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Hunting Hippo in South africa

Hunting Hippo in South africa

discover the Thrill Of Hippo Hunting in South africa

South Africa is home to a diverse range of big game hunting species, including the hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius). This member of the Dangerous 7 has certainly earned its spot in this game hunting group. Did you know that hippos are responsible for more deaths than any other big game hunting species in Africa, at around 500 per year, even more than lions, or Cape buffalos? Often referred to as a “land whale” or “water horse,” this herbivorous mammal is aggressive, angry, and extremely territorial. The main areas for hippo hunting in South Africa are the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, promising exciting game hunting adventures. These hefty, dangerous game species weigh around 3,200 pounds but can tip the scale at much larger figures, reaching up to 9,000 pounds. They spend most of the day wallowing in bodies of water, keeping cool, and avoiding the harsh African sun. Hippo bulls are targeted when hippo hunting in South Africa, but since hippos spend close to 16 a day in the water, it can be difficult to differentiate between the genders with only a head visible!

An easy way to differentiate between the sexes on your hunting safari is that the males have thicker necks, bigger heads, and larger tusks. In addition, a mature bull will have two bumps on either side of its nostrils where the lower tusks are pressed against the mouth when the target’s mouth is closed. Hippos are listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with a special license and permit required to hunt hippos at night. Hippo hunting in South Africa also allows for this mammal and other dangerous game to be hunted using a bow.

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Shot Placement while Hippo Hunting in South Africa

Hippo hunting in South Africa is an exciting, challenging, and adrenaline-filled hunting adventure! The methods for hunting this sought-after big game hunting trophy include walk-and-stalk, or hunting the hippo on land during the night when it comes on land to feed before returning to the water. This is a perilous option, as a hippo will not stop and will take out anything in its path to return to the water. As with all dangerous game hunting safaris, once you are in position, your shot placement is critical. The hippo has an extremely thick skull, and the hunter should prep for his hippo hunting in South Africa using solid rounds, to ensure maximum penetration.

There are a couple of options in terms of shot placement including 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 choice of shot placement depends on the situation in which the hunter finds himself, but all options call for accurate, precise shot placement.

What Caliber Rifle can I use when Hippo Hunting in South Africa?

A minimum requirement is a .375, loaded with a minimum of 300-grain bullets. Hippos are extremely difficult to kill, and a solid bullet is suggested, to penetrate its thick skull and vertebrae. When hippo hunting in South Africa and the hippo is targeted on land, with the hunter taking a broadside shot, a suggested rifle would be a .416 Rigby or 500NE, to enter the heart for an accurate kill shot.

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