Hunting in South Africa’s bushveld region can be both a challenging and rewarding experience.

The bushveld is arguably the best and definitely the most popular of South Africa’s hunting areas. The area covers a large part of the northern and northwestern parts of South Africa, from about an hour north of the capital city of Pretoria to the South African border with the countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Hunting in the bushveld can be a very rewarding hunting experience. Trophy animals available range from your typical plains game prevalent throughout South Africa to dangerous game like the Big Five and hippopotamus. The tiny klipspringer is also available in the rocky koppies of this area.

GETTING THERE

The camps we utilize in the bushveld region are a drive of between one and a half and four hours from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. If your flight arrives before 11:00 am, we will make our way directly to the hunting camp. If, however, the arrival is later in the day, a connecting night will be spent in Pretoria.

BEST TIMES OF YEAR

The bushveld region is best hunted during the autumn, winter and early spring months from the middle of April to the middle of September. Whilst hunting the region in the summer months is possible and we frequently do hunt in the bushveld during these months, it should be mentioned that it can be extremely hot, and that the region experiences late afternoon thundershowers during this period. The Free State would be a better choice around this time.

ACTIVITIES FOR NON-HUNTERS

Depending on the specific hunting camp, day trips can be made to Sun City, the Cullinan Diamond Mine, the Lesedi Cultural Village as well as to the cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg and the attractions that they offer. Non-hunters can also enjoy open 4X4 game drives in either the Dinokeng, Marakele or Welgevonden game reserves. There is an extra cost involved in activities that are not part of the hunting safari.

TERRAIN & VEGETATION

For the most part, the region consists of undulating terrain characterized by varying degrees of wooded savanna. The region is very picturesque and, in the author’s opinion, the finest of the hunting areas of South Africa.