About the Roan
The roan antelope is one of the largest species of antelope in Africa. Known for their horse-like build and striking appearance, these animals have a reddish-brown to grayish coat, a distinctive black-and-white “clown-like” facial mask, and long, heavily ridged horns that curve gracefully backward.
Roans typically inhabit savannas, woodlands, and grassy plains. They live in small, cohesive herds made up of a single dominant bull and several females with their young. These animals are herbivores—both grazers and browsers—feeding mainly on mid-length grasses, herbs, and the leaves of small bushes. They must drink regularly and rely on permanent water sources in their home range.
Despite their impressive size, they are surprisingly agile and can run at speeds up to 35 mph. While healthy adults are mostly invulnerable to predators, young, sick, or elderly roans may fall victim to lions, hyenas, and wild dogs. When threatened, they are highly aggressive and will stand their ground rather than flee, using their scimitar-like horns for defense.
Description of the Roan
- Height & Length: Stands 4.5 to 5.2 feet at the shoulder with a head-and-body length of 7.5 to 9.2 feet.
- Weight: Adults typically weigh between 495 to 700 pounds.
- Horns: Present on both sexes. They are heavily ridged, scimitar-shaped, and curve backward. They can grow up 3.3 feet long.
Roan Species / Subspecies
- West African Roan: Found in West Africa, from Senegal to Benin. Genetically distinct from all others.
- Central African Roan: Ranges across Cameroon, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
- Sudan Roan: Native to the grassland savannas of Sudan.
- East African Roan: Found across East and Central Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
- Southern Roan: Located in Angola, Zambia, Malawi, and Botswana.
- South African Roan: The southernmost subspecies, native to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique
Suitable Weapons
Use a .30 caliber or larger cartridge to bring down a Roan Antelope.
Hunting Area
- South Africa: The premier destination for southern roan, particularly on private game reserves in the Limpopo Province and Eastern Cape.
- Zambia: A legendary, wild destination for roan antelope, with hunts generally taking place from May through November.
- Namibia: Available on both free-range concessions (like the Caprivi) and private game ranches.
- West & Central Africa: For the Western Roan subspecies, destinations include Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic.
You can also hunt the Roan on some high-fence hunting preserves in Texas.
