Grant's Gazelle in East Africa: Species Profile of the Large Plains Gazelle

At first glance, Grant's and Thomson's gazelles look much alike, and visitors often use the names interchangeably. A little attention to size, face and rump markings makes the difference clear and adds interest to every plains drive.

This profile describes the differences, the way Grant's gazelles live in dry country and where to see them.

This guide is part of our animals of Uganda and East Africa guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

Identification

Grant's gazelle is taller and heavier than Thomson's gazelle, with longer legs and neck. The back is pale fawn, and the underside is white. The key mark is the white rump patch, which extends upwards onto the lower back, while on Thomson's gazelle the patch stays low. The dark stripe on the flank is faint or absent, rather than bold and black. Males have long horns that curve outwards and then upwards in a lyre shape, often much longer than those of a tommy. Females have shorter, thinner horns. A pale face with dark facial lines completes the picture.

Dry-Country Specialist

Grant's gazelles occupy drier, more open and often bushier country than Thomson's gazelles, including semi-arid plains and scrubland. They are well suited to such places because they can go for long periods without drinking, drawing moisture from the plants they eat and reducing water loss by being active in the cooler parts of the day. They also adjust their body temperature, allowing it to rise a little before they need to cool down. This lets them occupy places in northern Kenya that other grazers find too harsh.

Diet

Grant's gazelles are mixed feeders. They graze grass when it is green and fresh, and browse leaves, shoots and herbs from low shrubs when it is not. This flexibility is another reason they survive in dry areas. They feed throughout the day and often move between feeding grounds along established routes. On the Mara plains, they may be found with tommies, zebra and wildebeest, though they spread out more widely.

Social Life

Males hold territories and mark them with dung and gland secretions, while females and young live in groups that move through the males' ground. Some males hold a territory for long periods, which gives a good chance of seeing the same animal on successive days. Females give birth in the open and hide the fawn in the grass for the first days. Bachelor groups form among younger males.

Predators and Conservation

Cheetahs, lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs and jackals hunt Grant's gazelles, along with eagles that take fawns. Their speed and size make adults hard to catch, but fawns are vulnerable. Grant's gazelles are still widespread in protected areas but have declined in some regions because of hunting, drought and competition with livestock. Rangelands managed well for wildlife and livestock together, such as the conservancies described in Masai Mara conservancies explained, help them.

Where to See Grant's Gazelle

Good areas in Kenya include the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Laikipia and Tsavo. In Tanzania, look in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro area. The species is not a Uganda animal. For the smaller, more striped relative, read the Thomson's gazelle profile.

Photography and Related Species

The long horns of a territorial male look best in profile, so ask your driver to position the vehicle so the animal can be photographed side-on, with clean light. A line of gazelles walking across a plain at dawn makes a strong frame. For related animals, see the gerenuk, which shares the dry country of the north, and gazelle, antelope and deer. More advice is in safari photography tips.

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• Uganda travel guide
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