Category Archives: Africa Plains Game

Impala Hunting in Africa

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Why go impala hunting? The reasons are hard to count—this is one of the most popular game animals in Africa. It’s often considered an excellent choice for opening up a first safari, and it’s a great bait animal as well, believed by many to be the leopard’s favorite food. The meat is excellent and a favorite post-hunt meal for many sportsmen and outfitters. Then there’s the matter of the trophy: the long, curving horns make for an excellent skull or shoulder mount, and its coat of many colors makes it very tempting to ship the entire animal home. The real question is why wouldn’t you want to go on an impala hunt?

The Quarry

Hunting Impala

Author’s son Cody with a nice Impala ram.

The impala can be found everywhere from South Africa and Botswana north to Kenya, as well as in Namibia and Angola, the home countries of the rare black-faced impala. They are one of the most common antelope on the continent with numbers ranging around two million, and virtually every African country represented by GSS offers opportunities for impala hunting.

The impala has a very distinctive multihued coat. The majority is reddish and gives it its Afrikaans name, rooibok (red buck). It suddenly becomes lighter along the flanks, then turns pure white on the belly and under parts. A black stripe down the center of the tail forms an M with two diagonal black stripes down either side of the rump, and white and black markings are present on the face, chin and legs. The black-faced impala is larger and has a distinctive black stripe running from its nose to its forehead.

Most impala stand about three feet tall at the shoulder. Males are significantly heavier than females and can weigh as much as 180 pounds.

Only males carry horns. Their multiple graceful curves form a lyre shape averaging about 20 inches. Anything at least an inch above average is trophy length, but if you find one with horns greater than 30 inches long during your impala hunt then you’ve got a real monster on your hands. Don’t miss!

The Hunt

The best time to go on your impala hunt is during the rut, when the strongest males (who often—but not always—make the best trophies) will be traveling with herds of females. Take note that this situation will call for more careful shooting, especially if you’re using a large-caliber rifle loaded with solids—the last thing you want to do is wound the females and young after your bullet passes through the ram. The impala’s tendency to group together tightly when frightened makes this even trickier.

The most commonly recommended rifles for impala hunting are those ranging from 6mm to .30 caliber. High lung shots are the best choice for bringing your target down quickly without spoiling the meat; heart shots are excellent if you are mostly interested in the trophy and want to be absolutely sure he doesn’t go anywhere.

Call Global Sporting Safaris today at 888-850-4868, Extension 701 and let us know what type of impala hunting experience you are looking for. We’ll send you information on opportunities that match your goals. Our experienced outfitters are second to none and we’re happy to share personal experiences with you.

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Cape Eland Hunting in South Africa’s Eastern Cape

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Eland Hunting

Cape Eland Hunting in South Africa’s Eastern Cape

Cape eland hunting is one of the best trophy opportunities available in South Africa. These giants of the bushveld and forest make for a difficult and rewarding main hunt or a thrilling target of opportunity. Anyone hunting in the Eastern Cape should take this enormous antelope into consideration.

The Quarry

The Cape eland ranges through much of South Africa and northward into Botswana and Namibia. Though they were once severely overhunted and disappeared in most regions of South Africa, re-introduction efforts have restored them to most of their former territory and the Eastern Cape is once again a top-notch eland hunting destination.

Cape eland have a tawny coat. Unlike other eland subspecies, they usually have no notable markings, with their white stripes disappearing as they get older. Only a few have white facial markings or dark patches on the back of their legs. Both sexes boast a short mane and a large dewlap; this dewlap has a fringe of long hairs which is more noticeable in bulls. Old males begin to develop a bluish coloration about the neck as they age, and many consider these to be the finest trophies, even when their horns are worn down.

On average, this eland stands about five and a half feet tall at the shoulder. Males usually weigh more than 1500 pounds while females are significantly lighter, averaging less than 1000 pounds.

