The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

Oribi

Afrikaans name: Oorbietjie

An Oribi stands in a grassy field and keeps an eye out for potential threats

Oribi

Photo © Steven Herbert

Ourebia ourebi

Interesting facts about Oribi

Oribi are a smallish and attractive antelope. They grow to a height of roughly 60 cm at the shoulder. Male and female are similar in looks but only males have horns.

They are normally found in open areas with short grass and are always on the lookout for predators. Oribis can run at speeds of up to 50 km/h if necessary.

In South Africa they are mainly found in the eastern regions of the country. They do, however, have a widespread distribution in sub-Saharan Africa.

Oribi mainly feed off short grass but will eat other plant material if grass is in short-supply. They are normally seen in small herds that comprise of one male and a few females.

References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Eastern Cape Coast - Author: R. Lubke, F. Gess & M. Bruton - Published: 1988 - Page: 294

A Field Guide to the Mammals of Africa including Madagascar - Author: Theodor Haltenorth and Helmut Diller - Published: 1980 - Page: 54

A Field Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Southern and East African Wildlife - 3rd - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 2000 - Page: 93

An Introduction to the Larger Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Joanna Dalton - Published: 1987 - Page: 242

Chris and Tilde Stuarts Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 1st Edit - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1988 - Page: 216

Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1997 - Page: 186

Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 2001 - Page: 216

Field Guide to the Mammals of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. de V. Pienaar et al. - Published: 1987 - Page: 121

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 416

Kruger National Park Questions and Answers - Author: P.F. Fourie - Published: 1987 - Page: 109

Land Mammals of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Reay HN Smithers - Published: 1986 - Page: 174

Maberlys Mammals of Southern Africa - Revised edition - Author: Richard Goss - Published: 1986 - Page: 269

Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Burger Cillie - Published: 1987 - Page: 111

Mammals of the Kruger and other National Parks - Author: The National Parks Board - Published: 1980 - Page: 100

Questions and Answers - Endangered Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: John Comrie-Greig - Published: 1992 - Page: 19

Signs of the Wild - 3rd Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Published: 1986 - Page: 163

Signs of the Wild - 5th Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Published: 1996 - Page: 146

South African Animals in the Wild - Author: Anthony Bannister - Published: 1985 - Page: 48

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 70

Southern Africas Threatened Wildlife - Author: John Ledger - Published: 1990 - Page: 32

The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Burger Cillie - Published: 2011 - Page: 52

The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa - Author: P. Briggs - Published: 2020 - Page: 334

Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Published: 2000 - Page: 111

What Antelope is That? - Author: Paul Rose - Published: 1967 - Page: 29

Wild Ways - 2nd Edition - Author: Peter Apps - Published: 2000 - Page: 160

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 238


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List of South African Mammals

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