A 10-Day Hippo & Nocturnal Hunting Safari in South Africa
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
After each day in the field, you'll return to a comfortable four-star hunting camp offering a choice of luxury tented accommodation or spacious lodge rooms, all with en-suite facilities and genuine South African hospitality. Excellent meals, attentive staff and evenings around the campfire complete the classic African safari atmosphere before another day begins in the bush.
The safari takes place across Limpopo's diverse lowveld, where dense bushveld, winding river systems, open floodplains and thick mopane woodland create ideal habitat for both dangerous game and nocturnal predators. The varied terrain ensures every hunting day feels different, whether tracking buffalo through dense cover or glassing riverbanks for hippo and crocodile.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg), connect to Hoedspruit Airport |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
Few African hunting packages combine so many iconic dangerous game species during a single professionally guided safari. Conducted in South Africa's Limpopo Province, this ten-day adventure brings together Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, Nile crocodile and spotted hyena, before adding several sought-after nocturnal predators to create one of the most diverse hunting safaris available anywhere in Africa.
Every hunting day presents a completely different challenge. One morning may begin following fresh Cape buffalo spoor through thick bushveld, while the next is spent quietly watching a mature hippo surface at first light or waiting for a giant Nile crocodile to leave the safety of the river. After sunset, the safari changes pace once again as spotted hyena, bushpig, honey badger, jackal and genet become the focus under the African night sky.
For American and international hunters looking to experience the very best of Big Game Hunting in Africa, few safaris offer this level of diversity without changing camps or concessions. Combined with comfortable accommodation, experienced professional hunters and fully exportable trophies, this is a true Hunting Trip for sportsmen wanting to experience several of Africa's most iconic dangerous game species during one unforgettable safari.
Safari Price: US$29,900 All-In (Fully Exportable Trophies)
Duration: 10 Full Hunting Days
Hunter Ratio: 1 Hunter : 1 Professional Hunter
Observer: First observer included at no additional cost
Additional Observers: US$250 per person per night
Location: Limpopo Province, South Africa
Rifle Rental: Included throughout the safari (Thermal equipment available)
Bonus: Guided day tour of Kruger National Park included
This safari It brings together four of Africa's most iconic dangerous game species with several sought-after nocturnal trophies, creating one of South Africa's most diverse big game hunting packages.
Few regions in Africa offer the diversity of habitat found in Limpopo. Dense mopane woodland, thornveld, permanent rivers, large dams and open floodplains all exist within a relatively small area, creating the ideal conditions for several of Africa's most sought-after dangerous game species to thrive side by side.
Each habitat presents a completely different hunting challenge. Buffalo are tracked through thick bush where visibility is often measured in metres rather than yards, demanding patience, teamwork and careful reading of fresh spoor. Along the rivers, the pace slows as professional hunters glass for mature crocodiles basking on the banks or quietly watch a dominant hippo bull surface from deep water. As daylight fades, the bush changes character once again as spotted hyena, bushpig, honey badger and other nocturnal predators begin to emerge.
What makes this safari so unusual is that hunters can experience all of these environments without changing camps or travelling between concessions. One day may begin following buffalo tracks through dense bushveld before ending beside a river at sunset, waiting for a crocodile to present the perfect shot. The following evening could be spent calling hyena beneath a sky filled with African stars.
For hunters who have always dreamed of traditional Cape Buffalo Hunts, this safari offers far more than a classic buffalo experience. It combines one of Africa's greatest dangerous game animals with three other iconic species, creating a hunting adventure that showcases the remarkable diversity of Limpopo's landscapes and wildlife.
This safari rewards versatility more than almost any other Hunting in South Africa adventure. Every dangerous game species demands a different mindset, different fieldcraft and a different level of patience, meaning no two hunting days ever feel the same.
Tracking Cape buffalo through thick bushveld is a test of endurance, teamwork and reading fresh spoor. Every track followed through the thornveld could end in a close-range encounter with one of Africa's most respected dangerous game animals.
