The hartebeest, also known as kongoni or kaama, is an African antelope. It is the only member of the genus Alcelaphus. Eight subspecies have been described, including two sometimes considered to be independent species. A large antelope, the hartebeest stands just over 1 m at the shoulder, and has a typical head-and-body length of 200 to 250 cm. The weight ranges from 100 to 200 kg. It has a particularly elongated forehead and oddly-shaped horns, a short neck, and pointed ears. Its legs, which often have black markings, are unusually long. The coat is generally short and shiny. Coat colour varies by the subspecies, from the sandy brown of the western hartebeest to the chocolate brown of the Swayne's hartebeest. Both sexes of all subspecies have horns, with those of females being more slender. Horns can reach lengths of 45–70 cm (18–28 in). Apart from its long face, the large chest and the sharply sloping back differentiate the hartebeest from other antelopes. A conspicuous hump over the shoulders is due to the long dorsal processes of the vertebrae in this region.

The Fauna of Africa, in its broader sense, is all the animals living in Africa and its surrounding seas and islands. The more characteristic African fauna is found in the Afro-tropical realm. Lying almost entirely within the tropics, and equally to north and south of the equator creates favorable conditions for rich wildlife. Africa is home to many of the world's most famous fauna in human culture such as lions‚ leopards, cheetahs‚ Spotted hyenas, African wild dog, African elephants, hippos, rhinos‚ Nile crocodile, Nile monitor, African rock python, Black mamba, Gaboon viper, Forest cobra, African spurred tortoises, African bullfrog, African civet, Honey badger, Meerkats, Banded mongoose, African clawless otters, Ground pangolins, Aardvark, Crested porcupines, Caracal, Serval, African wildcat, Black-backed jackal, Bat-eared foxs, Gorillas, Mandrills, Baboons, Chimpanzees, Vervet monkeys, Common warthogs, giraffes‚ African buffalo, Blue wildebeest, zebras‚ Thomson's gazelles, Impala, Kudus, East African oryx, Nyala, Waterbucks, Hartebeest, antelope, African fish eagles, Crowned eagles, White-backed vulture, African scops owl, Pygmy falcon, North African ostrich, Grey crowned crane, Saddle-billed stork, Marabou stork, Shoebill, African spoonbill, Black-headed heron, Greater flamingo, Namaqua sandgrouse, African penguins, and among many others.