Similarly sized to the steenbok, the oribi is classified as a small antelope. The oribi’s body is a reddish-brown colour, with a white throat and belly, as well as a few white spots between its nostrils and on top of its head.
In contrast to the steenbok, which has a completely white tail, the oribi’s tail is black on top and white on the bottom. Horns are carried exclusively by males and are straight but typically bend forward at the points.
Ewes are smaller than rams, but they tend to be well-sized overall because of their lack of horns. Contrary to popular belief, oribi do not always travel in isolated groups of one.
During the day, the oribi will laze leisurely, but if disturbed it will spring to its feet and dash away with a bouncy gait.
They thrive in habitats with a combination of short grasses for grazing and tall grasses for shelter from predators and the elements, such as open grasslands or sparsely forested areas. Extremely dependent on water, Oribi typically avoid mountainous terrain.
Since the oribi is most active when it is cool, the optimum times to go on an oribi hunt are likely to be early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Curious by nature, they pause after a safe distance, turn around, and glance back — presenting you with a great opportunity to take your shot.
As with other plains-dwelling antelope, this tiny buck can be shot from quite a distance. In this case, one of the flat-shooters will do the trick. Make sure the calibre you pick has a muzzle velocity of over 2600 feet per second and can shoot a bullet weighing at least 120 grains.
Excellent options include the 257 Roberts, 25-06 Remington, a number of 6.5mm cartridges, and the 264 WinMag. Added to this, .270s and 7mms will also do the job.
Given the potential distance of your shot, a 6X scope or more is recommended. Hunting for meat requires a certain type of shot: a sideways lung shot, with the target placed slightly behind the shoulder.
The high heart/lung shot, taken straight up the foreleg about a third of the way into the body and squeezed, is your best bet if you’re hunting oribi as trophy.
Head or neck shots are not suggested and should be left to the expert “culler” because to the distances required and the relative size of the animal.
As such, the following options are suggested for both rifle and bow hunting:
Rifle:
Bow:
The oribi is one of the elusive Tiny Ten, making oribi hunting a highly specialised pursuit. Hunt24 caters to the experienced hunter who is eager to add to his or her collection with an oribi trophy.
The terrain in which the oribi hunt takes place can be mountainous, making it necessary to cover some ground on foot. Spot-and-stalk tracking for oribi will be your strategy.
Our skilled hunters have years of experience tracking these small, evasive antelope, and we only offer hunting in the best areas where oribi are known to be present, such as the Eastern Cape and Zululand.
Our success rate on these hunts is very high, and it’s worth the four-hour trip to these beautiful regions of South Africa.
