Hunt In Africa - South African hunting safaris and big game hunts | Information on hunting lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and hippo in Southern Africa

Hunting the Big 6 in Southern Africa

Information on hunting lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and hippo in Southern Africa

Lion Hunting
Elephant Hunting
Buffalo Hunting
Rhino Hunting
Leopard Hunting
Hippo Hunting

Lion Hunting

LION - Panthera Leo
Of all Africa's animals none are better known than the mighty "King of the Beasts" immortalised in many Hollywood movies and adventure hunting novels. The lion exudes majesty and power, always a breathtaking sight to any hunter and rightly so. No hunter can ever forget the gaze of intent yellow eyes calculating from within dense thorn scrub, the earth shattering roar or the crunching of bones in the darkness. Try hunting a hungry lion that has no fear of man, on foot, in dense vegetation...you'll come away with a new perspective on life...

Options for hunting lion in South Africa
You can hunt free roaming Lion in nature reserves. This is a minimum of 21 x day hunt, with a reasonable success rate, but you can not determine whether you are going to get a good male or a female. Prides or lone walking Lions can also move into areas where hunting is not allowed. The other option is to hunt lions that are roaming in fenced areas of 2,000-20,000 ha, whith are hunted on foot. There is always a member from Nature Conservation in attendance to ensure that these Lions are not drugged, and that the hunt is completely ethical, fair and legal. This way we can assure you of a good quality animal in advance on a 7 day safari.

CITES
All lion are listed under Appendix II which requires export permits from the country of origin. SCI minimum score = 23"

Habits
Lion are widespread throughout Africa occurring where water and food is adequate. They are the only social cats and live and hunt in prides sometimes reaching up to 30. Resting in the daytime, they hunt from dusk, stalking prey downwind before the final rush. Common prey are herding animals such as zebra, wildebeest and buffalo, where confusion and panic can be caused. A 200lb Lioness will think nothing of tackling a 2000lb buffalo bull. Lion tend to follow big herds and it is not uncommon to find Lion spoor when on the track of a herd of buffalo. Although not always successful, Lion are extremely efficient hunters and opportunists, often robbing prey and young from cheetah and leopard.

The hunt
In most countries Lion are hunted with baiting, with the hunter lying in ambush from a constructed blind about 30-50 yards off. The procedure is to first hunt bait, usually buffalo, hippo, zebra or any other large trophy taken, and to then hang or fasten the carcass to a tree in a likely area where Lion would occur. The bait is then checked every day until there has been a hit or strike. A large spoor or long hairs with black tips on the bait signal the building of a blind, on the ground or in a tree nearby where the hunter and PH will lie in wait usually from mid-afternoon or early mornings. The time spent in the blind waiting for the Lion is one of the most interesting and exciting of the chase. Here you have to remain absolutely still and silent, with other game and often the Lion passing so close to you you can hear them breathe. The best shot to take is on the shoulder blades at the vital organs. Due to the mane, head and neck shots are not recommended. Sometimes the "Texas heart shot" is very eff ectivve as lion are not heavy bodied.

The calibre
Lion are soft-skinned animals not requiring large bore calibres and solids. Anything from a .300 Magnum upwards with a heavy grain soft-nosed bullet is more than enough and shots are never at a great distance.

The trophy
To the hunter, the ultimate quarry is a large maned lion even though the SCI Measurement is based upon the size of the skull. Mane does vary according to habitat with lion in open savannah or desert-like regions growing larger manes than those found in thicker bush. Often large-bodied Lion do not sport a mane of significance and hunters often mistakenly keep trying until they eventually get "The King".

Canned Lion
The "canned lion" story surfaced in the British press in the "Cook Report" in 1998 when a journalist accompanied a South African PH on a lion hunt. The video footage was indeed one-sided and propagated, but did show a lioness being shot from a vehicle inside a very small enclosure. The furore led to the suspension of all SCI Record Book entries for lions taken from South Africa and Namibia and rightly so. This year, the South African government is looking at legislation around predator breeding and possible restrictions and regulations. Realistically, one only has to look at the game ranching and hunting set-up in South Africa and Namibia, to realise that it is very unlikely that free roaming Lion would still exist on a huntable scale. Therefore, it would appear that most lion offered for hunting are, or have at some stage been captive, and have been released onto an adequately enclosed area to be hunted. We believe that the lion population within South Africa and Namibia is far healthier than that in other countries (due mainly to Lion breeding programmes) and should be utilised ethically as a sustainable resource.

