Hartebeest

Scientific name: Alcelaphus buselaphus

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Hartebeest are medium-sized antelopes with a distinctive elongated, narrow face and a pronounced hump over the shoulders. Coat colour varies by subspecies from tan to reddish-brown, with dark patches on the face and legs; males are darker and more heavily built than females.

Size and weight

Males weigh 125–210 kg and measure 205–240 cm in body length; females are smaller at 90–150 kg and 190–210 cm. Shoulder height ranges 120–145 cm.

Habitat

Hartebeest inhabit open savanna, grassland, and semi-arid plains with scattered acacia woodland. They prefer areas with good visibility and access to water, typically at elevations from sea level to 2,500 m.

Distribution

Hartebeest range across sub-Saharan Africa, with populations in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania), Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia), and West Africa. They favour open plains and avoid dense woodland and montane forests.

Diet

Hartebeest graze almost exclusively on grasses, with preference for fresh green growth after rains; they also browse forbs and leaves during dry seasons when grass quality declines.

Behaviour

Primarily diurnal grazers, active in early morning and late afternoon. They are highly gregarious, forming herds of 5–30 individuals; bulls are territorial and often solitary or in bachelor groups, becoming more visible during daylight.

Hunting tips

Look for heavily trampled grazing trails, dung heaps (middens), and hoof prints in soft ground near water sources and favoured grazing areas. Approach from downwind in open terrain, using natural rises and sparse vegetation for cover; hartebeest are alert but predictable in movement between water and grazing grounds. Best stalking occurs during cooler hours when they move through open grassland with minimal cover.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 14 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.