Kafue Lechwe Safari Hunting in Zambia

The Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis), a sub-species of the southern lechwe, is a medium-sized antelope endemic to the Kafue flats in Zambia. A sought-after Africa plains game trophy, this antelope’s status is listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN, and its numbers in the wild are decreasing.

When safari hunting in Zambia, you can find this antelope in a wetland habitat, favoring flood plains bordering swamps, marshes, and rivers, where they are close to both food and water sources. The Kafue lechwe tends to be more active during the early mornings and late afternoons while spending the day resting. Although slow moving on land, they are excellent swimmers that can more quickly in the shallow water to outrun predators or head to deeper waters should they feel threatened.

They are known as opportunistic feeders, consuming a variety of food, including fruits, seeds, and nuts as well as their main food source of grasses and water plants. Although they don’t drink much during the rainy season, they do drink several times a day during the drier, hotter summer months.

Breeding takes place during the dry part of the year when the quantity and quality of the grass is at its worst, but the calf is born when the grass is both good quality and in abundance. The female gestates for 7-8 months, with a single calf being born. 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, and is weaned at about 5-6 months.

Apart from hunters on a game hunting safari, the Kafue lechwe’s predators include lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, Nile crocodiles, and pythons. This Africa plains game antelope uses the water to its advantage and outruns predators.  If the Kafue lechwe feels threatened, it heads straight to the water and will often submerge itself so that just its nostrils are sticking out, to evade predators or threats.