Oryx live in herds of 12 or more but break up during the dry season, when food is scarce, into smaller units. They can also aggregate into large herds of 300 individuals after rainfall. The leader of the herd, a territorial male, jealously guards his domain, carefully marking the boundaries with piles of dung pellets to warn off would-be intruder males. If this is insufficient to keep a challenging male away, a duel involving horn-clashing and body bashing will result. Oryx do not have a restricted breeding season; a single calf is born at any time of year. As with other large antelope, the young calf remains hidden in the grass, and is visited by its mother to suckle it. It can remain hidden for 3 to 6 weeks, after which the mother and calf will join either a mixed herd or a nursery herd.

The oryx is a powerfully built antelope, and is easily recognisable by its magnificent, V-shaped pair of horns, as well as its distinctive facial markings.