Hunting in Africa - Africa Hunting Safari - Big Game Africa Hunts

Africa hunting in videos and pictures of bowhunting and rifle hunts of Elephants, African Lion, Cape Water Buffalo, Leopard, Kudu, Rhino, Puku, Zebra, Wildebeest, Warthog, Crocodile, Sable, Hippo, Roan, Cheetah, Cape Eland, Gemsbok, Oryx, Hartebeest, Springbok, Blesbok, Baboon, Impala, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, Steenbok, Sitatunga, Nyala, Bontebok and Jackal.

Hunting trips in Africa are expensive and can range from a few thousand dollar for a small animal hunt to as much as $100,000 US$ for an African Lion. Depending on the location in Africa, many of these hunts do support the conservation of animals by providing game warden staff and equipment to prevent poaching. Poaching posses a much greater danger to to population of big game than quota sport hunting.

The "Big 5" animals of Africa hunts are known as the Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cape Water Buffalo and Rhinoceros. We have some of the best pictures and videos found on the Internet of these "Big 5" and other popular species hunts in Africa.

The videos and pictures of killing or dead animal pictures are intended for hunters to view and should not be looked at if it offends you.

African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth and are slightly larger than their Asian cousins. Elephant hunting is allowed in African countries where their populations are stable, adequately protected and well managed.

Where do you shoot such a large animal? The heart shot behind the shoulder is the best at longer distances and the brain shot below the eyes at closer quarters. Recommended gun calibre include 375 H&H Mag, 458 Winchester Mag, 416 Remington, .470 N.E.

Expect to do lots of walking as it may take days to track down a trophy bull. In addition, it is not uncommon to be charged by a bull, however, most of them are mock charges.

Males lions can exceed 250 kg (550 lb) in weight, and is the second-largest living cat after the tiger. The males range in color from tawny brown, light gray or reddish brown. The mane of the male lion, unique among cats, is one of the most distinctive characteristics of the species making it look bigger than it is.

As mentioned earlier, the costs of a African Lion hunts can top $100,000 because of the shortage of good hunting areas. In most countries lion are hunted with baiting, with the hunter lying in ambush from a constructed blind about 30-50 yards off. The best shot to take is on the shoulder blades at the vital organs.Anything from a .300 Magnum upwards with a heavy grain soft-nosed bullet is more than enough to bring down a lion.

Leopards are one of the most difficult animals to hunt of the "big 5" as it usually takes lots of planning and the right techniques to have a successful hunt. Leopard are usually solitary, holding and protecting a large territory which may take 10 - 14 days to cover. They are extremely shy animals with excellent senses and camouflage. The status of the leopard still numerous and even thriving in marginal habitats.

The mature male can weigh between 110 and 180 pounds with some trophies reaching up to 200 pounds. Since leopards are difficult to successfully hunt, safaris are about 14-21 days and baits and/or dogs may be used. Baiting is the most common method, waiting quietly in a blind for hours on end within 50 yards of the bait.

Any medium calibre rifle from 30.06 and upwards is adequate with the best shot being for the shoulder and vitals area.

Cape water buffalo is also known as "Black Death" as these huge animals gores and kills several people in Africa each year. There are no other big game animal that is held in higher esteem as a worthy hunting adversary than the Cape water buffalo as they are very difficult to kill with one shot.

The bigger and older bulls are not usually in the herds are solitary or form small bachelor groups. Cape Buffalo are usually hunted by tracking and stalking. The minimum gun calibre is .375 Magnum with the .416s & .458s being a good compromise on price and power.The best shot placement for buffalo is to hit vital organs, hopefully breaking bone and the spine. If wounded, they can be extremely dangerous and it is no wonder why the Cape buffalo is extremely popular with hunters because it is so challenging and exciting.

There are 2 species of Rhinoceros to hunt in Africa, the White and Black Rhinoceros. Since the Black Rhinoceros is very rare, hunts are limited to a couple each year. Southern White Rhinos has a population of about 14,500, making them the most abundant subspecies of rhino in the world. The Southern White Rhino is allowed to be hunted as a trophy in South Africa and Namibia. Importation of these trophies into USA and Europe is allowed.

Darting of White Rhinos was a popular type of hunt, however they are outlawed in South Africa because many where darted several times in a year.

There are many other big and small game animals to hunt in Africa that can be as exciting as the "Big 5". If you are not from Africa, you may not have heard of half these species. We have included pictures of hunts of the following species. Kudu, Puku, Zebra, Wildebeest, Warthog, Crocodile, Sable, Hippo, Roan, Cheetah, Cape Eland, Gemsbok, Oryx, Hartebeest, Springbok, Blesbok, Baboon, Impala, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, Steenbok, Sitatunga, Nyala, Bontebok and Jackal.