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Bushbuck
Dense riverine forest, thick bush and montane woodland
Habitat
Year round
Best Viewing Season
Least Concern
Conservation Status
Introduction
The most secretive antelope on Tanzania's northern circuit, the bushbuck haunts dense riverine forest and thick montane woodland. Males carry elegant twisted horns and dark coats marked with white spots. Dawn visits to Arusha National Park's forest edge offer the best chance of catching this elusive browser in the open.
Behaviour & Facts
The bushbuck is the most secretive medium sized antelope on the northern circuit. It lives deep inside riverine forest and thick bush, emerging at dawn and dusk to feed on the edges of clearings before disappearing back into cover. Most safari guests drive past bushbuck habitat dozens of times without ever seeing one. Males are strikingly handsome, with a dark chestnut to almost black coat marked with white spots and stripes on the flanks and haunches. They carry short twisted horns with a single spiral. Females are lighter in colour, a warm reddish brown, and lack horns. Both sexes have a distinctive white patch on the throat. Bushbuck are solitary and territorial. You will almost never see more than one or two together unless it is a female with a calf. Males maintain small territories in dense cover and mark them with scent rather than patrolling open boundaries. Their entire lifestyle is geared toward remaining unseen.
Jack Fleckney - Legend Head Guide
They are mixed feeders, browsing on leaves, shoots, flowers and fallen fruit in the understorey of the forest. They also take fresh grass at forest edges in the early morning when dew is still on the ground. Their food sources are all within dense cover, which means they rarely need to expose themselves on open ground. Despite their shy nature, bushbuck can be surprisingly aggressive when cornered. Males have been known to injure hunting dogs and even humans with their sharp twisted horns. They are one of the few antelopes that will turn and fight rather than flee when escape routes are blocked. On the northern circuit, the best chances for bushbuck come in Arusha National Park's montane forest, around the forested craters of Ngorongoro, and in the riverine strips of Lake Manyara. Tarangire holds them in the thicker bush along the river but sightings are less predictable.
Where to see
Bushbuck
in Tanzania
Where to see bushbuck in Tanzania?
Arusha National Park offers the strongest chance because its montane forest is ideal bushbuck habitat and the animals are relatively habituated to vehicles. Lake Manyara's forested groundwater zone and the forested rim of Ngorongoro also hold bushbuck. They are present but harder to find in Tarangire's riverine strips.
Are bushbuck hard to find on safari?
Yes, compared to most northern circuit species. They live in dense cover and are most active at dawn and dusk. Dedicated time in the right habitat with a patient guide gives you a reasonable chance. Arusha National Park offers the most accessible sightings because the forest is close to the road network.
What do bushbuck look like?
Males are dark chestnut to near black with white spots and stripes on the flanks, a white throat patch, and short twisted horns with a single spiral. Females are lighter reddish brown without horns. Both are compact and solidly built, designed for moving through dense bush at speed.
Are bushbuck dangerous?
Bushbuck are normally shy and will flee into thick cover at the first sign of danger. However, when cornered or wounded they can be surprisingly aggressive, using their sharp twisted horns to defend themselves. They are one of the few antelopes known to injure dogs and occasionally humans when escape is blocked.
Do bushbuck live in herds?
No. Bushbuck are among the most solitary antelopes in Africa. You will typically see them alone or in pairs, occasionally a female with a calf. Males maintain small scent marked territories in dense cover and rarely interact with other males outside the breeding season.
How big are bushbuck?
An adult male bushbuck stands around 80 centimetres at the shoulder and weighs 40 to 80 kilograms depending on the subspecies. They are compact and muscular, built for pushing through dense vegetation at speed. Females are slightly smaller and lighter.
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