Hunting Bushpig in Zambia

Together with South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, Zambia offers game hunting enthusiasts some of the best bushpig hunting on the continent. Bushpig hunting in Zambia is available from the beginning of May until the end of November. A prime location for bushpig hunting in Zambia is the Luangwa Valley. The area’s riverine landscape with thick forest vegetation is the perfect habitat for this elusive nocturnal mammal, allowing the hunter a challenging hunting safari to test his stalking skills. Targeting bushpigs (Potamochoerus larvatus) on an African plains game hunting safari is a popular choice for many hunters. Bushpig hunting is exciting and while they are often targeted at night in other countries, night hunting in Zambia is illegal. Luckily, although predominantly nocturnal, bushpigs are also active during the day. Hunting methods employed across Africa for bushpig hunts include baiting them and then hunting from a blind, spot-and-stalk, and even, if the hunter has luck on his side, an opportunistic hunting trophy. Bushpig boars weigh 130-180 pounds, while females weigh 99-154 pounds. Bushpigs are part of the pig family and closely resemble a domestic pig. They have light faces, manes, and ears and range in color from red-brown to dark brown. Both boars and sows have two sets of razor-sharp tusks, with the upper tusks being smaller than the lower tusks and only noticeable at close range. The lower rusks grow longer, up to three inches. They are used for both defense and for digging and rooting for food. Bushpigs are water-dependent mammals with a varied diet including roots, fruits, vegetables, carrion, insect larvae, and bulbs. They are highly adaptable in terms of habitats and are found in areas such as dense forests and swamps, woodlands, and mixed scrub. They are seen as a species of least concern by the IUCN.