Elephant hunting in South Africa

The world’s largest terrestrial mammal needs no introduction. These “Big 5” giants need mega space and plenty of food. They feed for up to 16 hours a day and consume as much as 600 lbs (270 kg) of food a day. Due to their habitat requirements the majority of Elephants found in South Africa occur on large territories, many of which have open boundaries with national and provincial parks making for a true free range hunt. As big as they are, they have excellent camouflage and can move surprising quickly and quietly. They have poor eyesight, good hearing and excellent sense of smell. Beware of cows with calves in the breeding herds as they can be exceptionally dangerous. The majority of Elephant hunts in South Africa have very specific prerequisites often specifying the age and/or tusk weights of the targeted animals. The majority of Elephants hunted in South Africa are taken in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Traditional walk and stalk Elephant hunts are conducted in selected private nature reserves adjoining the Kruger National Park. Apart from the very specific landowner hunting conditions, rules and regulations, a Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) permit needs to be arranged prior to the commencement of a hunt, the majority of which can be arranged by your Outfitter. Classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN, CITES permits will be required for this hunt. Hunting bans and closures often happen at short notice with these pachyderms, so ensure you keep yourself up to date with the ever changing regulations.