Steenbok hunting safaris in Africa

The steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) is a common small antelope, a member of Africa’s Tiny 10 and is found in eastern and southern Africa.  Africa plains game are sought-after animals to hunt in Africa and the steenbok is no exception. Steenboks provide a hunter with a plenty of variations in vegetation when on a hunting safari as they prefer a variety of habitats including semi-desert, open woodlands and thickets, including open plains, savannas and grasslands. IUCN Red List classifies Steenbok as “least concern.”

Steenboks are active early in the day when it is still cool and then again later in the afternoon as the heat subsides. A steenbok is herbivorous and its diet includes leaves, berries, seeds, and grasses. They are mainly browsers but will use their front hooves to dig for roots and bulbs.

They are solitary animals who only come together to mate. The gestation period is roughly 177 days and the female will give birth to one offspring. Steenbok mate at any time during the year that the female is on heat, but there is a peak in births at the start of the rainy season.

Steenboks are territorial and males will mark their territories with urine and secretions from a gland under their chin as well as using dung. Being so tiny, the steenbok has a great many predators. They are hunted by all members of the cat family, jackals, caracals, large birds of prey and snakes.

The little steenbok has excellent eyesight and hearing and is always on alert to ward off any danger. At the first sign of trouble, it will lie low and hide in the vegetation. Should the predator or threat get too close for comfort, they will leap out and run away, using the typical zig-zag pattern to try and evade capture. Their only mistake is stopping at times to look back and see how far away the danger is, and if it is still prevalent.  This behavior can certainly cost them dearly!

To assist in their escape plans, they also commandeer other animal’s burrows or holes. An example of this is the aardvark’s burrow in which they hide.