Giraffe hunting in Thabazimbi can be very different from what a hunter expects when looking at an animal nearly 20 feet tall. Thick Limpopo bush, broken terrain and a giraffe’s exceptional eyesight can make finding the animal easier than getting close enough for a clean shot.
This hunt took place near Thabazimbi in South Africa’s Limpopo Province and gave us a first-hand look at how much patience, wind and positioning can matter on a giraffe stalk.
Hunters comparing opportunities elsewhere in the country can explore our guide to giraffe hunting in South Africa, while this article follows what actually happened on this particular hunt.
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Key Takeaways
- Hunting in South Africa remains a sought-after activity for many international and US hunters
- A South African hunting safari in Limpopo is seen as one of the best destinations in which to enjoy an African hunt
- If you are hunting plains game in South Africa, consider the Limpopo province, with its wide array of available game species
- Giraffe hunting in South Africa is a challenging endeavor, with key challenges including the animal’s keen eyesight and height, the complexity of shot placement, as well as testing terrain and landscapes when hunting giraffe.
Our Giraffe Hunt in Thabazimbi, Limpopo
Our team at Game Hunting Safaris had the opportunity to enjoy an incredible giraffe hunting trip to Thabazimbi in the Limpopo province. Giraffe hunting in South Africa is an exciting adventure and this majestic trophy was one that I had been eyeing for a while.
We set off early from our home in Gauteng and made good time, reaching Thabazimbi mid-morning. Our hunting party consisted of me, my twin brother, our older brother, who acted as our PH, together with our dad. A good old boys' trip to enjoy an African plains game hunting safari in Limpopo!
After a quick off-load and checking out the lodge, we headed to the range to set up all the rifles at the correct range. There was no room for error on this trip, especially since we were hunting such a large African plains game species on our hunt.
We headed out and made our way to the neighboring farm in search of Giraffes. One thing I am very thankful for is that Giraffes are the tallest animals on earth, reaching heights of up to 20 feet (6 meters), so you would think they would be easy to spot…think again!
The trees in the area were even taller than the Giraffes, but after searching for about 2-3 hours, we finally found a herd. My older brother, Keenan van Wyk, who was my PH for this giraffe hunt, and I climbed out of the back of the bakkie and began walking closer to them, hoping to get a shot.
However, they started moving deeper into the thick bush, so we waited and tried to guide them into a more open area. Once they had moved into a suitable position, we slowly circled them, as the wind wasn't in our favor during this safari.
I was using a .300 Winchester Magnum, which proved to be the perfect rifle for this South African hunting safari. After we positioned ourselves advantageously, we looked for a bull that we were going to be hunting. My PH set up the shooting sticks, and I rested the rifle onto them. I looked into the scope and found the bull. Once I had the bull in my sights, I proceeded to take the rifle off safety and lined up the shot...BANG! The shot went off, and I picked the rifle out of the sticks after I had seen him start to sway side to side. We proceeded to run after him, as Giraffe are very quick animals, especially in distress.
They can run up to 35 mph (56 km/h), quite a fast pace if you consider that even Usain Bolt only runs at 27,33 mph! As we ran into the open at the corner of my eye, I saw him start to fall and tumble to the ground! We had done it! We had successfully hunted the tallest African plains game species! We slowed down into a walk and made our way to the fallen Giraffe. He was a gorgeous middle-aged bull. The patches on his body were beautiful, with a dark color to them. We took numerous photographs of this majestic bull, who was so massive that he made me look like an ant next to him!
Picture of our giraffe for a size comparison.
Processing Our Trophy
We had a few workers come and help us skin and gut him and cut his body into manageable sizes, as he was extremely heavy. Did you know that giraffe bulls can weigh up to 4,200 pounds (1,900 kg)? After we had completed everything, we all sighed with relief as everything was loaded onto the bakkie, ready for transporting.
I had an amazing first giraffe experience, making it the second giraffe for GHS!
Giving Back to The Local Community
As you may be aware, Africa is a continent with many poor communities, especially out in the rural areas. South Africa is no exception, with the unemployment rate for the first quarter of 2025 standing at approximately 33,2%. The news is even bleaker for South Africa’s Limpopo province, with an unemployment rate of more than 48%.
