An adult eland can weigh up to 900 kilograms — that is heavier than a small car. Even so, they can jump up to 3 metres from a standing start — higher than most basketballers can reach. This combination of huge size and surprising agility has made the eland a symbol of power and skill in many southern African cultures, including the San Bushmen, who painted elands on cave walls more than any other animal.
Elands are grazers and browsers — they eat both grass and leaves from bushes, depending on the season. In the dry season, they can survive for a long time without drinking water by getting moisture from the plants they eat. This ability to go without water makes them well-suited to the sometimes harsh highland conditions of Lesotho.
In Sehlabathebe National Park — Lesotho's oldest protected area — herds of eland wander freely across the grassy plateau. The park sits right on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment, with dramatic cliff views. Other animals in the park include grey rhebok, baboons and many birds. The park feels like a quiet, wild world of its own.