Red Lechwe

Red lechwe are elegant antelope specially adapted for life in wetland environments. Males are easily distinguished by their long, spiralled horns, while females are hornless. Their powerful hind legs and lightly built bodies make them perfectly suited for moving through shallow water and soft, marshy ground.

These agile animals are often seen bounding gracefully across floodplains, using their speed and strong leg muscles to escape predators and navigate their watery habitat. Their widely splayed hooves help prevent them from sinking into soft mud, giving them excellent stability in swampy terrain.

Red lechwe are found across the seasonal floodplains and wetlands of Southern Africa, where they feed mainly on grasses and aquatic plants. Their specialised adaptations make them one of the most distinctive antelope species in wetland ecosystems.