Impala in East Africa: Species Profile, Behaviour and Where to See Them

Impala are so common in many parks that visitors sometimes stop photographing them after the first morning, which is a pity. Watch a herd for twenty minutes and you will see grooming, sparring, sudden leaps and the careful attention of animals that are on the menu of almost every predator in the park.

This profile explains how to identify impala, how their social life is organised, what happens during the rut and where in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania you can watch them best.

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

The impala has a sleek, reddish-brown back, paler flanks and a white belly, with a clear white patch around each eye. The easiest field mark is on the rear end, where a black stripe runs down each side of the white rump, giving a shape often described as a letter M, and a black line runs along the tail. Tufts of black hair above the back hooves cover scent glands. Only the males carry horns, which are long, ridged and curved in the shape of a lyre. Females are smaller and hornless. Young impala look like miniature females and are often seen in nursery groups.

Habitat and Diet

Impala favour light woodland and the edges between open grassland and bush, and they are rarely far from water. They are mixed feeders, which means they graze grass when it is green and switch to leaves, shoots and pods when the grass dries out. This flexibility is a large part of their success. It lets them live in many different parks and makes them one of the most numerous antelopes in the region. They feed mostly in the cooler hours and rest in shade during the heat of the day, often chewing the cud while standing alert.

Social Life and the Rut

Female impala live in herds that can grow large in the wet season, with their young. Adult males live in bachelor groups until they are strong enough to hold a territory. During the rut, territorial males herd females into their patch, rush at rivals and make a loud, rasping roar that surprises people who expect a quiet antelope. They hardly stop to feed during this period and become visibly thinner. The timing varies from place to place, but fawns are usually born around the start of the rains, when new grass is plentiful. A mother leaves her newborn hidden in cover for several days before she introduces it to the herd.

Leaping and Defence

When a predator appears, impala scatter in all directions, leaping in high arcs that can clear bushes and even other animals. The leaps are not only about escaping. They confuse the predator, and they signal to other impala which way the danger lies. Impala also groom each other, using the lower incisors and tongue to remove ticks around the neck and head, and they will often tolerate oxpeckers on their backs. Leopards, lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas and crocodiles all take impala, which is why a herd is usually alert and bunched near cover.

Where to See Impala

In Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park is the place to see impala, and they are often the first large mammal on a game drive there. In Kenya they are everywhere, including the Masai Mara, Samburu and Nairobi National Park. In Tanzania, look in the Serengeti and Tarangire. A black-faced form lives in south-western Africa, but travellers in East Africa will see the common impala.

Photography and Viewing Tips

Impala are good subjects because they are used to vehicles and often stay in the open. Aim for the early and late hours, when low light brings out the reddish coat, and wait for sparring males or a mother with a young fawn. To capture a leap, use a fast shutter speed and a burst setting, and keep both eyes open so you can anticipate which way the herd will run. A predator hunting nearby is a good clue that leaping will follow. For more advice, read safari photography tips and game drives explained.

Related Species

Impala are often confused with gazelles and other small antelopes, and the page on gazelle, antelope and deer explains the differences. Compare them with the larger waterbuck and the sociable topi, and browse antelopes of Uganda and the East Africa wildlife guide for the wider picture.

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Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
• Uganda safari packages
• Uganda travel guide
• How to book a Uganda safari
• Plan your safari with our team