The black wildebeest, sometimes known as the white-tailed gnu, is actually quite dark in colour, despite its alternative name. It has a white fluffy tail that is reminiscent of a horse’s tail.
South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho are the only countries in which you can find this even-toed ungulate antelope species. Trophy hunting for black wildebeests has been popular for decades.
Mature males are a dark brown that almost appears black; juveniles, females, and new-born calves are lighter brown or fawn (light yellowish tan).
Black Wildebeest have a huge, wide-set head, a tuft of stiff black hair on the muzzle, a black beard, a long fringe that extends from the base of the neck to the front legs, and a stiff mane at the base of the neck.
Both sexes have horns, although males’ are significantly bigger and thicker than females’; they spiral upwards after growing downwards and forwards.
At first, a calf’s horns will grow straight up, but by the time they’re nine months old, they’ll start to curl. Males can reach 1.2 m in height and weigh up to 205 kg, while females mature to 1.15 m and 130-145 kg.
The black wildebeest is most active first thing in the morning and last thing at night. When threatened, they perform a pirouette and stand with their forelegs on the ground while kicking with their hinged legs. They sprint ahead for a while before stopping and looking in the opposite direction.
When threatened, black wildebeest will snort loudly and make a ge-nu-like sound. They jerk their chin up and produce a loud “hic” sound as well.
The open Karoo and grasslands with nearby water are common places to see black wildebeest. The short grass in these regions not only provides a good food source for the black wildebeest, but also makes it easier for them to keep an eye out for predators.
Because territorial males need unobstructed views of their territories in order to reproduce, open environment with good vision is also crucial for reproductive behaviour.
Breeding herds of black wildebeest typically consist of 10–60 individuals, and within these groups there are three distinct social structures. The female herd consists of adults, sub-adults, and calves. There is also a group of adult and juvenile males known as the bachelor herd.
The adult bull with a territory claims the final one. Whereas female herds are very loyal to their territory, bachelor herds tend to wander. Once the young bulls reach maturity, the territorial bull will drive them from the breeding herd and into the bachelor herd.
Black wildebeest can be seen in large numbers on broad plains, so tracking one down could appear simple at first. In fact, hunting black wildebeest is challenging because of the animal’s acute senses and innate herding behaviour, so catching up to a trophy might be a major task.
The black wildebeest has strange horns, a beard, and nose hair, so that it resembles an ox. The brown body is contrasted with a nearly white tail that gives the black wildebeest a horse-like appearance.
Only in South Africa can you find these peculiar-looking creatures in the wild. Given that both sexes sport horns, it can take some effort to sort out which animals are which.
The ideal time to go after black wildebeest is probably in the morning or afternoon, when the herd is out grazing. When temperatures are mild, they feed at all hours, but when the sun is high, they seek shade.
When mating, startled, or wounded, black wildebeest can become quite violent, thus hunters should proceed with extreme caution.
A .270 calibre with a solid 150-grain bullet is required for hunting black wildebeest in open terrain. Even better would be a .300 magnum or 7mm mag. Use expensive, heavy-for-calibre bullets when targeting a black wildebeest trophy.
Target the area one third of the way up the body, never higher than halfway, by tracking the inside of the front leg. Larger calibres, such as the 9.3mm or the.375, may be necessary for hunting black wildebeest in the bushveld. In this terrain, your Professional Hunter is your best bet for navigation.
Although the black wildebeest might be difficult to hunt, the experience is thrilling and fascinating. We provide excellent black wildebeest hunts in vast, government-owned game reserves. These enormous areas have been home to herds of animals for a long time. Black wildebeest can be hunted completely freely in these wide territories.
In addition to providing exceptional trophies, we also take great satisfaction in providing a genuine hunting adventure for each of our clients. If a black wildebeest trophy is on your bucket list, let our seasoned hunters help you take one home.
