The Springbok is a fast-moving, desert-loving antelope that is found primarily in South Africa. This species is easily recognisable by the acrobatic “jumping show” for which it is known.
Springboks have lightning-fast speeds. They can travel at speeds of up to 80 km/h and make vertical leaps of over 10 metres. When and after the infrequent rains, a species exhibits some fascinating jumping behaviour.
It is thought that these antelope pronk (bend their heads down while stretching their front and back legs) and leap like bouncing balls as an expression of joy, particularly after the rains.
Every springbok emits a piercing alarm call when they feel threatened. While both sexes sport horns, rams’ horns are larger and more ridged.
In particular, the Free State, the North West Province, and the Karoo (a region stretching from inland to the coast) are excellent locations to spot this species because of its adaptations to the dry, desolate terrain and broad grass plains.
The graceful springbok is widespread across South Africa’s game reserves and national parks. Curiously, the Kruger National Park is not included in this.
On the other hand, you can spot them in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve and Aquila Game Reserve near Cape Town in the Western Cape, Addo Elephant National Park just outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, and Pilanesberg National Park in the North West Province.
Being herd animals, springbok travel in small groups throughout the winter and congregate into larger groups during the summer. They can survive on a diet of grass and leaves alone, as the succulent foliage they consume provides all the water they need. However, the will make use of water sources where available.
The term Springbok, which means “jump buck,” describes the animal’s characteristic pogo-stick-like bouncing when scared.
This springbok is the national animal of South Africa. The Kalahari and other semiarid grasslands are ideal habitats for this sociable herd animal.
Given that both rams and ewes have horns, and that herds can be quite large and hence difficult to approach with so many eyes and ears concentrated on the hunter, determining what constitutes a prize in a springbok hunt can be rather challenging.
If you try to walk and stalk this little antelope, you need be prepared to perform some crawling because of his extraordinary eyesight and natural nervousness towards being approached. You can try erecting physical barriers like fences or setting up ambushes on the approaches to food sources and watering holes.
You should take a shot if you get within 300 yards. When stalking springbok, you’ll want to bring along your flat-shooters. Find cartridges that can go faster than 2600 fps when firing a 120-grain expanding bullet.
In terms of ammunition, you can’t go wrong with the 257 Roberts, 25-06, or any of the different 6.5mm options. Choose either the 264 Win Mag or the.270 if you wish to shoot far into the distance. A high-quality 6X scope is a must-have for hunting springbok due to the potential distances involved.
The springbok has a well-deserved reputation for being the tastiest African game available. A meat hunter should take a side-on lung shot, aiming right behind the shoulder. A high heart/lung shot straight up the front leg, about a third to halfway into the body, followed by a squeeze, is the optimal strategy for hunting springbok for trophies.
Only qualified “cullers” should take your headshot. Due to his massive size and acute senses, springbok hunting will always present a formidable task. To be successful, hunters must plan their approach carefully, take advantage of favourable wind conditions, sneak up as close as possible, come prepared with the correct gear, and fire accurately.
Spot-and-stalk is the most popular tactic used by hunters in South Africa when pursuing springbuck. The fact that both sexes of springbucks have horns can make it difficult for hunters to choose a trophy animal.
However, with Hunt24, you will be paired with only the finest and most accomplished professional hunters available for your springbuck safari in Africa. Because of the abundance of wildlife in our hunting locations, you have a great chance of bagging a magnificent springbuck trophy.
Springbuck is a common target for first-time hunters in Africa, and a quest for this animal in South Africa is the stuff of hunting fantasies.
