Mammals crepuscular

Sömmerring's Gazelle

Nanger soemmerringii

Elegant, resilient, and strikingly marked, Sömmerring's Gazelle is a true specialist of the Horn of Africa's sun-drenched plains. With its signature lyre-shaped horns and bold facial stripes, it is one of the most visually stunning bovids of the arid savanna.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Shoulder height: 80–90 cm (31–35 in); Weight: 35–45 kg (77–100 lbs)

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Colors

Pale fawn to clay-colored upper body with a stark white belly and rump; face features two bold black stripes running from the horns through the eyes to the muzzle.

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Key Features

Lyre-shaped horns that curve backward and hook sharply inward at the tips
Distinctive white rump patch that extends slightly onto the lower back
Bold black facial markings contrasted against a white-and-tan face
Absence of a dark lateral stripe on the flanks, unlike many other gazelles

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern crepuscular

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Peak hours 6:00 AM – 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM

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Season Year-round, with peak visibility near water holes during the dry months (December-February)

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Diet A versatile mixed feeder that consumes seasonal grasses, herbaceous plants, and the foliage or pods of acacia trees.

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Habitat Open grasslands, semi-desert scrub, and acacia-dotted savannas across Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia.

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Behavior

Sömmerring's Gazelle is a highly social and mobile species, typically found in small herds of five to twenty individuals. These groups are often led by a dominant territorial male who defends a patch of prime grazing land during the breeding season. They are remarkably adapted to the harsh, arid environments of the Horn of Africa, where they use their keen eyesight to detect predators like cheetahs and hyenas from a distance.

These gazelles are mixed feeders, meaning they are equally comfortable grazing on short grasses as they are browsing on the leaves of drought-resistant acacia shrubs. When startled, they exhibit a behavior known as 'stotting'—jumping high into the air with stiff legs—which serves as a signal to predators that they are fit and difficult to catch. While naturally wary, they can be seen in larger congregations during the dry season when they gather near the few remaining water sources.

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Camera Tips

To successfully capture Sömmerring's Gazelle on a trail camera, placement is everything. These animals have a high line of sight, so mount your camera approximately 3 to 4 feet off the ground. If you place it too low, you may only capture their legs, and if it's too high, you’ll lose the detail of their unique inward-curving horns. Angle the camera toward an open clearing or a well-trodden game trail leading toward a water source. Because they inhabit open plains, ensure your camera has a wide-angle lens or is positioned at least 15 feet back from the trail to capture the entire herd as they move through.

Lighting in the African savanna can be punishing. To avoid blown-out images where the white rump patch appears as a glowing orb, orient your camera to the North or South. This prevents the harsh morning or evening sun from shining directly into the lens. Use a camera with a rapid trigger speed—ideally under 0.4 seconds—as these gazelles are constant movers and rarely stand still for long. If your device supports 'Burst Mode,' set it to take 3-5 photos per trigger to increase your chances of getting a clear shot of their distinct facial stripes.

While Sömmerring's Gazelle won't be attracted to store-bought baits, you can leverage their natural habits. In arid regions, a permanent or solar-powered water trough is the ultimate 'lure.' If you are on a large property or conservancy, look for 'dusting bowls'—depressions in the earth where gazelles groom themselves. Setting your camera to record 15-second video clips at these locations can provide fascinating footage of their social interactions and grooming behaviors. During the heat of the day, they often seek the thin shade of acacia trees, making these shaded spots excellent secondary locations for midday monitoring.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Sömmerring's Gazelle.

Grant's Gazelle

Larger in size with horns that diverge outward rather than hooking inward at the tips.

Thomson's Gazelle

Easily distinguished by the bold black stripe running horizontally along its flank, which Sömmerring's lacks.

Speke's Gazelle

Much smaller with a unique protuberance on its nose and a more restricted range in the Horn of Africa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sömmerring's Gazelle are primarily crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the cooler hours of dawn and dusk. They spend the hottest part of the day resting in the shade of acacia trees to conserve energy and moisture.

Since they are wild African bovids, they are not typical backyard visitors. However, in their native range, they are attracted to permanent water sources and areas with high-quality native grasses and acacia browse. Maintaining natural corridors free of fencing is key for their movement.

They are mixed feeders with a flexible diet. They graze on various grasses when they are green and lush, but switch to browsing on the leaves, shoots, and seed pods of acacia bushes during the dry season.

No, Sömmerring's Gazelle are strictly wild-land animals. They avoid human settlements and are typically found in protected parks, conservancies, or remote pastoral lands in the Horn of Africa.

Look at the horns and the flanks. Sömmerring's Gazelle has horns that hook sharply inward at the tips and a white rump patch that extends higher up onto the back. Grant's Gazelle is typically larger and its horns spread outward more than those of the Sömmerring's.

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