LESSER KUDU (Tragelaphus imberbis)

Lesser Kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) Swahili: Tandala Mdogo
The lesser kudu is a smaller model of the greater kudu,the major differences being the lack of a beard,more numerous and more pronounced vertical white stripes on the body,and two white patches on the underside of the neck.As with the greater kudu,only the males have horns.The coat colour varies from brownish grey to blue grey.It stands around a metre high at the shoulder.Kudu usually live in pairs accompanied by their fawns though females occasionally form small herds.They are very shy animals and spend much of the day hiding in dense bush,only moving out of cover to feed in the early morning and at dusk.This makes them difficult to spot.Kudu are browsers and feed on a mixture of leaves,young shoots and twigs and,thouhg they drink regurlarly if water is available,they are capable of doing without for relatively long priods,more so than the greater kudu.The most likely places you will find them are Manyara and Serengeti National Parks where they prefer the more drier,more bushy areas.