MAP AND INFORMATION
INFORMATION
Hunting Species
South Africa offers the opportunity to hunt anything from birds to elephant. It
is the only country where you can still hunt all the "Big Five", i.e.
elephant, rhino (white), buffalo, lion and leopard. It offers some of the
continent's finest hunting for a wide variety of other species, in trophy
quality and quantity of game. Animals that offer exceptionally good hunting
opportunities include Greater Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, Nyala, Cape Eland, Southern
Impala, Common Waterbuck, Kalahari Springbok, Klipspringer, etc. It is home to
twenty-nine antelope species, more than any other country in Africa. And of
these, twenty-six species are huntable and seven found only in South Africa.
South Africa is the only place that offers the "Mini Five" - five
small antelope from the following group: Grey Duiker, Red Duiker, Blue Duiker,
Suni, Oribi, and Cape Grysbok.
South Africa offers wonderful bird shooting opportunities as well. There is a great variety available to the bird shooter, including fourteen huntable species of duck, two kind of geese, ten types of pheasant, plus guinea fowl, pigeons, doves and quail.
Hunting Grounds
South Africa has vast hunting grounds which offer hunters excellent hunting and
game viewing opportunities. Hunting is available on both privately owned game
ranches, as well as on controlled hunting areas on state land. The majority of
hunting however does take place on the privately owned game ranches. These vary
in size from approximately 1,666 ha. to 62,500 ha.
Hunting Season
Hunting in South Africa can be carried on productively year-round, depending on
the area and rainy season. The prime hunting months however are April through
October/Winter.
Hunting Laws
Hunting ordinances, regulations, seasons, etc. are controlled and promulgated by
the nature conservation authorities in the various provinces. Regulations
stipulate which species can be hunted, when, where, and by whom.
The provinces also maintain official control of the trophy hunting industry in South Africa. Prospective foreign clients must make their arrangements through a licensed Hunting Outfitter and be guided on the hunt by a licensed Professional Hunter. Professional Hunters/Outfitters must hold licenses for each province where they operate. Hunting is regulated on a provincial basis.
Legislation to control professional hunting outfits and operators in South Africa was introduced in 1981, at the instigation of the professional hunting industry. The object of the legislation is to provide protection to South Africa's wildlife resource, as well as to the foreign hunter, by setting standards that are obligatory before a hunting outfitter or professional hunter can be licensed, as well as maintenance of these standards once a license has been granted.
The legal requirements to be met before a hunting outfitter or professional hunter can obtain a license are:
Obligatory attendance by the candidate on a course at a Professional Hunting School, which is registered with and approved by the provincial nature conservation departments, and administered by qualified professional hunting instructors.
The course covers a wide range of subjects including bush knowledge and animal behavior, identification of spoor, tracking ability, ethics, assessment of horn lengths, firearms, ballistics, shooting and hunting ability, skinning, preparation and care of trophies, first aid, provincial ordinance, etc.
On successful completion of the course, the candidate is required to pass written examinations set by the provincial conservation departments, on all subjects covered in the course, and another requiring a comprehensive knowledge of the laws pertaining to hunting in each province. Having passed the course and the written examinations, the candidate is issued with a license to operate.
A candidate wishing to operate as a hunting outfitter, besides passing these examinations, must also have the facilities inspected which he offers to clients. Hunting camps, trophy preparation facilities, vehicles and staff are required to conform to set standards. Publicity material must be submitted to the nature conservation officials before distribution as a safeguard against misleading advertising. Regular follow-up inspections are carried out.
Further protection is provided by the legal requirement that, prior to the hunt, the outfitter and his client must enter into a written agreement with regard to species and sex of game offered, fees for trophies and services provided, duration of hunt and daily rates.
MAPS
South Africa
Thabazimbi
THE RANCH
The ranch is situated some 3 hours drive from the Johannesburg International Airport.