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Hunting the Defassa Waterbuck

The defassa waterbuck is a large, herbivorous African plains game antelope

The waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa and a popular target on a hunting safari in Africa. There are two species of waterbuck, namely the common or ellipsiprymnus waterbuck and the defassa waterbuck. The defassa waterbuck is an African plains game species available for hunting in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and northern Zambia. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists the defassa waterbuck as “near threatened” and the common waterbuck has a status of “least concern.”

The defassa waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is found in sub-Saharan Africa and enjoys a habitat near water in savanna grasslands, gallery forests as well as riverine woodlands, south of the Sahara Desert. These habitats not only sustain them with the long grasses they consume but also provide the perfect spots to hide from predators.

Mating usually occurs throughout the year, although breeding is more seasonal in some areas. The female waterbuck has a gestation period of 9 months, with one calf being born. A day or two before giving birth, she will leave the herd to find a safe place to birth the calf. The calves are usually born in the morning and within half an hour of birth, they are up on their feet and suckling.

They are crepuscular and tend to be more active in the early morning or late afternoon while resting and sleeping during the day. They live in herds of up to 30 members and are often seen grazing near water.

These animals are herbivorous grazers and consume a variety of coarser grasses that not many other antelopes will eat, as well as leaves from certain trees and bushes.

The defassa waterbuck will flee into the water when being chased, with their predators including lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs and Nile crocodiles. Leopards and spotted hyenas will target the younger or sick members of the herd.

The defassa waterbuck is a great trophy for an African plains game safari. While at times they may flee predators and run into thicker vegetation, these antelope bulls will also face their predators and defend themselves by kicking and using their horns. If all else fails, they will head to the water as they are excellent swimmers.

AT A GLANCE

Name:
Kobus Ellipsiprymnus

Weight:
400-550 pounds

Shoulder Height:
44-50 inches

Range: 
Sub-Saharan Africa

Horns:
Only males

Gestation Period:
10 months

Life span:
18 years

Hunting Defassa Waterbuck

The Defassa Waterbuck prefers habitats close to water and is hunted in numerous African countries.

Size and Appearance


When on a game hunting safari targeting the defassa waterbuck, look for a large, strong animal with long, shaggy hair and a gray-brown coat. It has an oily secretion that is emitted through the coat and acts as a water-repellant to keep the waterbuck dry as it grazes in and around water. They have large, rounded ears with areas of white above the eyes, as well as around the nose, mouth and throat. The male defassa waterbuck weighs 400-500 pounds and stands approximately 44-50 inches at the shoulder. Only the males have long, forward-curving horns that can reach up to 40 inches in length. The common waterbuck and the defassa waterbuck are quite different in terms of their physical appearances. The common waterbuck is taller, while the defassa waterbuck has a longer tail. The main difference between the two is the white ring of hair surrounding the tail on their rumps. The common waterbuck has a hollow circle while the defassa waterbuck is covered with white hair.

Hunting Methods


When on a game hunting safari in Africa, the main method of hunting the defassa waterbuck is the walking and stalking method. They tend to prefer heavy and dense vegetation as cover and a hunter can spend hours stalking these African plains game through rivers, near waterholes and across floodplains.

Challenges and Rewards


As with hunting any African plains game antelope, the rewards fall outweigh the challenges! The common waterbuck may give the hunter a good tour of its habitat as they spend hours stalking it through marshes, dense vegetation and water holes, but it is a great talking point and trophy for any game hunter to take home.

Rifles and Requirements

This African plains game antelope is a tough animal and can get big in the body. Any 30 caliber rifle such as a .308, 30.06 and .338 can be used including a 300 win mag and a 300 ultra mag. A minimum bullet weight can be considered but 180 grains would be better. A 7mm is also an option. A .375 with a 300 grain solid can be also used when hunting Waterbuck.

MASTERING SHOT PLACEMENT FOR MEDIUM ANTELOPE

Impala By Dennis Heller on FlickrImpala Side View Shot Placement

Available Defassa Waterbuck hunts

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Sable Hunting in Niassa Mozambique for 7 x Hunting Days

Niassa Province, Mozambique

Hunting Categories:African Plains Game , Large Antelope

Species:Impala , Johnston's Wildebeest , Sable , Waterbuck (Defassa)

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:1 x Hunter 1 x Professional Hunter

Booking Season:2025/2026

Destinations:Mozambique

Languages Spoken:Afrikaans , English

Hunting Methods:Rifle hunting , Walk & Stalk

Hunt Difficult:Moderate

$12950 for 7 days
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Free Range Trophy Lion Hunting in Tanzania,16 days in Rungwa

Rungwa area Tanzania

Hunting Categories:African Cats , Dangerous Game

Species:African Crocodile , Baboon , Black-backed Jackal , Bohor Reedbuck , Bushbuck , Bushpig , Cape buffalo , Civet , Hippo , Impala , Johnston's Wildebeest , Kudu (greater) , Lichtenburg Hartebeest , Lion , Livingston Eland , Roan , Sable , Serval , Spotted Hyena , Topi , Warthog , Waterbuck (Defassa) , Zebra

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly

Booking Season:2024/25

Destinations:Tanzania

Languages Spoken:English

Hunting Methods:Baiting , Hunting from a Blind , Rifle hunting

Hunt Difficult:Difficult , Extreme , Moderate

$50050 for 16 days
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Hunt Cape Buffalo, Hippo & Lion Tanzania 16 Days Selous

