africa – Page 4 – BookYourHunt Blog

1001 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Hunt in Africa: Part 1

This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series 1001 Questions about Hunting in Africa

Many hunters are dreaming of a hunting adventure in Africa, but quite a few are reluctant to take the plunge, even though they can afford it. They suspect they don’t know enough about the continent and are concerned that their lack of knowledge will lead to disappointments. These concerns aren’t totally unfounded, and so we prepared a list of questions that you’ll probably want to have answered. Each question comes with an answer where we can give it, or with tips re: why you should ask it, what information to look for, and where to get it.

Some of your questions and concerns may sound dumb, others obvious, but do not feel shy to ask those questions.

Long-Distance Shooting: An African Professional Hunter’s Perspective

Africa / Hunting Tips and Techniques

It is very important to establish a hunter’s maximum ethical hunting range (the distance at which they can confidently hit the target) and take this experience to the field. Recognising your shooting ability and remaining within your bounds are the key ingredient to confident shooting whether it be short or long-range

Lions and Lion Lands. From “The Book of the Lion”, 1913, by Sir Alfred E. Pease

Africa / Hunting History / Hunting Stories

In my youth I believed myself so hemmed in by circumstances and duties that I thought I should never break through such barriers into the real world beyond. Conventionalities which then looked like a granite wall I have discovered to be a delusion. I have learnt that human beings do not always understand the language in which duty calls, and that by the use of a little force a hole can be made through the thorny zariba of circumstances by which the poor, impounded creature, whether peasant or potentate, may escape to taste of life.

Warthog and Warthog Hunting

Africa / Hunting Tips and Techniques / BookYourHunt

The warthog is one of the five most popular hunting trophies in Africa. Read about warthog distribution, hunting tips, conservation status, trophy records, &c

What on Earth is “Veld”?

Africa / Hunting Tips and Techniques

Veld, also spelt veldt, is a word from Afrikaans, the language of the Dutch colonists in South Africa. This word is used to describe a wide open grassland landscape.

Mountain Game of Leopard’s Valley. By James Reed

Hunting Stories / Africa

“I want to hunt in Africa, but I really don’t want to hunt game behind a fence.” This is a common statement I hear from hunters who are considering a trip to southern Africa for plains game. I used to feel the same way.

The Road Less Travelled. The challenge of hunting Cape Buffalo in Mozambique

Hunting Stories / Africa

By the end of my hunt I had done everything I said I would not: crawling two and three hundred yards at a time with legs that had been cut to shreds by razor grass, wading through chest-deep hippo channels, grabbing razor grass to keep from falling into rivers teeming with crocodiles, and lying flat on the ground with only the grass between me and a charging buffalo.

Impala Hunting in Southern and Eastern Africa

Africa / Hunting Tips and Techniques

Impala is often referred to as the McDonald’s of the African Bushveld, because it is the most commonly killed prey animal for every predator from large eagles and pythons to humans, and also due to a conspicuous black ‘M” shaped mark on their backside.

Africa’s Conservation Model Under Threat

Africa / Hunting is Conservation

The West needs to heed the voices of Africans calling for a sound understanding of Africa’s sustainable utilisation conservation policies and look beyond the emotional rhetoric before it is too late.

Hunters going into KwaZulu-Natal mountains on horseback

Horseback Hunting in the KwaZulu-Natal Mountains. By Willem du Plessis

Africa / Hunting Stories

The bull turned one more time and looked straight at me. It was now or never. I got my breathing under control, aimed the small copper bead dead on, and started squeezing the trigger. The 570 gr Barnes hit him like a ton of cement and he dropped instantly. I looked at my friend next to me and he confirmed the kill without saying much … A 140 m kill shot with my favourite rifle – that had just happened!

Leopard and Leopard Hunting in Africa. Part II: Hunting tips

Africa / BookYourHunt / Hunting Tips and Techniques

If there’s one thing that is for sure with Leopard hunts, it is there are no guarantees that you are even going to even see a Leopard even though your PH may try every trick in the book to get a suitable animal on bait. Leopard hunting is like chess, a mind game where you are always trying to out manoeuvre your opponent, in this case “Mr Spots”.

Leopard and Leopard Hunting in Africa. Part I: Threats, Habits, Where and When

Africa / Hunting Tips and Techniques

Leopards are listed as vulnerable and are a CITES 1 animal, so hunting quota offtakes are strictly allocated according to population numbers. South Africa has temporarily suspended Leopard hunting but does issue a limited quota from time to time. Hunters must always double check their country’s trophy import regulations as it differs around the world and printed information in this regard may be outdated.

Leopard hunting regulations also vary from country to country. Some allow hunting over bait at night while others only permit daylight hunting in the presence of a wildlife official. Different rules may apply as per the areas that may and may not be hunted with hounds if hunting with dogs is even permitted. Only fully mature males should be hunted and in many countries hunters will be fined for shooting a female and have their trophy confiscated.