Basic behavior:

- Hartebeest is a typical African antelope, it lives primarily in open plains but enters wooded grasslands and tall bush grasslands more than topis or wildebeests do, and is more found on the edges of these open plains than far into them. It can be found in grasslands at any time of the year feeding on a wide variety of plants from red oat grass to small shrubs, though they prefer to not migrate large distances to avoid competition with other herbivores as they can feed on drier pastures without starvation becoming an issue. This species is diurnal, mainly resting 3 to 4 hours a day at midday and late at night, though it has been noted that territorial males sleep less than females, and during active hours, they can be seen feeding, playing and socializing.

- Hartebeest have a very simple social structure in comparison to other herbivores, and they exhibit 3 main social structures:

Breeding herds of females generally make up the majority of herds throughout the year, generally occupying a temporary territory which they can choose to inhabit from a few weeks and move to another nearby patch or up to a year if it fits their needs. These herds contain female hierarchies, semi-closed to outsiders numbering about 6 to 15 individuals each and which the territories largely overlap without much conflict between herds. Females can remain in their natal herd or split to start a new one somewhere else, however males once mature will generally be chased off by a territorial male and will join a bachelor herd.

Bachelor herds generally are made up of immature bulls which are looking for company after their banishment by a territorial bull. These herds tend to wander nomadically without a set territory however if spotted by a territorial bull they'll leave, these herds are also known to reproduce the chasing of young males in female herds however less intensively as territorial bulls as well as the mother will protect her offspring as they do not tolerate it.

- Hartebeests exhibit 1 breeding peak generally in the dry season but females can mate and birth very quickly (8 month of gestation). Once about to give birth the female will separate herself from the herd unit and be accompanied by her one or multiple offsprings, once birthed the calf will start its hiding phase of 3 weeks until able to join the herd.

- Hartebeest are very alert antelopes and generally react to a predator with an erect posture and loud snorts alerting other animals and hartebeests in the vicinity while also like topis using termite mounds as vantage points to spot predators. Like other antelopes of their size, if they spot a predator prior to an attack or after, the hartebeests will be on high alert looking at the threat and follow the threat for a few meters to not loose sight of it. They don't generally fight large predators and prefer to run away and will only fight as a last resort, however they can chase off small carnivores like jackals, caracals ... etc. 

- Hartebeests are tolerant with other species but don't generally travel with a lot of species, however if a species smaller than itself enters its space it will chase it off or if its bigger will move away.

- Hartebeest rarely cross bodies of water if ever compared to topis or wildebeests to the point where they will not seek refuge in it.