Dar es Salaam, Kinondoni, Dar es Salam, Tanzania

Hunting Categories:Dangerous Game

Species:Bohor Reedbuck , Cape buffalo , Hippo , Johnston's Wildebeest , Lichtenburg Hartebeest , Lion , Topi , Waterbuck (Defassa)

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly , Gun Rental

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:1 x Hunter 1 x Professional Hunter

Booking Season:2025

Destinations:Tanzania

Languages Spoken:English

Hunting Methods:Baiting , Black Powder Hunting , Rifle hunting , Walk & Stalk

Hunt Difficult:Difficult

$123025 for 16 days
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Cape Buffalo Hunt Zambezi Valley in Zambia 8 x Nights    

Zambia

Hunting Categories:Dangerous Game

Species:African Crocodile , Black Lechwe , Bushbuck , Cape buffalo , Cookson's Wildebeest , Eland (common) , Hippo , Kafue Lechwe , Kudu (greater) , Leopard , Lichtenburg Hartebeest , Roan , Sharpe's Grysbok , Sitatunga , Waterbuck (Defassa)

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly , Gun Rental

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:x1 Hunter x1 Dangerous Game PH

Booking Season:2024/25

Destinations:Zambia

Languages Spoken:English

Hunting Methods:Rifle hunting

Hunt Difficult:Difficult , Extreme

$22800 for 7 days
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Hunting in Cameroon, Lord Derby Eland, Lion & More

Kourouk, Mayo-Rey, Région du Nord, Cameroon

Hunting Categories:Dangerous Game , Exotic Plains Game , Large Antelope

Species:African Rock Python , Bohor Reedbuck , Eland - Lord Derby's , Harnessed Bushbuck , Kob , Red River Hog , Red-flanked Duiker , Roan (Western) , Waterbuck (Defassa) , West African Savanna Buffalo

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly , Gun Rental

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:1 x Hunter 1 x Professional Hunter

Booking Season:2025

Destinations:Cameroon

Languages Spoken:English , French

Hunting Methods:Rifle hunting , Walk & Stalk

Hunt Difficult:Difficult , Extreme

$49550 for 12 days
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Safari Hunting in Zambia – Build your own Hunting Package

Zambia

Hunting Categories:African Plains Game

Species:Kudu (greater) , Lichtenburg Hartebeest , Livingston Eland , Oribi , Puku , Waterbuck (Defassa) , Zebra

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly , Gun Rental

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:1 x Hunter 1 x Professional Hunter

Booking Season:2025

Destinations:Zambia

Languages Spoken:Afrikaans , English , German

Hunting Methods:Black Powder Hunting , Bow hunting , Rifle hunting , Walk & Stalk

Hunt Difficult:Moderate

$3850 for 7 days
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Plains Game Hunting in Zambia, Trophy Sable in Nkala

Zambia

Hunting Categories:African Plains Game , Exotic Plains Game , Speciality Animals

Species:Black-backed Jackal , Lichtenburg Hartebeest , Livingston Eland , Oribi , Sable , Spotted Hyena , Waterbuck (Defassa)

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly , Gun Rental

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:1 x Hunter 1 x Professional Hunter

Booking Season:2025

Destinations:Zambia

Languages Spoken:Afrikaans , English , German

Hunting Methods:Black Powder Hunting , Bow hunting , Rifle hunting , Walk & Stalk

Hunt Difficult:Moderate

$12750 for 5 days
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Cape Buffalo Hunt in Zambia 7 x days Rufunsa Incl Trophy Fee

Rufunsa, Rufunsa, Lusaka Province, Zambia

Hunting Categories:African Plains Game , Dangerous Game , Medium Antelope

Species:Black Lechwe , Cape buffalo , Kafue Lechwe , Roan , Sable , Waterbuck (Defassa)

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly , Gun Rental

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:1x Hunter 1 x PH/Guide

Booking Season:2025

Destinations:Zambia

Languages Spoken:English

Hunting Methods:Black Powder Hunting , Bow hunting , Crossbow hunting , Rifle hunting , Walk & Stalk

Hunt Difficult:Difficult

$22300 for 7 days
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Hunt Tanzania, 14 Day Leopard Safari in the Jewel of Africa

Nyerere National Park Tanzania

Hunting Categories:African Cats , Dangerous Game

Species:Black-backed Jackal , Bohor Reedbuck , Bushbuck , Bushpig , Johnston's Wildebeest , Kudu (greater) , Leopard , Lichtenburg Hartebeest , Livingston Eland , Red Duiker , Sable , Serval , Spotted Hyena , Warthog , Waterbuck (Defassa) , Zebra

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly

Booking Season:2024/25

Destinations:Tanzania

Languages Spoken:English

Hunting Methods:Baiting , Hunting from a Blind , Rifle hunting

$34650 for 14 days
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African Buffalo Hunt & Leopard 14 Days Selous Reserve

Dar es Salaam, Kinondoni, Dar es Salam, Tanzania

Hunting Categories:Dangerous Game

Species:Bohor Reedbuck , Cape buffalo , Johnston's Wildebeest , Leopard , Lichtenburg Hartebeest , Livingston Eland , Sharpe's Grysbok , Suni , Topi , Waterbuck (Defassa)

Hunt Preferences:Family Friendly , Gun Rental

Hunters and PH/Guides On Hunt:1 x Hunter 1 x Professional Hunter

Booking Season:2025

Destinations:Tanzania

Languages Spoken:Afrikaans , English

Hunting Methods:Black Powder Hunting , Hunting from a Blind , Rifle hunting , Walk & Stalk

Hunt Difficult:Difficult

$52100 for 14 days
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