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AFRICAN ANIMALS

ANIMALS OF AFRICA DESCRIPTIONS & SUMMARIES

African Lion:

Zimbabwe - April - November
Zambia - May - November
Tanzania - July - November
Mozambique - May - October
CAR - December - May.

Restrictions on hunting Lion vary from country to country. Tanzanian regulation states that no lion under the age of 6 can be hunted. Great Lion quality is distributed over very few areas in Africa today. If hunting lion, experienced consulting is necessary to take good quality lion. Baiting and tracking are the mostly used methods of hunting. CAR allows for hunting lion by calling, which is very result full method.

Leopard:

Widely distributed throughout Africa. Can be hunted all year, depending on country. However, genetically the bigger Toms are found in certain parts of each country, specially the highlands. Various methods are used, from baiting to tracking with dogs. There is a USA importation ban on Leopards taken North of the Equator.

Cheetah:

Although widely spread throughout Africa, only hunt-able in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Are not importable into the USA.

Serval:

Widely spread, however highest success rates come from Tanzania and CAR. Luck is required in spotting and getting a shot at this cat. Best method is by dragging intestines along a road, and then revisting the drag late evening, or very early morning.

Caracal:

Widely spread, however, South Africa has the best success rate, which majority are hunted by treeing them with dogs.

African Wild Cat:

Widely spread, but very rare to come across, and lots of luck is required to bag one.

African Civet:

Widely spread. Best hunting method is dragging intestines along a road, and revisit the drag late evening or early morning. Best chances are driving back to camp late evening or when leaving before day light and coming across one.

Spotted Hyena:

Widely spread throughout Africa. In certain areas, Hyenas can be extremely difficult to hunt and in others very simple. Baiting is the preferred method of hunting.

Brown Hyena:

Very Rare species.

African Elephant:

Found & hunted throughout Africa, however, large elephant bulls exceeding 60 lbs. are very limited to exclusive areas. Short thick Ivory found in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Long slender Ivory is found in Tanzania.

Black Rhino:

Hunted in South Africa only.

White Rhino:

Hunted in South Africa and Namibia only. White Rhino can either darted or hunted by rifle. However, the darting method has changed recently to adapt to the new regulations in place. SCI and DSC still recognize this as an acceptable hunting method.

Cape Buffalo:

Hunted throughout southern Africa. Good quality varies from area to area. Track and Stalk are still the best methods to hunt buffalo. Best time of the year is when grass has been burnt, and this time varies from country to country.

Nile Buffalo:

Found in Western Ethiopia and North Uganda. Best hunting time is February/March/April.

Central African Savannah Buffalo:

Endemic to CAR. Best time to hunt is January through April. Typically hunted by tracking. Success rate in good areas is high. Herds can reach up to 30-35 animals.

West African Savannah Buffalo:

North Cameroon, Benin, and Burkina Faso. January through April are the best months to hunt. However, later months like April can get very hot in these countries and make hunting conditions tough. Herds can reach 30-40 animals.

Dwarf Forest Buffalo:

Cameroon Forest, Congo Brazzaville, Southeast CAR. The most challenging of all buffalo to hunt. Hunting is done in dense forests with poor visibility. Dogs can be used, but can be very dangerous. Individual ones are the best ones to hunt.

Central African Giant Eland (Lord Derby):

Central Africa Republic(CAR) and Cameroon Savanna. Late December through Mid March. This hunt should be conducted while Eland bulls are in their rut, when they have a thick blanket of black and gold hair around their necks. Bulls in CAR are genetically better trophies. This hunt can be physically challenging as walking long distances in hot temperatures is required.

Cape Eland:

South Africa, Namibia, Botswana. Open all year. Most Cape Eland hunted are taken on ranches. However, they are some wilderness areas that can be hunted for this animal. This Eland is identified because it is the only one that does not have stripes.

Livingstone Eland:

Northern South Africa - all year
Zimbabwe - April - November
Mozambique - April - November
Zambia - June - November.

Generally hunted in later months like September, October, November, once the bulls join the herds. Livingstone Eland can also be hunted on conservancies and ranches in these countries above mentioned.

