Game hunting in Africa is an experience many international hunters yearn for and strive towards. To experience a safari hunting expedition, on the “Dark Continent” is a dream for many. One of the most popular destinations in which to hunt Tanzania remains an extremely sought-after safari location, with its wide array of wildlife and largely undisturbed natural habitats being major drawcards for hunting enthusiasts worldwide.
The country is geared towards wildlife, with a large portion of the available land in Tanzanian territory consisting of game reserves, wildlife parks, and hunting areas. These areas include different landscapes and a variety of big game hunting species for an exciting hunting adventure targeted at a range of hunting styles, skill sets, and species.
Discover more about what makes Tanzania such a popular and exceptional game hunting destination.
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Tanzania
Fast Facts
Capital City: Dar es Salaam (administrative capital), Dodoma (legislative capital)
Major Cities: Zanzibar, Mwanza, Mbeya, Arusha
Total Area: 365754 square miles
Currency: Tanzania Shillings
Population: 61,7 million
Language: Swahili, but English is also widely spoken
Tanzania is an African country situated on the continent’s east coast and is bordered by Kenya and Uganda on the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique on the south.
Why Choose Tanzania as Your Game Hunting Destination?
- Tanzania is home to a wide range of wildlife species, making it the perfect game hunting destination whether you plan on targeting dangerous game, African plains game, or specialty game.
- Although pricier than other African destinations, the trophy quality of the animals is very good.
- The game hunting industry in the country is well regulated, with quotas set and adhered to and the government practicing fair game hunting principles.
- The game hunting industry supports conservation and works together on conservation initiatives and programs with the Tanzanian government.
- Tanzania’s hunting regions are largely unfenced, allowing hunters to experience an old-style African safari at its best. The thrill of the chase is increased tenfold and the sense of achievement is upped during these game hunting adventures!
- Tanzania allows hunters to target four of the Big 5, including elephant, leopard, lion, and Cape buffalo as well as the two remaining members of the Dangerous 7, the hippo and Nile crocodile.
Firearms and Permits
As with any other game hunting destination, certain rules and regulations need to be adhered to, to ensure a smooth and seamless entry into the country, as well as a trouble-free safari. Keep the following in mind while planning your Tanzania hunting safari:
- All hunting excursions in Tanzania require a hunting permit.
- Each hunter requires their own permit for the hunting safari.
- All hunters must be over the age of 18 years, no children are allowed to hunt.
- Permits are strictly available as 10, 16, and 21-day permits. If your hunt is 7 days, you will still need to procure the full 10-day permit, and so forth.
- Longer hunting permits generally allow for more variety in the targets chosen. For example:
- A 10-day permit allows the targeting of buffalo and select plains game in specified numbers.
- A 16-day permit includes both crocodile and waterbuck species, amongst others.
- A 21-day permit allows for dangerous game such as lion, leopard, elephant, and big game such as roan, and sable amongst others.
- The species’ quota can change at any time, this can be checked with your outfitter.
- Remember that if you are planning on utilizing the outfitter’s weapons, check for availability timeously.
- If you are bringing your own firearms, you will need to provide your African outfitter with all your weapon’s details for permit applications. Included in this necessary information will be photographs of the weapon(s) as well as the serial number(s).
- Only 3 rifles are allowed per hunter with 100 rounds per rifle, all automatic weapons and handguns are strictly prohibited.
- No night hunting or hunting under artificial lighting is permitted.
Game Hunting in Tanzania
Tanzania’s rich history of hunting is intertwined with its indigenous peoples, colonial influences, and the allure of safari adventures that still continue today. From the Indigenous Hazda people to the colonial influence of the Germans in the late 1800s, to the type of hunting safaris that happen today, there has been a large evolution in the game hunting industry in the country.
Today, game hunting in Tanzania is strictly controlled. The Tanzanian government has established conservation areas, national parks, and game reserves where hunting is either prohibited or allowed under specific conditions. While the season runs from 1 July to 31 December for a safari hunt Tanzania is prone to a wet season, and the best game hunting conditions are between July and October, before the rains hit.
Types of Hunting Areas
Game Reserves
Only licensed tourist hunting is allowed within game reserves and these reserves have restricted admission areas. There are no permanent structures set up for humans to inhabit. The areas are kept as untouched as possible, allowing game hunting enthusiasts the opportunity to experience a Tanzania hunting safari with little or no human interference.
Buffer Zones
This is an area around 0.6 miles around the game reserve or national park that provides an added layer of security to the park and the animals within. While humans are still not allowed to inhabit the area, there are a few activities such as ecotourism, grazing, and firewood collection that can assist and benefit the local surrounding communities.
Wildlife Management Areas (WMA)
These areas are conservation spaces managed by communities for the benefit of people, wildlife, and nature. They are primarily put into place to safeguard the wildlife as well as their habitats outside the core protected areas. The WMA can be used by the local communities for wildlife-based initiatives and programs for them to receive the economic benefits thereof.
There are numerous Wildlife Management Areas in Tanzania, including the Sulamesi Wildlife Management Area, Mount Bosavi, Southern Highlands Province, Lake Kutubu Wildlife Management Area, Southern Highlands Province, Oi Mada Wara Wildlife Management Area, Goodenough Island, Milne Bay Province, Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Eastern Highlands Province, Kamiali Wildlife Management Area, Morobe Province, and Tonda Wildlife Management Area, Western Province.
Established in 2010, the Community Wildlife Management Areas Consortium (CWMAC) supports and assists their areas.
