Hunting Hippo In Tanzania

More About Tanzania Hippo Hunting

Hippos are listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN and no special permits are required when hippo hunting in Tanzania, but a minimum of a 21-day hunting license must be obtained. No bows may be used on Dangerous Game Hunts in Tanzania. Look for a mature hippo bull that sports two bumps next to its nostrils. These bumps are the lower tusks of the hippo bulls pushing against the mouth when it is closed. When the hippos are submerged in water, it may be difficult to differentiate between the sexes. Look for a hippo with the largest head, neck, and tusks, along with the two bumps at the nostrils. 

What Makes Hippo Hunting in Tanzania Different?

Hippo hunting in Tanzania is shaped by the scale and remoteness of the country's hunting areas. In regions such as the Selous, Ugalla and Moyowosi, hippos may be found along major rivers, permanent pools and extensive wetland systems within much larger big game concessions.

This means a hippo hunt is often part of a broader dangerous game safari rather than an isolated hunt. Buffalo, leopard, lion and other game may be hunted within the same concession, depending on quota and the safari being booked.

The country also offers very different conditions from one hunting area to another. Some hippos are hunted along rivers where animals can be glassed from the bank, while swamp and wetland areas can require considerably more time to locate and assess a mature bull.

For a hunter already planning a Big Game Hunting safari in Tanzania, hippo can therefore be a natural addition when the right quota and hunting area are available. 

Shot Placement while Hippo Hunting in Tanzania

Hippo hunting requires careful judgment, particularly when animals are approached at close range or encountered on land. Despite their size, hippos can move remarkably quickly, and positioning between an animal and the water can create a dangerous situation. Hippo hunting safaris in Tanzania use two main hunting methods.

The first method involves approaching a suitable bull on foot after the pod has been located. This could start using a traditional canoe called a mokoro until the herds are spotted. The second option is to target the hippo on land as it leaves the water to feed around dusk or returns later that night or early the following morning. Hunting a hippo on land requires particular care, especially when the animal's route back to the water places it close to the hunters.

When hippo hunting in Tanzania, there are a couple of options available in terms of shot placement, and which is chosen, will all depend on numerous factors, including the hunting conditions, as well as the hunter’s position to the trophy. The shot placement options include the frontal brain shot, the frontal heart shot, the broadside brain shot with the hippo in the water, the headshot with the hippo facing away from the hunter, as well as the fleeing shot, the neck shot, and lastly, the heart and lung shot. The bottom line with hippo shot placement is simple: the shot must be precise. If you are unsure of the angle or placement, don't take it.

What Caliber Rifle is used when Hunting Hippo in Tanzania?

Hippos are exceptionally large, heavily built animals, and adequate rifle and bullet selection is essential. The minimum requirement when targeting dangerous game is a .375 caliber, together with the minimum of a 300-grain bullet. A suggestion would be to use solid bullets, as this trophy is exceptionally difficult to kill. Should the hippo be out of the water, with the hunter close and standing broadside, then a suggested rifle would be a .416 Rigby or .500 NE, to enter the heart for an accurate kill shot, quick death, and humane kill.