The hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) is an African species of grassland antelope, first described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1766. Adults stand just over 1 m (3.3 ft) at the shoulder. Males weigh 125 to 218 kg (276 to 481 lb), and females are slightly lighter. The coat colour varies between subspecies, from the sandy coat of the western hartebeest to the almost black coat of the Swayne’s hartebeest. Both sexes have horns; these grow 45–70 cm (18–28 in) long, with the shape varying greatly between subspecies. Hartebeest live between 11 and 20 years in the wild, and up to 19 in captivity.

Like most antelopes, the hartebeest is diurnal. Hartebeest are herbivores, and their diets consist mostly of grasses. They graze in the early morning and the late afternoon, and rest in shade during the hottest part of the day. They are social animals, and form herds of up to 300. Larger numbers gather in places with plenty of grass. During feeding, one individual stays on the lookout for danger, often standing on a termite mound to see farther. At times of danger, the whole herd flees in single file after one suddenly starts off. The hartebeest is more alert and cautious than other ungulates. Adult hartebeest are preyed upon by lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs; cheetahs and jackals hunt juveniles. Additionally, Nile crocodiles have been recorded preying on hartebeest.

Hartebeest mating occurs throughout the year. Both males and females reach sexual maturity at one to two years of age. Mating takes place in the territories defended by a single male, mostly in open areas on plateaus or ridges. Gestation is about 240 days, after which a single calf is born. The newborn weighs about 9 kg (20 lb). Births take place in thickets, unlike wildebeest, which give birth in groups on the plains. The offspring is weaned at four months.