Buffalo Hunting & 30 African Plains Game Trophies 2:1
Booking Season: 2025
Hunt Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
When it comes to big game hunting in Africa, you don’t get much bigger than the world’s second-largest land animal, the giraffe (Giraffa giraffa). Found throughout Africa, giraffes are a sought-after specimen for many game hunting trophy rooms worldwide. There are four species of giraffes (northern giraffe, southern giraffe, Masai giraffe, and reticulated giraffe) on the African continent. The southern giraffe comprises two sub-species, namely the Angolan giraffe and the South African giraffe. Although a giraffe may seem a placid and relaxed creature, they can become very agitated and aggressive when cornered or threatened. Their large, muscular legs are incredibly powerful and a kick from this massive mammal is enough to kill a man.
Keep the above in mind as you head giraffe hunting in South Africa. Although giraffes are found and hunted throughout South Africa, the country’s Limpopo, North West, and Mpumalanga provinces are known for their exceptional trophy giraffes and exciting African hunts. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the status of a giraffe as that of “vulnerable.”
Available Giraffe Hunts
Buffalo Hunting & 30 African Plains Game Trophies 2:1
Booking Season: 2025
Hunt Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult
African Hunting Safari Buffalo, Giraffe & 13 Species
Booking Season: 2025
Hunt Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult
Shot Placement while Giraffe Hunting in South Africa
Hunting methods for this specialty animal include the walk-and-stalk as well as the tracking option. Both hunting methods do have their challenges, however, as firstly the giraffe can easily reach 20 feet high, resulting in them being easily able to see any predators (including hunters) closing in on them. Secondly, and this applies to tracking as well, they are exceptionally alert with excellent eyesight and hearing and this, together with their bird’s eye view, makes for a challenging African hunt! When big game hunting and targeting the giraffe on a hunting safari in South Africa, the hunter needs to be 100% prepared for a hunt like no other before! He also needs to have exceptional, accurate shot placement and be sure to “bring enough gun” as they say in Africa! The sheer size of an adult giraffe bull is almost inconceivable until you have physically been on a hunt targeting this majestic animal. When preparing to shoot, remember that the giraffe’s lungs tend to sit slightly higher than the heart, so if the heart is missed and the shot pulls, it will not penetrate the lungs.
If your approach is from the broadside, your shot placement should be in the bottom third of the animal, directly above the front shoulder as you follow the center line. This will result in a direct hit to the heart, while a slightly higher shot will penetrate the lungs. If the shot is a touch lower and you are using the correct caliber rifle, it will still break the shoulder. Head/brain shots should be avoided, as thick bone surrounds the brain. The position of the brain in the skull also changes as the giraffe turns its head up and down or side to side.
What Caliber Rifle is Used When Hunting Giraffe in South Africa?
Giraffe hunting in South Africa is challenging, don’t be fooled. They have extremely thick skins and are very large, weighing up to 4,200 pounds and standing around 20 feet. A large animal like this needs a large rifle to get the job done efficiently and humanely. Use a large caliber rifle such as a .376 H & H Magnum or .426 Rigby.
Search from our range of Hunts across various popular destinations in Africa.
Book Your Hunt