It is ultimately the ethics of you, the hunter, that should be strong enough to realise and dictate the situation of hunting Lion in South Africa and Namibia.

Elephant Hunting

African Elephant - loxodonta africana
An Elephant bull with heavy ivory topping 100 pounds is considered by many as the ultimate African trophy and many hunters dream of the day they can relive one of Africa's oldest hunting traditions. Despite their size, Elephants are worthy of their status and offer one of the most arduous challenges available today.

Species
There are no sub-species listed for record purposes although there is a difference between the savannah and forest Elephants; the latter living in the sub-tropical rainforests of central and west Africa. The Forest elephant is smaller-bodied and their lighter ivory has a orangey-pink lustre to it. They are very bad tempered, possibly due to living in dense forests where they cannot see very far and stampede at the slightest sign of danger.

CITES
African Elephants are listed both under Appendix I or II depending in which part of the continent they occur. At times their listing is rather confusing and is concerned more with actual commercial ivory sales (from legal culls) than with hunting trophies. Currently Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe sport hunted elephant trophies only require a CITES export permit. Trophies from South Africa, Cameroon and Tanzania require a CITES export permit as well as a US Fish and Wildlife import permit. SCI minimum score - 100lbs

Habit
Elephants once roamed the African savannah in their thousands forming vast herds which followed the seasonal migrations. Beginning in the 16th century, they were hunted commercially for their ivory. Their slaughter culminated in the 1980s when their number had been reduced almost by half. Since then, active legislation and a worldwide ivory ban has resulted in a stabilisation and increase in the Elephant population. Today the largest problem facing the Elephant is its large appetite and the shortage of habitat. They are continual feeders, resting during the heat of the day and are destructive to their habitat, often destroying hundreds of trees only to browse a few leaves off one branch. Elephants live in herds, with a matriarch as the leader. Older bulls break away from the herd and often form small bachelor groups, with younger bulls acting as "askari" for the older males. They travel great distances in search of food but still have to drink water every day, often chasing other game away in times of drought.

The hunt
Elephant hunting is done mostly on foot by following promising fresh spoor until the animal is sighted. It is then determined if the tusks are of satisfactory trophy size. Usually this type of hunting involves hours of walking only to be disappointed by a large bodied small tusked bull. Generally older larger bulls will have younger, more alert bulls in attendance and they often raise the alarm or cause problems by always seeming to be in the way of the path to the larger bull. In most cases, an Elephant hunt is a psychological battle of endurance, patience and persistence with many blisters, sunburn and exhaustion. The shooting part of the hunt is fairly quick, usually a brain shot is recommended at close quarters with heavy grain solids from a large bore calibre. When facing the Elephant a frontal brain shot is aimed at the third or fourth wrinkle below the centre of the eyes. With a side shot, aim for the area between the eye and the ear hole. A heart shot is a better bet when it is difficult to get in close to the elephant, placed lower down, directly behind the shoulder.

The calibre
The minimum is the .375 Magnum which is a legal requirement in many countries. Most hunters prefer something heavier starting from .416 or .458 Magnum upwards with heavier double rifles being the best choice.

The trophy
Score is taken from the weight of both tusks and they do vary quite considerable. It is not often that a good bull carries evenly matched ivory. Usually older bulls will wear down their favorite tusk digging and stripping bark, much in the same way we are either left or right handed. A good set of tusks must protrude from the skin flap for at least a meter, usually much more depending upon the thickness. Remember a considerable portion of the tusk is hidden in the skin and skull bone, probably at least a third. The thickest part of the tusk is usually at the lip.

