Africa, or the “dark continent” as it’s affectionately called by many, is seen as the pinnacle of hunting destinations worldwide. It’s a place of mystery, where animals roam and legends abound. It’s the place many hunters dream of and work towards, as the absolute joy and thrill of hunting in Africa cannot be explained until you have experienced it.
Let’s take a look at what is seen as the top ten African hunting destinations, and what attracts game hunting enthusiasts to Africa’s shores in the first place!
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Why Visit Africa for a Game Hunting Safari?
- Many hunters see hunting in Africa as a bucket list item, and to complete it gives them a certain amount of status or prestige within the hunting world.
- While there are many diverse and alluring hunting destinations worldwide, not many can compare to the lure of Africa, with its array of wildlife, folklore, and fascinating heritage and culture.
- Not only is Africa a prime destination for hunting but is also home to numerous tourist attractions and magnificent tourism destinations.
- Did I mention the Big 5? Hunting in Africa is incomplete without targeting the Big 5, namely the lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, and Cape buffalo.
- Africa offers varied hunting adventures, for the novice to the expert huntsman, across numerous locations and destinations to challenge their skillset, patience, and courage!
- Hunting in Africa offers a range of packages to suit differing budgets, species, and locations.
Popular Game Hunting Destinations
South Africa
Situated on the southern tip of Africa, South Africa is seen as the pinnacle of all African game hunting destinations, offering hunters a choice of wildlife experiences. And not only that, but the area is also home to some amazing tourist attractions, such as Cape Town with its V&A Waterfront, the Wine Route, Garden Route, and Sun City.
South Africa is divided into nine different provinces and while all provinces do offer hunting adventures, nothing compares to the country’s Limpopo region which is alive and thriving with wildlife! For some of the best hunting on earth, do yourself a favor and book an African hunt in Limpopo. From dangerous game hunting options such as elephant, Cape buffalo, and rhino, to African plains game and specialty options, the province is alive with hunting safari possibilities. South Africa is also home to canned, or captive-bred lion hunts, and the magnificent Kalahari region in the North West province is the place to visit for top-quality trophies. These canned lion hunts are being discontinued, with the South African government putting a stop to lion breeding.
Hunting Season
All year round, with the cooler months (June–August) providing hunters with excellent game hunting opportunities.
Popular Species
While Africa’s Big 5 and Dangerous 7 remain extremely sought-after prey for hunters visiting South Africa, it must be remembered that, at the time of this blog, no tags have recently been issued for leopard hunting in South Africa.
South Africa is also renowned for its African plains game species, from the likes of the larger big game species such as the eland, kudu, and wildebeest, to the smaller antelopes like the impala and springbok, as well as specialty animals, such as the warthog, honey badger, and hyenas.
Namibia
Often referred to as the land of contrasts, Namibia’s diverse and differing landscapes provide challenging hunting safaris to those who visit its shores. Situated on the southwestern coast of Africa, Namibia provides an impressive backdrop for dangerous game hunting safaris, as well as African plains game. Right now, Namibia is the only country where the entire Big 5 can be hunted, as South Africa is not issuing tags for leopards and rhinos can also only be legally hunted in either South Africa or Namibia.
Namibia’s famous hunting areas include the lush, green Zambezi region (formerly referred to as the Caprivi Strip) which is alive with all sorts of big and dangerous game hunting species, such as the lion, hippo, Nile crocodile, and elephant. The area’s ample water supply, along with plenty of vegetation attracts many types of wildlife to the area. The central region is known for exceptional kudu trophies, while the southern region is renowned for predator hunts including leopards, caracals, and cheetahs.
Apart from the famous Zambezi region, the northern section of Namibia has thriving wildlife populations of roan, red hartebeest, steenbok, kudu, and blesbok.
Hunting Season
February until the end of November, with the more popular season being during the cooler winter months of June – August.
Popular Species
Africa’s Big 5 and Dangerous 7 are available for hunting adventures in Namibia, and it is also the only country at the time of writing this, where cheetah hunting is legalized. African big game such as the eland, oryx, Hartman Mountain Zebra, and kudu inhabit the area along with smaller game such as the springbok and impala. Species endemic to the area include the black-faced impala and the minute Damara Dik-Dik.
