Hunting Category
Unforgettable Dangerous Game Hunting Safari Packages
If the terms tusker or man-eater conjure up images of an exciting and potentially dangerous adventure, African Hunts & Safaris is the outfitter to contact.
One of the world’s most enduring great adventures is dangerous game hunting in Africa. Hunting an animal that can turn the tables on you and make you the hunted is the ultimate thrill for those who seek the ultimate challenge in hunting.
African dangerous game hunts provide the most difficult hunting challenges available in the modern world. Hundreds of big game hunting safaris are conducted in Africa each year, despite the danger. One erroneous shot can endanger the lives of the entire hunting party.
The Big 5, as well as hippo and crocodile, are among the dangerous game included in dangerous game hunting in South Africa and as dangerous game experts, we will provide you with the highest quality animals.
Your African hunting safari can provide memories for a lifetime, especially if the quota includes dangerous game.
For such a hunt, preparation is critical; the right rifle, in the right caliber, with the right bullet, can mean the difference between a successful hunt and an expensive stroll through the bushveld. It can also mean the difference between life and death.
In this regard, the advice of your Professional Hunter is priceless. Practice enough beforehand to get familiar and proficient with your chosen weapon.
The location of your dangerous game hunt will be determined by the species of your interest. It is also necessary to book your dangerous game hunt with us well in advance, as we need time to obtain the necessary permits from the appropriate authorities.
What Is Dangerous Game Hunting ?
Dangerous game hunting is the hunting of seven primary species, the Big 5 plus the hippo and crocodile. While each animal presents unique challenges, the Big 5, which include the Cape Buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhinoceros, are the most sought-after hunting trophies by modern African big game hunters.
South Africa allows discerning hunters to hunt Dangerous Game legally and sustainably.
Taking the Big 5 is considered the pinnacle of big game hunting and is a significant achievement in one’s hunting career. After experiencing the challenge and thrill of dangerous game hunts in Africa, many hunters never return to plains game hunting.
Most people start their big game hunting with a Cape buffalo hunt. Cape buffalo are usually the least expensive of the big game animals. Hunting Cape buffalo can become addictive, and many hunters return year after year for dangerous game hunts in Africa to experience the thrill of stalking Cape buffalo.
Dangerous game hunts in Africa for lion, elephant, and rhino are relatively expensive and frequently necessitate a journey to a remote location. Because all three of these animals face multiple threats, permits are limited and strictly enforced by government regulations and international treaties.
Dangerous game hunting with African Hunts & Safaris is about more than just taking down one of the Big 5… it is about embarking on a journey into uncharted territory, a journey filled with new treasures and adventure!
All our dangerous game safaris are exciting and challenging hunts that provide a once-in-a-lifetime thrill.
We put in our best efforts to hunt only mature male animals on an ethical and fair chase basis.
Dangerous Game Hunting Gear
Choosing the best dangerous game hunting gear for a safari hunt is one of the most contentious aspects of dangerous game hunting in Africa.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as “best” caliber. Fortunately, there are several excellent calibers available that perform admirably when used properly. South African Laws require a minimum caliber of .375 or higher for Big 5.
How to Select the Best Caliber for an African Safari Hunt
To select the best caliber rifle for a successful and ethical hunt, the rifle caliber must have both power and accuracy. However, as power increases, the felt recoil and muzzle blast typically increase in proportion.
This usually reduces the accuracy a shooter can reasonably expect, especially when using a light rifle that is comfortable to carry on a long hunt. A rifle with more than enough power to take down even the largest bull elephant is useless if the hunter is afraid of it and can’t shoot it accurately.
As a result, you must make a power compromise and select a caliber that is powerful enough to ethically take the species you will be hunting while remaining accurate.
After all, a well-placed shot from a smaller caliber is usually far more effective than 2-3 (or more) poorly placed shots from a larger caliber.
Dangerous game hunting in South Africa has become more of a single or dual-purpose endeavor, requiring a different approach to selecting the appropriate firearms depending on which of these dangerous game species is targeted.
When in doubt, contact us at African Hunts & Safaris for advice. We have observed the performance of hundreds of hunters shooting various calibers under typical conditions for the area you will be hunting in and will be able to advise you accordingly.
South African Legislation Regarding Dangerous Game Hunting
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South Africa is one of many countries that practice sustainable elephant, black rhino, and leopard hunting.
This is consistent with the best available scientific information on their conservation status, and it ensures that hunting of these animals has no negative impact on their wild populations.
Regulated and sustainable hunting is an important conservation tool in South Africa because it incentivizes the private sector and communities to conserve valuable wildlife species and participate in wildlife-based land uses, thereby contributing to the country’s biodiversity conservation.
The income generated from trophy hunting is especially critical for marginalised and impoverished rural communities.
The quotas as from 2022, as confirmed by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Ms Barbara Creecy, are the following:
Leopard hunt quotas are restricted to 10 animals.
Hunts will only be allowed in areas where leopard populations are stable or increasing. Only male leopards of seven years or older may be hunted.
Interested in a hunt? Contact us to arrange the perfect experience
Only 10 black rhinos may be hunted.
Only adult male black rhinos may be hunted, only on conservation management grounds in accordance with a set of strict criteria to ensure that demographic and/or genetic conservation is enhanced.
The quota for elephants is restricted to 150.
According to the minister, this quota is well within sustainable limits, since the national elephant herd shows an increasing trend.
The quotas are published in a Notice in accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulations and in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA).