Where to hunt
Most of the larger Elephant were hunted in the first half of the 20th century from the classic countries which held vast herds such as Kenya and Tanzania whilst in the 1980s, Ethiopia produced good, heavy ivory over 100 lbs per tusk. Today (of the countries which allow elephant hunting) Zimbabwe, Botswana, north-east Namibia and Tanzania produce decent bulls in the classical hunting style. Botswana looks set to be the most prolific in future as the country has a huge surplus elephant population recently opened to hunting. However, today it is unlikely that 100 lb bulls exist outside of national parks and reserves. The opportunity to hunt large bulls from national parks reserves sometimes presents itself as they are sold off to game farmers to make room for new blood. Two large Elephant bulls close to 100lbs per tusk were taken in South Africa out of the Tembe Elephant Reserve in Northern Natal. This was however a once-off exercise as the bulls were surplus to the reserve and there was a huge outcry by the "tree hugging fraternity". With this said, Elephant hunting is to take place for the first time in history in the Kruger National Park on a portion of land reclaimed by displaced communities during the Apartheid era.

Buffalo Hunting

African Buffalo - cyncerus caffer
No other game animal is held in higher esteem as a worthy hunting adversary than the African buffalo. The sheer thrill of hunting this mountain of muscle and attitude is unrivalled and addictive. It is one of the only beasts in the bush that looks at you as if you owe it something. "All writers are agreed as to the hazards of invading the haunts of this savage animal, whose skulking habits, no less than his tremendous strength, render him an object to be greatly dreaded... he is described to of so irascible a disposition that he will attack his great enemy, man, without the smallest provocation. And should he succeed in destroying his victim, it is his wont to stand over the inanimate corpse, goring and tossing it in vindictive fury with his formidable horns, trampling it under his feet, crushing and mangling it with his knees and stripping off the skin with his rough and prickly tongue; desisting occasionally, but to return again with renewed appetite, as though his revenge might never be glutted!" - Captain William Cornwallis Harris: The wild Sports of Southern Africa

CITES
Although buffalo are not considered an endangered species, some countries do have them listed as protected game and require special permits (non-CITES). SCI minimum scores - 100"

Habits
Buffalo are herd animals concentrated on the open savannah where grazing and water is plentiful. They tend to graze at night and in the cooler parts of the day, seeking shaded cover as it gets hotter. Both sexes have horns, with males developing the much desired gnarled bosses as they get older (many of the older hunters believe that the boss of a mature bull will stand up to the penetration capabilities of many heavy calibres). They are grayish-black in colour and at a quick glance may appear as large boulders. Despite their size, they are extremely well camouflaged in dense cover. Their eyesight and hearing is quite poor but their sense of smell is excellent. It is much harder to get close to a herd of buffalo than solitary bulls.

The hunt
Buffalo are generally hunted on foot (this is what makes this hunting so exciting), picking up and following fresh spoor at waterholes or across roads. Older bulls tend to separate from the herds and are solitary or form small bachelor herds. The best shot placement for buffalo is to hit vital organs, hopefully breaking bone somewhere in the process. Any experienced PH will rebuke head or neck shots and advise to go for the "boiler room". If hit well, the animal will take off at a gallop, usually signaling death with a characteristic bellow. Very few shots, regardless of calibre will pull a mature bull to the ground unless the shot hits the spine. If in a herd, the wounded animal will break away. Buffalo are one of the only animals that purposefully circle back onto their own trail to "hunt" the persuer. Usually they will circle back on their trail near and anthill, a fallen tree or any area that provides decent cover. Buffalo hunting and their dangerous nature when wounded has been documented by all the great white hunters and on various video footage. DO NOT BE FOOLED - each situation is unique and buffalo are one of the most dangerous animals when wounded. Despite their size they are extremely quick and cunning at camouflage, as they remain absolutely still until one is right upon them.

The calibre
Buffalo are thick-skinned animals and the minimum safe calibre is the .375 Magnum. Many people have killed Buffalo with a well placed shot from .270s and 30-06's, one old frontiersman even claimed a head shot with a .22 hornet. However, with Buffalo you can never have too much gun. Today's hunter prefers the large bore double rifles (if you can afford it) as most shots are less than 50 yards and in heavy cover. Most PHs swear by the .375 Magnum as a starting point, with the .416s & .458s being a good compromise on price and power. Some hunters will load a soft-nosed round for the first shot, followed by solids as the animal moves off. Remember, you want to do as much damage as possible with your first shot and heavy grained, good quality soft-nosed bullets are essential.

