Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
41 places
Wildlife
Tsessebe
Damaliscus lunatus
The common tsessebe or sassaby is one of five subspecies of African antelope Damaliscus lunatus of the genus Damaliscus and subfamily Alcelaphinae in the family Bovidae.
Species insights
When to visit
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Best monthsAny month
Records725 records
Curve from 725 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Limpopo and beyond
Provinces where Tsessebe is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
725 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Tsessebe
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Tsessebe recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Marataba Mountain Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Tsessebe recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Tsessebe recorded here
Orpen Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 1,815a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 390a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Marataba Safari Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Tsessebe recorded here
Tsendze Rustic Camp Site
Kruger National Park
From R 379a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Satara Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 331a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Tsessebe recorded here
Olifants Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 1,445a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Motswedi Camp Site
Mokala National Park
From R 628a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Tsessebe recorded here
Maroela Satellite Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 390a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 390a night
Tsessebe recorded here
Marataba Villa
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Tsessebe recorded here
The Elephant Coast
Next stop
iSimangaliso wetlands, sand forest, and Sodwana reefs
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Tsessebe
Hosts have recorded the Tsessebe at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Marakele National Park and Mokala National Park.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kruger | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| Marakele | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Where to base yourself
Limpopo
Kruger · Marakele
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveStays in LimpopoNorthern Cape
Mokala
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Ithala
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Damaliscus lunatus
Records
725
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Tsessebe on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Tsessebe in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Tsessebe at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Marakele National Park, Mokala National Park and Ithala Game Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Tsessebe in South Africa?
The Tsessebe is most recorded in Limpopo (47% of records), Northern Cape (20% of records), North West (19% of records), based on 725 iNaturalist observations. 50 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Tsessebe on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Tsessebe?
The Tsessebe is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Marakele National Park: May-Sep, dry season; Mokala National Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Ithala Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Tsessebe?
The Tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Tsessebe?
The common tsessebe or sassaby is one of five subspecies of African antelope Damaliscus lunatus of the genus Damaliscus and subfamily Alcelaphinae in the family Bovidae. It is most closely related to the topi, korrigum, coastal topi and tiang (all subspecies of Damaliscus lunatus), and the bangweulu tsessebe and bontebok in the same genus.