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Hunting Serval in Africa

Targeting the Serval on a Game Hunting Safari

Serval hunting as part of a game hunting safari needs to be planned in advance to allow for the allocation of a special permit. In South Africa, the serval is found in parts of the Northern Province, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg and in Lesotho. Its conservation status is listed by the IUCN, as “least concern.”

Servals (Leptailurus serval), also known as a “tierboskat” (tiger bush cat) in the local Afrikaans language, are commonly found on savannas where there is plenty of water. They prefer areas comprising bush, tall grass, and dry reed beds near streams. They also live in high-altitude moorlands and bamboo thickets.

When hunting, a serval’s long legs come into play as they reach up to 50 miles per hour on a hunt! Their hearing is exceptional, allowing them to hear prey burrowing underground. Their diet consists of rodents, birds, rabbits, and reptiles, with small prey eaten whole.

AT A GLANCE

Name:
Leptailurus Serval

Male Weight:
20-40 pounds

Male Shoulder Height:
21-26 inches

Range:
Mainly Southern Africa, Rare in Northern Africa

Habitat:
Savannas and Grasslands Near Water

Mating Season:
All year around

Life span:
10 years

Serval Hunting in Africa

Hunting the Serval in Africa is Tricky as it Requires a Special Permit

Size and Appearance


The Serval is a medium-sized, slender feline with a small head and large ears. Its coat is a golden yellow, with black spots and stripes, and has a white underbelly. The serval has a short, black-tipped tail and the longest legs of any cat relative to its body size. Their extra-long neck and legs give them the nickname "giraffe cat.” Their long legs are handy when hunting, as they can jump up to 12 feet straight into the air from a sitting position to catch birds. These long legs also assist them in running away and evading predators such as leopards. These cats are able to swim and climb but rarely partake in these activities, preferring to stalk their prey on the ground.

Hunting Methods


During a game hunting safari for serval, still hunting is one of the methods used. Serval usually ventures out into cleared fields, looking for prey such as mice in the crops, and with the cleared area, they are usually easier to spot and target. A hunting safari in South Africa also allows the hunter to utilize a spotlight and to hunt serval at night, provided the hunter has a night hunting permit. Hounds are also allowed to be used to hunt serval in South Africa. Both Namibia and Tanzania do not allow the hunting of serval with hounds. Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Botswana, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia also allow hunting serval in Africa. However, you are required to purchase the permit in advance.

Challenges and Rewards


A challenge of serval hunting in Africa is that it takes planning due to the permits needed to hunt them in many African countries. This intelligent feline can be aggressive when defending itself against predators or guarding its prey and remains a good trophy option to represent African wild cats. The opportunity to hunt serval at night during the hunting safari also allows hunters to experience night hunting in Africa, which may be a first for many and a great game hunting reward.

Rifles and Requirements

Any rifle in the .22 caliber centrefire will be ideal for serval hunting. Use solid bullets. Shots will be in the short to medium range in closed thickets. Any 30 caliber and above with heavier bullets with high velocities can ruin your serval trophy.

MASTERING SHOT PLACEMENT FOR AFRICAN CATS


serval side viewserval side view shot placement

Available Serval hunts

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Hunting Adventures with Honey Badger & 4 Species in Limpopo

Musina, Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa

Hunting Categories:Speciality Animals

Species:African Genet , Black-backed Jackal , Caracal , Civet , Honey Badger , Porcupine , Serval

Hunt Preferences:Accessible Hunts (Disability Friendly) , Family Friendly , Gun Rental

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:1 x Hunter 1 x Professional Hunter

Booking Season:2025/2026

Destinations:South Africa

Languages Spoken:Afrikaans , English

Hunting Methods:Bow hunting , Hunting from a Blind , Rifle hunting , Walk & Stalk

Hunt Difficult:Moderate

$6550 for 7 days
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Hunt Tanzania, 14 Day Leopard Safari in the Jewel of Africa

Nyerere National Park Tanzania

Hunting Categories:African Cats , Dangerous Game

Species:Black-backed Jackal , Bohor Reedbuck , Bushbuck , Bushpig , Johnston's Wildebeest , Kudu (greater) , Leopard , Lichtenburg Hartebeest , Livingston Eland , Red Duiker , Sable , Serval , Spotted Hyena , Warthog , Waterbuck (Defassa) , Zebra

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly

Booking Season:2024/25

Destinations:Tanzania

Languages Spoken:English

Hunting Methods:Baiting , Hunting from a Blind , Rifle hunting

$34650 for 14 days
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Hyena Hunting & African Critters in Limpopo, South Africa  

Limpopo, South Africa

Hunting Categories:African Cats , Exotic Plains Game , Speciality Animals

Species:Brown Hyena , Bushpig , Civet , Honey Badger , Serval , Spotted Hyena

Hunt Preferences:Accessible Hunts (Disability Friendly) , Family Friendly , Gun Rental

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:1 x Hunter 1 x Professional Hunter

Booking Season:2025

Destinations:South Africa

Languages Spoken:Afrikaans , English

Hunting Methods:Baiting , Crossbow hunting , Hunting from a Blind , Rifle hunting

Hunt Difficult:Difficult , Moderate

$10200 for 11 days
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Hyena Hunting and Endemic Antelope 8 x Nights in Namibia

Khomas Hochland, Khomas, Namibia

Hunting Categories:African Plains Game , Speciality Animals

Species:African Genet , Brown Hyena , Civet , Damara Dik-Dik , Honey Badger , Serval , Spotted Hyena

Hunt Preferences:Accessible Hunts (Disability Friendly) , Family Friendly , Gun Rental

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:1 x Hunter 1 x Professional Hunter

Booking Season:2025

Destinations:Namibia

Languages Spoken:Afrikaans , English , German

Hunting Methods:Baiting , Black Powder Hunting , Hunting from a Blind , Rifle hunting , Walk & Stalk

Hunt Difficult:Difficult , Moderate

$5950 for 8 days
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Free Range Trophy Lion Hunting in Tanzania,16 days in Rungwa

Rungwa area Tanzania

Hunting Categories:African Cats , Dangerous Game

Species:African Crocodile , Baboon , Black-backed Jackal , Bohor Reedbuck , Bushbuck , Bushpig , Cape buffalo , Civet , Hippo , Impala , Johnston's Wildebeest , Kudu (greater) , Lichtenburg Hartebeest , Lion , Livingston Eland , Roan , Sable , Serval , Spotted Hyena , Topi , Warthog , Waterbuck (Defassa) , Zebra

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly

Booking Season:2024/25

Destinations:Tanzania

Languages Spoken:English

Hunting Methods:Baiting , Hunting from a Blind , Rifle hunting

Hunt Difficult:Difficult , Extreme , Moderate

$50050 for 16 days
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Zimbabwe Hunting Safari Matetsi (ECA)“Night Critter” Packaged Hunt  

Matetsi, Hwange, Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe

Hunting Categories:Speciality Animals

Species:African Wildcat , Civet , Porcupine , Serval , Spotted Hyena

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:1x Hunter 1 x PH/Guide

Booking Season:2025

Destinations:Zimbabwe

Languages Spoken:English , Spanish

Hunting Methods:Baiting , Rifle hunting

Hunt Difficult:Difficult

$9000 for 7 days
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