How High Can an Impala Jump? Leaps of Africa's Antelope

How high and how far does an impala jump?

The figures most widely given for the impala are a height of up to about 3 m (10 ft) and a length of up to about 10 m (33 ft) for one leap. These are maximums from field observations, not averages. Most everyday bounds are lower and shorter, and impalas save their biggest leaps for moments of panic or for clearing a large obstacle.

To put that in perspective, an adult impala stands only 70–92 cm (28–36 in) at the shoulder. A 3 m leap is therefore more than three times its own shoulder height. A 10 m leap is nearly as long as a city bus.

The human records are the men’s high jump (Javier Sotomayor, 1993) and long jump (Mike Powell, 1991). An impala beats both without a run-up track, a coach or a pole.

Two kinds of impala leap

Impalas use two distinct kinds of jump:

• The long, high leap. The animal launches itself in a great arc over a bush, a ditch, a road or another impala, then lands running. This is the jump behind the famous 3 m and 10 m figures.
• The bouncing display. In a series of springy jumps, the impala lands on its forelegs, kicks its hind legs out and up in mid-air, then lands on all four feet and rebounds. These bounds are lower but showy, and they can change direction with every landing.

Both kinds are often mixed together as a herd flees, with each animal leaping in a slightly different direction.

Why do impalas leap?

The main reason is escape. Impalas are hunted by a long list of predators, including leopards, lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs, spotted hyenas, crocodiles and pythons. Scientists usually describe several benefits of leaping:

• Clearing obstacles fast. Impalas live in woodland edges full of bushes, fallen logs and dry riverbeds. Jumping straight over them is quicker than going around.
• Confusing the predator. When an alarm snort goes up, the whole herd may burst apart, with dozens of animals leaping in different directions at once. A predator chasing one target can lose track of it in the chaos. This is sometimes called the “confusion effect”.
• Breaking the line of attack. A sudden change of height and direction makes it harder for a cat or dog to time its final lunge.
• Signaling fitness (possibly). Some researchers suggest that showy leaps, like the stotting of springbok and some gazelles, may tell a predator that this animal is strong and not worth chasing. This idea is less well tested in impalas.

There is also a hypothesis that leaping helps herd members find each other again afterward. Impalas have black tufts of hair over scent glands on their hind heels, and kicking the hind legs in mid-air may spread scent along the escape route. This has been suggested but not firmly proven.

How can an impala jump so high?

An impala’s body is built for explosive power and light weight. Adults weigh only 40–76 kg (88–168 lb), yet they have long, slender legs and large, powerful muscles in the hindquarters. Most of the push for a jump comes from the hind legs, which straighten suddenly like a spring.

Like other hoofed mammals, impalas stand on the tips of their toes, which effectively lengthens the leg. Long tendons in the lower leg stretch and recoil with each stride, storing and releasing energy much like a rubber band. This helps them bound repeatedly without tiring as quickly as they would using muscle alone.

Speed adds to the height and distance. An impala that is already running can turn forward momentum into a long, high arc. Estimates of the impala’s top running speed vary from source to source, so treat any single figure with caution, but they are fast and very agile over short distances.

Do all impalas jump this high?

Not every impala leaps 3 m. Adult males and females in good condition jump the highest. Calves begin running and bounding within days of birth, but in their first weeks they rely mostly on hiding in thick cover while their mothers feed nearby.

Older or weakened animals jump less well, and these are the impalas predators most often catch. Impala numbers stay high despite heavy hunting partly because, in southern Africa, most calves are born within a few weeks of each other around November and December, so predators cannot catch them all.

How do impalas compare with other jumping animals?

Impalas are among the best jumpers of all hoofed mammals, but they are not alone. Springbok of southern Africa are famous for pronking, stiff-legged bounces high into the air with an arched back. Among other mammals, kangaroos are powerful jumpers too; see How high can a kangaroo jump?.

Relative to body size, small animals often win. A grasshopper or a frog can jump many times its own body length, as explained in How far can grasshoppers jump?. For a large animal weighing as much as an adult person, however, the impala’s 3 m and 10 m leaps are truly exceptional.

Where can you see impalas leap?

Impalas are common in national parks of eastern and southern Africa, including the Maasai Mara in Kenya, the Serengeti in Tanzania, the Okavango Delta in Botswana and Kruger National Park in South Africa. The best chance of seeing a herd burst into leaps is early morning or late afternoon, when predators are active and impalas are feeding in the open near cover.