Hunting Kudu in Namibia

More About Namibia Kudu Hunting

Often referred to as the “gray ghost,” the kudu is seen as the pinnacle of African big game hunting. With its beautiful spiral horns, this majestic antelope provides a challenging hunting adventure, as they have the amazing ability to camouflage themselves exceptionally well. Combine that with excellent hearing, and you can see why you have a challenge on your hands! These large African plains game antelope are some of the most superb specimens on the planet, with males reaching up to 700 pounds and sporting striking spiral horns. Females do not have horns and are markedly smaller. The kudu antelope is tall with a reddish-brown coat although males also often have a grayish-brown coat. It has a narrow body and long, muscular legs that are well-utilized when it comes to huge jumps of up to 8 feet, reaching up to 43 miles per hour at a run. No special permits are required for kudu hunting in Namibia. The IUCN has listed the greater kudu with a status of least concern.

Shot Placement when on a Kudu Hunting Safari in Namibia

The best kudu hunting in Namibia takes place early in the morning as you stalk the animals as they graze or head towards water, or ambush them as they near the water hole. When kudu hunting in Namibia, there are three options to consider, namely the head or brain, heart, and lungs. The heart and lungs of a kudu make a large target area, bigger than either the brain or the neck. A well-placed shot will damage the heart or lungs, along with related arteries, leading to rapid blood loss and a quick, humane death. Should the kudu be standing broadside, the perfect shot will be a third of the way up, just behind the shoulder, with the distance being calculated from the top of the spine to the bottom of the brisket. If the shot goes a bit high, although the heart may be missed, the lungs are damaged, and this will also be fatal. Shooting the kudu in the shoulder is also an option, as this will break it, and if there is good penetration by the bullet, it can also result in breaking the opposite shoulder. If the antelope is quartering towards the hunter, a slight shot placement adjustment must be made, and the bullet must enter the antelope just in front of the shoulder. Should the antelope be facing away from the hunter, the shot placement will be a couple of inches behind the shoulder.

What Caliber Rifle is Used when Hunting Kudu in Namibia?

Using a 30.06 caliber rifle will work well when kudu hunting in Namibia and targeting this popular African plains game trophy. A bullet with a weight of less than 150 grain is not recommended. Other options including a .375 right up to a .458 can also get your trophy into the salt. When taking longer shots, a 7mm or 300-win mag is also an option. As always with any game hunting safari, shot placement remains critical. Bow hunting is also permitted when targeting kudu on a hunting safari in Namibia, speak to your local outfitter for further information.