Oreotragus oreotragus
Silhouette: [unknown] · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~70% in a week >90%
The klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus) is a small antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. The sole member of its genus and subfamily/tribe, the klipspringer was first described by German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1783. The klipspringer is a small, sturdy antelope; it reaches 43–60 centimetres (17–23+1⁄2 inches) at the shoulder and weighs from 8 to 18 kilograms (18 to 40 pounds). The coat of the klipspringer, yellowish gray to reddish brown, acts as an efficient camouflage in its rocky habitat. Unlike most other antelopes, the klipspringer has a thick and coarse coat with hollow, brittle hairs. The horns, short and spiky, typically measure 7.5–9 cm (3–3+1⁄2 in).
Typically nocturnal, the klipspringer rests during the middle of the day and late at night. A gregarious animal, the klipspringer is monogamous to a much greater extent than other antelopes; individuals of opposite sexes exhibit long-term to lifelong pair bonding. The mates tend to stay as close as within 5 m (16 ft) of each other at most times. Males form territories, 7.5–49 hectares (18+1⁄2–121 acres), in which they stay with their partners and offspring. Primarily a browser, the klipspringer prefers young plants, fruits and flowers. Gestation lasts around six months, following which a single calf is born; births peak from spring to early summer. The calf leaves its mother when it turns a year old.
The klipspringer inhabits places characterised by rocky terrain and sparse vegetation. Its range extends from northeastern Sudan, Eritrea, Somaliland and Ethiopia in the east to South Africa in the south, and along coastal Angola and Namibia. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classifies the klipspringer as Least Concern. There are no major threats to the survival of the klipspringer, as its habitat is inaccessible and unfavourable for hunting. Significant numbers occur on private farmlands. As of 2008, nearly 25% of the populations occur in protected areas throughout its range. Wikipedia →
Recording0:06
South Africa · 2025
© dlcastles · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:07
South Africa · 2020
© Matthew Fainman · iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tsavo West National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 2 | Bale Mountains National Park | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | |
| 3 | Pilanesberg National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Serengeti National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 5 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 6 | Lake Manyara National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 7 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 8 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | California Academy of Sciences | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Vinpearl Safari | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | |
| 4 | Living Desert Zoo and Gardens | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Brookfield Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Oakland Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Dallas Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Brevard Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | ABQ BioPark Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | San Antonio Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 13 | Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 14 | Lincoln Park Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 15 | Frankfurt Zoological Garden | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 16 | Valencia Bioparc | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 17 | Staten Island Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 18 | Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden | 🇺🇸 United States |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Klipspringer sighting in Bale Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 12th most-seen of the 14 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
December
In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Klipspringer in Bale Mountains National Park on a given day, against about 10% in February–July and October, the lowest months. That is one of Bale Mountains National Park's driest months, with about 35 mm of rain against 230 mm in April. August and September have too few records to rate.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Klipspringer sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
2nd of 8
Of the 8 parks where we can rate Klipspringer sightings, Bale Mountains National Park ranks 2nd at about 40%. The best odds are in Tsavo West National Park (Kenya, about 50%). All parks ranked.
Same family: Bovidae
The closest relatives of the Klipspringer that you can see in Bale Mountains National Park (family Bovidae, Bovids) are Mountain Nyala (about 80%), Bohor Reedbuck (about 70%) and Bush Duiker (about 50%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Klipspringer is recorded against all the mammals logged in Bale Mountains National Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