The trophy
Trophy size judgment on buffalo is quite easy but remains an individual choice. Old lone bulls usually have worn horns with characteristic gnarled bosses. The sheer menace and presence of these bad-tempered old men make for an excellent hunt and well-deserved trophy. A good set of horns starts with a thick heavy wide boss, running outwards and downwards (the deeper the curl the better) well past the ears before curling upwards and back in again. The points then raise upwards and backwards, the higher the better. As a rule, the further past the ears the outer upward curl of the horns are, the better the trophy. In fact, Rowland Ward measurement is based upon the spread of the horns while SCI uses this measurement as supplemental information.

Where
Buffalo are fairly widespread throughout Africa, with the Cape or Southern Buffalo being the largest and most hunted. It is uncommon to hunt for buffalo and return home empty-handed. Recent reviews of the record books and word from outfitters and professionals suggest that Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana are producing the best trophies. However this is largely dependant upon the concession you hunt in. If a Gold Medal is your objective Tanzania consistently produces buffalo of this class. Recently there have been outfitters offering buffalo hunting in Mozambique at very reasonable rates and some decent trophies have been taken. However the quality and number of buffalo are very much dependant upon the different concessions. There are some reports of hunters walking waist deep in swamp-water for 7 days and not seeing any sign of buffalo! In South Africa a different situation exists. Buffalo are often infected with bovine tuberculosis and in South Africa, there is an imaginary "line" drawn acros s the country - called the Red Line - SOUTH of which no infected buffalo are allowed to be transported at all, either to game reserves or to game ranches/hunting concessions. Theoretically, that should mean that "clean" buffalo fetch higher prices at game auctions than those infected and why farmers who own clean buffalo are loath to shoot them. However, there is still a huge demand for trophy hunting buffalo - and infected buffalo can be hunted and exported as long as all the taxidermy work is done in the region it is shot in.

In the early days of Northern Rhodesia buffalo were not exactly plentiful near the growing settlements and to hunt them required many days of trek by wagon to a suitable area. Once there, the hunters would hunt as much as they could in order to get as much meat out of the trip and most of their forays coincided with full moons. They would tie a piece of white cloth around the end of their 9.3X57 Mauser barrels and use this to aim in the dark. A herd would be located, usually on the open plains while they grazed, and then the fun would start with 4 or 5 hunters closing in from different directions. Often the herd would stampede and the only way to avoid being trampled was to shoot down one of the front buffalos and jump onto its body, all the while shooting as fast as possible.

Rhino Hunting

Southern White (Square Lipped) Rhino - Ceratotherium simum
Resembling something out of Jurassic Park and seemingly the most placid of the Big Five to hunt, these rhino are known more for their belligerence than for their ferocity. The conservation of these animals is a true success story. Once on the verge of extinction, the white rhino now flourishes in reserves and on game ranches throughout South Africa, Namibia and to a lesser extent Zimbabwe. The population is healthy, estimated at over 8500 and surplus animals may be hunted. Many game ranchers consider rhino an excellent long term investment allowing many years of breeding before hunting the older bull and replacing it with new blood. Currently there is a considerable drive amongst conservation minded hunters and ranchers to promote darting safaris which are less costly and are accepted for SCI Record Book entries. The animal is pursued on foot and the dart gun requires close range shots which makes for an exciting hunt.

CITES
The Southern White Rhino is allowed to be hunted as a trophy in South Africa and Namibia. Importation of these trophies into USA and Europe is allowed. Trophies hunted in South Africa only require a CITES export permit. Trophies hunted in Namibia require both import and export permits. SCI minimum score - 70"

Habits
White rhino are grazers preferring open bushy savannah with shaded trees and a constant supply of water. They are larger than the Black Rhino and tend to have a lighter colored skin. They are social animals usually living in small groups however older males become solitary and very sensitive, often developing cheeky habits of chasing vehicles and people. The two large horns on the elongated snout are composed of hair-like tubular outgrowths which are shaped and sharpened by the animal into the characteristic curved point.

