Few African hunting experiences demand as much patience, preparation, and discipline as Leopard Hunts. Widely regarded as one of the ultimate challenges in Dangerous Game Hunting, pursuing a mature leopard is seldom about covering the most ground or pulling the trigger the quickest, it is about understanding the animal, trusting your professional hunter, and being ready when a brief opportunity finally presents itself.
Unlike Cape buffalo or elephant, leopard hunting is often a waiting game. Days can be spent checking bait sites, reading spoor, studying trail camera activity, and allowing an old tom to become comfortable before the hunt reaches its defining moment. When that opportunity finally arrives, everything happens quickly, making preparation and patience just as important as accurate shooting.
Across Africa, leopard hunting is available in several outstanding destinations, each offering its own hunting style, regulations, terrain, and traditions. Whether you're planning your first leopard safari or comparing countries for your next dangerous game adventure, understanding those differences will help you choose the destination that best matches your hunting goals.
This article compares Africa’s leading leopard destinations and examines how terrain, regulations, safari style and the availability of hunting with hounds differ between countries.
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Key Takeaways
- Leopard hunts are widely regarded as one of Africa's greatest dangerous game challenges, demanding patience, preparation, and precise shot placement.
- Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Botswana each offer unique leopard hunting experiences, with different regulations, hunting methods, and safari styles.
- Most leopard hunts rely on baiting and blind hunting, while selected areas in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Botswana also permit hunting with hounds.
- Choosing the right destination depends on more than trophy quality, factors such as hunting methods, safari length, regulations, and budget all play an important role.
- Successful leopard hunting is built on patience, careful planning, and waiting for the one opportunity that may define the entire safari.
Why the Leopard Is Africa's Most Elusive Trophy
When looking at the other dangerous game hunting options like lion, crocodile, and buffalo; why do hunters always seem to return for the leopard in particular? In the early days of the African hunting safari, leopards were seen as a highly exclusive (and elusive) trophy because their population wasn’t the biggest, and their shy, slinky nature gave them an air of rarity and exclusivity. To successfully hunt a leopard was a prime manner for the hunter to prove their skills (and let’s face it, masculinity) while capturing a trophy not many others would have.
Some of the biggest and most renowned names in the history of hunting had their share of leopard hunting tales, including Frederick Selous, Bunny Allen, and Theodore Roosevelt, among others. Hunting leopard, an animal that posed and continues to pose a challenge to hunters, also contributes to the thrill and rush of the hunt; giving hunters a sense of walking in the boot prints of the famed figures who came before and left a trail across Africa for others to follow.
Comparing Africa’s Leading Leopard Hunting Destinations
Africa has many game hunting destinations, but some stand out more than others depending on what you’re looking for. Leopard hunting is available in almost all of the continents’ hunting territories, provided they have leopards; deciding factors in your African leopard hunting decision can range from climate, time of year, budget, etc.
Tanzania: The Dangerous Game Hunting Mecca of Africa
One of Africa’s most dangerous and sought-after targets can be found in many of the concession areas around Tanzania, including the famed Selous, Rungwa, and Masailand territories. Leopard hunting in Tanzania is restricted to daylight hours, and like other dangerous game, leopards in Tanzania may not be hunted with a bow. No nighttime or hunting with artificial light is allowed.
Only male leopards may be hunted and must meet the minimum size requirement of a nose-to-tail base measurement of 4.9 feet. Due to Tanzania’s hunting license laws; leopards may only be hunted on a full 21-day permit, even if the hunt itself is only 10 or 15 days, the full 21-day permit must be applied and paid for. When it comes to firearms, a minimum caliber of .375 is the order of the day and expanding tip bullets are recommended.
Zimbabwe: Leopard hunting at its roots
Leopard hunting in Zimbabwe is an experience that could take the hunter well into the famous Zambezi area. Zimbabwe is known for its “raw” wilderness, and hunters should be prepared to handle a more rugged environment. Hunting grounds in Zimbabwe can either be state-owned, tribal, or privately owned; with the classification impacting the regulations surrounding leopard hunting as the body in charge, makes the rules.
On state land, no artificial light or night hunting is allowed, tribal grounds allow for both of these, and when it comes to private land it’s up to the owner. Tribal and private concessions also allow for the use of hounds when hunting leopards, but a check with the owner is a strong suggestion. Regardless of the concession, all hunting parties must be accompanied by a representative or member of Zimbabwean National Parks, another note is that no leopard wearing a collar or tag may be hunted.
