Updated 20 October 2026

Oribi antelope Uganda is a small, delicate grassland antelope found in restricted populations in Uganda’s savannah parks, the bouncing stotting gait as it flees a predator one of the most distinctive movements of any small antelope. The oribi is a small, slender antelope of open grassland, standing about 50–65 cm at the shoulder and weighing roughly 12–20 kg. It has a warm tawny coat, white underparts, a black-tipped tail and a distinctive bare black patch below each ear; only males have short, straight horns. In Uganda, the best place to see oribi is the northern savanna of Murchison Falls National Park, where they are common, and they also occur in Kidepo Valley. When alarmed they make stiff-legged, bouncing leaps, called stotting, which makes them easy to spot.

Oribi Antelope Uganda: The Small Bouncing Grassland Species

Appearance

Oribi are graceful, long-necked and long-legged for their size. The upper body is a reddish or yellowish brown, with white on the belly, throat and inside the legs, a white line above the eye and a short tail with a black tip that flicks as they run. The dark patch of bare skin below the ear is a scent gland, and they also have glands in front of the eyes used to mark grass stems. Males carry thin, upright horns up to about 15–19 cm long.

Behaviour and diet

Oribi live alone, in pairs or in small groups of a male with one or more females, in territories marked with dung and gland secretions. They graze mainly on fresh, short grasses and favour areas recently burned or grazed by larger animals, where new growth appears. When danger approaches, they often lie still in the grass, then spring away with a sharp whistle and high bounds. Predators include lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals and large eagles, which can take young.

Where to see oribi in Uganda

The open grassland north of the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park, especially around the Buligi game tracks, is the most reliable area, with oribi often seen near the road alongside Uganda kob, Jackson’s hartebeest and giraffes. Kidepo Valley National Park in the far north-east is another good area. Morning and late-afternoon game drives give the best chances. See our guides to Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley, the 4-day Murchison safari and Lake Mburo’s antelopes.

Conservation

The oribi is not globally threatened, but it has disappeared from many areas outside protected parks because of hunting and the conversion of grassland to farmland. Well-managed parks such as Murchison Falls hold healthy numbers.

Frequently asked questions