The hunt
We have heard many people refer to their rhino hunt as "shooting at a barn". In many cases this is true as many surplus rhino each year are sold from game reserves to commercial ranches. These rhino are then hunted after a number of years and usually do not lose their placid nature. However, the rhino has incredibly acute hearing and smell and on ranches where regular hunting takes place, they become almost invisible despite their size. Many hunters are led to believe that their rhino hunt is simply a matter of pulling the trigger. When hunted on foot, and despite being on a game ranch, the rhino is one of the most elusive and frustrating of the Big Five to hunt.

The calibre
The minimum calibre for rhino is the 375 Magnum or any other calibre recommended for thick-skinned game and a well-placed shot behind the shoulder is all that is required. Usually shots are not over 50 yards. At death, the rhino lets out a bleating whistle, sounding very much like a small duiker in distress.

The trophy
Rhino are judged on the length of both horns and their base circumference, added to give a total score. Rhino usually hold their head low to the ground and broadside judgment of horn length is relatively simple, the indicator being the height of the front horn relative to the ears. When directly facing the animal, the horn should run above the ears as far as possible. A good bull will have a visibly impressive front horn starting from a wide base close to the front lip and curving up above his ears when the head is held up. Cows generally have longer thinner and straighter front horns and thin bases but it is not uncommon for bulls to have straight horns as well. You may find an outfitter offering a Gold or Silver Medal rhino to hunt and wonder about this assertion. It is likely that they know the horn length as it has been measured while the animal was under tranquilizers during veterinary inspections etc. However, remember that rhino do wear down their horns by sharpening and gouging against trees and digging in the soil so it would be a good idea to ask when the measurement was taken.

Where
Rhino can only be hunted in South Africa and Namibia and only the White Rhino can be shot. The Black Rhino can be darted but can never be killed. Recently a hybrid Black Rhino was offered for hunting with the necessary CITES export permits. The animal was apparently a hybrid which could not breed and would serve no further scientific purposes.

Leopard Hunting

African Leopard - Panthera Pardus
Elusive and dangerous are the first thoughts any hunter should have when leopard hunting. This is, pound for pound, the most dangerous animal in the world when wounded, drawing a deep respect from all who have hunted this magnificent creature.

CITES
Leopard are listed on Appendix I and require importation and export permits depending upon the country in which they are hunted. Most countries have an annual quota issued which they are not permitted to exceed. Leopard trophy import into the US also requires a US fish and wildlife permit over and above both the CITES permits. Accordingly only leopard from certain sub-Saharan countries are eligible for this permit and you should visit the FWS website for further information and permit applications. SCI minimum score - 14"

Habits
Leopard are usually solitary, holding and protecting a large territory which is roamed in its entirety on a regular basis. They are extremely shy animals with excellent senses and camouflage. The perception that leopard are few is testament to this fact. Males are larger bodied with a broader head and generally a darker, yellowish-orange tinge to their coats, especially along the top of their back. They are largely nocturnal and hunt a wide variety of prey from medium-sized antelope down to frogs and mice. They are extremely adaptive and are able to live in a variety of terrain, making them widespread throughout Africa. A couple of years ago a leopard was run over by a startled motorist in the early hours of the morning on a freeway near Pretoria in South Africa.

The hunt
Due to their secretive nature it would be very difficult to successfully hunt leopard on a 14 or 21 day safari without baiting or dogs. Baiting is the most popular method, lying in wait at dusk from a blind 30-50 yards away. If an area has been hunted before, the leopard are more alert, usually coming to the bait the last few minutes before complete darkness. A quality telescope with strong light gathering capabilities is necessary. Take note of how the leopard is sitting on the bait and listen to your PH's advice as to where to aim for. The older hunters believe "If you can hear the cat hit the ground, it has been shot well". There are a number of outfitters who offer leopard hunting with bloodhounds, where the leopard is either treed or hides in a cluster of rocks. In our opinion this is probably one of the least exciting and most demeaning ways to hunt this cat. It is a sorry sight to see this magnificent creature being shot out of a tree or cave, shying away from a crazed pack of hungry baying dog s. The real challenge is to pit your skill against that of the leopard, try to outwit him and get him to come to bait with enough light to afford a shot. It is ILLEGAL and UNETHICAL to hunt with the aid of a light. However, like the lion is it quite a common practice! Some countries (Zimbabwe) do permit it, even allowing radio listening devices to alert the PH that the cat is feeding, especially when the blind has to placed at quite a distance from the bait.

