South Africa stands as one of the world’s most iconic hunting destinations, offering a blend of rich history, diverse wildlife, modern infrastructure, and unmatched variety of game species and terrain. A comprehensive guide to recreational hunting in South Africa would fill several volumes; our blog alone has over twenty entries on the subject. This one brings them all together. It gives you the basic facts on hunting in South Africa, with links to more comprehensive information on the most essential aspects. 

Basic Facts about South Africa

• Capital City: Pretoria
• Official Language: 11 official languages
• Currency: Rand (ZAR)
• Size: 1,221,037 Km2

Hunting Heritage

South Africa’s hunting tradition traces back over 11,000 years to the indigenous San and Khoi hunter-gatherers. The colonial era saw a shift to firearms and safari-style sport hunting, with icons like Cornwallis Harris authoring early safari literature in the 1800s. Today, the professional hunting industry is highly regulated and contributes to conservation and local economies. Learn more.

The hunting industry is supported by several professional associations, most notably PHASA (Professional Hunters Association of South Africa) and CPHC-SA (Custodians of Professional Hunting & Conservation in SA). Click here for an overview of all relevant South African professional associations.

Game Ranches and Other Hunting Grounds of South Africa 

Aside from agricultural, urban, and industrial landscapes, there are four types of areas in South Africa that provide wilderness both for animals and for humans eager to enjoy it.

• National Parks (e.g., Kruger): No hunting allowed.
• Provincial Parks: Some allow regulated hunting.
• Private Nature Reserves: May support hunting to offset anti-poaching costs.
• Game Ranches: Over 5,000 registered ranchers manage lands covering 25% of South Africa. These high-fenced areas host the majority of hunting activity.

Development of game ranching in the 1970s has become a real game changer (no pun intended) for both conservation and the hunting industry. As landowners realized that hunting grounds could be more profitable than farming, especially in marginal areas, millions of acres were rewilded, while continuing to produce profit for their owners and local communities. In addition, game ranching has dramatically improved trophy quality and species availability. For example, average sable trophy sizes have grown from 36″ to 40″ (click for a more detailed overview).

Fenced Areas 

It is true that nearly all hunting in South Africa takes place in fenced areas, because under South African laws it’s nearly impossible to run a successful hunting operation any other way. Even most game reserves are fenced, to prevent the spread of disease, minimize damage to agriculture, and help fight poaching. A private land owner is only allowed to take meaningful action against poaching if the property is adequately enclosed. This also gives landowners more freedom. 

The up side is that there’s a wide spectrum of ‘fenced areas’. Many of them are actually bigger than a small European country, so you wouldn’t even know you’re hunting in a ‘fenced area’. Click on the links below to learn more about the evolution of game fences and the so-called “canned hunt” controversy. 

What Can You Hunt in South Africa

There’s hardly any place on the Earth where there would be more variety of game animals as in South Africa. At the time of writing, hunts offered on BookYourHunt.com covered as many as 129 species, including both iconic plains game like kudu, impala, blesbok and springbok and members of the “Big Five” such as Cape buffalo. In addition, South Africa offers impressive bird hunting, from dove and pigeon shoots that leave nothing to Argentina to classic pursuit over pointing dogs to waterfowl and exotics like guineafowl and frankolin (click to learn more).

This is solely an achievement of South African game ranching and game breeding industry. Not only did it help in conservation, ensuring a dramatic comeback, but it also added to the original variety. Game farms introduced such European and Asian species as fallow and axis deer, as well as animals from other parts of Africa like scimitar oryx. In many cases this practice helped create a gene pool reserve of endangered species, as well as an opportunity to harvest the most popular trophies in one location, but it also raises environmental and ethical concerns. 

If you’re looking for a genuine hunting experience, make sure that the habitat type where you want to hunt matches the environment where the species you want to hunt originally evolved – a nyala doesn’t belong on open semi-desert as much as a gemsbok is out of place in a mopane wood.

Geography of South Africa from a Hunter’s Point of View

South Africa spans a territory twice the size of France and features an extraordinary range of environments. From the Drakensberg Mountains to the arid yet surprisingly game-rich Kalahari Desert, the country’s landscapes are as diverse as the wildlife they support. The low scrubby coastal and mountainous landscapes known as Fynbos in Western Cape‘s Mediterranean-climate regions, the Albany Thickets, dense shrublands and low forests in the Eastern Cape with almost impenetrable vegetation, the Indigenous Forests along the coast and in mountain valleys, all present different challenges and demand different hunting techniques.

