Hunting In South Africa: What, Where, And How Much?

South Africa is not seen as the pinnacle destination for African big game hunting for nothing. It is home to some of the biggest and best big game and smaller game species on the continent. From the African Big Five, African cats, specialty species, African plains game, and nine out of the ten members of the Tiny 10, South Africa is a melting pot of people, cultures – and game hunting experiences!

Whether you are considering targeting large antelopes, such as the sable or eland, the Big 5, or even having your money on the Tiny Ten, South Africa allows a hunter to enjoy and have amazing experiences while staying within the country’s borders.

One big game trip to South Africa, and chances are you’ll be hooked for life. A great example of this is the South Africa Cape buffalo hunt, with this hunt being one of the most challenging and feared hunts available. There truly is just a special fear that nothing compares to hunting an animal that will kill you for its own joy and pleasure.

Even the smaller details, such as the beautiful views or the love of the ever-popular Brandy and Coke, make game hunting adventures in South Africa a truly amazing experience. It is one of the top places for dangerous game hunting in Africa. Even though the full Tiny Ten cannot be attained in South Africa, the hunter will still enjoy their game hunting in South Africa.

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South Africa As A Game Hunting Destination

South Africa In Numbers

• Size: 407,011 square miles
• Population: 60,414,495 (2023)
• The country shares its borders with six neighbours, including Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, Eswatini, and Mozambique. It also surrounds the Kingdom of Lesotho. To the west, south, and east, South Africa borders the Atlantic and southern Indian oceans.
• 9 Provinces: Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Free State
• Currency: Rands (ZAR) (100 cents in one Rand)

Is South Africa’s Climate Agreeable To Game Hunting Adventures?

The conditions, temperature and environment may differ from one province to the next, with some being hot and thick and others cooler and more open. Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West, and the Northern Cape are all mentioned as good big game hunting destinations.

With the average summer temperature in South Africa being 15°C to 36°C (59°F to 97°F) and the winter temperatures ranging between -2°C to 25°C(28°F to 77°F), the list below will describe the environment and climates of each province that has been spoken about as a good game hunting South Africa destination.

Temperatures

Limpopo

• During the summer Limpopo average temperatures of 30°-34°C (86°-93°F) C but can reach temperatures of over 40°C (104°F).
• In the winter, the province averages temperatures of 13°C(55°F) in the mornings and 29°C(84°F) in the afternoons making it chilly but not freezing cold.
• So, bring lots of water and sunblock during the summer and definitely a pair of long pants and a jacket for the actual colder day.
• Limpopo is a very thick province, meaning it is full of trees and tall grass.

Mpumalanga

• Mpumalanga has an average temperature of 26°C(79°F) during the summer and an average of 8°C(46°F) during the winter.
• Even with an average summer temperature that is not that high, the maximum recorded temperature in Mpumalanga is 41°C(106°F), and the lowest temperature is around 0°C(32°F).
• Mpumalanga is split into two different environments; the first one is a high-lying grassland savannah of the highveld hills. The second type is the subtropical lowveld plains.

The Northern Cape

• The Northern Cape is a desert and semi-desert area which is extremely flat and open.
• Temperatures during the summer often make it over 40°C(104°F), and the coldest recorded temperature is -16°C! (3°F).
• Even during the blistering hot summer days, the nighttime will still be cold due to the lack of cloud cover to keep the heat trapped during the night.

North West

• The North-West is a relatively flat and open province with summer temperatures of between 22-34°C (72-93°F).
• Winter temps are from 2-20°C (36-68°F).

Game Hunting Species

What African Big Game Hunting Species Are Available To hunt In South Africa?

When the words “African big game” are said, people tend to go straight to the usual animals that one would think of, such as an elephant or a giraffe. While both species are definitely big game, other animals like the greater kudu, eland, or sable are too.

The subject “big game” covers all members of the Dangerous Seven (hippo, elephant, Cape buffalo, lion, leopard, rhino, and Nile crocodile). It is up to the hunter on what is considered a big game antelope, but three general animals are greater: kudu, eland, and sable. This list would also include giraffes. Even though they are not a part of the Big 5 or Dangerous Seven, they are still extremely large creatures.

What Smaller Species Are Available When Hunting In South Africa?