Namibia: Hunting a leopard in the Land of Sand
What do you get when you combine expanses of uninhabited land and one of the most shy and elusive creatures on Earth, the answer, is an African leopard hunting safari needing a solid duration of 14–21 days. But then again, the reward is worth the effort. Dangerous game hunting, particularly leopard, is favored in Namibia due to its land layout and stable well-managed conservation efforts.
Leopard hunting in Namibia requires a strong effort to be as invisible as possible, as leopards are highly attuned to “unnatural” sounds, and one slip-up will send the target streaking off into the sunset. Namibia’s hunting season runs from February to November and hunting during the start or ending months could require some extra planning due to the present weather patterns. Due to its fair-chase principles, Namibia does not allow for leopards and other dangerous game hunting targets to be hunted with a bow, the usage of artificial light is also prohibited, and no animal may be shot from the vehicle.
Mozambique: Leopard Hunting on the Continent’s Wildside
This southeast African country offers an experience harking back to the traditional dangerous game hunting expeditions of old. Hunting leopards in Mozambique occurs across various hunting areas like the Cohora Bassa, Niassa, and Marromeu regions. Leopard hunts in Mozambique typically last 14–21 days depending on whether or not other species are included. And with Mozambique’s tropical climate, leopards can be hunted during the dry and the wet seasons, as long as reasonable and relevant planning is involved.
Leopard hunting in Mozambique is regulated by the government to ensure no over-exploitation of the species and to regulate conservation efforts. Both bow and rifle hunts are available in the country, as long as the prescribed stipulations are followed; leopards are also allowed to be hunted at night and with the use of artificial light.
Botswana: Leopard Hunting at Its Best
Leopard hunting in Botswana is not for the faint-hearted, with this cunning, elusive, and majestic African cat being a challenge to hunt. Not only that, but pound for pound, they are seen as the most dangerous wounded animal in Africa.
Botswana’s hunting season runs from April to September, with the best time for leopard hunting recommended from July to September. Leopard hunting in Botswana is available throughout the country, from the famous Kalahari Desert to the beautiful Okavango Delta, alive with fauna and flora, making it a prime dangerous game hunting destination.
Selecting the best destinations for leopard hunting depends on quota availability, habitat, and hunting pressure.
Leopard hunting with Hounds
Three of the top four African leopard hunting destinations offer the opportunity to hunt a leopard with hounds. The practice of leopard hunting with hounds (and hound hunting in general) dates back hundreds of years and provides an enjoyable and unique experience to hunters looking for something different.
Zimbabwe
Leopard hunting with hounds was a practice initiated in 1980s Zimbabwe, and became a legalized method in 1996, with hound hunting only taking place on privately owned hunting grounds, and not on state or tribal land. These private land concessions are spread across the country and include a variety of landscapes from bushveld and rocky outcrops to woodland-type areas all suited to and supporting leopard populations.
Mozambique
In Mozambique, leopard hunting with hounds is typically restricted to the nighttime period, especially in areas where the tsetse fly is prevalent. The tsetse fly is host to a parasite, that if passed on to dogs can be fatal. Much like neighboring Zimbabwe, leopard hunting with hounds occurs across Mozambique, most often on private hunting concessions.
Botswana
Leopard hunting with hounds has a high success rate in this popular dangerous game hunting destination. Again, this dangerous African cat is not to be messed with, and the hounds distract its attention while the hunter aligns for the perfect shot ensuring a clean and humane kill.
Considerations when Hunting with Hounds
Hunting a leopard with hounds is a “specialized” form of dangerous game hunting, and as such, more consideration is needed when looking at planning and cost.
These hounds are trained from a young age, often starting with small predators, and are not released onto cold trails. This training takes years, and once a hound is properly trained, there’s no going back to other species. Due to this and the “exclusivity” of these hunts, the cost is therefore increased. While it could seem ridiculous to others, this increased cost is well justified considering the training, accommodation, transport, food, and maintenance costs involved in keeping these dogs ready for action.
Is Leopard Hunting with Hounds Ethical?
Often the topic of conversation surrounding these hunts includes concerns for the safety of these dogs and how “right” it is for leopards to be hunted in this manner. Truthfully, these hunts make use of hundreds of years of history relying on the innate conflict and confrontation between the feline and canine species; leopards will try their luck with one or two hounds; but when faced with a pack, they typically seek the nearest tree to wait out. Once the leopard is in the tree (much like it would be if it were baited) the hunter takes their shot, hounds don’t bother with the shot animal and when well controlled, don’t pose a risk to the trophy either.
Choosing Between Leopard Destinations
The right destination depends on available quota, concession quality, terrain and the hunting methods permitted in that area. Hunters comparing current availability, prices and country options can visit our dedicated Leopard Hunts page.
Those building a broader combination safari can also explore available African Hunting Trips.
Author: A. Baker