Zingela Safaris

Arid and semi-arid open grassland, scrub, light open woodland, penetrating into savanna woodland. Truly desert adapted, survives in the Kalahari and Namib without water.

Both sexes have horns. Males and females are difficult to tell apart unless the udder or scrotum is visible. Males are slightly and more heavily built than females. Their horns are thicker but shorter and blunt. Spends up to 60% of the day inactive, in shade if possible to save energy and water and to avoid overheating. Body temperature is allowed to rise during the day, then excess heat is lost at night. Grazes for long periods at night when the moisture content of the vegetation is higher. Blood flowing to the brain is cooled by heat exchange with blood flowing from the nasal membranes in a network of vessels called the carotid rete. This cools the hypothalamus, which controls the body's heat balance. Both males and females are aggressive. Blows with the length of the horn and jabs with the tips are common, and Gemsbok usually stay more than a horn's length apart. Herds bunch around calves if predators are detected, and the adults use their horns in defence.

Primarily a grazer, but will browse if grass is not available, and dig for roots, bulbs and tubers. Eats tsama melons and gemsbok cucumbers for their water content. Obtains minerals by eating soil and salt encrustations at water holes.

Single calves are born any time of the year peaking in August to September after a gestation of 261 to 275 days. Females leave their herd to give birth. Calves lie hidden for 3 to 6 weeks. The weight of the bulls can be 240kg. and the cows 210kg. They have a lifespan of around 20 years.