The smallest antelope a hunter can dream to have in their lodge are those that are considered members of the Tiny 10. South Africa is one of the best places in the world to hunt the Tiny Ten, even though only nine out of these ten species can be hunted within the borders of South Africa. The full Tiny Ten cannot be attained in South Africa, as the Damara dik-dik is not available to hunt in South Africa. Regardless, the hunter will still enjoy their game hunting adventure from start to finish!

These Tiny Ten species include three duiker species, with the full list of Tiny 10 members being:

• Gray duiker
• Blue duiker
• Red duiker
• Cape grysbok
• Klipspringer
• Oribi
• Suni
• Sharpe’s grysbok
• Steenbok
• Damara dik-dik

What is The Best Destination When Hunting in South Africa?

Much of the best hunting in South Africa is done in the Limpopo province. Limpopo is a wide-open bushveld filled with all types of trees and grasses, including different types of Acacia Trees and the Baobab Tree. The bush in Limpopo can get extremely thick in some parts, making for some very unforgiving game-hunting experiences while hunting in South Africa.

A trip to Limpopo will definitely bring out a hunter’s spotting, hunting, and coping skills due to the thick and harsh environment. Despite the harsh environment, Limpopo is an amazing hunting destination for large animals such as Cape buffalo or smaller animals like a gray duiker.

Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal are also very good provinces to hunt species such as elephants, red duiker, and hippos. The Limpopo province is home to some of the largest big game animals worldwide.

Best Hunting Destinations Per Species When Hunting in South Africa

• African Elephant: Elephant hunting in South Africa occurs mainly in Mpumalanga, but some hunting still gets done in Limpopo.
• African Lion: The Limpopo province is one of the best places in the world to hunt lions; Limpopo has produced countless trophy lions and others in the Kalahari Desert. With the environment being perfect for these creatures, hunting lions in South Africa is a staggering experience.
• Nile Crocodile: Crocodile hunting is mostly done in Limpopo; however, people do hunt crocodiles in Mpumalanga.
• Cape Buffalo: Cape Buffalo are hunted in the western parts of Limpopo, near the Botswana border. This area is full of thick brush, leaving little visibility for a hunter. This makes for an extremely interesting yet nerve-racking hunt.
• Rhino: Rhino is traditionally hunted in the Limpopo province on foot and with a rifle due to their thick skin.
• Leopard: Leopard hunting In South Africa is done in Limpopo. However, in 2016, the leopard hunting season was banned. After this, the South African Government has said that tags will be granted but are difficult to obtain.
• Blue Duiker: The Eastern Cape is home to the best hunting location for hunting blue duiker, specifically the Coastal Forest and valley bushveld areas/regions of the Eastern Cape.
• Red Duiker: The best red duiker hunting in South Africa is done in Mpumalanga, where these animals will hide and camouflage in the thick bush and deep forests.
• Gray Duiker: Most gray duiker hunting is done in Limpopo, where the bush will present its own challenges to you, making spotting and stalking gray duiker a very tough and challenging process.
• Cape Grysbok: The answer is pretty much self-explanatory in the name suggesting that Cape grysbok is hunted in The Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. Aside from the provinces, they are more specifically targeted in the mountain ranges and coastal flats.
• Klipspringer: Limpopo is the best province to hunt Klipspringer as the habitats are ideal for these animals, where they are often seen leaping from rock to rock and climbing the mountains and slopes.
• Oribi: Oribi are found in the Zululand and Eastern Cape provinces; they will be seen and hunted in the open veld, where they feed and primarily spend their time.
• Suni: Suni hunting will occur in the Eastern Cape and Zululand along with the Oribi.
• Sharpe’s Grysbok: Sharpe’s grysbok are hunted in both the Limpopo province and the Mpumalanga province, specifically these animals will be found at the slopes of the Lebombo mountains, along the Soutpansberg and the Limpopo Valley Basin.
• Steenbok: Steenbok is often hunted in the Limpopo province but will also be found in the Kalahari Desert and other locations within the country.
• Kudi, Eland & Sable: Kudu, Eland and Sable will all be found in Limpopo, the Northern Cape and in the North-West provinces.

Is Big Game Hunting Legal in South Africa?

For the short answer, big game hunting in South Africa is legal. However, species such as leopard and black rhino are much stricter and tougher to get a permit. In 2016, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) banned leopard hunting for that season; since then, the South African government has said that leopard hunting permits will be issued but are very difficult to get as they are considered a “vulnerable” species.

