Hunting Lechwe in Namibia

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Lechwe are found mainly in the Okavango Delta of Botswana and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia.

When hunting Lechwe, you will be hunting a medium sized antelope characterized by dark markings on its forelegs. The Lechwe slants slightly forward due to his shoulders being lower than his croup. This antelope is very similar to the smaller sized Puku, however the Puku has a more golden color and has no markings on the front legs.

The Lechwe is bright reddish in color and can often be found near watering holes. The biggest populations of this sought after trophy can be found in the Caprivi Strip of Namibia and in the Okavango Delta of Botswana.

Only the male Lechwe has horns that curve backwards. The tips of the horns however curve forward. It is also no surprise that the females tend to be smaller than the males. The shallow floodplains along swamps and rivers are a natural habitat for this medium sized antelope. When in danger they tend to flee into the water where they can move very easily.

They are good swimmers by nature but struggle to move fast on land. This antelope prefers going about in herds of 10 to 30 and they can be found almost any time during the day, usually up to their knees in water. Being very fond of water they feed on water grasses and drink regularly. The herd will mostly graze during the early mornings and late afternoons while resting on land during the day when it is hot.

Hunting Lechwe antelope is a challenging affair because he will stand and watch you while still keeping a safe distance. Retrieving your trophy after a long distance shot will most likely be done from the water.

When hunting Lechwe you can be sure to get your feet wet. Also make sure to choose a rifle that is capable of performing long ranged shots. As with most medium sized antelopes you should aim for the high heart and lung shot. If placed well you trophy shouldn’t go far and will be easy to find in the water.