Why is this significant, you may ask? Game hunting is also about giving back to local communities, where meat is a commodity not often enjoyed, simply due to economics and the price thereof.
On this Giraffe hunting safari, the meat was donated to local impoverished communities in the area, allowing an African hunt to meet the needs of the people on the ground by feeding them.
Phone? What Phone?
After it started to get dark, my dad had realized something: he had lost his phone…again! The challenge was that we had taken most, if not all, of the pictures for the Giraffe hunting safari on this device…it was a mess to put it mildly!
We searched for more than two hours that night, went back the next morning to search again, but without knowing exactly where the phone had fallen and when, it was difficult to pinpoint a location to search. With no cell phone coverage in the region, we couldn’t even pinpoint its last location or call the phone!
Moral of the story? Use more than one device to take photos and capture the memories of an unforgettable hunt. Luckily, we had one or two images on another device, but the main (and best!) images are still on my dad’s phone… wherever that may still be in the middle of the African bush!
What This Thabazimbi Giraffe Hunt Taught Us
My Giraffe hunting experience has taught me about patience as well as perseverance, like when the going gets tough and things don’t always go your way in the African bush! Case in point: When the Giraffes headed for thicker vegetation!
Here are some tips that I learnt during my Giraffe hunting safari:
- Ensure that you are familiar with all the necessary regulations and hunting permits for your African plains game safari, including a hunting permit, landowner permission, and CITES export permits (if needed).
- When hunting large species like giraffe, be aware that they often leave very little blood trail due to their thick skin and unique anatomy. Proper shot placement is critical to ensure a quick recovery, so it is essential to understand correct shot positioning before your hunt.
- Working with ethical and experienced guides and PHs who are knowledgeable about local conditions, spotting and stalking, as well as correct shot placement, will increase the chances of a successful African hunt.
- Read up about the species, including best shot placement options for a quick, ethical hunt.
- Be prepared for long walks and plenty of glassing, as Giraffe herds are extremely alert and wary. Added to this, with their long, elongated necks, they can see predators and dangers from far away.
- To assist in approaching this African plains game trophy undetected, use natural cover such as long grasses, thorn trees, and thick vegetation during the stalk. The Giraffe’s keen eyesight is a great challenge to hunting parties.
The size of the hoof compared to my hand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Giraffe Hunting in Limpopo
Is giraffe hunting in Limpopo considered Big Game hunting?
Yes. Giraffe are among Africa’s largest game animals and can fall within the broader category of Big Game hunting. They are not part of the Big Five, but their size, physical resilience and the judgement required during the stalk make them a serious big-game objective.
How difficult is giraffe hunting in Thabazimbi?
The animal’s size can make giraffe look easy to locate, but the thick bush around parts of Thabazimbi can hide surprisingly large animals. Their height and excellent eyesight also make approaching within a suitable shooting distance more difficult than many first-time giraffe hunters expect.
What terrain can you expect when giraffe hunting in Limpopo?
The Thabazimbi area can include thornveld, thick bush, open plains and broken or mountainous country. Hunting conditions can change quickly over relatively short distances, so wind, vegetation and visibility all influence how a stalk develops.
How long can it take to find a giraffe in thick Limpopo bush?
There is no fixed timeframe. On this hunt, it took roughly two to three hours to locate the herd despite giraffe being the tallest land animals in the world. In thick vegetation, finding the animals and getting into a suitable position can be two very different challenges.
What rifle did we use on this Thabazimbi giraffe hunt?
A .300 Winchester Magnum was used on this particular hunt. Rifle choice should always be discussed with the professional hunter beforehand, with bullet construction and accurate shot placement considered alongside caliber.
Why is shot placement especially important on giraffe?
Giraffe are extremely large animals with substantial muscle, bone and body depth. A poorly placed shot can result in a difficult recovery, which makes understanding the animal’s anatomy and waiting for a suitable angle particularly important.
Planning a Broader African Hunting Trip
A giraffe can be the main objective of a safari or one species within a much broader African hunt. The right combination depends on the hunting area, available species and how much time the hunter has in the field.
Hunters comparing different countries, species and safari structures can explore our hunting trips in Africa for a broader look at the options available.
This blog was compiled by 16-year-old game hunting enthusiast and conservationist, Slade van Wyk.