A 10-Day Hippo & Nocturnal Hunting Safari in South Africa
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
The safari is based at a comfortable four-star hunting lodge offering spacious en-suite accommodation, excellent South African cuisine and genuine bushveld hospitality. After each day's hunt, the lodge provides the perfect setting to relax, share stories around the dinner table and prepare for the next day's adventure.
The hunting concession consists of classic Limpopo bushveld, with a mix of open savanna, thick thornveld and dry riverbeds that provide ideal habitat for both dangerous game and plains game. The varied terrain ensures that every hunt presents different stalking opportunities, from close-range buffalo encounters in thick cover to longer shots across open country.
| Fence Type: | Fenced |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Hoedspruit via Oliver Tambo International |
Few African safaris offer the sheer variety found in this ten-day Limpopo hunting package. Combining Cape buffalo, classic plains game and nocturnal hunting, this safari is designed for hunters who want to experience as many different aspects of African hunting as possible during a single Hunting Trip in South Africa.
From tracking one of Africa's most respected dangerous game animals to pursuing kudu, giraffe and waterbuck by day, before returning after dark in search of hyena, bushpig, honey badger and jackal, no two hunting days are the same. The result is a well-balanced safari that rewards versatility, patience and good shooting across a wide range of hunting situations.
For hunters looking to experience the diversity that makes Big Game Hunting in Africa so special, few packages offer as much variety in one professionally guided safari. Fifteen species, day and night hunting, comfortable accommodation and experienced professional hunters combine to create a memorable African adventure from the first morning until the final evening around the campfire.
Safari Price: US$24,900 All-In (Fully Exportable Trophies)
Duration: 10 Full Hunting Days
Hunter Ratio: 1 Hunter : 1 Professional Hunter
Observer Included: First observer included at no additional cost
Additional Observers: US$250 per person per night
Rifle Rental: Included for the duration of the safari (Thermal equipment available)
Bonus: Guided day tour of Kruger National Park included
This combination safari includes 15 trophy opportunities, carefully selected to showcase the remarkable diversity of hunting in South Africa.
Dangerous Game
Classic Plains Game
Day Hunting
Night Hunting
Few countries in Africa lend themselves to combination safaris quite like South Africa. Rather than travelling between different concessions to hunt dangerous game, plains game and nocturnal species, hunters can often pursue an extraordinary variety of trophies during a single professionally guided safari.
This diversity is one of the reasons Hunting in South Africa has become so popular with international hunters. A typical day may begin tracking Cape buffalo through thick bushveld before changing pace completely in the afternoon while stalking kudu or waterbuck. After dinner, the hunt continues under the stars in search of hyena, bushpig or honey badger, creating three completely different hunting experiences in a single day.
For American and international hunters, this variety is one of South Africa's greatest attractions. Few destinations offer the opportunity to combine dangerous game, exceptional Plains Game Hunts, specialised night hunting and even photographic visits to Kruger National Park without changing camps or losing valuable hunting days.
This safari isn't about collecting trophies as quickly as possible.
It's about experiencing the incredible variety that makes South African hunting so addictive. One morning you may find yourself following the fresh tracks of a hard-bossed Cape Buffalo through thick bushveld, knowing that every step could bring you face to face with one of Africa's most respected dangerous game animals. The following afternoon, you're judging a mature kudu bull on a distant hillside before finishing the evening listening for the unmistakable laugh of a spotted hyena somewhere beyond the glow of the campfire.
No two hunting days are ever quite the same. Each species demands a different approach, whether it's reading buffalo tracks in thick cover, stalking plains game across open country or relying on patience and silence during a night hunt. The constant change of pace keeps experienced hunters engaged from sunrise until well after dark.
One of the biggest surprises for first-time visitors to Africa is that the trophy they remember most is not always the one they expected. While Buffalo Hunting in South Africa is undoubtedly one of Africa's classic dangerous game experiences, hunters often leave talking just as much about the giant giraffe bull that seemed impossible to judge, the honey badger that simply refused to give in, or the unforgettable moment a mature spotted hyena finally appeared from the darkness. For many, their first successful Hyena Hunt becomes one of the most memorable trophies of the entire safari.
That is what makes this safari so rewarding. It isn't simply about hunting fifteen different species. It's about experiencing fifteen completely different hunting challenges during one unforgettable African adventure.
