Eastern Cape Hunting

Mountain zebras in the Little Karoo region of the Eastern Cape province.

The Eastern Cape offers lush vegetation, undulating terrain and unique species unavailable elsewhere.

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The Eastern Cape province was once considered one of the richest wildlife areas in South Africa. Unrestricted hunting in colonial times, however, put quite a dent in the wildlife population of the era. Many animals were considered pests or a menace to the livelihood of farmers and human expansion. These animals were practically wiped out in many areas.

Through the efforts of national parks, game reserves and game concessions, the wilderness of the Eastern Cape has been relatively restored to its former glory. A wide variety of plains game species and dangerous game species are now available for trophy hunting in the Eastern Cape - even the tiny blue duiker, along with the unique opportunity to hunt the caracal with dogs.

Getting There

After arriving in Johannesburg, clients either overnight in Pretoria on the first night of their safari and fly to Port Elizabeth on the following morning, or fly to Port Elizabeth on the same day (if their flight arrives before 11:00 am). The regional flight has a duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes. A drive of about one and a half hours then brings clients to the hunting camp.

Best Times of Year

The Eastern Cape is a year-round hunting destination with the only exception being the mid-winter months of June and July, when it can become bitterly cold.

Activities for Non-Hunters

The Eastern Cape is home to a number of national parks and reserves, most notably the Addo Elephant National Park and the Camdeboo National Park, where non-hunters who do not wish to accompany the day's hunt can enjoy game drives accompanied by a local guide. The coastline boasts some fine beaches that can be visited for a day of relaxing by the sea.

Terrain & Vegetation

The terrain in the Eastern Cape ranges from very mountainous to vast plains and densely wooded coastal forest.

A map.

Cape Map

Eastern Cape Hunting Camps

The hunting packages listed below are the most popular amongst foreign hunters visiting South Africa. These fully inclusive packages offer both an exceptional African hunting experience as well as great value for money.

A hunting camp in the Eastern Cape.

View Camps

Trophy Animals available in the Eastern Cape

A black wildebeest hunted in the Free State province.

Black Wildebeest

Black wildebeest are also known as 'white-tailed Gnu' for their long, horse-like tails. They typically occur in open plains or bushveld and are endemic to southern Africa. Black wildebeest should typically be hunted with premium heavy for caliber bullets.

A blesbok hunted with a bow.

Blesbok - Common

Blesbok are endemic to the open plains of South Africa. Both male and female blesbok carry horns that average at around 38cm (15 inches). In weight, blesbok males and females typically differ between 8-10kg.

A white blesbok trophy.

Blesbok - White

White blesbok only deviate from the common blesbok in their resemblance. Their white appearance is but a color mutation, and they are regularly found sticking out among herds of common blesbok.

A hunter smiles with his blue duiker trophy.

Duiker - Blue

One of Africa's smallest species of antelope, the blue duiker's shy and secretive nature makes it a challenging hunt. Reaching only 30cm at shoulder height and weighing under 5kg, this mini antelope will prove difficult to find!

A proud hunter crouches down alongside his buffalo trophy.

Buffalo

Cape buffalo form part of Africa's formidable Big Five and are quite dangerous and unpredictable. Nicknamed the 'black death' and 'widow maker', buffalo will prove one of the most challenging trophies to hunt.

A huntress poses with her bontebok and professional hunter.

Bontebok

The bontebok is quite similar in appearance to a blesbok and the species are closely related. The bontebok, however, is more colorful, and contains more prominent white features on its stomach and hide.

A hunter with his blue wildebeest trophy.

Blue Wildebeest

Blue wildebeest are prevalent throughout Southern and East Africa. Nicknamed "the poor man's buffalo", blue wildebeest are typically larger than black wildebeest and enjoy grazing in savanna bushveld and short grass plains.

A bushbuck taken on a hunting safari in South Africa.

Bushbuck

The smallest of the spiral-horned antelope, bushbuck are medium-sized with a series of white spots along the lower half of their bodies. Male bushbuck average at 79cm at shoulder height and 42kg in weight.

A hunter presents his caracal trophy for a photograph.

Caracal

In the Eastern Cape, caracal are flushed out by dogs during a hunt. Africa's version of a lynx, the typically solitary caracal is often only encountered by chance and thus may require baiting.

A hunter shakes hands with his professional hunter alongside their reedbuck trophy.

Common Reedbuck

Also known as the southern reedbuck, the common reedbuck ram's horns average between 35 and 45cm (14-18 in). They reach 90cm at shoulder height. Reedbuck enjoy grazing in moist grasslands with tall grasses.

A hunter props up his grey duiker trophy for a photograph.

Duiker - Grey (Common)

Also known as the common duiker, grey duiker are small antelope. They can survive without water, as they receive sufficient moisture from browsing and eating fruit. Grey duiker may prove difficult to hunt as they camouflage well.

A Cape eland taken on safari in the Eastern Cape.

