Serval hunting

39 hunting trips from 18 outfitters starting from $2,140

hunting trips

$2,140

starting from

outfitters

Where to hunt Serval

Serval is a mid-sized feline, and weighs about 9 to 18 kilograms. It’s similar in body shape to domestic cat and leopard, but has relatively small head and large ears, and very long legs. It may stand up to 60 sm. at the shoulder, and leap up to 2 meters into the air, or up to 3.5 meters in length. You will hardly meet a Serval in a desert, nor in an equatorial rainforest. It loves reeds and grasslands with abundant water, where its long legs help it carry the body above water level. Serval prefers savannah, but will be found in other habitats, too, if the two conditions – water and cover – are met. Hunting opportunities for Serval exist in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

South Africa 26 hunts

Tanzania 7 hunts

Zimbabwe 4 hunts

All countries (4)

Price distribution

The most affordable Serval hunts are to be found in Zimbabwe, where the trophy fee can be as low as $500, and seldom is more than $1,000. In South Africa the average price of a Serval is $1,500. Special night hunting packages, that provide the best chance to harvest a Serval, along with other night dwellers such as Caracal, are priced from $4,000.

$26,250

$52,500

$78,750

$105,000

Learn more from our blog story

Felines are perhaps the most successful predators among mammals. More species of felines exist than of canines. When most hunters think about hunting cats, they think either about big cats, like Lion, Leopard and Cougar, or the more familiar species like Bobcat or Lynx. But there are a number of small felines that call Africa home, too. Read about what they are and how to hunt them.

Feb 28, 2019

Small Felines. Part II: Africa

When to hunt Serval?

There isn’t a magic period when Serval hunting is better than at other times. The small feline is usually hunted in the course of a general ‘plains game’ hunt. Opportunities for such hunts exist all year in South Africa; in Zimbabwe hunting is open year round as well, but the months through November to March are usually too hot and wet for a successful hunt.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Hunting methods

While felines are usually nocturnal, Serval is most active during twilight, and may hunt at day as well as at night. Spot-and-stalk or still-hunting at a place where a good male is known to hunt can work well. Baiting is not a highly successful strategy, because the Serval prefers to hunt and kill its own food, but calling (especially at night, where legal) is perhaps the best option for Serval hunting. You will probably need to spend at least three days before you can set your sights on the cat, but overall the Serval could be the easiest of African small felines to hunt deliberately.

Stalking 38 hunts

Rifle Hunting 38 hunts

Bow Hunting 27 hunts

All methods (11)

Why hunt Serval?

Africans pursue Serval for its beautiful fur (that can be passed for a leopard), and as retaliatory killing (servals are notorious poultry thieves). Poaching, along with habitat loss, is the greatest conservation threats for these felines. They fight illegal harvest in all forms, protect wilderness from logging and conversion into farms and pastures, but most importantly, they give value to wildlife for the locals. When jobs created by a hunting concession and tips from a successful hunter are worth much more than a couple of chicken a Serval might steal, it is a good incentive not to poach them.In addition to the conservation aspect, Serval a very challenging hunting quarry. And what’s challenging is interesting.

7 Day "Night Critter" Safari

9.2

3 reviews

Zimbabwe

Serval, African wild cat, Civet cat, Porcupine, Side-striped jackal, Spotted hyena

Baiting, Calling, Hunting From a Blind

Season: Jan 1, 24 - Dec 31, 25

Package price

$10,000

$14,200

for 9 days, 1 hunter

South African Plains Game Safari 1x1

10.0

1 review

Limpopo, South Africa

Serval, African wild cat, Baboon, Black springbok, Black wildebeest, Black-backed jackal, Blue wildebeest, Burchells zebra, Bushbuck, Bushpig, Caracal, Civet cat, Common blesbuck, Common duiker, Common reedbuck, Common springbok, Copper springbok, Eland, Gemsbuck, Genet cat, Giraffe, Grysbuck, Impala, Kalahari springbok, Klipspringer, Mountain reedbuck, Nyala, Ostrich, Red duiker, Red hartebeest, Red lechwe, Roan, Sable, Southern greater kudu, Spotted hyena, Steenbok, Tsessebe, Warthog, Waterbuck, White blesbuck, White springbok

Bow Hunting, Rifle Hunting, Stalking

Season: Jan 1, 25 - Dec 31, 25

Daily rate fee

$2,125

for 5 days, 1 hunter

Plains Game Safari 1x1

9.7

6 reviews

Limpopo, South Africa

Serval, African wild cat, Baboon, Black springbok, Black wildebeest, Black-backed jackal, Blue wildebeest, Brown hyena, Burchells zebra, Bushpig, Cape buffalo, Cape mountain zebra, Caracal, Civet cat, Common blesbuck, Common duiker, Common springbok, Copper springbok, Crocodile, Eland, Gemsbuck, Genet cat, Giraffe, Grey rhebuck, Hippo, Honey badger, Impala, Klipspringer, Kudu, Limpopo bushbuck, Nyala, Ostrich, Porcupine, Red hartebeest, Red lechwe, Roan, Sable, Spotted hyena, Steenbok, Tsessebe, Vervet monkey, Warthog, Waterbuck, White blesbuck, White springbok

Bow Hunting, Hunting From a Blind, Rifle Hunting, Stalking

Season: Mar 1, 25 - Nov 30, 25

Daily rate fee

$1,200

for 3 days, 1 hunter

View 39 hunts