About the Grant’s Gazelle

General Information

The Grant’s gazelle is a striking, medium-sized antelope native to the open savannas and arid grasslands of East Africa. Weighing between 100 to 180 pounds, it is easily identified by its smooth, tan coat, stark white underbelly, and the large, lyre-shaped horns that both males and females possess.

These gazelles are remarkably well-adapted to surviving in harsh, dry environments. Unlike many other grazing animals, they are completely independent of permanent water sources, extracting the moisture they need directly from the leaves, stems, and shoots they consume. This incredible drought tolerance allows them to migrate into drier regions during the dry season, avoiding intense competition for food from other wildlife.

Socially, Grant’s gazelles live in herds that can range from a dozen to a few hundred members, though dominant males actively establish and fiercely guard specific territories to secure mating rights. Built for both speed and stamina, they can reach up to 50 miles per hour and are famous for “pronking”—a dazzling display where they leap straight up into the air with all four legs stiff, used both to warn the herd of predators and signal their own vigor.

Description of the Grant’s Gazelle

Size & Weight: Standing 2.5 to 3 feet tall at the shoulder. Males are significantly larger than females, weighing 121 to 176 lbs. compared to females at 77 to 99 lbs.
Horns: Both sexes possess striking, strongly-ringed, lyre-shaped horns. Males have the largest horns, measuring 20 to 31 inches, while females possess thinner, symmetrical horns measuring 12 to 16 inches.
Coat & Markings: The body is a light tan or pale brown, transitioning to a pure white belly that helps reflect solar heat. The face features elegant, dark stripes running downward from the eyes to the mouth.

Grant’s Gazelle Species / Subspecies

There are three recognized subspecies:

Southern Grant’s Gazelle: The most widespread subspecies, primarily found from central Kenya down to northern and central Tanzania. They feature slightly “S-shaped” horns pointing upward and backward.
Bright’s Gazelle: Distributed across northern Kenya, southern Ethiopia, southeastern Sudan, and northeastern Uganda. This subspecies is slightly smaller and paler, with horns that tend to be more parallel.
Peter’s Gazelle: Found mainly in the coastal regions of Kenya and northeastern Tanzania.

Suitable Weapons

Hunting Grant’s gazelle requires a flat-shooting, long-range rifle to navigate wide-open plains. Ideal calibers include the .300 Winchester Magnum, .270 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, or the 7mm Rem Mag.

Hunting Area

Grant’s Gazelle can be hunted free-range in Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Texas offers high-fence hunting preserve hunts.