East African Eland (Patterson's):

Tanzania, Uganda. Generally hunted in Tanzania from beginning of the season, July to December. Certain areas are better for this species. March, April, May is the time to hunt them in Uganda, again, in selected areas.

Western Bongo:

Cameroon Forest, Congo Brazzaville. Best time to hunt is during the rainy season, which runs April – July. The method of hunting this Bongo is done by tracking with the pygmies and their dogs. Very very exciting. Size averages in the forest are around 29-30”.

Central African Bongo:

Central Africa Republic (CAR). Best time to hunt from January to May. Biggest of the 2 Bongo, both in body and horns. On average bulls are taken 30” +. However, the method of hunting is not as exciting as Western Bongo; as these hunts are done from sitting in a Maschan over a saline.

Southern Greater Kudu:

South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia. Easier hunted when bulls join the herds around September, October, November. However, lone bulls and small bull herds can be hunted any time. This is the most common of all the Kudu family. Are found in both ranch and wilderness areas.

Eastern Cape Greater Kudu:

Eastern region of South Africa. All year. Smaller of the 2 Kudu found in South Africa. Majority are hunted on Ranches. However, the occasional one can be hunted on open low fenced agricultural land.

East African Greater Kudu:

Tanzania. July - November Widely spread throughout Tanzania, but fairly rare, for a higher success rates selected areas must be chosen.

Abyssinian Greater Kudu:

Ethiopia. January - May, September - December.

Found in very remote places in Omo Valley and eastern Tanzania. Government quotas are very low and Tags are difficult to acquire.

Western Greater Kudu:

Central Africa Republic (CAR). Very very limited areas.

Mountain Nyala:

Ethiopia. Jan - May, September - December.

Endemic only to Ethiopian Highlands. Classified as one of the great spiral horns of Africa. Hunted up to heights of 12, 000 Ft. Patience and anticipation are a huge part of this hunt. Long distance shooting is required.

Common Nyala:

South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. This Nyala almost has no resemblance to its cousin, the Mt Nyala. South Africa most hunted on ranches, however in Mozambique and Zimbabwe it can be hunted in open range.

Zambezi Sitatunga:

Zambia. This Sitatunga is generally hunted over swamps. From a raised stand maschan. Bangweulu Swamps is the home for the Zambezi Sitatunga. However, other places bordering the Kafue region and North Zambia have substantial numbers and good quality also. Full moon should be avoided for higher success rate.

Forest Sitatunga:

Cameroon Forest - April - July
Central Africa Republic (CAR) - December - May
Congo Brazzaville - May - July.

Hunting methods vary from high stand Maschan sitting to tracking with pygmies and their dogs. Hunter must have low- medium expectations on bagging one of these trophies.

East African Sitatunga:

Western Tanzania - July - November
North Uganda - February - June.

Generally hunted from Maschans overlooking swamps. Success rates are generally high in good selected areas with experienced PHs. Full moon should be avoided for higher success rates.

Sesse Island Sitatunga:

Uganda (Lake Victoria, Sesse Islands)February - June.

The most recently opened to hunters. This is the smallest of all Sitaunga. Only found in the Sesse Islands, on Lake Victoria. Hunting method is from Maschan over swampy and wet land area.

Lesser Kudu:

North Tanzania (Massai Land) - July - November
Ethiopia (Omo Valley and Danikal Depression) - January - June, September - December.

Fairly common in these above mentioned areas and countries. Spot and Stalk, and walking riverbeds is the method used to hunt these species.

Harnessed Bushbuck:

Central Africa Republic (CAR) - December - April
Cameroon Savanna - December - May
Benin- December - April.

One of the smallest and prettiest of the bushbuck family. Fairly rare, however on a 13 day safari a 60% success rate is realistic. Hunting method is shoot at first sight.

Nile Bushbuck:

Uganda, January - May.

Very good numbers and high success rate should be expected. Spot and Stalk is the method used to hunt.

Abyssinian Bushbuck:

Ethiopia (Omo Valley and Danikal Depression). January – May, September – December.

