in the Western Cape. Studies are still underway to determine whether the Sharpe’s Grysbok found in the Eastern Cape is different to the Sharpe’s Grysbok found here.
Words by Tess Woollgar. Images courtesy of Gareth Owens and Chad Cocking