As winter begins, the guttural calls of rutting impalas can be heard in the chilly morning air as another mating cycle begins. Every April/May, male impalas start to strut their stuff, engaging in fierce battles for dominance and the right to mate with females in their herd – or take over the herd belonging to another male. It’s a contest that sets the fittest apart from the rest, and causes tensions to run high within the usually peaceful browsing herds. The rutting season lasts until June, and is fascinating to watch. Females and young members of the herd scatter as they run from the pursuing males, white tail tufts twitching as they leap between – and often over – the bushes.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the rut is the sound that rings out in the dusk, darkness, and dawn. Whilst trying to intimidate their rivals, male impalas make remarkable noises that you might not associate with an antelope, including bellowing, snorting and roaring.

The rutting season can be relentless for the usually graceful and well-groomed impalas. Females become frazzled from being chased by the persistent males. The competing males become weary and distracted, making them easy targets for predators. Depleted of energy and distracted by the pressures of having to constantly perform, impala rams in particular make much easier targets during the rut.