Botswana
Botswana is an African hunting destination that is, at times, wildly underestimated. While the country banned hunting in 2014, the ban was lifted in 2019 for numerous reasons, including the significant challenges that were experienced with human-wildlife conflict.
Botswana is a hunter’s paradise, offering both dangerous game and tremendous options in terms of African plains game. The two main hunting areas in the country are widely diverse, with the lush, green, and well-populated Okavango Delta being home to many different species, including the cold-blooded man-eater, the Nile crocodile, and another dangerous game hunting target that shares its habitat, the mighty hippo. The area is renowned for its trophy Nile crocodile and hippo trophies, making it a popular game hunting destination. With ample water and vegetation, the area is inhabited by many species including Cape buffalo, elephant, topi, lechwe, and giraffe.
The Kalahari Desert region of Botswana provides a stark backdrop from the lush green Okavango Delta, offering inhabitants of the area a savanna-type semi-desert habitat rather than a true desert region. In fact, it receives too much rain per year to be a true desert, and this assists the thriving local wildlife population, including lions, kudu, giraffes, wild dogs, buffalo, and leopards.
Hunting Season
Botswana’s hunting season runs annually from the beginning of April to the end of September, the region’s dry season.
Popular Species
Botswana is renowned for its impressive and sought-after elephants that provide hunters with exceptional game hunting trophies, with an estimated 130,000 elephants inhabiting the country. Other popular species to target on an African hunt include the Nile crocodile, hippo, red lechwe, lion, Cape buffalo, and gemsbok (oryx).
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe, apart from being the home of David Livingstone’s famous Victoria Falls which is a major tourist attraction in the region, is also an exceptional game hunting destination.
Zimbabwe’s hunting areas are divided into three distinct categories:
- Tribal or Communal Areas
- Private Areas
- Zimbabwe Parks Areas
Each area has its own set of rules and regulations.
The area is renowned for its dangerous game hunting species as well as the plenitude of African plains game species, making it a true African hunting gem. Add to this an area rich in heritage and culture, with friendly locals, and you have a winning destination.
Hunting Season
Although it is legal to hunt throughout the year in Zimbabwe, the hunting season generally runs from March to November, with the more popular months being the cooler, drier winter months (June-August).
Popular Species
If dangerous game hunting adventures are what you are after, then a visit to Zimbabwe should be on your list! The destination offers trophy quality animals including lion, Cape buffalo, elephant, hippo, leopard, and Nile crocodile.
The area is also home to numerous African plains game species that are sought-after hunting targets in the area, such as sable, nyala, waterbuck, wildebeest, zebra, gemsbok, duiker, tsessebe, and impala.
Zambia
Zambia was one of the last countries to be discovered as a game hunting destination offering prime African hunts, which has allowed it to become one of the premier African hunting destinations. Slightly larger than the US state of Texas, the country offers hunters a diverse range of hunting areas from which to choose, with the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) making it its mission to improve game and wildlife management in the region.
This beautiful country has some exceptional hunting locations such as the Zambezi Valley, Kafue Flat, Bangweulu swamps, and the Luangwa Valley. The area is divided into 20 national parks and 36 Game Management Areas, known as concessions in the hunting world.
Hunting Season
Zambia’s hunting season runs from the end of June / beginning of July until the end of October.
Popular Species
The region is home to two endemic species, namely the Kafue lechwe and the black lechwe. Elephant, lion, leopard, and the Cape buffalo are some of the dangerous game hunting species available, while African plains game species include the likes of waterbuck, sitatunga, Burchell’s zebra, wildebeest, puku, and sable.
Tanzania
Tanzania provides the perfect hunting backdrop for any hunter, whether novice or beginner, with a range of target species and locations from which to choose. The area is a hunter’s dream destination, with breathtakingly beautiful hunting locations, simply teeming with game.
