THE springbuck is South Africa’s national animal and hunting spring-buck in southern Africa is almost as important, culturally, as rugby and braaivleis.
In terms of numbers taken each year, the springbuck has long been our most popular game animal. Historically it has ranked at the lower end of the price lists, and many hunters on a limited budget, would rather hunt six springbuck than one gemsbuck.
Latin name: Antidorcas marsupialis
Afrikaans name: Springbok
Distribution
Although prevalent on game farms all over southern Africa, the stronghold of the springbuck remains the Karoo, Kala-hari and most of Namibia.
Habitat
Springbuck do best in arid regions with open grassy plains, where they can see for long distances. They don’t like bush-veld or soft sand. Their reliance on fleet-ness of foot to escape predators gives them a preference for a hard, firm footing, and they like dry pans.
Heat does not stress them and they will try to get out of the wind when temperatures are very low. They thrive in both the Namib and Kalahari deserts, which have extremes of temperature.
The great springbuck migrations are a thing of the past. Today, fences restrict
