Hunt Hippo and Crocodile on Lake Kariba 10 days in Zimbabwe
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
When it comes to dangerous game hunting in Africa, this member of the Dangerous 7 sends every hunter’s adrenaline soaring! Often referred to as the “water horse,” the Hippo is as dangerous in the water as it is on land, although it spends most of its time submerged in large bodies of water. With adult males weighing between 3,500 – 7,000 pounds of pure muscle, the Hippo is one of Africa’s most dangerous species, causing close to 500 human deaths annually.
Hippos are found mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, with key populations active in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
Hippo hunting is one of Africa’s greatest dangerous game hunting adventures, which will test a hunter’s patience, courage, and marksmanship in one challenging hunt. This hunt can be frustrating, especially when these water horses simply disappear under water after a long day of watching a trophy Hippo submerge and emerge every few minutes…only to have it then disappear completely and emerge elsewhere!
But when your trophy Hippo is harvested, nothing beats the ecstatic adrenaline rush you experience on this dangerous hunting safari.
Through the centuries hippos have been hunted for subsistence and meat, with the ivory from its tusks used for tools and trading. Hippo hunts also became a past time for certain African cultures and then developed into big game hunting safaris as this mega trophy grew in popularity. Through the years, many Hippos have fallen prey to poachers wanting their ivory tusks, much like Elephants are also poached for their long tusks.
Hippos can be targeted both on land and in water. On land, the best shot placement would be the broadside shot to ensure a quick and humane kill, aiming for the heart and lungs. Be prepared with quick, accurate follow up shots to anchor the animal, as it will head straight to the water and can be extremely aggressive.
In the water, where only a small section of the Hippo is visible as it bobs up and down, a brain shot is needed. This shot placement requires intense skills and the utmost patience to successfully pinpoint the tiny target area in the brief window the Hippo is visible.
Hippo hunts are usually conducted on a dangerous hunting safari of 7-days or more and is often combined with a Crocodile hunt, as these two members of the Dangerous 7 share the same habitat. They do require a CITES permit to be hunted.
Africa is alive with possibilities in terms of dangerous game hunting destinations, with numerous countries offering adrenaline-filled Hippo hunting adventures.
Prime destinations for a Hippo hunting safari include Zambia’s Luangwa Valley, South Africa’s Limpopo region, Namibia’s Zambezi region (formerly known as the Caprivi Strip), and Lake Kariba on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border. Botswana is famous for quality Hippo bulls hunted on the Okavango Delta, while Mozambique’s Lake Cahora Bassa and Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve also have impressive Hippo trophies.
These areas are renowned for their unique hunting conditions and abundant Hippo populations, allowing for a challenging and thrilling dangerous game adventure.
The best time to hunt Hippos is during the early morning or late afternoon when these animals are more active, so time your hunt accordingly. In terms of season, Hippo hunts are best during the dry season (May to October/November), when the water levels are lower and the animals are more concentrated in a specific area.
Hippo hunts require skilled marksmanship, as these animals have thick hides and often remain partially submerged, challenging the hunter even more. The preferred shot placement is a broadside heart and lung shot when the hippo is on land, or a precise brain shot if the animal is in the water.
Hippo hunting is available throughout the year in South Africa and Zimbabwe, with Namibia’s hunting season running from February to December. Zambia’s hippo hunting season runs from May to November, while hippo hunting in Tanzania can be enjoyed from July to December. Hippo hunts in Mozambique run from April to November.
Hippo hunting provides hunters with the opportunity to harvest one of Africa’s most dangerous species. It is an iconic trophy for hunters wanting to showcase the diversity in their hunting prowess, hunting one of Africa’s largest land animals, apart from the Rhino and Elephant.
Traditionally Hippo hunting involves a walk-and-stalk approach, ambushing the Hippo from a blind, or using a canoe on the river to search for this large dangerous game species.
Hippo hunting takes place on land or on water. Land hippo hunts target the animal as it heads away from or towards the water as they enjoy some grazing on land. Water hippo hunts are extremely dangerous and challenging, with a very real chance that an angry Hippo can overturn your Mokoro or canoe, leaving you at the mercy of the elements, as well as Hippos, and the other dangerous game species that shares its habitat, namely the Nile Crocodile.
A standard Hippo hunting safari in Africa will include the basic service offerings such as accommodation, meals, drinks, professional hunter, camp staff, trackers, on-territory transport, and field preparation of the dangerous game hunting trophy.
Exclusions and optional extras when Lion hunting in Africa:
Whether it’s finding hippo hunts, stalking, or walking and stalking at dawn, we’re here to deliver the experience of a lifetime with integrity and precision.
✉️ Contact us today to speak with an expert and plan your tailored hippo hunting adventure.
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