The western hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus major) is an antelope native to the medium to tall grassland plains of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo.

[3] Considerable variation in horn growth occurs, but they generally grow sideways out from the head, before curving forward, then inward and backward.

A herbivore, it grazes during the cooler morning and afternoon periods, resting in shaded areas during the hot daytime.

If threatened, the herd flees as a single file, reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph),[2] making it one of the fastest antelopes.

[4] Herds are generally sedentary; animals spend much of their day resting in shade to escape noon-time heat.