Game Controlled Areas (GCA)
These are regions for wildlife conservation. They do allow humans to inhabit the areas, but hunting is only allowed under strict conditions and with the necessary permission and a license. There are currently around 38 GCA within Tanzania, including the famous Selous reserve, Rungwa, Moyowosi, Serengeti, Burigi, Malagarasi, Moyowosi, Nikonga, Kigosi, Loliondo and Masailand.
The Selous Game Reserve
The famous Selous Game Reserve was named after a British officer called Frederick Courtney Selous. Frederick was an avid adventurer and big game hunter, with many passionate tales documented about his legendary antics in Africa! He was killed by a German sniper, and his body buried under a hardwood tree on the Rufiji River, in an area that now forms part of the Selous Game Reserve.
Interesting Facts about the Selous Game Reserve
- It is Africa’s largest reserve, larger than both the Serengeti as well as South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- It is 19,000 square miles, which equates to an area slightly larger than Switzerland
- The reserve has been a designated World Heritage Site since 1982, due to its high biodiversity, along with its range of undisturbed natural landscapes and terrain
- Part of the reserve was renamed in 2019, to the Nyerere National Park
- There are more than 400 species of birds found in the area
- The reserve is home to the largest known population of endangered African wild dogs globally.
- The Selous Game Reserve is one of the only places worldwide where you can combine both a land and river safari, as it has the country’s largest river, the Rufiji River, running through it.
- The area is home to the world’s largest known hippo concentration
- The Selous Game Reserve is renowned for its exceptional trophy animals, including African big cats such as lions and leopards, as well as other dangerous game such as the Cape buffalo, hippo, and Nile crocodiles.
Why is a Tanzania Hunting Safari in the Selous Game Reserve so unique?
The Selous game reserve is not only large, but is largely untouched by human intervention, allowing hunters to enjoy the feeling of a free-range, truly wild African hunting safari. To the north of the reserve, a small section (less than 10%) is set aside for photographic safaris while the remainder is utilized for game hunting safaris, sticking to strict regulations and quotas that have been set.
If you are seeking an unfenced hunt Tanzania and its Selous Game Reserve is the perfect area to visit, with its large terrain and varied topography, it makes for exceptional old-school African hunting safaris and tests the hunter’s strength, ability, dexterity, courage, fitness and skillset in truly magnificent surroundings, with an abundance of trophies at their disposal. They will, however, need to work for them and read up about their target’s preferred habitats and behavior to ensure a successful African hunt.
Secondly, the area abounds with wildlife, with African plains game and many specialty animals inhabiting the area. The sheet amount of prey attracts predators, including members of the Big 5 such as the lion, leopard, and other members of the Dangerous 7, namely the hippo and Nile crocodile. Elephants and Cape buffalo abound, leaving hunters spoilt for choice in this game hunters’ paradise.
The reserve is home to three rivers that run through it, ensuring plentiful water supplies to the area, and allowing the resident wildlife plenty of fresh water in their chosen habitats and attracting them to the area. The reserve’s legendary biodiversity features undisturbed habitats such as Miombo woodlands, open grasslands, riverine forests, and swamp areas.
Species you may encounter during your African hunting safari include iconic species such as the African bush elephant, hippo, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, Cape buffalo, plains zebra, wildebeest, and Nile crocodile, to mention but a few of the popular species to target.
The reserve is also home to large numbers of ungulates with sable, greater kudu, Nyassa wildebeest, eland, Puku, Sitatunga, and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest calling the area home.
Topography in the Selous Game Reserve
The terrain and landscape of the reserve allow the hunter the opportunity to choose which style of hunting he prefers, as the area includes woodlands, grasslands, forests, rivers, and swamps. Combining exceptional trophy species, with unspoiled wilderness with barely any human intervention, the area allows the hunter to test their skills, courage, and prowess in untamed Africa.
FAQs
When is Tanzania’s hunting season?
Tanzania’s hunting season runs annually from 1st July – 31st December.
Can I bow hunt in Tanzania?
Yes, you may use your bow to hunt in Tanzania, but be warned that the trophy fees are higher. Confirm all information with your African outfitter at the time of booking your Tanzania hunting safari.
Does Tanzania allow hunting at night?
No, it is illegal to hunt at night in Tanzania, or under artificial lights.
How do I travel to Tanzania?
Tanzania is home to two international airports, namely Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha. From there, there are various regional and charter flight options available for game hunters in the country.
Which animals are not allowed to be hunted in Tanzania?
The giraffe is the country’s national animal and is not allowed to be targeted on a Tanzania hunting safari, while the black rhino is also protected against hunting. Tanzania is also home to the largest population of wild dogs worldwide and they are protected. It is illegal to target them on a game hunting safari.
Can I hunt cheetahs in Tanzania?
No, it is illegal to hunt cheetahs in Tanzania. The only place in the world where this apex predator can be hunted is in Namibia.
Selous: The Ultimate Tanzanian Hunting Grounds
Tanzania remains one of the most beautiful destinations worldwide in which to enjoy an African hunt. Much of the country is dedicated to wildlife whether it be hunting, conservation, or rehabilitation, resulting in an untamed, unspoiled hunting safari, reminiscent of the African hunts of old.
If you are considering an unfenced hunt Tanzania should be top of your possible game hunting destinations. The wildlife is allowed to roam freely and unobstructed through this mega reserve, giving hunters the opportunity for one of the most real experiences of untamed nature and unspoiled terrain you can find when game hunting in Africa.
Author: B. Hershensohnn