The Nile crocodile is one of Africa’s most unusual trophies. While the croc appears to be lazy and lethargic as he basks on the riverbank, do not be fooled; he is a shy, wary, and extremely cautious creature. The trophy crocodile may reach a length of about 15 feet and may be as old as 75 to 100 years of age.

About the Hunt

They are extremely difficult to approach on foot to within a reasonable shooting distance. This ‘big lizard’ is extremely hard to kill quickly and cleanly. Hunting the trophy crocodile can be an exciting and rewarding experience. With a bit of planning, one can stack the odds in your favour.

Habitat

These large, predatory reptiles are found in almost all of the large rivers of Africa and can be extremely dangerous to those who venture near the riverbanks.

Physical Description

Weight – 1760 pounds

Length – 165 inches

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The African elephant is the world’s largest land mammal. He stands more than eleven feet at the shoulder and can weigh in at over seven tons. His dark grey skin provides excellent camouflage in the dense brush of the bushveld.

About the Hunt

He moves through the bush with amazing speed for his size and can be extremely quiet. While his eyesight is relatively poor, his hearing is very good and his sense of smell is without equal. You hunt this animal with your legs; the stalk can be quite long and cover many miles.

Habitat

They are found most often in savannas, grasslands, and forests, but they occupy a wide range of habitats, including deserts, swamps, and highlands in tropical and subtropical regions.

Physical Description

Shoulder Height – 120 inches

Weight – 12,000 pounds

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Hippos are among the most dangerous game animals that can be hunted in South Africa. Hippos are gregarious and are found in family groups of between 5 and 20 animals.

About the Hunt

The hippo can be hunted both in the water and on land. When hunted in the water, once shot, the hippo will sink beneath the water, but float back to the surface within about one to two hours. The hippo can also be hunted on land, although they can become frightfully aggressive, and you have to be ready for a charge.

Habitat

The hippo can be found in many of the rivers and pans of South Africa. Their sun-sensitive skin keeps them in the water nearly all day, and is usually only found away from the water during their nocturnal grazing sessions.

Physical Description

Shoulder Height – 59 inches

Weight – 2800 – 2500 pounds

Length – 129 – 204 inches

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Like most plains’ zebras, females and males are relatively the same size. These zebras are described as being striped on the head, the neck, and the flanks, and sparsely down the upper segments of the limbs then fading to white.

About the Hunt

Spot-and-stalk is the preferred method of hunting for Hartmann’s Zebra. These animals live in small groups and are always on the alert. If one senses something wrong, it immediately gives the alarm call and the whole group takes flight as one animal.

Habitat

A savannah species which prefers open woodland, grass veld and floodplains.

Physical Description

Shoulder Height – 59 inches

Weight – 620 pounds

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Like most plains zebras, females and males are relatively the same size. Damara zebras are described as being striped on the head, the neck, and the flanks, and sparsely down the upper segments of the limbs then fading to white.

About the Hunt

The Burchell’s Zebra is one of the most sought-after trophies from Africa. Hunting Zebra can prove very difficult in certain areas as judging stallions from mares can be very tough. Judging the trophy quality of a Zebra lies with its skin and overall size.

Habitat

A savannah species which prefers open woodland, grass veld and floodplains.

Physical Description

Shoulder Height – 51 inches

Weight – 550 pounds

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A very strong muscular appearance. The face, mane and tail are black with a bluish appearance. They have dark vertical stripes on the neck and flanks. Males and females have horns.

About the Hunt

The Blue Wildebeest, the Poor Mans Buffalo, not only in looks but for sheer brute strength once hit. These animals have been known to travel up to 300 yards with a well-placed heart shot. Bulls are larger in stature than cows.

Habitat

Blue wildebeest are mainly found in short-grass plains bordering bush-covered acacia savannas in southern and eastern Africa, thriving in areas that are neither too wet nor too arid.

Physical Description

Shoulder Height – 50 – 58 inches

Weight – 300 – 400 pounds

Horn Length – 27 inches

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The most interesting fact about Black Wildebeest is their comeback from near extinction. It is noted that only 17 of these animals were left after being eradicated due to carrying Mucous Disease, but due to successful conservation efforts, their numbers are up again.

About the Hunt

Also known as the “White Tailed Gnu” or to some as the “Clowns of Africa’”, this is mostly due to the way in which they tend to run in circles when being approached. Mature bulls will display black/darkened hair between their bosses or leading to their bosses and not red/brown hair, the sigh of immaturity. This is a very tough animal to bring down.

Habitat

The black wildebeest inhabits open plains, grasslands, and Karoo shrub lands in both steep mountainous regions and lower undulating hills.

Physical Description

Shoulder Height – 47 inches

Weight – 350 pounds

Horn Length – 20 inches

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The waterbuck is of a robust build. The shaggy coat is reddish-brown to grey, and becomes progressively darker with age. Males are darker than females. Waterbuck are characterised by a long neck and short, strong and black legs.

About the Hunt

An old Waterbuck bull is without a doubt one of the most cunning trophies to hunt. Very alert with a keen sense of smell and super eyesight. Judging the trophy quality of a Waterbuck can be very difficult at times, especially lone bulls. Always keep in mind, a thick heavy darkened neck is the first sign of maturity.

Habitat

Waterbuck inhabit scrub and savanna areas alongside rivers, lakes and valleys, but normally avoids riverine forests.

Physical Description

Shoulder Height – 52 inches

Weight – 550 pounds

Horn Length – 27 inches

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A great animal to approach and observe, but be warned an extremely difficult animal to read, will up and leave in a second for no apparent reason while feeding. Boars will often be double the size of sows in body weight, displaying 2 dominant warts on both sides of the head, while sows have much smaller warts.

About the Hunt

Warthogs are great trophies to hunt and a big boar is not an everyday occurrence. When judging the trophy quality of Warthogs, one must always consider that on most occasions there are at least 2-3 inches of tusk inside the lip.

Habitat

Widespread in the savannah of Sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia down to South Africa, absent from heavily forested or desert areas.

Physical Description

Shoulder Height – 25 inches

Weight – 180 pounds

TUSK LENGTH – 10 inches

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Small antelope, slim and elegant with a short head with large ears and long legs. The general colour is a reddish-brown with light coloured to white under parts. The insides of the ears are white with black stripes. There is a black stripe on top of the muzzle. Females can be slightly heavier than males. Only the males have horns.

About the Hunt

The Steenbuck forms part of the “Tiny 10” and is one of the most beautiful of the ten. A hugely underrated trophy, mainly due to its size or the fact that so few people notice them or have the time to study them before they disappear over the horizon.

Habitat

Steenbok live in a variety of habitats from semi-desert, to open woodland and thickets, including open plains, stony savannah, and Acacia–grassland mosaics, They are said to favour unstable or transitional habitats.

Physical Description

Shoulder Height – 22 inches

Weight – 22 pounds

Horn Length – 4 inches

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