An experimental study of the turbulent wake of a self-propelled body in a wind tunnel is reported. A significant difference is formed between the turbulent kinetic energy balance in a wake with drag and in the wake of a self-propelled body: the production term is very small in comparison with the other terms of the turbulent kinetic energy balance, and this result seems to be typical of self-propulsion. The axial evolution of the wake radius and turbulent kinetic energy profiles are described. Sufficiently far downstream from the body, a self-similar profile is found. Particular attention is devoted to the turbulent kinetic energy balance; all the terms in the energy balance are evaluated experimentally.