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Impala
Aepyceros melampusThe antelope that flies.
The impala is the savanna's gymnast - a slender, reddish antelope that can leap three metres high and more than ten metres long in a single bound, and hit about 80 km/h on the flat. It is also one of Africa's most abundant antelopes, ranging across eastern and southern Africa, with Tanzania's Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara among its classic strongholds.
Impala Quick Facts
What Is the Impala?
The impala (Aepyceros melampus) is the sole member of the genus Aepyceros, placed in the family Bovidae (subfamily Antilopinae, tribe Aepycerotini). It is a slender, graceful antelope famed for its leaping. There are two subspecies: the widespread common impala and the black-faced impala of Namibia and Angola, which is far rarer and rated Endangered.
Its range is eastern and southern Africa - from Kenya and Tanzania through Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and beyond. Tanzania is one important part of that range, not the whole of it; the impala does not occur in West or North Africa.
Why “Impala”?
"Impala" comes from Zulu. The scientific name is Greek-based: Aepyceros from aipys ("high") and keras ("horn") - the high-horned antelope - and melampus from melas ("black") and pous ("foot"), a nod to the black markings on the lower legs.
Signature Features
An impala is slim and reddish-brown above with white underparts, set off by black markings on the thighs, tail and a distinctive black gland stripe on the hindquarters, and a white rump. The give-away is the horns - present only in males: long, lyre-shaped, strongly ringed at the base, 45-90 cm, with two or three twists.
Females are hornless, which is the quickest way to tell an impala from a gazelle: Grant's gazelles, for example, have horns in both sexes.
How Big Is an Impala?
Impalas stand about 75-95 cm at the shoulder and measure 1.2-1.6 m from head to tail. Males weigh 40-75 kg and are noticeably larger and more muscular than females at 30-45 kg. That light, springy build is what makes the acrobatics possible.
Horns & Defence
Only males carry horns. They are lyre-shaped and heavily ridged on the lower two-thirds, smooth at the tips, reaching 45-90 cm with two to three spirals. Males use them to spar and to wrestle rivals during the rut, interlocking horns and pushing. Females lack horns entirely.
Habitat & Range
Impalas need a mosaic of woodland or savanna with scattered trees (especially Acacia) close to permanent water. They avoid both open treeless grassland and dense forest: the trees give cover for hiding newborn calves, and the water lets them drink daily. Across their range they use this tree-and-water interface from the Serengeti to the Okavango.
Impala in Tanzania
In Tanzania, impalas are a woodland-and-water antelope of the northern and southern circuits. The classic, well-documented spots are Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, with strong populations also in Ruaha, the Selous/Nyerere ecosystem, Katavi and Mikumi. Beyond Tanzania, impalas are abundant across Kenya (Maasai Mara, Amboseli), Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi and Uganda.
Serengeti, Tanzania
Open woodland and plains hold some of the largest impala herds, especially around the rut.
Serengeti safariTarangire, Tanzania
Riverine woodland and seasonally dry plains suit impalas year-round.
Tarangire safariLake Manyara, Tanzania
Groundwater forest and lakeshore woodland are classic impala habitat.
Lake Manyara safariBeyond Tanzania
Kenya's Mara and Amboseli, plus southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa) hold vast impala numbers.
Behavior & Social Life
Impalas live in a sexually segregated social system for most of the year. Female herds - adult females with their current and previous young - range from a few animals to over a hundred. Bachelor groups of males keep to themselves. When the rut arrives (typically late rains/early dry season), adult males become territorial: each holds a small area, roars, scent-marks with his forehead gland and dung middens, and tries to herd passing females into his territory to mate. Non-territorial "satellite" males loiter at the edges.
There is no dominant individual steering the herd; groups are fluid and fission-fusion. Alarm is a loud bark or snort, and when a predator appears the whole herd explodes into spectacular stotting leaps - high, arcing bounds that seem to confuse pursuers and signal fitness.
Diet & Feeding
Impalas are mixed feeders. In the wet season they graze on fresh grasses; as the dry season bites they switch to browse - leaves, shoots, forbs, seedpods and flowers - which lets them stay in woodland when pure grazers leave. They are selective and need reasonably good-quality forage, and they drink daily when water is available.
Predators & Defense
Adults fall to lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs and spotted hyenas; crocodiles take them at waterholes. Calves are also vulnerable to jackals, pythons and large eagles. The impala's defence is raw athleticism: it can hit about 80 km/h and, more famously, leap up to 3 m high and 10 m or more long, zig-zagging through woodland to shake off a chase.
