Kobus ellipsiprymnus Shoulder height 130cm. Weight 250–270kg.
The waterbuck is easily recognised by its shaggy brown coat and the male's large, lyre-shaped horns. The common race of southern Africa (K. e. ellipsiprymnus) and areas east of the Rift Valley has a distinctive white ring around its rump, seen on the right of the sketch. The defassa race (known as K. e. defassa or K. e. crawshayi) of the Rift Valley and areas further west has a full white rump, as indicated on the left.

Only the common waterbuck are found in Botswana, and they're restricted to the Chobe, Kwando-Linyanti and eastern sides of the Delta. Favourite areas include the northern side of the Linyanti (NG15) Concession, and also Vumbura (NG22), but they're relatively uncommon elsewhere. They certainly used to occur at Savuti when the channel flowed, but they deserted the area when the marsh dried up.

Waterbuck need to drink very regularly, so usually stay within a few kilometres of water, where they like to graze on short, nutritious grasses. At night they may take cover in adjacent woodlands. It is often asserted that waterbuck flesh is oily and smelly, which may discourage predators.