One of the great attractions of this safari is that no two hunts ever feel the same. A morning spent tracking a hard-bossed Cape buffalo through thick bushveld may be followed by an afternoon judging a mature giraffe bull, where patience and precise shot placement become just as important as raw power. Later in the safari, pursuing Africa's legendary greater kudu reminds hunters why Kudu Hunts have earned a reputation as one of the continent's most rewarding plains game pursuits, while Giraffe Hunts offer a unique challenge unlike any other African species.
The remaining plains game continue to test different hunting skills. Waterbuck demand careful stalking, blue wildebeest are renowned for their toughness, Burchell's zebra rely on exceptional eyesight, while red hartebeest and impala reward hunters who understand movement, distance and timing.
Once darkness falls, the pace changes completely. Night hunting introduces an entirely different challenge as hyena, bushpig, honey badger, black-backed jackal and large-spotted genet emerge under the cover of darkness. Success now depends less on covering ground and more on patience, teamwork and making the most of often fleeting opportunities.
By the end of the safari, most hunters discover that it wasn't just the number of trophies that made the trip memorable, it was the opportunity to hunt so many different species, each demanding its own approach and rewarding a different set of hunting skills.
One of the reasons so many international hunters choose South Africa is the ease of travel. After arriving at O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg), a short domestic flight takes you to Hoedspruit Airport, the gateway to many of Limpopo's premier hunting areas. Wayne or a member of his team will meet you on arrival before the short road transfer to the hunting concession, making the journey from airport to camp both simple and efficient.
Depending on your international flight schedule, an overnight stay in Johannesburg before or after the safari may be advisable. Many hunters choose African Sky Boutique Hotel, which provides comfortable accommodation, airport transfers and assistance with firearm permits, making it an ideal starting point for your Hunting Trip in South Africa.
After each day in the field, you'll return to a comfortable four-star hunting lodge where spacious accommodation, excellent South African cuisine and genuine hospitality provide the perfect setting to relax. Evenings are spent sharing stories around the dinner table, planning the following day's hunt and enjoying the atmosphere that makes African hunting camps such an important part of every safari.
One of the biggest questions hunters ask before booking this safari is whether they need to travel with multiple rifles. In reality, most international hunters complete the entire safari with just one well-chosen rifle. A quality .375 H&H comfortably handles everything from Cape buffalo through to the larger plains game species, while many hunters prefer a .300 Winchester Magnum for the plains game and make use of the outfitter's heavy rifle for buffalo if required.
Hunters bringing their own firearms into South Africa will require a temporary SAPS 520 firearm import permit. Your outfitter will provide the necessary invitation letter and assist with the paperwork before arrival, while US hunters should also travel with their completed Customs Declaration Form 4457. The process is straightforward and forms part of the service provided to international hunters.
Although hunting takes place throughout the year, the cooler months between April and October are generally regarded as the best time for this safari. Reduced vegetation, comfortable daytime temperatures and increased game activity around water sources create excellent hunting conditions for both dangerous game and plains game, while the crisp winter evenings provide ideal conditions for the specialised night hunts included in this package.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of this safari is its flexibility. Whether you arrive carrying your own favourite rifle or prefer to use one supplied by the outfitter, every detail has been planned to let you focus on what matters most, enjoying ten unforgettable days of hunting across one of South Africa's most diverse safari packages.
Some hunters dream of taking a single iconic trophy before heading home. Others want to immerse themselves in everything African hunting has to offer, returning with memories of different landscapes, different species and a new challenge every single day. If you fall into the second group, this safari was designed with you in mind.
Over ten days you'll experience hunting in all its forms. You'll track dangerous game through thick bushveld, stalk wary plains game across open country and wait patiently under the stars as the African bush comes alive after dark. Every species asks a different question of the hunter, and every successful stalk feels like an achievement in its own right.
By the end of the safari, you may remember the Cape buffalo most vividly, or perhaps it will be the giant kudu that outsmarted you for two days before finally offering a shot. It could just as easily be the spotted hyena that appeared silently from the darkness, the honey badger that refused to quit, or the laughter shared around the campfire after another unforgettable day in the bush.
The finest African safaris are rarely remembered because of the number of trophies taken. They are remembered because of the stories they create, the friendships they build and the challenges that stay with you long after you've returned home.
If you're looking for a safari that keeps you thinking, keeps you hunting and leaves you with a story to tell every time someone asks about Africa, this may well be the hunt you've been searching for.
Please note that terms, conditions and price are subject to change without notice and rates at the time of the hunt will apply
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