The Impala

There are many Impalas in the Nairobi National Park and other parks in Kenya, however they are not found in parks that are in mountainous regions such as the Mount Kenya National Park. They are categorized on the same category as the gazelles, lobs and hartebeests being the most graceful of antelopes and are very alert. To differentiate a male from a female look for the horns; the males have long curvy horns while females have no horns at all.
The black Impala is the rarest of all species with small numbers being found around the southern African region. Females’ gestation period is seven months but they are known to delay giving birth for up to one month if the weather conditions are just too harsh for the young one to survive. The young are then suckled for six months or so with males and females taking a different turn in life. If it is a male, it is chased away from the herd, to go and form a bachelors herd with other young males. The females are left in the herd for longer where the grown up bachelor males start to woe them there by beginning the cycle of life all over again.
Being herbivorous by nature, the impalas are known to feast on shrubs, grass and twigs and berries. Unlike other wildlife, the impalas do not eat their young one even in the driest of weather conditions with the sickest of all being left alone to die a natural death.
At the Kenya national parks, one will be greeted by a spectacle of these jumpy creatures walking around in herds. They can jump to about three meters high as a way of sounding a distress call to other members about any impending danger.
Come and enjoy these simple pleasures of life of observing the wildlife.

Africa Safaris