Hunting in Africa is an activity that has long been enjoyed by many local and international game hunting enthusiasts, looking for a new challenge, a unique adventure, or wanting to experience the thrill of hunting a different species in another location.

There are many and varied reasons to enjoy African hunts, but one thing remains certain: Africa is a place like no other. It has a certain magical charm that has hunters and tourists traveling from far and wide to enjoy the diversity of its people, wildlife, destinations, and activities, all culminating in a melting pot of experiences and memories.

As Tony Fitzjohn so famously said, “There is no place like Africa. There is something about the spirit of the people, the beauty of the land, and the diversity of the wildlife that touches the soul.”

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10 Good Reasons to Enjoy an African Hunt

At a glance, 10 reasons just don’t seem enough! There are countless reasons, all different for each hunter and their situation, but I have summarized them into some of the main reasons that this diverse destination is chosen by game hunting enthusiasts.

Diverse Destinations

• With Africa being home to more than 50 countries, and many of them offering a range of African safari hunting experiences, hunters are indeed spoilt for choice.
• Hunters often can travel to varied destinations, from hunting in South Africa’s Limpopo province to hunting in the deepest, darkest areas in Africa, in regions such as Tanzania’s Selous Reserve, which is largely untamed and untouched by humans.
• Each destination boasts its unique offering and depends largely on what the hunter wants in terms of a game hunting experience. From Namibia’s famous Namib Desert to Botswana’s Okavango Delta, or the spectacular plains in Tanzania, each destination has something special to offer hunting enthusiasts.
• Destinations may also offer alternative hunting methods, such as walk-and-stalk or spot-and-stalk safaris versus setting up a temporary blind to target the prey.
• Also to be considered in the destination is whether you prefer rifle or bow hunting, as some destinations have strict regulations concerning bow hunting.
• Add to this whether you would like to indulge in night hunting, as many hunting locations don’t offer this option when hunting in Africa.
• Even the type of species you want to target is significant in the destination, as each species has its habitat and natural environment and may be endemic to certain regions only. An example would be the black lechwe, which is endemic to Zambia’s Bangweulu region.

Wide Array of Species

Africa is home to a wide array of animal species that are targeted on a game hunting safari. Choosing which animals to target can also influence your choice of destinations. For example, if you were intent on enjoying some cheetah hunting in Africa, Namibia is the only region where you can legally hunt the cheetah at this moment in time.

Major categories of game hunting species include:

• Dangerous Game: Including Africa’s Big 5, namely the lion, elephant, rhino, Cape buffalo, and leopard, as well as the two remaining species that make up the Dangerous 7, the hippo and Nile crocodile.
• African Plains Game: These species are found on Africa’s plains and savannas and include a wide range of antelopes, as well as warthogs, zebras, and giraffes. These can be divided into small, medium, and large antelopes too.
• Specialty Animals: Animals such as hyenas, baboons, aardwolves, ostriches, meerkats, and warthogs are found in this category. Many of these specialty animals are also species that are often targeted at night, making them unique and unusual species to target on an African hunting safari.

Experience New Cultures & Cuisine

Africa is a large continent, bustling with diverse destinations and intriguing nations, with each having their heritage and culture. While game hunting in Africa, hunters can experience this melting pot of cultures firsthand.

Africa is home to thousands of ethnic groups and more than 1,500 languages. It is a continent rich in heritage and culture, traditional beliefs, arts, rituals, and legends that blend to form an intriguing kaleidoscope of African experiences just waiting to be enjoyed.

And within this melting pot of heritage and cultures, comes the opportunity to enjoy a wide array of traditional dishes and food options. From a traditional braai (BBQ) in South Africa, spicy meat stew in Mozambique, crocodile steaks in Zimbabwe, or even impala stew in Zambia, the options are varied, and most definitely worth a try.

Great Way to Enjoy Family Time

As Ernest Hemingway wrote, “I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy” and this most certainly is true, especially when enjoying time with family and a hunting adventure!

What better way to enjoy a great family vacation than to head to a destination that is quite unlike what you have ever experienced before? Bring the family to enjoy the best of what Africa has to offer! From one spectacular destination to the next, with many pre- and post-hunting activities available, Africa is a tourist destination just waiting to be explored.

Should family members enjoy hunting, they can join you on your African hunting safari, experiencing firsthand the joys of hunting in Africa. If not, they can stay and relax at the hunting lodge. While some lodges can be quite basic, other lodges and accommodations include extra facilities, such as spas, pools, games rooms, and game drives, and, depending on the area, can also offer daily excursions to tourist attractions in the area, or arrange them on your behalf.

Destinations such as South Africa, with its multitude of tourist attractions, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana are popular pre- and post-hunting destinations for those wishing to indulge in the magic that Africa has to offer.

Meet Like-Minded People

Game hunting in Africa allows hunters to be able to pursue a sport that they enjoy and allows them to engage with like-minded individuals. From sharing a thrilling moment when harvesting the prey, to enjoying tales of trophies past and those that got away, the opportunity to enjoy the company of other hunters, under starry African skies, is priceless.

Not only does it allow hunters to learn firsthand from others about their experiences, but allows lifelong friendships and bonds to be formed, with those who appreciate and understand the thrill of African hunts.

