Lechwe
Kobus leche
Silhouette: Jan A. Venter, Herbert H. T. Prins, David A. Balfour & Rob Slotow (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderArtiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans)
- FamilyBovidae (Bovids)
- GenusKobus (Waterbucks, Kobs, and Lechwes)
- SpeciesKobus leche (Lechwe)
About the Lechwe
The lechwe, red lechwe, or southern lechwe (Kobus leche) is an antelope found in wetlands of south-central Africa. The lechwe is native to Botswana, Zambia, southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, northeastern Namibia, and eastern Angola, especially in the Okavango Delta, Kafue Flats, and Bangweulu Wetlands. The species is fairly common in zoos and wild animal farms.
Adult lechwe typically stand 90 to 100 cm (35 to 39 in) at the shoulder and generally weigh from 50 to 120 kg (110 to 260 lb), with males being larger than females. They are golden brown with white bellies. Males are darker in colour, but exact hue and amount of blackish on the front legs, chest and body varies depending on subspecies. The long, spiral horns are vaguely lyre-shaped and borne only by males. The hind legs are somewhat longer in proportion than in other antelopes to ease long-distance running on marshy soil.
Lechwe are found in marshy areas where they are an important herbivore of aquatic plants, as well as grasses that are found in flooded meadows. They use the knee-deep water as protection from predators. Their legs are covered in a water-repellant substance... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Lechwe in Kafue National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kafue National Park
Puku
Kobus vardonii
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Northern Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Roan Antelope
Hippotragus equinus
Hartebeest
Alcelaphus buselaphus
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Sable Antelope
Hippotragus niger
Blue Wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Sharpe's Grysbok
Raphicerus sharpei
Southern Reedbuck
Redunca arundinum
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 2 | Kafue National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 3 | Chobe National Park | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 4 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Lechwe in Kafue National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Lechwe sighting in Kafue National Park, based on 37 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Lechwe in Kafue National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Lechwe in Kafue National Park in our monthly data.