As a game hunting enthusiast planning your first African hunt, your safari hunting accommodation may not be first and forefront on your mind. The destination for your African hunting trip…yes. The species you plan on targeting…most definitely. The accommodation? Perhaps…but for some hunters, if they have access to warm food and a shower, they are happy.

While this may work for them, others prefer to know exactly what to expect in terms of safari hunting accommodation options, and South Africa is happy to impress with a range of accommodations and hunting lodges to meet your budget and expectations. As this is your first trip to the dark continent, you may be quite unsure of what to expect…and let’s be honest here, the internet may be quite misleading about “deepest darkest Africa”!

From roughing it in fly camps to the utmost luxury in superior accommodation situated throughout the country, hunting lodges in South Africa provide the variety and amenities a hunter needs and wants to make their African hunt an unforgettable experience

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Hunting in South Africa

Hunting in Africa is a dream for many international game hunters. It offers hunters exciting opportunities to target many different game species, including dangerous game, big game, African plains game, and specialty game hunting options.

South Africa’s hunting locations are spread throughout the country, with each of the nine provinces offering some form of game hunting, although certain areas and provinces are both more popular and have better hunting options available. An example of this would be the Limpopo province, which is world-renowned for its quality game hunting trophies. From African plains game, to dangerous and everything in between, Limpopo is a true game hunters’ paradise.

Africa’s Big 5

Big 5 hunting in South Africa is a dream for many. To stand on African soil, targeting five of the world’s most dangerous animals on an African hunt is truly memorable.

The mighty elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, and Cape buffalo provide hunters with many challenging, yet extremely rewarding dangerous game hunting opportunities in Africa. South Africa’s diverse landscape and abundant wildlife areas see all five members of the Big 5 naturally inhabiting the area. Only four of Africa’s Big 5 are available to hunt though, as although leopard hunting in South Africa is legal, no leopard tags have been made available by the government for quite some time.

Hunting in South Africa provides exceptional dangerous game hunting experiences, and you will not be disappointed in targeting one of these majestic, yet dangerous adversaries.

Dangerous 7

As if Africa’s Big 5 dangerous game hunting options weren’t enough to keep that adrenaline up and pumping, two more aggressive and dangerous creatures are added to the Big 5 to form the notorious Dangerous 7.

The cold-blooded, man-eating Nile crocodile, along with the ever-aggressive and extremely territorial hippo form the last two members of the Dangerous 7.

African Plains Game

Hunting in South Africa truly does spoil hunters in terms of choice, with the country being home to more than 40 species of antelopes, from members of the Tiny 10 to big game antelopes.

Popular African plains game options include wildebeest, impala, springbok, bushbuck, eland, duikers, nyala, and waterbuck, to name but a few.

Specialty Game

If as a hunter you are searching for something different in terms of an African hunt, then why not set yourself the challenge of targeting some specialty game? From the vicious honey badger, the laughing spotted hyena, and the beautiful bat-eared fox, to the elusive mongooses and social meerkats, the options are varied, depending on your needs and hunting objectives.

However, if there is one specialty game animal you need to target, I would suggest warthogs. Warthog hunting in South Africa is immensely fun and fast-paced, and the spoils from the trophy afterward allow for the mouthwatering goodness of warthog sausages, cooked over the hot coals on the fire! Ask the resident chef to prepare it for you, you won’t be disappointed!

Hunting Lodges in South Africa

Accommodation for African hunts can take the form of a basic self-catering option right through to luxury hunting lodges in South Africa.

Accommodation types vary, depending on the budget, as well as the location of some hunting safaris, as five-star hunting lodges in South Africa offering would be a bit of a challenge in some of the remote, yet exquisite hunting areas that are frequented.

A reminder here that your South African outfitters are as eager as you are, for you to have a relaxing, rewarding, and enjoyable hunting safari. South Africans are very hospitable, and you will find that you do their best to ensure that your stay is a good one.

Adventure or Fly Camping 

This is rather basic accommodation of tents and is often utilized in remote areas where it is difficult to construct or build accommodation. Some hunters love to experience the Africa of old and enjoy the “roughing it” lifestyle that basic accommodation brings, but it is usually only for a short period of 3-4 days at a time.

The image below is of a camping site out in the Kalahari and was specifically chosen as the hunters wanted to rough it. A Jojo water tank was brought in for running showers and toilets, with the tents being erected on a concrete slab.