Black rhino was considered critically endangered in 2021 as there was an extremely large demand for rhino horn in the illegal markets. In 2021 the Black Rhino populations were at around 2,458 estimated rhinos worldwide. Now, in 2023, the population is around 6,487 estimated individual rhinos. This is the reason that Black rhino hunting is not very common

How Much Will Targeting Your Favorite Species While Hunting In South Africa Cost You?

The prices will vary depending on what animals you are targeting. Obviously, it will cost you a lot less to shoot something smaller like a blue duiker compared to something such as a Cape buffalo or rhino. Generally, your larger animals are going to come with a larger price tag however some exotic smaller animals can also carry quite a price tag

The average prices of a game hunting adventure will be as follows:

• Cape Buffalo: When it comes to the African big game, the Cape Buffalo is a top contender as the biggest prize. The prices for an African Buffalo hunt can vary from $9,000-$20,000, which is a rather hectic difference in price; the lower price tags may be for a smaller buffalo or for just an all-inclusive buffalo hunt, while a hunt can also be done full out where the hunters are treated with extremely high quality and may use different hunting methods. While some options may be cheaper, it certainly does not mean that one will not enjoy the game hunting safari and get treated well. Location also plays a factor as places such as Tanzania are more expensive than places such as Limpopo; however, Tanzania might have some of the largest buffalo on the planet, and generally, the full trip of the safari will be longer, which will cause the price to rise.
• Lion Hunt: The cost of a lion hunt can vary from $8,500 to $55,000. If lions are bred for hunting, they will cost less than wild lions. Just because lions are bred to be hunted, that most certainly does not make them friendly little fluff balls to play with; these creatures are in camps of around 2,000 hectares and will catch their own prey. Trophy size and costs will also play a role in the price. A massive mature, male lion is going to cost much more than the price of a lioness.
• Nile Crocodile: The cost to hunt a crocodile in South Africa is between $4,000 and $7,000, making it a very affordable hunt. However, with the price tag being lower compared to some other countries, the crocodiles often will not compare to the others in length. Crocodiles hunted in South Africa can struggle to make it between 10-12 feet, which quite simply does not compare to a crocodile of 15 feet that may have been hunted elsewhere.
• African Elephant: Focussed elephant hunts are generally around $40,000 for a nice and mature bull with 40-70 pound tusks.
• White Rhino: To hunt a white rhino, a hunter must pay around $55,000–$90,000 or more. The reason for the price being so high is simply due to the population being so low a few years ago and that there simply are not as many rhinos as there are other species, such as Cape buffalo.
• Leopard: On average, it will cost between $10,000 and $30,000 to hunt a leopard; however, this is in other countries; while permits are available in South Africa, they are rarely handed out and are extremely difficult to attain.
• Blue Duiker: The average cost to hunt a blue duiker in South Africa is around $1,800.
• Red Duiker: The cost to hunt a red duiker in South Africa is between $1,000-$1,800 for the trophy fee.
• Gray Duiker: The cost to hunt a gray duiker is not high at all and will cost a hunter about $200 to hunt one.
• Cape Grysbok: The trophy fees for a Cape Grysbok are between $850-1950.
• Klipspringer: It will cost you around $1,600 to hunt a trophy klipspringer.
• Oribi: On average it will cost a hunter $2,500 to hunt an Oribi.
• Suni: Trophy fees for a Livingstone Suni can range from about $2,000 – $3,000.
• Sharpe’s Grysbok On average it will cost you between $1,000 and $1,550 for the trophy fees to hunt a Sharpe’s Grysbok.
• Steenbok: The average price to hunt a Steenbok sits nice and low, coming in at around $250.

Don’t Wait! Come hunting in South Africa!

With South Africa producing some harsh environments and having tricky challenges while hunting it is certainly one of the best safari hunting for destinations available, with the thousands of hunting outfitters in South Africa. With the enormous variety of species, South Africa is definitely the place for you, large or small animals. This country will always have you covered and most certainly will not disappoint. Are you ready for a game hunting expedition filled with diverse locations, treacherous terrain, stunning trophy animals, and the challenge of hunting them in one of the most beautiful places on earth? Book your hunting adventure to South Africa now!

If you enjoyed reading this blog, find out more about South Africa, or continue reading about South African hunting adventures.