African Plains Game: Hunt 5 Species in 6 Days in South Africa
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Moderate
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Stay in a comfortable four-star hunting lodge located on the concession, offering spacious en-suite rooms, excellent home-cooked meals, and traditional South African hospitality. After each day's hunt, relax around the campfire and enjoy a classic bushveld braai while sharing stories from the day's tracking.
Hunt across more than 7,000 acres of Free State bushveld, where thick thornveld, open clearings, and natural drainage lines create classic Cape buffalo habitat. The varied terrain allows for traditional tracking on foot and close-range dangerous game encounters in true fair-chase conditions.
| Fence Type: | Fenced |
| Fence Area: | 7000 acres |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
Hunt Cape Buffalo Cows in the Free State, South Africa
For hunters looking to enjoy authentic Cape Buffalo Hunts in South Africa without the cost of a trophy bull safari, this buffalo cow hunt offers an outstanding introduction to Africa's most respected dangerous game animal. Conducted on more than 7,000 acres of Free State bushveld, the hunt follows the same fair-chase principles, professional guiding, and close-quarters tracking that have made buffalo one of the ultimate Dangerous Game Hunting pursuits.
Don't mistake a buffalo cow for an easier hunt. Mature cows are exceptionally alert, highly protective, and every bit as capable of defending themselves when wounded. They demand the same respect, the same careful shot placement, and the same calm decision-making as any buffalo bull, making this safari an affordable way to experience the challenge and excitement of hunting one of Africa's iconic Big Five species.
Price: US$4,850 All-In
Duration: 7 Hunting Days / 8 Nights
Hunter Ratio: 1 Hunter : 1 Professional Hunter
Trophy Included:
Additional Buffalo Cow: US$2,500
Observers Welcome: US$200 per person, per day
Hunting Area: More than 7,000 acres in South Africa’s Free State Province
This buffalo cow safari has been structured to include the major costs of the hunt before you arrive, making it a straightforward and affordable way to pursue Cape buffalo in South Africa.
Your package includes:
The following items remain the hunter’s responsibility:
This safari is also available for two hunters who would like to share the hunt and Professional Hunter.
2 Hunters : 1 Professional Hunter
Price: US$4,200 per hunter
Duration: 7 Hunting Days / 8 Nights
This is a strong option for couples, friends, or family members who want to enjoy a dangerous game safari together while reducing the per-hunter cost.
One of the biggest misconceptions in African hunting is that a buffalo cow is somehow an easier animal to hunt than a mature bull. Hunters who have spent time around breeding herds know exactly how far that is from the truth.
In fact, the world-record Cape buffalo is a cow, proving that judging these remarkable animals purely by their horns misses the point entirely. Buffalo cows may not carry the heavy bosses of an old dagga boy, but they make up for it with experience, awareness, and an attitude that has kept them alive for years.
Old cows have survived droughts, predators, disease, and countless close encounters with danger. Many become the watchful eyes of the herd, constantly testing the wind, detecting movement, and reacting long before the rest of the buffalo know anything is wrong. Their job has never been to impress hunters with massive horn spreads. Their job has been to survive, and they have become exceptionally good at it.
That is why many seasoned buffalo hunters return specifically to hunt cows. The challenge isn't measured in inches of horn, but in the quality of the hunt itself. Every fresh track, every careful stalk, and every close encounter still demands the same patience, fieldcraft, and respect that have made Cape buffalo one of Africa's most admired dangerous game animals.
The buffalo certainly doesn't know whether it carries a world-record set of horns or not. It only knows that something is following it through the bush... and it intends to survive one more day.
Every Cape Buffalo Hunt follows the same fundamental principles of fair chase, regardless of whether you're pursuing a trophy bull or an old breeding cow. Fresh spoor is located at first light before trackers, your Professional Hunter, and the hunting team begin following the herd on foot, constantly reading the wind, interpreting tracks, and searching for an opportunity to close the distance unnoticed.
Unlike many plains game hunts, buffalo rarely allow second chances. Thick bush, limited visibility, and close shooting distances demand complete concentration from everyone in the hunting party. Sometimes the stalk comes together quickly. Other times, hours of careful tracking may end with the herd disappearing into dense cover, forcing the team to begin again.
One thing never changes: when the distance closes to within a few yards and you finally stand looking at a mature buffalo cow through the sights of your rifle, you'll quickly understand why Cape buffalo have earned their reputation as one of Africa's most respected dangerous game animals.