The calibre
Any medium calibre rifle such as 30.06 and upwards is adequate with the best shot being for the shoulder and vitals area.

The trophy
With leopard, trophy judgment is usually not that important apart from deciding whether it is a mature male or not. The best indicators are the body, head and neck size. Many inexperienced PHs have a tendency to shoot at any leopard, particularly in areas where they are sensitive and the first cats to the bait are usually females and young. This usually draws ridicule from the older PHs calling this a "handbag job": referring to a small leopard that can by picked up with one hand by all four paws, resembling a handbag.

Where
With its widespread distribution and adaptive nature, quality trophy leopard are hunted each year in many different countries. Zimbabwe is most consistent with a high success rate each year while Tanzania and Zambia also hold some good concessions. South Africa has a good many top quality leopard but due to the proliferation of stock farms, the animals are extremely sensitive and do not readily come to bait. In addition, permits are controlled by a CITIES and governmental allocation system each year. Unfortunately the intricacies of this system ensure many leopard tags or permits go unhunted each year.

Hippo Hunting

Hippopotamus - Hippopotamus amphibius One of the unmistakable animals of Africa, the portly hippo has been the subject of many jokes, tales and legends. The early explorers first called this strange looking mass of blubber the sea-cow and hunted them for a plentiful supply of meat and fat. A fully grown hippo bull can weigh in at 2 tonnes, move at a speed of up to 20 kilometers per hour and brandish scimitar shaped ivory canines over a meter and a half long! During an average night's feeding, they can eat over 100 kilogrammes of grass wandering over an area of 30 kilometers. The hippo is responsible for more human deaths each year than the crocodile. They are extremely territorial and will attack boats and canoes as well as people in their path. However, if their territory is respected they are no more than floating lumps of blubber.

Habits
Hippo spend most of their day submerged in water and sunning themselves on river banks. They occur in groups or pods up to 20, usually led by a matriarch with a herd bull always in attendance. Bulls will constantly have to defend their presence or be ousted by another willing male. Their fights are fierce and often fatal for the loser. Their thick skin does offer some protection however their teeth are razor sharp, easily piercing the 3 inch layer. Despite their size, hippo are a favorite food of lion and are sent scampering for the safety of water whenever lion are about. It appears lion are able to kill hippo by jumping onto the running animal's back and pulling its muzzle down beneath its feet, tripping it and causing its tremendous weight to break its own neck.

The hunt
To hunt a hippo is probably as challenging as beating a fly to death with a rolled up piece of newspaper. While some old bulls do get defensive and a bit cranky, 90% of hippo are shot while they are in the water from about 50 yards away. A bull is chosen and one simply walks up to the bank of the river or pond, takes aim, waits for the hippo to present a good head shot and bang, hunt over. The hippo will usually float to the surface within half an hour or will be visible in shallow water whereupon it is retrieved and hauled to the bank. This is often the most interesting part as local fishermen or the PH's own trackers wade into the crocodile-infested river to tie the rope around the hippo. Most hunters will shoot hippo, however, as it makes excellent lion bait and the decision is usually a matter of necessity rather than choice.

The calibre
The most common shot for obvious reasons is the brain shot. Directly between the eyes or between the eye and the ear are the best areas to aim for. Although the .375 magnum is the minimum legal requirement for shooting hippo, I have seen hunters use 7mm Magnums, 300 Magnums (even 30-06) with good quality solids.

Where
The best countries to hunt hippo are Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana. South Africa does have hippo on offer but they are expensive when compared with the countries to the north. The hunting of hippo is usually incidental to the hunting of another species such as lion or buffalo.