Species-Specific Guidelines
Depending on the species you will hunt, heed the following species-specific guidelines:
Elephant
To hunt an elephant, the legal minimum caliber is .375, but you should use the heaviest caliber that you can shoot comfortably. Calibers of .450 and higher are advised and only solid bullets should be used.
Rhino
For rhino hunting, again, .375 is the recommended minimum caliber but larger calibers, such as .416 or .450, are preferable because the rhino’s skin is extremely thick. Only high-quality solid bullets should be used.
Lion
The minimum caliber for lion hunting should be .338, but many countries have laws that require .375 calibers. A .375 or .416 caliber is a good choice for hunting the king of the jungle.
The bullet of choice for lion hunting is a high-quality soft-point bullet that expands quickly. A wounded lion’s follow-up is a different story. Calibers larger than .400 are recommended, and your PH might have an express-sighted heavy caliber double barrel as his backup weapon.
Leopard
Once again, .375 is the legal minimum caliber for leopard hunting in several African countries. The recommended caliber is .375 or .416. When it comes to bullet selection, some hunters advocate using a light and delicate bullet to quickly dissipate energy into the leopard and dispatch him via hydrostatic shock. Others believe that a solid should be used to minimize the harm done to the leopard’s beautiful but short-haired skin.
The Cape Buffalo
The .375 H&H is the smallest caliber permitted for buffalo hunting although a .416 or larger is a better choice.
The debate around proper caliber and double vs. bolt will continue but can be certain that, when the “black death” erupts from a nearby bush and heads your way, you’ll want to be ready with the largest caliber you can comfortably shoot.
Interested in a hunt? Contact us to arrange the perfect experience
Other Equipment
Bringing the proper equipment can go a long way toward ensuring a successful hunt. Continue reading to find out what other items are recommended for an African hunting safari.
We highly recommend that our guests makes use of a reputable company who can assist them with this process to simplify arrival experience in South Africa. (link to info@hunterspermitsafrica.co.za email address)
- Passport
- Copy of SAPS 520 form and pre-approved firearms permit where applicable
- CBP Form 4457 or Weapons License where applicable
- Medical Evacuation Insurance (recommended)
- Letter of Invitation
- Original birth certificate and signed parental consent affidavit for all minors in your party
- 40-60 Rounds of Ammunition Per Rifle
- Gun cleaning kit
- Suitable clothes and proper footwear – it should fit you well, be broken in, and be comfortable enough to wear for walking several miles a day.
- Binoculars – high-quality 8×42 or 10×42 binoculars are recommended
Dangerous Game Shot Placement Advice
Shot placement is extremely important when hunting any dangerous animal.
If you have the time, allow the animal to turn and offer a broadside shot. Broadside indicates that the animal is perpendicular to you, facing left or right, and not looking at or away from you. A broadside shot placed behind the shoulder crease will result in the bullet passing through both lungs.
A Cape Buffalo usually being the first type of dangerous animal in a hunter’s sights, the following are good first guidelines:
The animal is extremely tough and can be very dangerous when wounded, so your shots must be placed with care.
The traditional shoulder shot is almost always the best shot placement. Simply aim at the center of the buffalo’s shoulder, about one-third of the way up the body, when it is standing broadside.
A shot fired in the indicated location will strike the lungs and the top of the heart and even a tough animal like a buffalo will not survive such a blow.
When hunting Cape Buffalo, quartering shots can be difficult. Aim slightly forward of the shoulder if the buffalo is quartering towards you.
Be extremely cautious with quartering away shots. The liver of a buffalo is located on the right side of the body. As a result, an initial shot on a quartering-away buffalo should be taken only if the buffalo’s right side is facing the hunter. Aim slightly behind the shoulder in this case.
Quartering shots on the left side should not be attempted. There is too much risk of the bullet striking the stomach and failing to penetrate further, which is exactly what you don’t want. A frontal chest shot will only be taken when there is no other option, this shot is not recommended with a .375 caliber
Why Choose Us as Your Dangerous Game Hunting Outfitter
Dangerous Game Hunting Gear
You can choose African Hunting & Safaris with confidence since we offer memorable African dangerous game hunting experiences with remarkable personal service.
We facilitate your hunt and make sure that you experience the wealth of hospitality, scenery, and diversity of our beloved South Africa.
We are passionate about ethical and sustainable hunting.
Add to that a love for the African bush and adventure, the utmost respect for wildlife and the environment, a strong commitment to conservation, and outstanding trophy quality, and you know you will be in good hands.
We conduct ethical fair chase hunts in prime wildlife areas where game is free to escape hunters for an optimal hunting experience and a well-deserved trophy.
We offer exclusive, high-quality hunting experiences with bespoke dangerous game hunting packages tailored to include your trophy wish list. Our professional hunters have adequate experience in both dangerous game and plains game hunting and every staff member is committed to your memorable African hunting safari.
Our trophy hunting package rates include all costs associated with the hunt such as professional hunter, trackers, drivers, and skinner services, hunting licenses and permits, care of trophies and delivery to taxidermy, transfers from the closest airport, high-quality accommodation in hunting lodges, meals and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as a daily laundry service.
Package rates exclude your airline ticket, taxidermy, and shipment of trophies.
Frequently Asked Questions:
A dangerous game trophy hunting package can cost anything from $ 11 500 and up.
The Big 5, which include the Cape Buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhinoceros, are considered dangerous game, as well as the hippo and crocodile.
The consensus is that the best time to hunt in South Africa is in the winter months from May to August since the heat and rain of summer render the bush lush and thick, which are less than ideal conditions for a hunting safari.