Buffalo are incredibly resilient animals, and there is a reason veteran Professional Hunters place so much emphasis on Buffalo Shot Placement. A poorly placed shot can turn an otherwise successful stalk into a demanding follow-up through thick bush, where visibility is limited and every step requires caution.
The goal is not simply to hit the buffalo but to anchor it as quickly and ethically as possible. Broadside shots into the vital area remain the preferred option, while head shots are generally reserved for emergency situations such as a charge. Even with perfect shot placement, experienced Professional Hunters are quick to follow up, ensuring the buffalo is down before approaching.
As old African hunters have often said, it takes one bullet to kill a buffalo and several more to convince it. Whether you're hunting a trophy bull or a buffalo cow, the animal doesn't become any less dangerous after the first shot.
Hunters will debate rifle calibres around campfires for generations. Some have complete confidence in the legendary .375 H&H Magnum, while others prefer the additional authority of rifles such as the .404 Jeffery, .416 Rigby, .416 Remington Magnum, .458 Winchester Magnum, .458 Lott, or a classic double rifle.
The truth is remarkably simple: the buffalo doesn't know what calibre you're carrying.
What it will notice is poor shot placement.
The .375 H&H remains the legal minimum for dangerous game hunting in South Africa and has accounted for countless buffalo over the past century. Larger calibres certainly provide greater stopping power during close follow-up situations, but only if the hunter can shoot them accurately and with complete confidence.
Choose the biggest rifle you can handle comfortably, practise until operating it becomes second nature, and remember that judgement, composure, and precise shot placement will always matter more than another fifty grains of bullet weight.
Your buffalo safari begins with an international flight into O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, followed by a short regional flight to Kimberley in South Africa's Northern Cape. Werner and his team will meet you on arrival before transferring you to the hunting concession in the neighbouring Free State, where your buffalo adventure begins.
The hunt is conducted from a comfortable four-star lodge located on the concession itself. Spacious en-suite rooms, welcoming communal areas, and hearty home-cooked meals provide the perfect place to relax after a day spent tracking buffalo through the bush. Evenings often end around the fire with a traditional South African braai, where hunters share stories from the day's hunt while enjoying outstanding local hospitality.
International hunters travelling with firearms will require a temporary South African import permit (SAPS 520), and Werner will provide the necessary invitation documents before your arrival. If you choose to overnight in Johannesburg, rifle permit assistance and airport transfers are readily available, making your journey into camp straightforward and hassle-free.
Cape buffalo can be hunted throughout the year in South Africa, but many hunters favour the cooler, drier months between April and October. Reduced vegetation, comfortable daytime temperatures, and excellent tracking conditions make this one of the most enjoyable periods to hunt buffalo on foot, although successful safaris are conducted year-round
Once your buffalo cow has been safely recovered and is in the salt, there is an excellent opportunity to add some of South Africa's most sought-after Plains Game Hunts to your safari. More than thirty additional species are available, allowing hunters to combine dangerous game with a diverse selection of classic African plains game during the same hunt.
Popular additions include Kudu (US$3,500), Sable (US$5,250), Tsessebe (US$2,150), Waterbuck (US$2,500), Warthog (US$450), Burchell's Zebra (US$1,100), Red Lechwe (US$2,500), Roan Antelope (US$5,250), and Impala (US$650). Hunters wishing to spend even more time pursuing buffalo can also add a second or third Cape Buffalo Cow for US$2,500 per animal.
Beyond these favourites, the concession offers an outstanding variety of additional species, including Eland, Gemsbok, Giraffe, Springbok, Blue Wildebeest, Black Wildebeest, and multiple colour variants of Blesbok. Collectors working towards South Africa's Tiny Ten will also find opportunities to hunt Steenbok, Klipspringer, Red Duiker, and Blue Duiker, allowing each safari to be tailored to the hunter's personal goals and preferred trophy collection.
Not every Cape buffalo safari has to revolve around record-book horn spreads. For many hunters, the greatest reward comes from tracking one of Africa's toughest and most respected dangerous game animals through thick bush, closing the distance on foot, and earning every opportunity through patience, fieldcraft, and good judgement. A mature buffalo cow delivers every bit of that challenge.
Whether this is your first encounter with Africa's Black Death or another chapter in a lifetime of dangerous game hunting, this Free State safari offers an outstanding opportunity to hunt Cape buffalo at an exceptional value without compromising on the quality of the hunt itself.
If you're still comparing destinations and safari styles, explore our complete collection of Hunting Trips to discover professionally guided hunting opportunities across Africa and find the safari that best matches your hunting goals.
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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