Eland (Cape)

The common eland is Southern and East Africa's largest antelope. Males typically weigh in at 700kg (1 545 lbs), but can reach around 940kg (2 070 lbs). Its spiral horns range between 51 and 69cm (20 - 27 in) in length.

Hunters smile proudly alongside a giraffe trophy.

Giraffe

Averaging a height of 5 - 6m (16 - 20 ft) tall, the world's tallest mammal can also be hunted in southern Africa. The giraffe's thick, tough skin will require the same bullet selection as you would use for an elephant.

A hunter sits behind his gemsbok trophy in the Free State.

Gemsbok

Gemsbok or giant oryx are known for surviving in harsh environments like the Kalahari Desert. They are coveted for their spectacular horns, which average at 85cm (33 in) in length.

A grey rhebuck taken on a hunting safari in the Eastern Cape.

Grey Rhebuck

The grey rhebuck was named for its likeness to the European roe deer. Characterized by their thick, grey, woolly fur, grey rhebuck are skilled jumpers. They can easily be hunted with your favorite deer rifle.

A hunter poses with his rifle and his impala trophy.

Impala

Impala are very common and hunted by most hunters that visit southern Africa. They are ideal for the first hunt. Additionally, impala meat can be used for camp meat or baiting leopard on a Big Five hunt.

A hunter presnts a jackal trophy for a photograph.

Jackal

Black-backed jackals are much like the coyotes of North America. Many farms encourage jackal hunting to keep their numbers down - they typically prey on small antelope, vulnerable livestock and also scavenge.

A hunter sits alongside his impressive kudu trophy.

Kudu

Greater kudu are coveted for their majestic spiral horns. Their horns reach an average of 120cm (47 in), with a record 187cm (74 in). Any length over 150cm (60 in) is considered an exceptional trophy.

A team of hunters present a lechwe trophy for a photo.

Lechwe - Red

Lechwe are typically found in wet, marshy areas in Southern Africa. Equipped with proportionally longer hind legs and a water-repellent substance that covers their legs, lechwe can move quite fast (and swim well) in water.

A mountain reedbuck hunted in South Africa's Eastern Cape.

Mountain Reedbuck

As his name implies, the mountain reedbuck is generally hunted in the more mountainous regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Expect to do quite a bit of climbing on a mountain reedbuck hunt!

A successful nyala hunt in South Africa.

Nyala

Known as "the kudu's fluffy cousin", the elusive Nyala offers a striking trophy for the dedicated hunter. Male nyalas are typically dark brown or slate grey in color with a series of white stripes down their sides.

A red hartebeest hunted in the Free State.

Red Hartebeest

Red hartebeest have been nicknamed the "Harley Davidson" of antelope species due to the curvature of their horns. Red Hartebeest prefer open plains and grassland savanna for grazing.

A ostrich is held up for a celebratory hunting photograph.

Ostrich

The large, flightless bird is popular for its downy feathers, delicious lean meat and fine leather hide. Ostriches can reach speeds of up to 70km/h (43mph). They are found throughout southern Africa in both bushveld and arid regions.

A black springbok trophy presented for a photograph with its hunter.

Springbok - Black

The black springbok only deviates from the common springbok in its coloring. As such, it will typically be spotted among larger herds of common springbok and will require the hunter to carefully single it out.

A hunter holds up his springbok trophy.

Springbok - Common

The springbok is South Africa's national animal. Its Afrikaans name literally translates to "jump buck", as these antelope are accomplished jumpers when threatened and "pronk" in a pogo-stick manner when excited.

A hunter presents a white springbok trophy for a photo.

Springbok - White

White springbok are not albino, but rather white morphs of the common springbok. Stark white with a slightly darker-hued side stripe, white springbok naturally occur in herds of common springbok.

A steenbok taken on a hunting safari in South Africa.

Steenbok

The steenbok is the largest antelope in the "Little Five" group. That being said, it is still a very small creature, reaching 52cm at shoulder height. Steenbok will lie low in the grass to avoid detection.

A hunter smiles with his tsessebe trophy.

Tsessebe

Tsessebe are notoriously fast antelope and can reach speeds of up to 80km/h (50mph) and over. However, tsessebe will often pause and look behind them when spooked, rather than run away completely.

A waterbuck hunted in near floodplains in South Africa.

Waterbuck

Waterbuck occur widely throughout sub-Saharan Africa. As their name implies, they are typically found near water sources such as river and dams. The males boast impressive v-shaped horns.

A warthog hunt in South Africa.

Warthog

Warthog are a popular plains game species that can be hunted on a hunting safari in southern Africa. Their sharp tusks can prove quite dangerous. Unlike other wild pigs, warthogs have adapted to grazing and savanna habits.

A successful Burchell's zebra hunt.

Zebra - Burchell's

Also known as plains zebra, Burchell's zebra is a popular plains game trophy. It is often difficult to determine sex at distance, so observing your target's behavior is important to ensure you are shooting a stallion rather than a mare.