Conservation

• Hunting and conservation go together like peanut butter and jelly. By enjoying an African hunting safari, hunters contribute to conservation in many ways, shapes, and forms.
• Hunting provides revenues for local government when hunters purchase tags and licenses. This then assists in funding local conservation projects, by providing continuous income through game hunting endeavors.
• As hunters travel to and stay in areas, they contribute to the local economy. From stopping at a local flea market or souvenir outlet and purchasing gift items to accommodation, and the hunting safari itself; hunting influences and positively affects the local economy.
• When hunters travel on an African hunting safari, locals are employed in positions such as trackers, skinners, cleaners, chefs, and support staff. This assists communities in providing for their families with job creation, and food security while empowering them to lead better, more productive lives.
• Some regions may experience human-wildlife conflict, such as a rogue animal that is eating their crops or causing property damage. Hunters can be used to target these animals, which may be dangerous or become a nuisance to local communities.
• African hunting safaris bring hunters to areas that may lack infrastructure and services. As hunts are enjoyed and encouraged in the area, services such as basic healthcare, infrastructure such as roads, and so forth may be added to entice more game hunting enthusiasts to the area.
• As local communities are educated in conservation, they also realize that keeping the wildlife intact and not poaching it positively affects their livelihood. The more hunters in the area, the more opportunities for employment and the more growth will occur within the region.
• Responsible game hunting activities contribute hugely to wildlife conservation efforts and initiatives. When hunters choose to support ethical hunting practices, they help protect the species and allow them to be protected for future generations to enjoy.

Rich Hunting Heritage

Hunting in Africa is part and parcel of many Africans’ lives. It started as a method of survival, with animals providing essential food, clothing, and various materials for local tribes.

The late 19^th and early 20^th centuries saw many Europeans heading to Africa and the start of big game hunting and hunting safaris on the continent. African hunts were seen as being thrilling and daring, with hunters returning with many trophies to showcase their game hunting adventures on the dark continent.

Nowadays, hunting continues as a sport throughout Africa, but also a very necessary tool that actively assists in wildlife conservation. By enjoying a game hunting safari, hunters form part of something bigger than themselves, dating back centuries, with a rich heritage and culture to excite, enthrall, and enjoy all the wildlife wonders that Africa has to offer.

Tailored Hunting Experiences to Match Your Skills

Hunters in Africa are spoilt for choice, with various game hunting safaris available to match their skills, hunting objectives, and travel options.

From easy hunting adventures featuring majestic African plains game species such as impala and blesbok to the more challenging and elusive big game antelopes such as the eland and kudu, game hunters are spoilt for choice. For those experienced hunters wanting a real challenge, the Big 5 and Dangerous 7 are there to get that adrenaline pumping on a dangerous game hunting safari!

Hunters have the choice of species to target, and destinations to visit, and can time their travel to suit their needs.

Challenging Hunting Experiences

One of the best advantages of an African hunt is that a hunter can pick and choose their hunt, to suit their needs. They can challenge themselves in many ways, from trekking through difficult terrain to weather conditions that can prove daunting, through to the species that they choose to target, or the hunting method they wish to utilize. The challenge can be as big, or small, as they prefer.

Every choice and every decision relating to their specific hunting adventure can be discussed with their outfitter, providing them with as much of a challenge as possible, according to what they want to experience when hunting. Working closely with their African outfitter to choose a dream hunting safari is what it is about, and why so many people head back to enjoy African hunts year after year.  

While this year the challenge may be targeting hippos in the Caprivi, maybe next year the challenge will be African plains game hunting in Tanzania’s Serengeti region…the choice remains that of the hunter!

Memories

You can take the hunter out of Africa, but you cannot take Africa out of the hunter.

Hunting in Africa is an experience like no other. From the second you set foot on African soil, your entire world changes, you come alive in ways you didn’t know were possible. As you stand in the bush on your first morning in Africa, it’s the silence, and the vast open spaces that speak to a person’s soul. The landscape is breathtaking, the quiet is overwhelming, and suddenly you realize that you are part of something much larger than yourself.

From long nights sitting and discussing strategy around the campfire, to memorable moments in the African bush, these memories build and grow during your African hunting trip. They stay with you as you leave Africa, having already made up your mind to return to another destination, hunt another species, enjoy another safari…

But until then, you have your game hunting trophies and many memories to enjoy of an exceptional hunt in Africa.

African Hunts: An Unforgettable Experience

Game hunting in Africa is an experience well worth considering should you have never visited the Dark Continent.  For those who have experienced the awe of waking up under African skies, the memories, emotions, and feeling of absolute tranquillity are indescribable and something worth repeating.

From novice to expert, and at every stage of the game hunting journey, we have the right hunt for you. From South Africa to Namibia, Tanzania, or Mozambique, there is an exceptional hunt and an unbelievable hunting safari heading your way…Find out more about our current hunts on offer.

As Richard Mullin commented, “The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa – for he has so much to look forward to.”  

We look forward to welcoming you to Africa, whether you are a first-timer or a seasoned veteran. Africa is calling, answer her call.

Author: B. Hershensohnn