The Selous Game Reserve allows the hunter an authentic African hunt, as human interference is minimal in this hunting safari location. The Kizigo Central Region, Maasailand, Ugalla Game Reserve, and the Moyowosi Game Reserve are also popular hunting areas within Tanzania and each offers hunters a unique challenge in terms of terrain and species.
Hunting Season
The hunting season for Tanzania runs annually from the beginning of July until the end of December.
Popular Species
Tanzania is renowned as one of the world’s best and largest African plains game destinations with species such as the lesser and greater kudu, gerenuk, Kirk’s Dik-Dik, Coke’s hartebeest, steenbuck, Grant’s gazelle, Thompson’s gazelle, sable and roan inhabiting the area. Dangerous game hunting options include the king of the beasts, and the lion, along with leopards, Cape buffalo, Nile crocodiles, hippos, and elephants.
Mozambique
Mozambique is a hunting destination renowned for its dangerous game hunting options and should be one of the first destinations to target should you be interested in big game hunting. Popular dangerous game trophies include the Nile crocodile, hippo, leopard, and lion. Hunting in Mozambique is conducted in concessions known as coutadas, which are areas specifically set aside for sport hunting.
Mozambique’s hunting areas are broken down into six main areas:
- Marromeu Complex
- Gorongoza / Zambezi River Region
- Niassa Reserve
- Cohora Bassa
- The Greater Labombo Conservancy
- Marangira Region
Hunting Season
Mozambique’s hunting season runs from the beginning of April to the end of November.
Popular Species
Although the area is known for its diverse offering of dangerous game species, it is also home to numerous African plains game species to challenge and enthrall hunters, such as the kudu (grey ghost), impala, duiker, reedbuck, eland, oribi, nyala, and suni.
Uganda
Uganda is home to diverse landscapes and many game species to intrigue, excite, and challenge hunters in the area. Hunting in this African destination is truly going to take you to Africa of old, with unique and real traditional African hunting experiences.
Uganda offers three kinds of hunting areas in the country:
- Private Land
- National Game Reserves
- Communal Hunting Areas
Hunting Season
Uganda’s hunting season runs from January to November.
Popular Species
Popular species in the region include African plains game such as the Uganda Defassa waterbuck, Uganda kob, Nile buffalo, and the East African bush duiker. Uganda is also the only destination where the Sesse Island sitatunga can be legally hunted.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia has strict hunting regulations and requirements that are well-managed and regulated, to ensure the sustainability of species going forward. Hunters are spoilt for choice with numerous locations and differing terrains to challenge the hunter and provide variety within the Ethiopian hunting safari.
Hunting Season
The best time to indulge in an African hunt to Ethiopia would be from October through to June, when it is drier, although hunting is legal throughout the year in this African country.
Popular Species
Ethiopia is simply teeming with diverse African plains game species, to challenge any hunter, from novice through to expert hunters. Some popular species include mountain nyala, East African Defassa waterbuck, Guenther’s Dik-Dik, giant forest hog, warthog, and Northern gerenuk. Predators include the Nile crocodile, serval, and Ethiopian wolf.
Cameroon
Hunters enjoy a hunting safari in Cameroon as the destination offers an array of species to target and hunt. From African plains game to dangerous game as well as specialty game, the country is home to many sought-after game species, such as buffalo, leopard, giraffe, and lion.
Hunting Season
Cameroon’s hunting season is divided into two:
Rain Forest region: April to July
Savanna Region: December to March
Popular Species
Cameroon is renowned as a premier destination for spiral-horned antelope trophies, and the bongo, and the giant eland, also known as Lord Derby’s eland, are available on African hunts. Popular dangerous game in the area includes the buffalo, lion, elephant, and leopard, while African plains game species include the Bohor reedbuck, numerous duikers, oribi, and Western hartebeest.
Africa: A Melting Pot of Hunting Adventures
Africa is a melting pot of fascinating destinations, offering both rewarding and challenging hunting adventures throughout the continent. From the novice hunter searching for the perfect first African hunt to the experienced hunter who knows the ropes, destinations, and species, the dark continent is a unique and rewarding hunting destination to enjoy.
Read more about Hunting in Africa: Season, Species and Destinations.
Author: B. Hershensohnn