Impala

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.