Search Animals
Encyclopedia of African Huntable Animals
Small Antelopes
Blue Duiker- Cape Grysbok
- Damara Dik Dik
- Grey Duiker
- Guenther's Dik Dik
- Klipspringer
- Mountain Reedbuck (Southern)
- Oribi
- Red Duiker
- Royal Antelope
- Sharpe's Grysbok
- Steenbok
- Suni
- Yellow-Backed Duiker
Hunting Small Antelopes in Africa
Hunting small antelopes in Africa is a unique hunting experience that can become quite addictive. After taking some of Africa’s larger antelopes such as the eland, kudu and nyala, many hunters discover the allure of hunting small antelopes in Africa. There is a good variety of small antelopes on the African continent. In addition to the tiny ten, there is an extensive variety of duikers and dik-diks to keep the small antelope hunter busy for many safaris. It would be very difficult for a hunter to harvest all of these small antelope variations and it would also be a great accomplishment. While some African hunters express no interest in hunting these small members of the antelope family, others become obsessed and travel across the continent in search of them.
The most common small antelope quest is known as the tiny ten. These 10 small African antelopes have become the focus of a modern quest that occupies the time of a growing number of African hunters. The tiny ten typically require that you hunt three countries, although with the introduction of suni onto game farms in South Africa, the quest can now be completed by only hunting in two countries. Nine of these small antelopes can currently be harvested in South Africa. The harvesting of a Damara dik-dik requires a trip to Namibia. The tiny ten consists of the Damara dik-dik, Sharp’s grysbok, Cape grysbok, blue duiker, red duiker, common duiker, klipspringer, suni, steenbok and mountain reedbuck. Many of these antelopes are only found in certain regions of South Africa. A good example of this limited distribution is the Cape grysbok. The Cape grysbok is only found in the Cape and Eastern Cape regions of South Africa. The Damara dik-dik is found exclusively in Namibia and south-western Angola.
Hunting small antelopes in Africa includes other members of the dwarf antelope family such as the royal antelope and the Bate’s pygmy antelope. The royal antelope is the smallest antelope in the world and to harvest one requires a trip to Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast or Ghana. Due to its diminutive size and nocturnal tendencies, most are hunted at night using shotguns. The Bate’s pygmy antelope is distributed from Nigeria westward to the eastern portion of the DR Congo. A huntable population also exists in Cameroon, and many hunters that are hunting other species in Cameroon will attempt to take one of these special dwarf antelope trophies while they are there.
Hunters that are collecting small antelopes will also seek out the other dik-diks. Guenther’s dik-dik, Kirk’s dik-dik and Salt’s dik-dik are all highly prized additions to the small antelope hunter’s collections. Guenther’s dik-dik is currently only huntable in Ethiopia and is sometimes added to the bag of hunters seeking other exotic species in Ethiopia. Salt’s dik-dik is also found in Ethiopia and that is the only country currently free from unrest that it may be possible to get a permit for harvesting one. Kirk’s dik-dik occurs over much of Tanzania, Kenya and a small area in north-eastern Uganda. Kirk’s dik-dik is currently only huntable in Tanzania, and is usually added to the bag in Tanzania when the opportunity arises.
The duikers also make up a sizeable portion of the small antelopes. In addition to the duikers already mentioned as part of the tiny ten, there are several species of duikers that are collected when hunting small antelopes in Africa. The yellow-backed duiker is the largest of the huntable duikers and while it is distributed in 24 African countries, it may only be hunted in Cameroon, CAR, Zambia and the Congo Brazzaville. The red-flanked duiker is huntable in Burkina Faso, Benin, Cameroon and the CAR. The bay duiker is huntable in Cameroon, CAR and Congo Brazzaville. The black-fronted duiker is huntable in Cameroon and the CAR. The white-bellied duiker is also huntable in Cameroon and the CAR.
The vast number of species available and the widely separated locations they are found in make hunting small antelopes in Africa an exciting and rewarding endeavor. Pursing these diminutive and special animals in their native habitat will create many special memories that will not soon be forgotten. Plus, they make great conversation pieces when displayed in your trophy room!
