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Impala
Woodland edge, acacia savannah and light bush near water
Habitat
Year round
Best Viewing Season
Least Concern
Conservation Status
Introduction
The most abundant antelope on Tanzania's northern circuit, impala are the engine that drives predator activity across the bush. Their explosive leaping ability and keen senses make them a constant presence on every game drive. Watch for the rutting season from May to June when territorial rams clash horns in dramatic displays.
Behaviour & Facts
The impala is the most abundant antelope on the northern circuit and the animal you will see more than any other after zebra and wildebeest. They live in mixed herds of females and juveniles overseen by a territorial ram, and their numbers are one of the clearest indicators that a given stretch of bush is healthy. Where impala are plentiful, predators are close behind. Their defining physical trait is explosive acceleration. An impala can leap three metres high and ten metres forward from a standing start, changing direction mid air in a way that makes them extremely difficult for a sprinting predator to track. When alarmed, the herd scatters in all directions with high bounding leaps, which creates confusion and buys survival time. Impala are mixed feeders, switching between grazing and browsing depending on what the season offers. In the wet months they eat mostly fresh grass. As the dry season strips the plains, they shift to acacia pods, leaves and fallen fruit. This dietary flexibility is one of the main reasons they thrive across such a wide range of habitats.
Jack Fleckney - Legend Head Guide
The rutting season, which peaks between May and June on the northern circuit, transforms the normally quiet impala bush into a noisy arena. Territorial rams chase rivals, snort, roar and clash horns in fights that can last several minutes. The winning ram holds a territory and mates with the females inside it, but he burns so much energy defending that territory that he rarely holds it for more than a few weeks before being displaced by a fresher competitor. Impala are the base of the food chain for almost every predator in Tanzania. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, jackals, pythons and martial eagles all take impala regularly. Their population absorbs this pressure because females breed reliably every year and calves are mobile within hours of birth. For photographers the impala is often overlooked in favour of larger animals, but a backlit ram with lyre shaped horns against a sunrise is one of the strongest portrait subjects in the bush. Their ubiquity means you have more time and more opportunities to get the shot right than with any rare species.
Where to see
Impala
in Tanzania
Where to see impala in Tanzania?
Impala are present across all five northern circuit parks and you will see them on virtually every game drive. They are particularly dense in the woodland edges of the Serengeti, the acacia belt of Tarangire and along the shore of Lake Manyara. They are one of the most reliably sighted animals on any Tanzania safari.
Are impala easy to photograph?
Yes. Impala are abundant, relatively approachable, and found in good light at all times of day. Their lyre shaped horns and warm colouring make them strong portrait subjects. The challenge is upgrading from a basic record shot to something with real atmosphere by using light and composition creatively.
Why do impala jump so high?
The high bounding leaps serve two purposes. They confuse pursuing predators by scattering the herd in unpredictable directions, and they may also release scent from glands on the hind legs to alert other herd members. A single impala can clear three metres vertically and ten metres horizontally in a single bound.
What eats impala in Tanzania?
Almost everything. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, spotted hyenas, jackals, pythons, crocodiles and large eagles all take impala regularly. Their abundance makes them the primary prey species for most of the Serengeti's predators. Where you find impala, you usually find predators nearby.
Do male impala fight?
Yes, intensely. During the rutting season from May to June, territorial rams clash horns, chase rivals, and defend small patches of bush where females gather. The fights can be loud and aggressive. Rams burn so much energy that they typically hold a territory for only a few weeks before losing it to a fresher challenger.
How many impala live in the Serengeti?
The greater Serengeti ecosystem holds tens of thousands of impala. They are the most numerous medium sized antelope in the region and are found in every habitat except open treeless plains. Their numbers have been stable for decades in well protected areas.
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