Nyala the antelope of legend

ftrovato

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Nyala really are a magnificent antelope and I had the opportunity to observe many of them while on safari in Mozambique in 2024. It was my great pleasure to take the below pictured old bull.
  • Nyala are the most sexually dimorphic antelope in the world.
  • Nyala are one of Africa's most alert antelope.
The phrase "Nyala touched by the hand of God"
refers to a legend in which God declared the nyala to be the most beautiful of all the spiral-horned antelopes.
According to the legend:
  • The various spiral-horned species argued over which among them was the most beautiful.
  • They asked God to settle the matter, and God arranged them in a line for inspection.
  • God stopped in front of the nyala, cradled its head and face in His hands, and proclaimed, "You are the most beautiful".
The distinct white markings on the nyala's face are said to be the places where God's hands rested: the white chevron below the eyes is where His thumbs were, and the white spots along the jawline are where His fingertips touched the animal's face.

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I would agree. I have hunted them a couple of times and the Mountain Nyala. They are truly magnificent.
 
A close version of that legend was shared with me while on a recent hunt-it’s a great story! I wouldn’t consider them to be one of the more alert but “shy” or secretive surely apply. Beautiful and a pleasure to hunt-
 
In their native habitat, they are a great animal to hunt. Both of mine game from Mozambique as well. Yours is superb.

The legend with respect to God's chevron is also told with the Kudu as the main character.

Mozambique Nyala, Chief Tracker Obanno, and Game Scout

Nyala and S2 with 30'06 tubes
 
Beautiful trophy! The Nyala is still on my list to get. I saw many on previous hunts, but all were not ready to harvest yet.
 
They really are beautiful, and Mozambique has a lot of big ones. I took mine in coutada 9 in 2023, saw at least 5 shooters and got real lucky on mine. Shy is a good description.
 
In their native habitat, they are a great animal to hunt. Both of mine game from Mozambique as well. Yours is superb.

The legend with respect to God's chevron is also told with the Kudu as the main character.

Mozambique Nyala, Chief Tracker Obanno, and Game Scout

Nyala and S2 with 30'06 tubes'06 tubes
One of my favorite animals on my wall!!!
 
I havent been yet to the native habitat of Nyala!

I do hope this, soon to change!
I am working on this actively!

Great nyalas posted above my friends! Congrats with a bit of envy!
 
I guess “touched” means something different in Africa!

My Nyala eluded me in 2015, but there will be a round two!
 

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