The Greater Kudu.
Photo Åke Sjöström ©
Also known as the grey ghost of Africa. The Kudu is one of the most majestic antelopes in Africa. It is elegant in the way it moves and if you have the luck of seeing one jump a high obstacle you will most likely stand amazed at the ease in witch it seemingly effortless jumps, lands and continue its elegant run.

The Kudu have good eyesight and is extremely patient, if it has seen you or even thinks it have seen something strange it will stand perfectly still and stare at you endlessly. Roger Comber, a friend and Pro hunter in Namibia, told me that no one wins a staring match with a Kudu. And in most cases he is right. But I have actually outlasted Kudus on two occasions, neither of them lead to a shot. What normally happens if you end up getting unwanted attention is that the Kudu stares at you forever (or a very long time) and then walk away keeping one eye at you at all times, or if you screwed up, you will find that it was not only the Kudu you saw but actually seven or so that now is leaving at high speed.

Now you might come to the conclusion that if the Kudu have seen you and walk away you might just as well give them a good scare so you decide to howl like a enormous wolf just for the fun of it. I strongly recommend that you don’t do that! It will certainly make them jumpy for the next days and it will confirm the fact that there WAS something scary that they saw even if they don’t know what it was they saw. I recommend that you stand perfectly still until they are out of sight then take off you hat and bow slightly. You have been defeated by one of Africa’s most difficult antelopes to walk & stalk. There is no shame loosing to an opponent as good as the Kudu. Learn and do better next time!

Kudus is found in two basic groups:
The most common is the female group with four up to eight animals. Usually it consists of one to three older females, some young females and one or two young bulls. The older females always walk in the middle of the group with the males, the younger females are almost always in the front and back of the group. Sometimes the female group consists of only females.

The male group normally consists of bulls of similar size/age and is normally two to four animals, although I have seen male groups of up to ten animals.
I have on many occasions unknowingly walked right into (within 30 meters) a group of Kudus and spotted one without seeing any other kudus for up to fifteen minutes and started my approach on the bull that I see just to find out that there was five more of them very close.

When browsing they walk very slowly, stop and listen, look around and then take another mouthful of leaves before the take another step. Take your time if you get close, as they are not moving around a lot. They very often walk in a “line” when they feed, not like the Impala that is spread out in a circular pattern. So if you have a good shooting lane and distance at a young female walking by there is a big chance that a bull will show up soon. And if you hesitate in shooting a young bull, DON’T! If you are good enough to walk & stalk ANY Kudu, and manage to shoot it with your bow you have skills that most bowhunters in the world really, really would like to have. Hang the trophy on your wall and be proud!

Kudus often rest in the shade of a tree during the hottest time of day, so if you have spotted a group that you want to get close to and it is getting hot (around noon) you might just hang around and wait until they bed down and the start your approach in the midday heat. They often have one “observer” standing up that is alert and the rest of them is half sleeping. I don’t say it is a walk in the park to get close but it is certainly a lot easier. I have done it a couple of times.
Facts.    
Latin name:   Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Africans name:    
Weight male:   Up to 315 kilo or 565 pounds.
Height of male:   Up to 150 cm.
Horn size:   Average fully-grown male 55 inch but can grow to over 65 inches.
Food:   It is mostly a browser but I have seen them graze as well.
Habitat:   Normally in thick bush or trees but can be found in areas with more sparse vegetation if it is an area with a good view for the Kudu to spot a possible enemy in good time.
Lifespan:   Could live up to 23 years in captivity but in nature normally not more than 8 years.
Predators:   Leopards and spotted hyenas.
Difference between sexes:   Female is smaller and has no horns.