Red River Hog Africa Hunts

The red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus) or bushpig is a member of the swine family. It is native to the forests of Western and Central Africa. They are rarely seen away from rainforests and generally prefer habitats near rivers or swamps. When hunting in Africa, these hogs are offered on game hunting safaris in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Congo-Brazzaville.

The red river hog is a social animal and lives in groups of 12-20, but these groups can even reach as large as 100 hogs. Their breeding season runs annually from September–April and peaks during the wetter months of November–February. The gestation period is 120 days, and three to six piglets are usually born at a time. The sow gives birth in a nest made of grass. Both the sow and the boar take care of the young.

They are omnivores and feast on a variety of food, including eggs, insects, small mammals, reptiles and birds, roots, bulbs, and fallen fruit.

Predators of the red river hog include leopard, python, lion, spotted hyenas, and man. Red river hogs can get vicious when threatened by predators. They can swim very well and run quite fast, which assists them in evading capture by their natural predators.

They mark their territory using their tusks to scrape and mark bark on the tree trunks. They also use foot, neck, and periorbital glands near their eyes to scant marks. These hogs tend to keep to their trails and are very territorial. Plan your hunt accordingly!

When targeting red river hogs on a hunting safari, take note that they are often active during the day, but are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular.