Coke's hartebeest, antelope, Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa
Photo. A Coke's hartebeest standing alert on the open grasslands of the Masai Mara, Kenya, under a partly cloudy sky. © Travel Explorations.
Looks, however, can be deceptive. It may not look built for speed, but that's exactly what it is. A kongoni can reach speeds of around 70 km/h, making its unconventional build seem remarkably well suited to life on the savannah. That speed comes in handy when you share the landscape with lions, cheetahs, and other predators that occasionally consider you lunch.
A Coke's hartebeest doesn't beat the cheetah in a race. It survives by making the race difficult in the first place. In the Masai Mara of Kenya, adult Coke's hartebeest are not anyway the cheetah's preferred prey. Cheetahs usually target smaller, lighter antelopes such as Thomson's gazelles or young impalas because they are easier to catch. They may attempt to take young or weakened hartebeest, but a healthy adult is a much more challenging target.
Fortunately, humans are not on the kongoni's menu. They are strict grazers, perfectly content with the short and medium grasses of the open plains. So if one looks at you with an intense stare, there's no need to worry. It's probably just deciding whether you're a threat.
Africa is home to more than 70 species of antelope, from tiny forest dwellers to massive herds roaming the savannah. It may look as though evolution made a few unusual design choices, but those choices make it remarkably fast. It may not win any beauty contests, but it can outrun almost anything that tries to catch it.
Stein Morten Lund, 9th August 2026
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