I went hunting in northern Namibia a few summers back with Jan Oelfose Safaris and one of the trophies taken was a waterbuck. I couldn't help but notice that it had much more hair than the other species. Are they a natrive species?

waterbuck are a bit hairy

In answer to your question,waterbuck are not native to Namibia.There range was from Kenya south to the northeast of South Africa , all east of the eastern rift valley.This is the common waterbuck.

The Defassa waterbuck occurs west of the eastern rift valley from east Senegal to western Ethiopia.

7mm.guy,

If you were hunting in the Caprivi, waterbuck are native to that area, but not in the bulk of Namibia.[Ref. The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion by Skinner & Chimimba Page 681, Figure 342.1]. I do not know where you hunted with Jan Oelofse, but if it was not in the Kaprivi you can be sure the waterbuck was an 'imported or translocated' animal.

The relative 'hairiness' of animals is difficult to rationalize: Waterbuck occur naturally in Tanzania & Kenia right up to the equator! Here they sure are not hairy as a protection from cold!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren