22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - COMMON WATERBUCK (FEMALE) (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ssp. ellipsiprymnus)

Common waterbucks (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) are large, water-dependent African antelopes easily identified by their shaggy, grey-brown coats and a distinctive white ring around their rump. They live in savannas and woodlands, rarely venturing far from water, and use thick, oily, waterproof hair to stay dry. 

Here are some key facts about waterbucks:

Appearance & Size: They stand about 50 inches at the shoulder and can weigh up to 660 pounds. Only males have long, ringed, spiral-shaped horns that can reach 40 inches in length. 

Unique Marking: The white ring around their rump is thought to serve as a "follow me" signal to others, helping keep herds together in thick bush. 

Water Dependency: Waterbucks are rarely found far from rivers, lakes, or swamps. They are strong swimmers and will enter deep water to escape predators like lions, leopards, or crocodiles. 

Habitat & Behavior: They are not migratory and prefer to live in areas with thick cover. They are social animals found in herds (nursery herds or bachelor herds). 

Diet: Waterbucks are grazers that eat coarse grasses, typically feeding in the early morning and late evening. 

Scented Coat: Their coats secrete a musky-smelling oil that acts as a water repellent, which was once thought to deter predators. While this oil can make their meat taste unpleasant, it doesn't prevent predators from eating them. 

Lifespan: They live for roughly 11-15 years in the wild, and up to 18 in captivity. 

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - COMMON WATERBUCK (FEMALE) (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ssp. ellipsiprymnus)

The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa. It is in the genus Kobus of the family Bovidae. It was first described by Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1833. Its 13 subspecies are grouped under two varieties: the common or ellipsiprymnus waterbuck and the defassa waterbuck. Their coat colour varies from brown to grey. The long, spiral horns, present only on males, curve backward, then forward, and are 55–99 cm (22–39 in) long.

Waterbucks are rather sedentary in nature. As gregarious animals, they may form herds consisting of six to thirty individuals. These groups are either nursery herds with females and their offspring or bachelor herds. Males start showing territorial behaviour from the age of five years, but are most dominant from six to nine. 

The waterbuck cannot tolerate dehydration in hot weather, and thus inhabits areas close to sources of water. Predominantly a grazer, the waterbuck is mostly found on grassland. In equatorial regions, breeding takes place throughout the year, but births are at their peak in the rainy season. The gestational period lasts 7–8 months, followed by the birth of a single calf.

Waterbucks inhabit scrub and savanna areas along rivers, lakes, and valleys. Due to their requirement for grasslands and water, waterbucks have a sparse ecotone distribution. The IUCN lists the waterbuck as being of least concern. More specifically, the common waterbuck is listed as of least concern, while the defassa waterbuck is near threatened. The population trend for both is downwards, especially that of the defassa, with large populations being eliminated from certain habitats because of poaching and human disturbance.

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - COMMON WATERBUCK (FEMALE) (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ssp. ellipsiprymnus)

The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa. It is in the genus Kobus of the family Bovidae. It was first described by Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1833. Its 13 subspecies are grouped under two varieties: the common or ellipsiprymnus waterbuck and the defassa waterbuck. Their coat colour varies from brown to grey. The long, spiral horns, present only on males, curve backward, then forward, and are 55–99 cm (22–39 in) long.

Waterbucks are rather sedentary in nature. As gregarious animals, they may form herds consisting of six to thirty individuals. These groups are either nursery herds with females and their offspring or bachelor herds. Males start showing territorial behaviour from the age of five years, but are most dominant from six to nine. 

14-11-1993 MOUNTAIN LODGE, KENYA - COMMON WATERBUCK (FEMALE) (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ssp. ellipsiprymnus)

The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa. It is in the genus Kobus of the family Bovidae. It was first described by Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1833. Its 13 subspecies are grouped under two varieties: the common or ellipsiprymnus waterbuck and the defassa waterbuck. Their coat colour varies from brown to grey. The long, spiral horns, present only on males, curve backward, then forward, and are 55–99 cm (22–39 in) long.

Waterbucks are rather sedentary in nature. As gregarious animals, they may form herds consisting of six to thirty individuals. These groups are either nursery herds with females and their offspring or bachelor herds. Males start showing territorial behaviour from the age of five years, but are most dominant from six to nine. The waterbuck cannot tolerate dehydration in hot weather, and thus inhabits areas close to sources of water. Predominantly a grazer, the waterbuck is mostly found on grassland. In equatorial regions, breeding takes place throughout the year, but births are at their peak in the rainy season. The gestational period lasts 7–8 months, followed by the birth of a single calf.