Lechwe hunting

Lechwe, a name that originates from an African language meaning “antelope”. The huntable species in the Lechwe group is divided into three subspecies by the SCI record book. The Kafue Lechwe is endemic to the Kafue floodplains in Zambia and the Black Lechwe, a native species found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and northern Botswana. Red Lechwe, the more common Lechwe in the group, occurs in Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa. This species has been very successfully introduced on some game farms in South Africa and now in Namibia. Namibia does have a free-range population in the Caprivi Strip. However, Zambia is without a doubt, the best place to hunt Lechwe.

Lechwe have elongated splayed hooves, an adaptation to the muddy environment they inhabit. They always feed near water and even go shoulder deep at times to feed on floating aquatic plants. So during a walk and stalk hunt, you need to scan the water’s edge. They are good swimmers and not afraid to take to the water to escape danger or an oncoming hunter. Often they are found way out in the open and can be tough to approach due to a lack of cover therefore expect to take a long shot.

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