The pace changes completely along the rivers, where hippo and Nile crocodile reward patience rather than movement. Hours may be spent quietly observing the water before a mature bull surfaces or a crocodile finally leaves the safety of the riverbank. Precision replaces speed, and every shot must count.
As darkness falls, the bush changes character once again. The attention turns to Hyena Hunts, bushpig, honey badger, jackal and genet, where silence, teamwork and patience become just as important as accurate shooting. These nocturnal hunts provide a completely different atmosphere and often produce some of the safari's most memorable moments.
That constant change is what makes this safari so rewarding. Every sunrise brings a different challenge, every sunset introduces a new hunting style, and by the end of ten days you'll have experienced far more than a collection of trophies, you'll have experienced the remarkable diversity that makes South African dangerous game hunting so highly regarded.
Unlike a traditional buffalo safari, this hunt doesn't follow a fixed routine. Every morning begins with a discussion between your professional hunter, trackers and the conditions on the ground. Fresh buffalo spoor, changing wind, water levels and recent animal activity all influence the day's plan.
Some mornings the decision is easy. Fresh buffalo tracks crossing a sandy road leave little doubt about the objective for the day. On others, reports of a mature crocodile basking on a nearby riverbank or a dominant hippo bull regularly surfacing in the same stretch of water may completely change the plan before the rifles even leave camp.
That flexibility is one of the greatest advantages of this safari. Rather than travelling between different concessions to hunt each species, you're already in the heart of productive dangerous game country where opportunities develop naturally as conditions change. Experienced professional hunters simply decide which opportunity offers the greatest chance of success on any given day.
Hunters wanting to learn more about these remarkable aquatic species can explore our complete guides to Hippo Hunts and Crocodile Hunts, both of which explain the hunting methods, seasons and shot placement considerations that make each pursuit so unique.
Getting to Limpopo is refreshingly straightforward for American and international hunters. After arriving at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, a short domestic flight takes you to Hoedspruit Airport, the gateway to many of South Africa's premier hunting concessions. Airlink operates regular daily services and is a popular choice among hunters travelling with rifles. On arrival, Wayne or a member of his team will meet you before the short road transfer to camp, allowing your safari to begin almost immediately.
Depending on your international flight schedule, an overnight stay in Johannesburg before or after the hunt may be advisable. Many hunters choose African Sky Boutique Hotel, which offers comfortable accommodation, airport transfers and assistance with temporary firearm permits, making the transition from international travel to the African bush simple and stress-free.
Waiting at the end of the journey is a comfortable four-star hunting camp where you can choose between beautifully appointed luxury tents or spacious lodge accommodation. Both offer en-suite facilities, attentive service and the opportunity to relax after long days spent in the field.
Evenings quickly become part of the safari itself. After a day tracking buffalo, watching rivers for hippo and crocodile or calling predators after dark, everyone gathers around the fire before enjoying generous South African meals prepared by the camp chef. Stories from the day's hunt are shared, tomorrow's plans quietly take shape and another traditional South African braai often rounds off the evening beneath a sky filled with stars.
Every hunter returns from Africa with a story to tell, but few safaris create as many unforgettable moments as this one. It may be the Cape buffalo tracked for hours through thick bushveld before finally stepping into a small opening. It could be the giant Nile crocodile that eventually climbed onto a distant sandbank after a morning of patient waiting, or the hippo that surfaced one final time to offer the perfect shot. Then there are the evenings, when the African bush grows quiet and a spotted hyena suddenly appears from the darkness just when everyone has started wondering if the night is over.
Long after the trophies have been shipped home, these are the moments that remain. They become the stories shared with family, hunting partners and around countless campfires, each one bringing back memories of ten remarkable days spent pursuing some of Africa's most iconic dangerous game species.
If you're looking for an African Hunting Trip that offers far more than simply collecting trophies, this Limpopo safari deserves serious consideration. It combines four legendary dangerous game species, experienced professional hunters and one extraordinary destination into a safari that you'll still be talking about many years after you've returned home.
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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