Young & Lifespan
A single calf is born after a gestation of about 6.5-7 months (roughly 200 days), timed to the start of the rains when food is flushing. The newborn is "lied" - hidden alone in cover for about a week while the mother returns to nurse; it then joins the nursery herd, is weaned at 4-6 months, and reaches maturity at 1-2 years. Lifespan is about 12-15 years in the wild.
Conservation Status
The common impala is rated Least Concern by the IUCN and is one of the most abundant large mammals in Africa - numbering in the millions, with healthy populations across many protected areas. The black-faced impala (A. m. petersi), however, is Endangered, restricted to Namibia and Angola and far fewer in number.
Impalas tolerate human-altered landscapes better than many antelopes, but they still need the tree-and-water habitat and are locally hit by drought, fencing and hunting. Tanzania's parks (Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and others) protect huge numbers.
Safari Experience
For a Tanzania safari, impalas are almost guaranteed in the right habitat: Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara are the headline spots, with Ruaha and Nyerere also excellent. Look along the woodland edge and near water, especially at dawn and dusk when they feed and are most active. Time your visit near the rut to see males roaring and herding, and keep your camera ready - an impala's launch into a 10-metre leap is one of the great safari sights.
Comparisons
On East African plains the impala is often confused with gazelles. The most common mix-up is with the Thomson's gazelle, but they differ clearly:
| Feature | Impala | Thomson's Gazelle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Aepyceros melampus | Eudorcas thomsonii |
| Horns | Males only (lyre, ringed) | Males only (lyre, ringed) |
| Build | Larger, leaping; tree-associated | Smaller; open-plains grazer |
| Diet | Mixed grazer-browser | Mainly grazer |
| Signature | Black hindquarter stripe; 10 m leaps | Black side stripe; fast runner |
| Tanzania | Woodland + plains (Serengeti, Tarangire, Manyara) | Open plains (Serengeti, Ngorongoro) |
The Grant's gazelle is another look-alike, but its females are also horned and it has the conspicuous white "pants" - features impalas lack.
Did You Know?
10-metre leaps
Impalas can clear 3 m high and more than 10 m long in a single bound, and reach ~80 km/h.
Males only horned
Only male impalas carry the lyre horns; females are hornless - unlike Grant's gazelles.
The "lier"
Newborn calves are hidden alone in cover for about a week, then join the nursery herd.
Rutting roar
During the rut, territorial males roar, scent-mark and herd females through their patch.
Abundant
Common impalas number in the millions (Least Concern); the black-faced subspecies is Endangered.
Stotting flight
Alarmed impalas bound high in unison - a "flying ants" display that baffles predators.
A leopard breaks from the riverine line and the impalas go up - not away, first, but up, as if the ground has been pulled from under them. Ten metres of arcing red body, then another, and another, until the whole herd hangs in the air between the acacias. For a moment the savanna forgets gravity.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Aepyceros melampus. It is the only species in its genus, in the tribe Aepycerotini (family Bovidae).
Across eastern and southern Africa - Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and neighbours. Tanzania is one part of a broad range, not the whole.
Yes, commonly. Top spots are Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, with Ruaha, Nyerere/Selous, Katavi and Mikumi also holding them.
They are mixed feeders: grasses in the wet season, leaves and browse in the dry season, and they drink daily.
No - only males. The horns are lyre-shaped and ringed, 45-90 cm; females are hornless.
Up to about 3 m high and 10 m or more long in a single leap - one of the most spectacular jumps of any antelope.
It can reach roughly 80 km/h on the flat.
Female herds with young, bachelor groups of males, and - in the rut - territorial males that roar, scent-mark and herd females. There is no dominant individual steering the herd; groups are fluid.
After a ~7-month gestation a single calf is born and hidden alone for about a week; the rut sees territorial males mating with females that pass through.
Lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas and crocodiles; jackals, pythons and eagles take calves.
The common impala is Least Concern and very abundant; the black-faced impala subspecies is Endangered.
References & Further Reading
- Wikipedia - Impala: Aepyceros melampus; tribe Aepycerotini; two subspecies (common + black-faced); shoulder 75-95 cm; males 40-75 kg, females 30-45 kg; males only horns 45-90 cm; leap ~3 m high and 10 m long; speed ~80 km/h; common Least Concern, black-faced Endangered.
- African Wildlife Foundation - Impala: mixed feeder (grass + browse); female herds and bachelor groups; rutting territorial males roar and herd females; single calf after ~6-7 months; lifespan ~12-15 years.
- Animal Diversity Web - Aepyceros melampus: woodland/savanna near water; diurnal with dawn/dusk activity; alarm bark and stotting; habitat needs trees + water.
- Ultimate Ungulate / park sources: Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara listed among Tanzania's prime impala habitats.
