Giraffe Hunting In North West Province, South Africa

ABOUT THE EXPEDITION

Giraffe hunting in South Africa has become increasingly popular amongst international hunters, ranking alongside sought-after spiral horn antelope species such as kudu, eland, bushbuck, and nyala. While an old bull giraffe makes an impressive African trophy, the hunt itself can be surprisingly demanding and action-packed.

One of the biggest challenges when giraffe hunting is recovering and processing the enormous animal in warm African temperatures. If the skinning team takes too long, the trophy can quickly suffer from hair slip and damage, making efficient recovery extremely important.

This particular giraffe hunting safari took place roughly two hundred miles from Pretoria in the North West Province of South Africa. Unfortunately, our initial shot placement was slightly off and missed the vitals by only a few inches. Although the .458 caliber rifle delivered tremendous stopping power, several rapid follow-up shots were still required before the bull finally went down. What started as a calm and controlled stalk quickly turned into a fast-paced pursuit through thick brush and woodland.

Tracking a wounded giraffe can also be surprisingly difficult. Despite their enormous size, giraffe often leave very little visible blood due to their thick skin, and with numerous tracks crossing throughout the bushveld, staying on the correct spoor becomes critical. Hunts like these are always a reminder that African game hunting has a way of humbling even experienced hunters.

On the same safari, Tamlyn also successfully harvested a superb eland cow with a perfectly placed heart shot — a far less dramatic experience than the giraffe hunt itself.

Proper giraffe shot placement is extremely important due to the animal’s unique anatomy. Unlike many large plains game species, the heart sits slightly lower and further forward in the chest cavity than the traditional “one-third up” aiming point commonly used on African antelope. Head shots are also generally avoided as the target area is relatively small and the risk of damaging the trophy is high.

For hunters planning an African plains game safari, adding a giraffe hunt to the trophy list creates a truly unique and unforgettable experience.