The impala is the most abundant antelope in South Africa and a staple of any hunting tour in Africa. The black impala, saddleback impala, and white impala are just few of the rare impala species that can be found in South Africa alone.
The African impala is an invasive species that has been introduced to the ecosystems of Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The impala of Africa is often mistaken for the gerund. However, in contrast to the impala, the gerund’s horns are shorter and it doesn’t have any black stripes on the anterior.
Beautiful lyre-shaped horns frame this dapper medium-sized antelope ram’s head. Ewes lack horns and are slightly smaller than males. The golden-brown hides of impalas are stunning and smooth, and both sexes have a distinctive black spot on the back of their lower thighs.
Due to its need to drink daily, the African impala prefers grassy wetlands, forests, and bushveld near water. In different seasons and environments, it shifts from a grazer to a browser.
During the wet season, males divide into territorial and bachelor groups, while females are split between the two. In the month of May, they start mating, and the average gestation time for a female African impala is between six and seven months. Birth can be postponed for up to 30 days if conditions are not optimal.
The rut, which occurs between full moons, is a time of intense competition between dominant males, who will congregate in small, easily defended territories throughout the mating season. They will attempt to mate with any available female that wanders into their territory, and they will drive away any other males who may be in close proximity to the females.
After a few months, the lone faun will join a group, only going back to its mother when it needs to breastfeed or to escape from predators. Male fauns are expelled from the herd after they reach sexual maturity.
Impala herds will often forage in the early morning, late afternoon, and at night. When startled, impalas can run at speeds of over 48 kilometres per hour and jump over obstacles as high as 3 metres, including other impalas and bushes.
Impalas are hunted for a variety of different reasons. Camp meat, leopard bait, and a rite of passage for first-time African hunters are just a few of these.
A wide variety of predators, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and even pythons, prey on the African impala. As a result, impalas are constantly vigilant and aware of their environment.
The African impala will freeze its limbs and look about while listening and searching for danger. If the impala hears a noise, it will not take off across the plains, but rather will head for the nearest deep cover.
During the autumn rut (May in Africa), the largest rams are with the breeding herds, making this the ideal time to hunt impala.
The impala’s acute vision and hearing make it imperative that any attempt at stalking be executed with extreme caution. It takes a lot of effort to approach near enough to an African impala for a shot, as the entire herd is always on the watch for danger.
Additionally, when scared, impalas will group together, making it difficult to single one out. At these times, shooting one animal and having the bullet go right through it to hit another is a common occurrence.
To hunt African impalas, ambushes are another tactic that might be used. They are most active in the early morning and later in the day, when the sun has lost some of its intensity. To increase your chances of hunting an impala, position yourself such that you cross its path on the way to or from its feeding area.
Most African countries permit hunting impala with .22 centerfire calibre rifles, but using a larger calibre will make sure you don’t waste hours tracking a wounded animal.
The .243 Winchester with the 95-grain SST bullet with a load moving at 3196 feet per second is an excellent option.
When hunting impala in Africa, any rifle used for plains game, from 7mm up to the 30 calibres, will save shoe leather if the hit isn’t quite flawless.
Impalas in Africa are vulnerable to a high heart/lung shot. If you want to hit the impala in the lungs, aim a third of the way up its body and slightly behind it. The neck shot can be taken at any point. It is recommended that only a skilled hunter or professional culler attempt a brain shot on an African impala.
If you’re interested in hunting antelope, an impala hunt in South Africa with Hunt24 is a fantastic option. We provide impala hunts across the country, creating an exciting and varied experience.
