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Black Lechwe Hunting In Africa

Hunt this impressive medium-sized antelope sporting impressive horns of up to 37 inches!

The black lechwe (Kobus leche smithemani) is a medium-sized antelope inhabiting the wetter areas of Africa. Found in Zambia’s Bangweulu region, Namibia’s Etosha National Park as well as the Okavango Delta in both Angola and Botswana and the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in Botswana, the black lechwe is a popular African plains game trophy. Their conservation status with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is “near threatened.”

The black lechwe is known to inhabit areas such as swamps, marshes, floodplains, and flooded grasslands, where they are close to food and water sources. Being herbivorous, they feed mainly on grasses and water plants. They will graze in the water, feeding on several pounds of foliage daily. They are opportunistic feeders who will consume a variety of foods if available, including fruit, seeds, and nuts. Due to their large intake of water-rich food, they don’t drink much during the rainy or wet season, but during the hotter, drier months they drink several times a day.

They generally gather in same-sex herds of up to a thousand animals, only mixing during mating season which is November-February. The female gestates for 7-8 months, with a single calf being born between July and September. The calf is born in a dry, sheltered spot and kept hidden for the first 2-3 weeks of life, after which it joins the herd. The calf is weaned at around 5-6 months old.

Predators of the black lechwe, apart from hunters on a game hunting safari, include cheetahs, hyenas, lions, leopards, Nile crocodiles, and pythons.

AT A GLANCE

Name:
Kobus leche smithemani

Male Weight:
130-280 pounds

Male Shoulder Height:
35-39 inches

Horns:
Only males grow horns

Gestation Period:
7-8 months

Range:
Zambia, Angola, Botswana & Namibia

Life span:
15 years

Hunting Black Lechwe

Hunting the Black Lechwe in Africa

Size and Appearance

When game hunting in Africa, look for a medium-sized, antelope with a white underbelly, neck, chin, mouth, and lips. The males are blackish-brown in color and are darker than the females who are more dark brownish-red. Only males have horns that measure roughly 18-37 inches in length. Males are larger than their female counterparts, weighing 130-280 pounds and standing 35-39 inches at the shoulder. Females weigh 110-260 pounds and stand 35 inches at the shoulder. The black lechwe’s hind legs are longer than their front ones. This allows them to run through the wet, soggy marshland to escape predators. When threatened, they also head to the water, as they may be average runners, but their swimming skills are superb, unlike those of most of their predators. Their fur has a special waterproof coating that enables them to run or even swim and it has a distinctive smell. They have spreading hooves which allow them to easily walk in wet and marshy conditions.

Hunting Methods

The black lechwe’s habitat is that of swamps, marshy areas, and floodplains, so ensure that you are adequately prepared for the wet conditions. This member of the African plains game is hunted through the walk-and-stalk method, with the wet conditions of this game hunting safari making it even more exciting and challenging!

Challenges and Rewards

This medium African plains game species remains a good trophy when hunting in Africa, especially if you manage to target a black lechwe bull with impressive horns. The challenge of the hunting safari is to keep your eye on your specific target in between the many that are within the area, with such large herds. With horns up to 37 inches, be sure you choose carefully!

Rifles and Requirements

When it comes to black lechwe game hunting in Africa, any 30-caliber loaded with 165 grains will do the job, but a good choice would be the flatter shooting 7mm Magnum. A .270 with an excellent quality expanding bullet. A bigger caliber, such as the .375 with a 300-grain solid bullet, can also be used.