The Hartebeest: A Complete Guide to Africa’s Speedy Survivor
If you spot an antelope in the African savanna with a remarkably long face, high shoulders, and a sprinting speed that rivals a racehorse, you are looking at the hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus).
Known to early Dutch settlers as the "deer beast" and to many people in East Africa as the kongoni, the hartebeest is an evolutionary marvel. While it may look awkward when standing still because of its sharply sloping back, it is, in fact, one of Africa’s most efficient and enduring runners.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the hartebeest—from its unique biology and genetics to the conservation status of its endangered subspecies.
What is a Hartebeest?
The hartebeest is a large African antelope belonging to the family Bovidae. It is a specialized grazer found mainly in grasslands, open woodlands, and savannas.
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Taxonomically, hartebeests belong to the tribe Alcelaphini, making them close relatives of the wildebeest and the tsessebe. Although they were once among the most widespread large mammals in Africa—ranging from the Mediterranean fringe in the north to the Cape in the south—their populations today are fragmented and unevenly distributed.
Key Physical Characteristics
You can identify a hartebeest by these distinctive features:
The Long Face:
They possess an extremely narrow and elongated rostrum (snout). This specialized shape helps them selectively crop high-quality grass from dense stands, allowing them to feed on nutrition other antelopes cannot reach.
Horns:
Both males and females carry heavily ringed horns that rise from a single bony base. Depending on the subspecies, these curve in broad “V”, “U”, or open “S” shapes.
The Sloping Back:
Their shoulders are significantly higher than their hindquarters, giving them a characteristic uphill silhouette.
Speed and Endurance:
Despite their unusual shape, hartebeests are among the fastest antelopes in Africa, reaching speeds of 70–80 km/h (45–50 mph). They are famous for a unique "bouncing" gait, which they use to signal to predators that they are too fit to be worth chasing.
The 8 Types of Hartebeest: A Subspecies Breakdown
Scientists today recognize a single living species, Alcelaphus buselaphus, divided into several subspecies.
Interestingly, DNA studies of mitochondrial D-loop and cytochrome b markers suggest the species split into two major lineages—northern and southern—approximately 200,000 to 500,000 years ago.
1. Red (Cape) Hartebeest (A. b. caama)
Status: Least Concern (Population Increasing)
Range: Southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana, South Africa).
Description: The most vividly colored subspecies, featuring a rich reddish-brown coat with stark black markings on the face and legs.
Note: This is the great success story of the species. Thanks to private game ranches and ecotourism, its population has recovered strongly across Southern Africa.
2. Coke’s Hartebeest (A. b. cokii)
Status: Least Concern
Range: Kenya and Tanzania.
Description: Also known locally as the kongoni, this is the common hartebeest of the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara. It is the smallest subspecies, with a tawny, lion-colored coat.
3. Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest (A. b. lichtensteinii)
Status: Least Concern
Range: South-Central Africa (Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique).
Description: Some taxonomists classify this as a separate species (Sigmoceros lichtensteinii). It is known for its elegant, "S-shaped" horns and preference for miombo ecosystems and marshy clearings called dambos.
4. Western Hartebeest (A. b. major)
Status: Near Threatened
Range: West Africa (Senegal to Cameroon).
Description: One of the giants of the family, standing 1.4 meters at the shoulder with broad, U-shaped horns.
5. Lelwel Hartebeest (A. b. lelwel)
Status: Endangered
Range: Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia.
Description: A large, reddish-tan antelope. While populations have crashed since the 1980s, strongholds survive in Zakouma National Park in Chad, where intensive protection has successfully stabilized their numbers.
6. Swayne’s Hartebeest (A. b. swaynei)
Status: Endangered
Range: Endemic to Ethiopia.
Description: A dark, chocolate-brown antelope restricted to the Rift Valley. Recent census data offers hope, with the population estimated at roughly 1,500 individuals—with the majority (~1,000) in Maze National Park and around 500 in the Senkelle Sanctuary.
7. Tora Hartebeest (A. b. tora)
Status: Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct)
Range: Eritrea and North-Western Ethiopia.
Description: With no confirmed scientific sightings in over 15 years, it is considered one of the most threatened large mammals on Earth.
8. Bubal Hartebeest (A. b. buselaphus)
Status: EXTINCT
History: Depicted in ancient Egyptian art, the last known individual was shot in Algeria in 1925; it was formally declared extinct in 1994.
Behavior and Ecology
The “Sentinel” of the Savanna
Hartebeests are gregarious, forming herds of 20 to 300 individuals. They are famous for their vigilance; a designated sentry—often a territorial male—will stand on a termite mound to scan for danger while the herd feeds. Other animals, like zebras and wildebeests, often feed near hartebeests to use them as an early warning system.
Diet: The Selective Grazer
Unlike wildebeests that mow down grass in bulk, the hartebeest is a selective feeder. Its narrow muzzle allows it to pluck fresh green shoots from inside tall, coarse grass clumps, enabling it to find nutrition where other grazers might go hungry.
Reproduction: The Hider Strategy
Hartebeests have a unique calving strategy. While wildebeests give birth in groups on open plains, a hartebeest mother hides her single 9 kg (20 lb) calf in dense thickets—a behavior known as “lying out”—for roughly two weeks until it is strong enough to keep pace with the herd.
Conservation Status: A Mixed Picture
The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern, but this is misleading. The status is primarily carried by the thriving Red Hartebeest populations in the south.
Most northern and central subspecies are in a downhill population slide due to habitat loss and competition with livestock. However, the success in Zakouma (Chad) and Maze National Park (Ethiopia) proves that with rigorous protection and community engagement, these tough beasts can thrive once again.
Conclusion
The hartebeest is a powerful symbol of resilience. From its historical depictions in ancient Egypt to the thriving herds of modern Namibia, its story reflects both the fragility and adaptability of nature. While not as famous as the lion, the hartebeest is an ecological engineer—a specialist grazer whose presence is vital for a healthy African landscape.
Quick Facts for Travelers
Best place to see Red Hartebeest: Etosha National Park, Namibia.
Best place to see Coke's Hartebeest: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
Best place to see Swayne's Hartebeest: Maze National Park, Ethiopia.
Swahili Name: Kongoni.
Top Speed: 80 km/h (50 mph).