Blue Duiker
The blue duiker is the second smallest antelope in the world. It is also a member of the Tiny Ten Antelopes of Africa. It is very delicate in appearance and has slender legs and a bluish tint. Both sexes carry horns, with the males horns typically being larger. The blue duiker is the most abundant of all of the duikers and estimates of its population exceeds seven million. It is huntable in Cameroon, CAR, Zambia, Tanzania and the south eastern coast of South Africa. Cape Grysbok
Cape grysbok are small antelope with large ears and a short tail. They are found in southern South Africa and are a member of the Tiny Ten Antelopes of Africa. They live in areas of vineyards, alfalfa fields and other croplands. They prefer thick bush and are primarily nocturnal. Cape grysbok are mainly browsers but are also known to eat grasses and fruits. Cape grysbok are considered to be pests in vineyard areas, as they eat young grapes and terminal growth buds. They are primarily hunted at night by spotlighting. Damara Dik Dik
Damara dik diks are tiny antelope that have an erectile crest of hair on the top of their heads. The Damara dik dik is only found in Namibia and south-western Angola. The Damara dik dik is a Member of the Tiny Ten Antelopes of Africa and is only huntable in Namibia. They occupy dry and arid bush country. Damara dik dik live alone or in pairs and are mainly browsers. They are primarily hunted via spot and stalk methods. Grey Duiker
The grey duiker is the most widespread of all duikers. It is only absent from Africa's equatorial forest belt and is huntable in all countries where it occurs that allow trophy hunting. It prefers savanna woodlands, open bush country and thickets. Grey duikers are normally solitary animals but are commonly seen in pairs. They are omnivorous and in addition to eating a wide variety of plant food, have been observed eating birds, mice and insects. Guenther's Dik Dik
Guenther's Dik Dik ia a small antelope with an elongated snout that features a distinct crest of redish hair on the top of its head. It is present in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia, but is presently only huntable in Ethiopia and Uganda. They occupy arid areas with dense thickets. Guenther's Dik Dik live in pairs and mate for life. They are mainly active in the daytime. Guenther's Dik Dik are mainly browsers but due eat green grass on occassion. Klipspringer
Klipspringer are small stocky antelope with course hair that tends to be yellow-brown to gray-yellow in coloration.THey are mainly browsers and are usually found in breeding pairs. Often, the first sign of a klipspringer being nearby is their loud nasal alarm whistle. The klipspringer has an often fatal habit of stopping when fleeing to look back at their pursuers. Mountain Reedbuck (Southern)
The southern mountain reedbuck is the smallest of the reedbucks, with a male weighing around 65 lbs. The southern mountain reedbuck is mainly found in eastern South Africa and Swaziland. It prefers broken hill country with scattered bush, trees and open spaces. Only the rams have horns. Mountain reedbuck are grass feeders and densities are determined by the amount of grasses and cover available. Oribi
The oribi is a small antelope with an yellow orange coat that is huntable in many African countries. It is a member of the Tiny Ten Antelopes of Africa, and therefore is hunted as a trophy. The oribi is abundant in its native ranges, but is considered threatened in Zimbabwe and South Africa. It prefers open short grasslands with longer patches of grass for cover, as well as woodlands that are well grassed. Oribi live in pairs or small groups and feed on short grasses and some herbaceous plants. Red Duiker
THe red duiker features a well developed crest of hair on the top of its head, which sometimes obscures its short horns. Both the male and female have horns. The Natal red duiker is huntable in South Africa and Mozambique. Red duiker are browsers and are known to feed on fruit that is dropped from trees by monkeys. The red duiker is heavily hunted for bushmeat. The red duiker is primarily active in the daytime. Royal Antelope
The royal antelope is the smallest of the dwarf antelopes and is the smallest antelope in Africa. Standing approximately 10" tall and weighing between 3 to 6 pounds, the royal antelope is one of the rarest and most unique trophies in Africa. Royal antelope are found in the forest zones of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana. These animals may be taken as trophies and are usually hunted with shotguns in the thick forest at night. Many are taken by snares for the bush meat trade that is rampant in West Africa. Sharpe's Grysbok
The Sharpe's Grysbok is a small, stoutly built antelope whose main range centers on Zambia and Zimbabwe. There are limited populations in South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique and Tanzania. It is huntable in South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Sharpe's grysbok frequents areas of vegetated rocky hills and the scrub brush associated with the base of these hills. It is primarily a browser, but will also graze on occasion. They are nocturnal and only the males grow horns. Steenbok
The steenbok is a small antelope that is widely distributed in Southern Africa. The steenbok is huntable in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and South Africa. The steenbok prefers open country with some type of cover. Only the rams have horns. Steenbok are solitary or sometimes live in pairs. Steenbok are active both during the daytime and at night. Steenbok mostly browse, but will dig for roots and bulbs using their front hooves. Suni
The suni is a tiny antelope with a long bushy tail. They are found along the coastal plains of north-eastern South Africa, Mozambique and extend into Tanzania and southern Kenya. They are huntable in Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa. The suni prefers dense, dry thickets and riverine woodlands with thick undergrowth. They live in pairs or groups of up to 6 or 7 sunis. Only the males have horns. They are a member of the Tiny Ten Antelopes of Africa.