This Blog article is the follow up to part one, which covers the remaining African Plains Game hunting destinations. For Part 1, Click here

To kick off this piece, let us take a moment to pause and be realistic for a moment. There are very few experiences, worldwide, which can compare to an African plains game hunt. Africa, has the best game hunting in the world, and a few of the reasons are as follows:

• The quality of the hunting adventure and the diversity of the number of huntable species.
• Affordability of the hunting safari and the hunter gets value for their “buck” when hunting in Africa.
• Africa produces enormous quantities of game hunting trophies on a consistent basis.
• A great add on to a plains game safari will be opting to conduct some night critter hunting on the evenings having a dark moon. Africa has a wide variety of nocturnal animals available for the purpose of hunting.

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Key Takeaways

• African plains game hunts provide hunters with the thrill of the chase, while targeting a wide range of possible species.
• Mozambique offers game hunting on private ranches or government concessions, known as “coutadas.”
• African plains game options in Mozambique are numerous, with popular species including the kudu, Cape and Livingston eland, impala, nyala  and oribi, amongst others.
• Hunting in Zimbabwe happens throughout the year, with African plains game safaris undertaken all year around. The best time, however, is during the cooler months of April to September.
• Popular African plains game species in Zimbabwe include Limpopo bushbuck, eland, oryx, and klipspringers.
• A popular choice is to combine an African plains game hunt with dangerous game, to add an extra sense of adrenaline and action to the hunt!
• Zambia has a few sought-after hunting areas, including the Luangwa Valley, Kafue Plateau region as well as the Bangweulu swamp regions.
• The country is known for is exceptional sable, Cookson’s wildebeest, Kafue lechwe and black lechwe.
• Tanzania is one of the most beautiful countries not only to hunt in, but also to photograph and has diverse and abundant wildlife populations.
• All hunting concessions in the country are free-range, with some popular species including Roosevelt sable, white-bearded wildebeest, suni, Greater kudu and Kirk’s dik-dik.
• Botswana has two main hunting areas, namely the Okavango Delta and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
• It is known for African plains game species including black wildebeest, blesbok, and bushbuck, puku, kudu, and oryx.

Plains Game Hunting in Mozambique

Mozambique hunting safaris are five star, wild and world class. Mozambique really is still untamed Africa. Due to numerous civil wars and years of unrest, Mozambique is a relatively newcomer to the area of game hunting.

During the years of war, game numbers were negatively impacted due to poaching and these animals being a free source of protein for the “soldiers”. In recent years these population numbers have “bounced back” and literally there are animals that have never ever had contact with humans.

African plains game hunting takes places either on private ranches, or government concession areas which are known as “coutadas.” Except for a few areas on a limited number of private ranches, game hunting takes place on enormous, unfenced areas of land, the majority being hundreds of thousands of acres in size.

Mozambique really personifies “free range” hunting. In most game hunting areas, the terrain in relatively flat, but during the wet season can flood causing “flood areas” which make access only possible on foot. The northern areas of Mozambique i.e. Marromeu by way of example or only accessible by small plane, then a four-by-four truck to the camp.

Hunters may not bring in semi-automatic or fully automatic weapons into Mozambique, nor any weapons which chamber any military caliber rounds such as 7.62 by 39. Mozambique has thousands of faithful AK 47’s buried in bunkers that on a regular occasion get stumbled upon.

Out of the Southern African countries, Mozambique is probably the least developed which makes for a perfect game hunting safari. Hunting lodges are mostly constructed with local raw material and equipment shipped in via South Africa.

Plains game species are abundant, and Mozambique offers the hunter a vast variety such as, but not limited to: Kudu, Eland (both the Cape and Livingston), Grysbok (Cape and Sharpes), Impala, Nyala, Oribi, Suni and Duikers (both Blue and Red).

An African plains game hunt in Mozambique can get expensive if the hunter is needing to charter a small plane such as a Cessna etc. as this could cost between $ 5000 and $ 6000.

Should the hunter be looking for cost synergies when booking a plains game hunt in Mozambique, it would be suggested that this safari be combined with a dangerous game safari. Mozambique is thick with Buffalo, Leopard and Lion and boasts some of the best hippo and crocodile hunting in Africa.

Hyena hunting in Mozambique is also highly recommended and is a very popular nocturnal hunt.

When is the best time to go Plains Game hunting in Mozambique?

The best time for hunting in Mozambique is during the dryer months running from May to September.

Plains Game Hunting in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is one of the most preferred countries to hunt African plains game. Word of caution, it is not always wise to deal with outfitters directly as there are a handful who drag down the reputation of the hunting industry. Do your due diligence or check in with your hunt broker.

