Topi

Also known as tsessebe, sassaby and tiang, the topi has a coat so glossy it can look almost iridescent in low sun, ranging from tan to deep reddish or purple-brown. The quick check is the legs: black on the upper half, light tan below, as if the animal had pulled on pale stockings, with more black patches on the face, hips and thighs. Both sexes carry ridged, lyre-shaped horns. Topi favor floodplains and open savanna, and the largest numbers live in South Sudan and Tanzania's Serengeti. A single antelope standing on a termite mound for hours as a lookout is a classic topi sight and often the easiest way to spot one.