Both sexes carry beautiful spiraling horns with curved tips which can point in variable directions—it’s not uncommon to see forward-curved or backward-curved horns. Females are known for occasionally carrying the longest horns, but those of males are thicker and heavier. Horns above thirty inches are considered quality trophy length, with horns in the 40 inch range being truly world class. Anything much longer than that may be a record-breaker! That said, you shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a target with smaller horns. Eland hunting is difficult, and any healthy bull makes for a very respectable trophy.

The Hunt

Eland hunting is never easy, and the Cape eland can be particularly tough. Unlike some of their more gregarious cousins, they don’t tend to associate in extremely large herds, and generally stick together in groups of about two dozen animals. However, they do share the never-look-back retreat habits of other eland, and will lead you on a merry chase that can last days if they’re alerted.

Another difficulty is their tendency to live in thick cover, and the hunter will often have to stalk them through forests or dense brush. Be prepared for both short-range and long-range shots if you’re engaging in an active hunt like this. Other hunters prefer to use stands or blinds, but this is an extremely unpredictable quarry and even the best placement might not yield an opportunity. Your outfitter will advise you on the best methods for your hunt.

Whichever method you use, one thing is certain: it’s the thrill of a lifetime when you get a bull in your sights. This is a true African hunting experience that nobody should pass up.

Call Global Sporting Safaris today at 888-850-4868, Extension 702 and let us know what type of Cape eland hunting experience you are looking for. We’ll send you information on opportunities that match your goals. Our experienced outfitters are second to none and we’re happy to share personal experiences with you.

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Giraffe Hunting in Namibia and South Africa

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If you have a taste for the exotic, then giraffe hunting might be just what the doctor ordered. These long-necked giants may well be Africa’s most unique and interesting trophy.

The Quarry

Giraffe Hunt

Giraffe Hunting in Namibia and South Africa

Giraffes can be found in pockets throughout Africa, with some found as far northwest as Niger and as far to the east as Ethiopia. There are several subspecies, and many of these are listed as endangered, largely due to severe poaching problems in certain countries; however, regulated giraffe hunting is still available for many other subspecies, and the species as a whole is listed as “least concern” by the IUCN. The Namibian and South African subspecies represented by GSS are two of the safest and most populous, totaling more than 30,000 animals combined.

Thanks to their long necks and legs, giraffes are the tallest animals walking the land today. They have distinctive coats that range from tawny to white and are marked with dark spots or patches. These patches form distinct patterns in each subspecies, and every individual’s coat is as unique as a human’s fingerprints. The long neck is topped with a short, stiff mane.

Bulls weigh in at an average of 3,500 pounds—nearly double the weight of the average female. They are also taller and can reach heights of 20 feet. Their height allows them to reach the high branches of acacia trees and, when combined with their extremely wide range of vision and excellent senses, makes them uniquely adapted to spotting their few predators from a long distance.

Both males and females have short horns; those of the female are tufted. These are generally not used to determine worthiness for a trophy—most hunters simply look for large bulls when they’re on a giraffe hunt. Old bulls that are past their breeding days are the best choice for conservation, but their coats may not be as attractive as those of younger individuals. Hunting the cows is not recommended as this species reproduces slowly.

The Hunt

Giraffes can either be very easy or very difficult to hunt. Since only a small percentage of sportsmen decide to go on a giraffe hunt, many of these animals will pay very little attention to approaching hunters. However, those who have learned to be wary can be a challenge: as mentioned above, they have very acute senses and a huge advantage over the hunter in height. Add to this the fact that you’ll usually be pursuing your quarry in plains or open forest and it’s not hard to see how difficult it can be to close the distance.

A fairly powerful gun and careful shot placement are crucial. Use a gun that’s larger than 9mm; .375-.40 are the most commonly recommended calibers. Placing a heart or lung shot can be difficult due to the animal’s strange anatomy, and the brain is an extremely small target. Study shot placement charts carefully before beginning your giraffe hunt, and always listen to your outfitters’ advice.

Call Global Sporting Safaris today at 888-850-4868, Extension 701 and let us know what type of giraffe hunting experience you are looking for. We’ll send you information on opportunities that match your goals. Our experienced outfitters are second to none and we’re happy to share personal experiences with you.

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