Direct flights into Zimbabwe from European countries and the USA are not available and when planning the safari, set the itinerary for a stopover in Johannesburg, South Africa. Airlink, a highly reputable African airline can fly you direct to the Victoria Falls. If time is a luxury you have, it is worthwhile spending a night or two at once of the many upmarket hotels near the Victoria Falls.

There is no specific hunting season in Zimbabwe, and African plains game safaris can be done all year around. However, it would be advisable to hunt in the cooler months between late April and the end of September where African temperatures increase exponentially bring out all sorts of pesky critters.

The good news when hunting in Zimbabwe is that there are no limits in terms of how many firearms may be imported via a temporary permit, but bear in mind that if your travels are via South Africa, there is a two-firearm limit.

Most of the plains game hunting is done on foot, but due to the gentleness of the terrain the Zimbabwe hunts are not that strenuous. Just be prepared to cover a few miles a day.

Zimbabwe is an oasis for African plains game with a variety of species such as the Limpopo/Chobe Bushbuck, Eland, Oryx (Gemsbuck) and Klipspringers. These are but a few of the available species.  

It is also advisable, if possible, combine an African plains game hunting safari with dangerous game. Elephant hunting in Zimbabwe is popular along with Lion and Cape Buffalo. Leopard hunting with hounds is also available and Zimbabwe has some of the best Crocodile and Hippo hunting in Africa available. Spotted and Brown Hyena hunting also talks place in Zimbabwe.

Plains Game Hunting in Zambia

African plains game hunting safaris in Zambia have not been around available for very long, well, not when compared to other African countries. The Zambian Government in the early 1970’s formed GMA’s (Game Management Areas) and only at this juncture opened its borders for international hunting safaris.

Since 1970, the hunting industry in Zambia has taken a few hard knocks when the country made the decision to close the hunting industry in 2001, then a few months later in 2003 reopened and continued to issue hunting licenses. Of course, being Africa, this action was only taken once the safari concessions were redistributed. Of course, it can be assumed that this was to a selected few, with a small portion having to bid and tender publicly.

Game hunting in Zambia covers more than 7 million acres, with most of the hunting concessions taking place in the Game Management Areas, and the balance being on private land.

Zambia has a few sought of safari hunting areas and include:

• Luangwa Valley
• Kafue Plateau Region
• The Bangweulu area (Swamps) is famous for Hippo and Crocodile hunting.

The majoring of African plains game hunting in Zambia is all done in Free Range areas, no fences, just wild Africa. These hunts are mostly done on foot.

Zambia is home to the magnificent Zambian Sable bloodline (another being the Matetsi) and offers a variety of endemic plains game antelope such as the Cookston’s Wildebeest, Kafue Lechwe and the Black Lechwe.

With hunting in Zambia being seasonal due to flooding and the rainy season, many hunting safaris are hosted in tents. These tents and bush camps are stunning with all the comforts of home (except maybe air-conditioning). After a hard day’s hunting, a full stomach, and a few cold beers to re-hydrate, lying in a tent in the middle of wild Africa really is a pleasure. There is nothing quite like the feeling of knowing that you are protected from the wild by a piece of canvass while listening to the Laughing Hyena and Lion battle on through the night. Not many are so privileged to tick off this bucket list activity.

There are areas in Zambia that can be reached all year along, and hunting safaris do take place out of permanent camps and lodges.

When is the best time to book for a plains game hunting safari In Zambia?

The best time to go safari hunting in Zambia is during the months from June to November.

Plains Game hunting in Tanzania

Tanzania is a world class safari destination, for not only African plains game hunting, but also for the purpose of photographic safaris. Tanzania has wildlife populations and variety of species like no other African country.

Theodore Roosevelt hunted his famous hunt in Tanzania during 1909. Many books are available detailing the number of game animals hunted, duration and logistics. The safari was “off the charts” so to speak.

Who was Theodore Roosevelt? (for those who are not in the know):

• President of the United Sates of America: 1901 to 1909, the youngest president ever.
• Roosevelt once refused to shoot a cornered bear. A store owner then made a stuffed bear and called it “Teddy’s bear”. Since then, millions of Teddy Bears have been manufactured.
• In 1906, “Teddy” was awarded the Nobel Peace prize.
• Roosevelt was famous for his conservation efforts and allocated millions of acres of land, bigger than France as dedicated reserve areas.

Tanzania is bordered by numerous countries. Kenya and Uganda in the North, and in the West by Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC. In the South, Tanzania borders with Mozambique, and the Southwest by Malawi and Zambia.  

