White-flanked impala are an uncommon colour variation that are typically developed specifically by breeding Impala with these rare genes. Leucitic, which refers to an animal that retains some of the species’ original colour and has normal-coloured eyes, distinguishes them from true albinos.
Without their natural camouflage, these animals frequently do not survive for very long in the wild, where there are enormous predators. On a few game ranches around the nation, white-flanked Impala are sporadically found.
The head of this elegant medium-sized antelope ram is framed by lovely lyre-shaped horns. Ewes are slightly smaller than males and lack horns.
The white-flanked impala enjoys grassy marshes, woods, and bushveld close to water because it must drink every day. It changes from being a grazer to a browser depending on the time of year and surroundings.
Males break into territorial and bachelor groups during the wet season, while females are divided between the two. They begin mating in the month of May, and a white-flanked impala’s average gestation period is six to seven months. If the circumstances are not ideal, birth can be delayed for up to 30 days.
Intense fighting between dominant males takes place during the rut, which happens between full moons. During the mating season, these males will gather in compact, easily defendable areas. They will make an effort to mate with any female that wanders into their territory and chase out any other males that might be nearby the females.
The lone faun will eventually join a group after a few months, only returning to its mother when it needs to breastfeed or flee from predators. When a male faun reaches sexual maturity, the herd drives him out.
Frequently, impala herds will go out foraging in the morning, late in the day, and at night. White-flanked impalas can jump over obstacles as high as 3 metres and run at speeds of over 48 km per hour when startled, including other impalas and bushes.
Impala is the most sought-after prize among foreign hunters in South Africa. Due to their scarcity and rarity, it can be difficult to find a truly outstanding White-Flanked Impala trophy, presenting a unique and interesting challenge.
An impala is a graceful, lovely animal, especially when it is a large, mature buck with horns that resemble a lyre. Throughout the animal’s lifespan, these horns continue to develop and create a magnificent prize.
Impalas live in habitats resembling shrub and savannah, where a hunter and a PH can see far enough to locate the animals and still have enough cover to stalk them. Although impalas can be active both day and night, they are most noticeable in the morning and in the evening.
Impala is of the greatest quarries for spot-and-stalk hunting because of this behaviour. The impala herd creates a close-knit group when they are scared, making it simple to lose sight of the trophy you have selected. Additionally, the bullet may easily pass through your target and strike an impala standing behind it.
Impala can leap zigzag, which makes it a bad idea to shoot them as they’re running away from predators.
An Impala never travels more than a short distance from a fixed water source and needs to hydrate frequently. A bowhunter therefore has the chance to pursue this animal from a ground blind or tree stand set up above a watering source.
The .243 Winchester is a great choice, especially when loaded with a 95-grain SST bullet travelling at 3196 feet per second.
White-flanked impala can be taken with any rifle suitable for plains game in Africa, from 7mm up to the 30 calibres; this is true even if the shot isn’t perfectly placed.
A powerful shot to the chest or lungs can kill a white-flanked impala. Aim about a third of the way up the impala’s body and slightly behind it to strike its lungs. The best time to shoot the neck is whenever the opportunity presents itself. One should only attempt a brain shot on an African impala if they are an experienced hunter or professional culler.
Antelope hunters won’t regret booking a trip to South Africa with Hunt24 in order to pursue a white-flanked impala. Our impala hunts are a one-of-a-kind experience, as we can take you to any part of the nation.