Very limited tags, moderate success rate. Patience and persistence is required. Hunting methods include Early morning and late evening, walking ravines, or mid day encounters at selected water points.

Menelik Bushbuck:

Ethiopia Highlands. All Year.

Generally hunted while hunting Mt. Nyala. Even thought only found in Ethiopia highlands, they are fairly common and viewed in very good numbers. Sit and glass is used to hunt them, or slow walk through highland vegetation.

East African Bushbuck:

Tanzania, July - November.

Widely spread throughout Tanzania, however not guaranteed as selected areas have higher opportunities and success rates. Best quality come from Massai Land Highland. Shoot when sighted.

Chobe Bushbuck:

Zimbabwe, Zambia. April - November.

Can be hunted on open range concessions, conservancies, or ranches. High success rates should be expected.

Limpopo Bushbuck:

Northern South Africa. All year.

Fairly common in this region. Drive, spot, stalk, and walking ravines is the most successful and common method of hunting. Even hunting cultivated lands early morning and late evening has proved successful.

Cape Bushbuck:

Southeastern South Africa.

Spread out in good numbers. Hunting cultivated lands early morning and late evenings and even spot lighting certain areas are very successful methods of hunting.

Common Sable:

South Africa (Ranches), Namibia (Ranches), Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Western Tanzania.

Sable vary in trophy quality throughout Africa. Even though Southwest Zimbabwe produce excellent Sable, the Kafue region in Zambia yield the best in the world, averaging 43”+.

Roosevelt Sable:

Tanzania (Selous Game Reserve).

This particular sub-species is only found in this Southeastern region of Tanzania. Typically smaller than the common sable, in both body and horn size. In good selected concessions, success rates can reach up to 80%.

Western Roan:

Central Africa Republic (CAR), Cameroon Savannah, Benin. December - April.

Although both CAR and Cameroon have decent numbers, no place can beat Benin for hunting Western Roan. Benin is by far the Roan capital of the world, where you can see up to 5 shootable bulls a day. CAR and Cameroon you should be prepared to walk, sometimes distances further than Lord derby Eland.

East African Roan:

Western Tanzania, July - November.

Despite decent numbers, these roan can still be challenging to hunt. Time and focus is definitely needed for a successful hunt.

Southern Roan:

South Africa (Ranches), Namibia (Ranches), Zambia (GMA Concessions).

Roan hunted in ranches in South Africa is a very easy but expensive hunt. However, when hunted in GMA concessions in Zambia are not always successful and best opportunities must be taken.

Kalahari Gemsbok:

South Africa (Ranches), Botswana (Ranches and low fenced Farmland), Namibia (Ranches and low fenced Farmland).

Fairly common and basic hunting methods are used, spot and stalk.

Golden Gemsbok:

South Africa (Selected Ranches). Recently recognized by SCI.

Beisa Oryx:

Ethiopia (Danikal Depression).

Limited quota, however fairly easy to hunt. At times long shots are required over open windy landscapes.

Scimitar- Horned Oryx:

South Africa (Selected Ranches).

Fringe eared Oryx:

Tanzania (Massai Land). July - November.

However, better hunted later season like September, October. Not distributed in high numbers, however well-selected concessions will offer high success rates.

Common Waterbuck (Ringed):

South Africa, Namibia, Botswana (Ranches), Zimbabwe, Eastern Zambia, and Eastern Tanzania.

Fairly common throughout all areas. However, South Africa and Zimbabwe yield the best trophies.

Sing Sing Waterbuck:

Central Africa Republic (CAR), Cameroon Savanna, Benin. December – May.

Game department closed this waterbuck in 2012, but recently reopened quota. Selected areas have good numbers. Success rate should be high.

East African Defassa Waterbuck:

Western Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia.

Fairly common throughout Western Tanzania and Uganda, however Ethiopia has very limited quota.

Crawshay Defassa Waterbuck:

Western Zambian Concessions and Zambian Ranches.

Opened ranges are completely limited to Kafue region of Zambia. On Selected Zambian Concessions numbers are good and success rate is high. This waterbuck can also be hunted on selected ranches in Zambia.