Location: Southern and East Africa
Species: Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger)
Published: 2015-5-3
Added: 2025-12-7
Source: Lion Mountain TV

The sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) is one of Africa’s most striking antelope, known for its powerful build, arched neck, and sweeping scimitar-shaped horns. Adult males turn a deep glossy black, while females and young are chestnut to dark brown, a contrast that makes the species easy to identify. Their horns can reach over 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length, making them one of the longest-horned antelopes in the world. Sable antelope live in the wooded savannahs and miombo woodlands of East Africa (south of Kenya) and Southern Africa, including Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Angola. They form structured herds led by a dominant bull and are known for fiercely defending their group from predators such as lions. Despite being widespread, some regional populations—especially the critically endangered Giant Sable of Angola—face ongoing conservation challenges.