Elevation plays a crucial role in shaping vegetation zones and wildlife patterns—higher plateaus offer cooler temperatures and open vistas, while lower elevations support dense bush and tropical forest. Water availability is another vital factor Rivers like the Limpopo, Orange, and Vaal, along with seasonal pans and man-made waterholes, create lush riparian zones that concentrate wildlife and become natural focal points for hunters, particularly in dry months when water becomes scarce in the surrounding veld. Lake systems, such as Lake St Lucia in Zululand, also contribute to rich biodiversity.

Much of South Africa’s hunting terrain falls under the umbrella term “veld” (or “veldt”), which covers several distinct habitat types. The Highveld is a high-altitude, treeless grassland with cold winters, home to species like black wildebeest and springbuck. The Lowveld, by contrast, is a warmer, lower-lying woodland where kudu, nyala, and dangerous game thrive. Between the two lies the Bushveld, a richly vegetated transition zone offering incredible species diversity. Hunters will also encounter Thornveld, with its iconic acacia-dotted savannas; Sandveld, marked by dry, sandy soils and desert-adapted wildlife; and Hardeveld, a rugged, rocky terrain favored by elusive species like klipspringer.

Check out the following blogs to get a better idea about the Kalahari, Karoo, Zululand, the Limpopo and different types of veld.

Political Geography

South Africa is divided into nine provinces:

Eastern Cape: Diverse terrain and unique hunts like caracal with hounds and blue duiker with terriers (learn more).

Free State: Highveld plateau, known for upland game bird hunting and horseback mountain hunts (learn more).

Gauteng: The smallest and densest population of the South African provinces, but nevertheless offering decent hunting options (learn more).

KwaZulu-Natal: Between the Indian Ocean and the Drakensberg Mountains, with evergreen forests known for free-range nyala and reedbuck (learn more).

Limpopo: Heart of South Africa’s game ranching, excellent for plains and dangerous game (learn more).

Mpumalanga: Big game in the Lowveld, challenging Highveld hunts, and bird shooting (learn more).

North West A province with diverse topography, allowing hunters to pursue highveld and lowveld species in close proximity (learn more).

Northern Cape: Vast desert landscapes with gemsbok, springbuck, and color variants (learn more).

Western Cape: Best combined with tourism; offers springbuck, vaal rhebuck, and wine country experiences (learn more).

South Africa’s Hunting Laws

South Africa may produce an impression of “anything goes”, but in fact hunting is thoroughly regulated. The regulation occurs on provincial rather than federal level, and as far as international hunters are concerned, most red tape issues are handled by the outfitter. Key regulations worth mentioning are: 

• Foreign hunters must be guided by a licensed Professional Hunter (PH) (special accreditation required for dangerous game hunts). 
• Outfitters and PHs must be licensed in every province where they operate.
• Hunting licenses and permits must be prearranged before the client’s hunt commences.
• Certified game ranches may apply for an exemption to the province’s hunting regulations.
• Some provinces require the hunter to be at least 200 meters from a vehicle before pulling the trigger. 
• Hunting is generally allowed only at daytime, but exemptions can be granted for nocturnal species.
• On certified ranches, seasons and harvest quotas are set by landowners.

Click here for a detailed overview, or here for a comparison between South Africa and the US.

CITES and TOPS Permits

Most hunting permits in South Africa are the responsibility of outfitters. However, if you’re hunting a species that requires a CITES or TOPS (Threatened or Protected Species) permit, it’s advisable to double-check if they are pre-arranged well in advance of your hunt. Click here for more information on permits. 

Hunting Tips

The default hunting method in South Africa is spot-and-stalk. Spotting is often done from vehicles, which PHs and hunters use to cover more ground. Bowhunters usually wait in ground or elevated blinds set near waterholes. However, many other methods are possible and practiced – tracking, including with the help of indigenous hunter-gatherers, hunting with dogs, calling, night hunting, and more.

In the end, it comes down to your preferences and the specific animal you’re after. Below is the list of blogs that inform you about some of the most popular South African game species: 

• Blesbok 
• Bushpig 
• Cape Buffalo 
• Cape Eland 
• Crocodile
• Gemsbok 
• Giraffe 
• Impala 
• Kudu
• Nyala 
• Sable 
• Springbok 
• Suni 
• Warthog 
• Waterbuck 
• Wildebeest
• Zebra

Firearms and Bows for South Africa

The choice of a rifle or bow is a highly individual thing, but South Africa sets several requirements to what you can choose from.

