Klipspringer

Klipspringer

Oreotragus oreotragus

Silhouette: [unknown] · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
at Tsavo West National Park

In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%

28 Verified sightings at Tsavo West National Park From 2019 to 2026
709 In all 8 parks
April Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Klipspringer

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 →

Sounds

Recording0:06

South Africa · 2025

© dlcastles · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0

Recording0:07

South Africa · 2020

© Matthew Fainman · iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
2 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~40%
3 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
4 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
5 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
6 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
7 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~20%
8 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 San Diego Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
2 California Academy of Sciences 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
3 Vinpearl Safari 🇻🇳 Vietnam In captivity
4 Living Desert Zoo and Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
5 Brookfield Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
6 Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
7 Oakland Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
8 Dallas Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
9 Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
10 Brevard Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
11 ABQ BioPark Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
12 San Antonio Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
13 Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
14 Lincoln Park Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
15 Frankfurt Zoological Garden 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
16 Valencia Bioparc 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
17 Staten Island Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
18 Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden 🇺🇸 United States In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Klipspringer in Tsavo West National Park?

Likely

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Klipspringer sighting in Tsavo West National Park on a given day, based on 28 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 15th most-seen of the 33 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Klipspringer in Tsavo West National Park?

April and September

In those months about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Klipspringer in Tsavo West National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February, July and November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Klipspringer?

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.

Which relatives of the Klipspringer live in Tsavo West National Park?

Same family: Bovidae

The closest relatives of the Klipspringer that you can see in Tsavo West National Park (family Bovidae, Bovids) are East African Oryx (about 70%), African Buffalo (about 70%) and Lesser Kudu (about 60%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Klipspringer sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Klipspringer is recorded against all the mammals logged in Tsavo West National Park (28 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.

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