What Can We Learn About the Cape Grysbok?

Spotted in Swellendam

What can we learn about the Cape Grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis)?

The Cape grysbok is a small antelope endemic to the Western Cape region of South Africa, inhabiting dense shrubland of the Fynbos biome.

It has a reddish-sandy coat flecked with white, stands about 45-55 cm at the shoulder, and weighs around 8-12 kg.

Males carry short, straight horns of about 8 cm, and the species is primarily nocturnal and obtains most of its moisture from its browse.

It feeds mainly on leaves, buds, fruits, and flowers from a variety of shrubs and herbs.

Breeding occurs mainly in the southern summer, and a single lamb is born after a gestation period of about seven months.

The grysbok shares its fynbos home with many other remarkable creatures, from the girdled lizards of the Swellendam mountains to a wealth of birds and insects.

Reference: "Cape grysbok." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, last edited 27 September 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_grysbok

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