Northern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus scriptus

Silhouette: Robert Hering · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassMammalia (Mammals)
OrderArtiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans)
FamilyBovidae (Bovids)
GenusTragelaphus (Spiral-horned Antelopes)
SpeciesTragelaphus scriptus (Northern Bushbuck)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Samburu National Reserve

1 Verified sightings at Samburu National Reserve From 2019 to 2026

2,293 Verified sightings across all 43 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Northern Bushbuck

The harnessed bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) or northern bushbuck, is a medium-sized antelope, widespread in sub-Saharan-Africa. The harnessed bushbuck species has been separated from the Cape bushbuck, a southern and eastern species.

In a 2007 study, 19 genetically-based groupings were found, some of which do not correspond to previously described subspecies; eight of these were grouped under the nominate taxon. Former subspecies included as synonyms to the nominate taxon are phaleratus, bor and dodingae.

Hassanin et al. (2018) found an mtDNA/nuclear DNA discordance between scriptus and sylvaticus clades. Their phylogenetic analyses showed that the scriptus (northern) lineage is a sister-group of sylvaticus (southern) lineage in the nuclear tree, whereas it has nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) haplotypes in the mitochondrial tree. They also found different karyotypes (chromosome numbers and arrangements), with those of scriptus deriving from the nyala. They concluded that scriptus (but not sylvaticus) had hybridized with an "extinct species closely related to T. angasii" in ancient times; and that "the division into two bushbuck species is supported by the analyses of... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Samburu National Reserve

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Tragelaphus imberbis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Madoqua kirkii

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Nanger granti

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Aepyceros melampus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Litocranius walleri

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Oryx beisa

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Madoqua guentheri

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Syncerus caffer

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Oreotragus oreotragus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Alcelaphus buselaphus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~80%
2	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~80%
3	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	~70%
4	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~60%
5	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
6	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~60%
7	Bale Mountains National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~50%
8	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~50%
9	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~50%
10	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~40%
11	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	~40%
12	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~40%
13	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~40%
14	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~40%
15	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~40%
16	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~40%
17	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~40%
18	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
19	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
20	Volcanoes National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~30%
21	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~30%
22	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~30%
23	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	~30%
24	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~30%
25	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
26	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
27	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
28	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~20%
29	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~20%
30	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~20%
31	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	~20%
32	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
33	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
34	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
35	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
36	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
37	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
38	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
39	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
40	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
41	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
42	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
43	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data

← Back to Samburu National Reserve

Northern Bushbuck

About the Northern Bushbuck

Recent sightings of Northern Bushbuck in Samburu National Reserve

Closest Relatives at Samburu National Reserve

Greater Kudu

Lesser Kudu

Kirk's Dik-dik

Grant's Gazelle

Impala

Waterbuck

Gerenuk

East African Oryx

Günther's Dik-dik

African Buffalo

Klipspringer

Hartebeest

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found