Pelea – Grey rhebok

Instead of bright patterns and long, curved horns like many African antelopes, it wears a soft, woolly coat in shades of grey and brown that blend into rocks, dry grass and fog. Its body is slim but sturdy, with a long neck, narrow face and big upright ears that give it a bit of a greyhound look. Only the males have horns: straight, sharp spikes that stick almost straight up, ringed at the base and pointing like long black knitting needles. There’s nothing flashy about them, but they’re very effective tools for defence and for sorting out arguments with other males.

Grey rhebok live in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, mostly on rocky hills, grassy plateaus and mountain slopes, often around or above a thousand metres. These are places where the weather can flip from bright sun to freezing fog in a few minutes, and where the ground is rough, broken and sometimes very steep. Their tight, dense fur keeps them warm, and their strong legs and small hooves let them trot and jump over stones, dongas and rock ledges without trouble.

They don’t depend heavily on rivers or waterholes; instead, they browse on low shrubs, herbs and a bit of grass, getting much of the water they need from the plants themselves. That means they can live in dry, windswept areas where many other antelope would struggle, as long as there is enough vegetation to nibble. On cold, blustery days you might see them standing facing into the wind, heads high, as if they’re simply used to whatever the weather decides to throw at them.