Exploring Tanzania's Simanjiro & Naberera Hunting Areas

Our recent expedition took us Hunting in Tanzania, exploring the renowned Simanjiro and Naberera hunting areas, located approximately two hours by road from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Covering almost 400 square miles, these neighbouring concessions offer a classic East African hunting landscape of open plains, rolling bushveld and traditional Maasai community lands, where wildlife continues to share the landscape with cattle and goats that have been part of this environment for generations.

Although this was not a hunting safari, spending time in the field provided an excellent opportunity to explore the concessions, meet with Professional Hunters and gain a better understanding of what makes this region unique. There is simply no substitute for walking the country, seeing the wildlife firsthand and experiencing a hunting area before recommending it to others.

Simanjiro and Naberera are well suited to hunters pursuing East African Plains Game Hunts. During our visit we encountered healthy numbers of Grant's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle, white-bearded wildebeest, greater kudu and lesser kudu, along with a variety of other species that make these concessions especially attractive to collectors building an East African trophy room. Hunters interested in Wildebeest Hunts will appreciate the opportunity to pursue the distinctive white-bearded wildebeest, while the area also offers excellent Kudu Hunts for both greater and lesser kudu.

While elephant regularly traverse these concessions, Simanjiro and Naberera are generally better known for outstanding plains game than for lion or leopard hunting. One of the highlights, however, is the opportunity to pursue old dagga boys, making the area an excellent destination for traditional Cape Buffalo Hunts.

Buffalo hunting in this part of Tanzania starts well before sunrise. Professional Hunters and trackers search the roads and sandy tracks for fresh spoor before local Maasai communities begin moving cattle through the area. Once a promising track is found, the real work begins. Buffalo often disappear into thick cover where visibility can shrink dramatically, turning the hunt into a demanding test of patience, persistence and careful teamwork.

One of the characteristics that makes Simanjiro and Naberera so memorable is the contrast between wild country and everyday rural life. Wildlife moves freely across the concessions while Maasai communities continue their traditional way of life, creating an authentic East African hunting environment that feels very different from many southern African destinations.

Every expedition allows us to better understand the destinations we recommend. Spending time with Professional Hunters, exploring concessions and experiencing the terrain firsthand helps ensure that the advice we provide hunters is based on genuine knowledge gained in the field.

Whether we are hunting ourselves or simply visiting a destination, every trip strengthens our understanding of Africa's hunting areas and helps us recommend the right Hunting Trips for hunters looking to experience Africa with confidence.