South Africa

South Africa is THE most popular destination in Africa for hunting safaris – by a wide margin! This country combines a fantastic, well-managed wildlife resource with the best infrastructure on the continent – best roads, restaurants, resorts, parks and the broadest array of hunting options from simple ranch hunts to Big Five dangerous game safaris. It also offers a bewildering array of tourist activities for non-hunting observers and is an excellent choice for family vacations, as well as for serious hunters.

The South African Tourist Board’s motto: “ A World in One Country” aptly describes this fascinating place. Almost twice the size of the state of Texas, the Republic of South Africa is a large country with several distinctly different ecosystems, each with its own variety of species. In the west of the country the red sands of the Kalahari Desert sweep out of Botswana producing the largest oryx in Africa, the gemsbok, or giant oryx, and other species adapted to arid climate. The heart of the country, covering almost 50% of the land mass is the savannah grassland, interspersed with shrub veld and acacia woodland. This region is home to many species of plains game, although a large part has been tamed for agriculture. In the north the savannah gives way to heavy thornbush and dense riverine forest along the Limpopo river, separating South Africa from Zimbabwe. This is great game habitat, featuring huge greater kudu, Limpopo bushbuck, waterbuck, leopard, and many other species. In the east the majestic mountains of the Drakensberg rise above the coastal sand forest of Zululand and dense thickets which are home to one of the country’s most beautiful species – the nyala. Further north in the east The vast Kruger National Park, along the border with Mozambique, provides the reservoir of big game for the several private game reserves surrounding the park. Here excellent leopard, buffalo and rhino can be hunted, as well as elephant and occasionally lion.

In South Africa safaris are conducted throughout the country. These range from simple ranch hunts, similar to the type of hunting had in the U.S. for deer and elk in the western states, to exquisitely appointed tented camps, with first class service in Kwa-Zulu Natal and the wilder parts of the Mpumalanga where hunts for buffalo, leopard and large bags of plains game are conducted. Experienced professional hunters and highly-trained safari teams provide the greatest variety of safari options available in Africa today.

On game ranches there is no specific hunting season, but the period from April to October offers the best weather. The Northern Province and neighboring Mpumalanga are home to the world’s largest concentration of square-lipped (white) rhino, for which small hunting quotas are allowed. Elephant, buffalo and lion are also found here and superb trophy quality is available, albeit in very limited quantity. This area is also where the largest trophy kudu, impala and warthog in Southern Africa are found. Besides these “high demand” species, the area hosts huge populations of red hartebeest, gemsbok, blue wildebeest, eland and a limited number of roan antelope and sable. In the Eastern Cape, situated between Port Elizabeth and East London, along the eastern seaboard, lies a beautiful area hosting a collection of species unique to Africa, such as the blue duiker, mountain reedbuck and Vaal rhebok.

The Hunting Consortium Ltd. has the privilege of representing several of South Africa’s leading safari companies. We have owned a safari company in this beautiful land ourselves and are thoroughly familiar with the best hunting areas. We can tailor a safari to virtually any budget, taste or objective and couple the hunting trip with spectacular sightseeing or other vacation activities, if desired.

Accommodations can vary from quaint country lodges and well-appointed private ranches to traditional tented camps, which are very comfortable and serviced to cater to your every need. Laundry is done daily. As far as possible we will ensure exclusivity to camps and areas.

Deep sea fishing for big game fish in well equipped and professionally skippered boats can be arranged, as can cage-diving for great white sharks. Beautiful golden beaches and year-round sunshine make the Natal coast one of the most popular in the world. Trips to beautiful Cape Town and the nearby wine country are also popular.

Safaris can also be arranged to include a day or two of Bird Shooting. The season commences 1 April and closes 30 September annually. Waterfowl, dove, pigeon, Francolin grouse and guinea fowl are among the available species

Species List:

• Elephant
• Cape Buffalo
• Leopard
• Lion
• White Rhino
• Cape Bushbuck
• Limpopo Bushbuck
• Common Blesbok
• Damara Dik-Dik
• Blue Duiker
• Red Duiker
• Cape Eland
• Cape Grysbok
• Cape Kudu
• Cheetah
• Crocodile
• Livingstone’s Eland
• Livingstone’s Suni
• Gemsbok
• Giraffe
• Hippo
• Red (Cape) Hartebeest
• Southern African Impala
• Klipspringer
• Southern Greater Kudu
• Red Lechwe
• Common Reedbuck
• Mountain Reedbuck
• Black Wildebeest (White-Tailed Gnu)
• Blue Wildebeest (Black-Tailed Gnu)
• Nyala
• Southern Roan
• Southern Bush Duiker (Grey Duiker)
• Sable
• Cape Springbok
• White Springbok
• Steenbok
• Tsessebe
• Warthog
• Common Waterbuck
• Vaal Rhebok
• Burchell’s Zebra
• Baboon
• Jackal
• Bushpig
• Caracal Cat
• Ostrich