Firearms

The minimum rifle caliber required by most provinces for plains game is .270 or 7 mm. For dangerous game and giraffe it starts with .375 caliber. Handguns are allowed for plains game hunting, but must be no smaller than .357. Click here to learn more. 

Archery

Bowhunting is permitted in South Africa, but minimum draw weights and kinetic energy requirements are in place, depending on game category. Click here for a list of categories and requirements. 

Other Gear

In most cases, hunting in South Africa does require serious investments in clothing or gear. A trusty binoculars and quality, worn-in boots are never out of place, though. Unless you’re a bowhunter, stay away from camo – shirts and pants in solid beige or khakiish colors are preferred. If your safari takes place anywhere from March to October, you may well run into near-zero temperatures in the morning or afternoon, so pick appropriate layers. Click here for a comprehensive African kit. 

Travel, Import, Export,  and Health

Most hunters will arrive in South Africa via direct flights to Johannesburg (OR Tambo) International Airport, taking a connecting flight to numerous airports around the country if necessary. Outfitters usually include land transfer from the nearest airport into the price of the hunt.

Visas and Entry

Citizens of most countries require a visa to enter South Africa, but some visas are issued on arrival, while others require pre-approval. Check what visas you need on the website of South African embassy in your country. Make sure your passport is valid for more than 30 days beyond intended stay, and has at least two empty pages.

Firearms Import

To take your rifle to South Africa, you need to obtain a temporary import permit. This requires proof of ownership and a letter of invitation from your outfitters. Click here to learn more. A bigger problem is that some airlines no longer allow firearms in the baggage, double-check this before booking your tickets. More and more hunters escape this hassle by using rental rifles provided by outfitters.

Health

Compared to some other African destinations, there are few health concerns about South Africa. Most of the country is malaria-free, and outfitters generally have a way to treat minor issues on the spot or get you to a hospital quickly. Getting extra travel insurance, e.g. from our partners at Ripcord, is never a bad idea though. Some vaccinations are recommended; click for more information.

Trophy Export

A comprehensive set of documentation is required to obtain a trophy export permit, including a copy of PH register, hunting permit, game ranch certification documents, as well as CITES and TOPS permit. Several of these documents need to be signed by the client (click here for a complete list). Shipment is best arranged through a licensed shipping company or taxidermist (click here for pros and cons of doing taxidermy in Africa). 

How Much Does it Cost? 

The price of a hunting safari may appear high, as compared to a DIY trip back home. But if you consider all the services involved, from lodging and catering to guiding by a licensed PH, it might suddenly strike you as a lot of value for your dollar or Euro (click for a breakdown of the price).

All in all, South Africa is perhaps the most affordable hunting destination on the Dark Continent. In fact, if you can afford a guided elk hunt in the American West, you can afford South Africa. All said and done, you can do a decent hunt under $10,000, and with careful planning and a little luck at around $5,000 (here’s how). And a historical comparison of the prices suggests that the ‘good old times’ might be right now (click here to learn more)! Don’t forget to factor in the tips – those are expected, and often total some 20% of the cost of the hunt (click here for whom and how much to tip). 

Still Have Questions? 

See if they haven’t been answered in one of the “1001 Questions about Hunting in Africa” series of posts. From what phone adaptor to use to US military discounts, they cover a broad specter of things hunters actually ask outfitters – or forget to. Click to start. 

Book Your South African Safari

Whether you’re a seasoned big-game hunter or planning your first international hunt, South Africa offers an unbeatable blend of accessibility, variety, and value.

Follow our blog for more tips on how to find your next adventure in Africa and beyond.

Planning Your First Hunt in Africa: Where to go?

If you’re planning your first hunt in Africa, you’ve probably got a thousand and one question. Where is the best place to hunt? When is the right time to go? What species are legal to hunt? How to find the best outfitter? What prices are reasonable? Etc., etc., etc. We at BookYourHunt.com know the pain all too well. This is why we asked Peter Ruddle, the BookYourHunt Africa Outfitter Relations Manager, to share some of the knowledge he’s accumulated during his nearly 40-years experience as a PH and an executive. This is the first of the series of posts that will walk you through the main options for the choice of your first – or next – African adventure. CONTINUE READING