One of Africa’s most common and most widespread antelopes.

Very commonly in the Serengeti. It ranges from the long grass Serengeti plains to the Serengeti woodlands but is very rarely seen on the short grass plains in the Eastern Serengeti.

Their large size makes it difficult for most predators to hunt them successfully (with the exception of lion and spotted hyena).

They are medium­-sized antelopes with a striking reddish-brown to purplish-red coat. With distinct black patches appear on their face, their upper forelegs, and on their hips and thighs. To complete their singular appearance, the topi’s yellowish-tan legs look like they are encased in stockings.

This antelope is unusual in several ways. Most notably, if a female detects danger when in labor, she can simply delay the birthing process and run off.

Topis have a bounding gait and are considered to be the fastest of all ungulates.

Topi looks like a smaller and darker hartebeest, with higher forequarters sloping to lower hindquarters, but it has a less-elongated head and ordinary-looking horns, which are similar in both sexes.

It is a member of the tribe Alcelaphini (family Bovidae), which also includes the blesbok, hartebeest, and wildebeest. Damaliscus lunatus is known as the topi in East Africa and as the sassaby or tsessebe in southern Africa.