Tanzania boasts a beautiful stretch of coastline on the Indian Ocean, famous for big game fishing safaris.

Tanzania is broken up into three main hunting reserves/areas:

• The Selous in the South (After the famous hunter Frederick Courtany Selous)
• Masai Land in the North
• Central and western regions.

African plains game enjoys a mixed habitat of forests, grasslands, and Savannah. In Tanzania, there are more than 175 individual hunting concessions, some more than 1,8 million acres. All hunting concessions, unlike parts of South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe are totally “free range”. Not a game fence in sight.

The number of days per hunting safari is strictly controlled by the Tanzanian government. There are numerous options that the hunter may consider, and African plains game are added to these safaris.  The minimum hunting safari is for a period of seven days where the hunters may harvest two Cape Buffalo and a few of the more common African plains game antelope. Always check pricing as safari prices are normally quoted without the trophy fees, which are not cheap or at discounted rates.

Safari lodges are normally five start tents which are erected before and removed after the hunting season.

What is the minimum rifle calibre when hunting in Tanzania?

The minimum caliber allowed is a .240, with the dangerous game minimum caliber being a .375. Tanzania hunting does not make provision for handguns, or semi/fully automatic rifles.

There are many exceptional and unique African plains game antelope available such as:

• Lichtenstein Hartebeest
• Kirks’s Dik-Dik
• Greater East African Kudu
• Roosevelt Sable
• Suni
• White Bearded Wildebeest

Besides the above, there are a host of other antelope and specialty species such as the Silver Backed Jackal.

Big game hunting in Tanzania is available for the selected few who are fortunate to be in a position top afford these hunting safaris. When hunting in Tanzania, the only limit is the depth of your purse strings. Hunting licenses and permits come at a big cost, but a hunt in Tanzania, would be a dream safari.

If you are privileged enough to enjoy an African plains game hunt in Tanzania, be sure to stop off at Mount Kilimanjaro, the worlds highest free-standing mountain.

Plains Game Hunting in Botswana

In Botswana, game hunting is separated into two main areas, the Okavango Delta, and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, both areas can only be described as “Heaven on Earth” due to the sheer natural beauty. The Kalahari area is known for some magnificent antelope such as the Puku, Oryx (Gemsbuck) and enormous Kudu.

A large portion of Botswana is also broken up into private game ranches, some of which are fenced off areas. African plains game, for species such as Black Wildebeest, Blesbok and Bushbuck can only be hunted on these private ranches.

Botswana, under pressure from local communities was forced to reopen hunting in 2019. This after a 5-year ban. Elephant hunts, especially in the Chobe area are also being conducted and approximately 200 to 300 permits are being issued annually, much to the delight of residents who lost their employment during the ban.

International hunters can fly directly into South Africa and then once rested, fly on airlines such as Airlink to Kasane, Maun or Gaborone. Botswana is easily accessible from surrounding African countries.

African plains game in Botswana is exceptional. Elephants however are placing these species at risk due to the over population of Elephants, reducing food sources for these antelope. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most sought-after African plains

game trophy?

The kudu remains an extremely popular trophy, with its exquisite long, spiral-shaped horns making them a unique game hunting trophy.

What is the biggest African plains game species that can be hunted?

While the roan and sable are large antelopes, first prize must go to the Cape eland, the largest plains game trophy that can be hunted. Standing up to 76 inches at the shoulder, and weighing between 1,000-2,000 pounds, the Cape eland is a formidable hunting trophy.

What is the top African plains game?

The kudu remains the most popular and sought-after game hunting trophy when considering plains game species.

Is hunting legal in Tanzania?

Yes, legally you can hunt in Tanzania, while adhering to the hunting regulations and licensing of the Tanzania Wildlife Department.

What country in Africa has the best hunting?

South Africa is renowned for its exceptional game hunting regions, as well as its wide range of game animals, including African plains game, big game, specialty game and dangerous game.

Namibia is also seen as an affordable destination with a wide range of species and is well worth visiting.

Where is the best game hunting in South Africa?

The country’s Limpopo province is renowned for its kudu, impala and dangerous game species, while the Eastern Cape has hunters spoilt for choice in terms of African plains game species.

What game is popular to hunt in Zambia?

A variety of African plains game, Cookson’s wildebeest, sable and members of Africa’s notorious Big 5 are some of the species available when hunting in Zambia.

Conclusion

African plains game species offer international hunters remarkable safaris all over the continent. Hunting safaris are so diverse, they can include hunting the tiny ten, large antelope and exotic species. Adding favorite night critters such as Hyena hunting ensures both day and night activities and pack with adrenaline filled memorable moments.

Author: PC van Wyk