While you may experience Africa of old in terms of accommodation, expect good, wholesome food. Many times, this type of camp will be in remote areas, where fresh items such as bread are not available daily, but the team at the site will always make a plan, preparing, for example, mouth-watering pot bread hot off the fire. A popular Afrikaans is “ ‘n Boer maak ‘n plan!” which, when translated, means a farmer makes a plan, but it is more general than only a farmer, rather it is seen as South Africans making a plan to fix whatever needs fixing! So lack of fresh produce or bread is certainly not going to be a stumbling block for your African outfitter, whose team is specially chosen to deal with any situation that arises, including bread!

The animals targeted on the hunt are also likely to find themselves in the pot as well, and as the delicious aroma of a venison stew fills the air, under starry African skies, you will be right to think that life doesn’t get much better than this!

Luxury Mobile Camps

These are camps that have been set up with comfortable en-suite bathrooms, electricity, and many other amenities, but as the name says, they are mobile and tend to move as and when required by the South African outfitter.

Seasonal Tented Camps

These are semi-permanent structures that are set up for specific hunting seasons or migrations and take a person closer to the African wildlife in the area.

Once again, this option is more luxurious and includes electricity, along with other creature comforts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.

Bush Camps

Bush camps are exactly that…camps, in the bush. But what isn’t relayed in the name is that these are not the normal bush camps that you may be used to as a child with the bare minimum and a mattress on the ground, but rather provide guests with the opportunity to experience Africa firsthand, with an entire campsite set up in the veld. The accommodation can take the form of either tents or chalets.

Once again, you will be amazed at the cuisine that appears and is prepared in these bush-based camps, and the overall positive experience of staying there.

Tent Lodges

This is a beautiful type of accommodation, setting the vibe of a rustic, relaxing African experience. The lodges are made of canvas tents, allowing guests the feel of an African safari with the comfort of home.

The image below is tented accommodation, with en-suite bathroom and real doors on the tent. As you can see from the accommodation, it is comfortable, and spacious and ticks all the boxes in terms of comfort in the bush.

Safari Lodge

Safari lodges are very comfortable, with many added extras that other accommodations may not have, for example, a pool, added boma or lapa areas, games rooms, game viewing decks, and so forth.

Some lodges even have additional amenities such as a spa on the property, perfect for those hunters traveling with partners or family.

What is the difference between Hunting Camps and Hunting Lodges?

• A camp is made up of tents, whereas a lodge is a building, built of brick and stone.
• While a lodge is a luxurious setup that can include numerous amenities, a camp can have a basic, self-catering type setup or be more luxurious.
• A camp is generally more rural, rustic, and “closer to nature” experience than a lodge, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it cannot be somewhat glamorous or cater to your needs. There is a term called “Glamping” which means glamorous camping.
• Glamorous camping is just that – camping without the major roughing it as you would expect on a camping trip, but rather incorporating spoils and amenities not usually found while camping, to ensure an African camping experience that will never be forgotten!

Cuisine while on a Hunting Safari in South Africa

South Africans are renowned for their hosting skills, and with a heritage and culture as rich as ours, you can expect some tasty cuisine throughout your stay, whether camping or staying in hunting lodges in South Africa.

As mentioned earlier, while some hunting safaris may take you to remote regions without much in terms of stores or supplies, your South African outfitter will work wonders to deliver tasty, wholesome meals that hit the spot. No matter where you stay, expect to have some local game meat (venison) included on the menu. This usually originates from recent hunting safaris and allows you a (literal) taste of Africa at its best.

Of course, something that you do need to sample and are most likely to enjoy, is biltong. Biltong is air-dried meat, made from beef, or local game meat such as springbok, oryx, kudu, and even ostrich. Some American hunters say that it is a lot like jerky, but with more spices and a richer flavor, while others say jerky cannot compare to biltong in the least and comes a distant second in the flavor polls! Take the taste test yourself, you won’t be disappointed!

Camping and Hunting Lodges in South Africa: The Choice is Yours

While you prefer roughing or living it up in luxury, South Africa’s range of accommodations leaves you spoilt for choice. Hunting in South Africa is a dream of many, let Game Hunting Safaris help you make it a reality.

Head over to our South African hunts to see what this diverse wildlife hunting destination has to offer you on a dream African hunt!

Author: B. Hershensohnn