Plains Game Hunting in Africa – Hunt Plains Game with Nick Bowker

The big five and a few other animals, such as crocodiles, hyenas, and hippopotamuses, are described or classified as Dangerous Game.

Plains Game includes larger species such as Eland, Kudu, Gemsbok, and Wildebeest. The term ‘Big Game‘ describes the larger species of plains game.

• Cape Buffalo
• East Cape Kudu
• Nyala
• Sable Antelope
• Gemsbok
• Black Wildebeest
• Waterbuck
• Blesbok
• Impala
• Mountain Reedbuck

• Eland
• Warthog
• Springbok
• Red Lechwe
• Zebra
• Blue Wildebeest
• Bushbuck
• Red Hartebeest
• Giraffe
• Copper Springbok

• Steenbok
• Fallow Deer
• Black Springbok
• White Springbok
• Black Impala
• White Blesbok
• Duiker
• Roan Antelope
• Bushpig
• Common Reedbuck

Cape Buffalo Plains Game Hunting

Cape Buffalo is one of the most sort after African trophies. A 375- rifle caliber is the minimum legal requirement for hunting a Cape buffalo. Buffalo kill more hunters than any other species while on safari any where in Africa.

Kudu Plains Game Hunting

A truly magnificent trophy for any safari. Kudu is one of the first on any African hunter’s trophy list. They have fantastic eyesight, and the apt nickname “gray ghost” is for a good reason. Kudu will simply vanish into thin air at any moment.

Nyala Plains Game Hunting

A very sort after and cherished trophy and one of the most beautiful African antelope. A nyala bull stepping out from the thick bush and giving you a shot will not be forgotten. This is a must have trophy on any hunting African safari.

Sable Antelope Trophy Hunting

A jet black mature sable bull is, without a doubt, the most impressive trophy. Sable is not indigenous to the Eastern Cape but introduced. Sable is a must-have trophy for any hunter. Trophy fees have reduced substanstially.

Gemsbok Plains Game Hunt

Gemsbok males and females make for large and impressive trophies. Very aggressive when they are threatened or cornered and both sexes carry long sharp impressive spear-like horns. Avoid shooting above the Gemsbok’s midline.

Black Wildebeest Plains Game Hunt

These strange-looking animals occur only in South Africa. The black wildebeest was saved from extinction, with only 17 remaining animals. Black Wildebeest are now widespread and common. One extremely tough animal.

Waterbuck Plains Game Hunt

A waterbuck bull is a must for any aspiring African hunter. Its sheer size and large curved horns which sweep back and hook forward make it a very sort after trophy. Hunting free range waterbuck is challenging in South Africa.

Blesbok Plains Game Hunt

Seen by many as the perfect trophy for a hunter’s first plains game hunt. Blesbok is a true plains game. Can be difficult to approach. Longer shots may be required for your blesbok plains game hunting in South Africa.

Impala Plains Game Hunt

Another trophy most hunters want to take on their first African hunting safari. The smooth skin and two-tone color make for a beautiful striking trophy. Impala is also included in most plains game hunting packages in Africa.

Eland Plains Game Hunt

The largest of the spiral-horned family in Africa. The larger mature males often weigh up to one ton and can be challenging to bring down. Another inspiring trophy. Eland makes for a fantastic big game hunting.

Warthog Plains Game Hunt

Warthogs are great trophies for hunting, always with a very exciting stalk. They are now one of the most widely spread game animals across the Eastern Cape. Any plains game safari hunt should include a trophy warthog.

Springbok Plains Game Hunt

The name of this antelope comes from the Afrikaans word “spring,” which means to jump. This antelope is a magnificent plains game antelope. Springbok is shot in the open plains, and stalks can be very tricky.

Red Lechwe Plains Game Hunt

Red Lechwe is a wonderful trophy with sweeping lyre horns and not abundant in South Africa. The Bedford area is fortunate to have free-ranging lechwe herds. Horns will tend to wear down with age or the tips break.

Zebra Plains Game Hunt

Plains zebra can prove very difficult in certain areas as judging stallions from mares can be very tough. Zebra are very resilient and likely will require a follow-up shot. Zebra trophy makes for beautiful flat skin.

Reedbuck Plains Game Hunt

Mountain Reedbuck will usually be found lying in the grass or under a tree. The male will likely be lying a little way off from the females. This is a great hunt and a worthwhile endeavour for any African plains game hunter.

Blue Wildebeest Trophy Hunting

Blue Wildebeest are also called the poor man’s buffalo. Wildebeest can travel a few hundred yards with a heart shot. Caution when hunting Wildebeest. They can be very aggressive when wounded or cornered.

Bushbuck Trophy Hunting

In the Bedford area, bushbuck are hunted in the mountain area or along river beds in thick brush. They will live amongst human settlements and will adapt and begin feeding at night when significant hunting place.

Red Hartebeest Plains Game Hunt

One of the fastest plains game species in Southern Africa. They have an excellent sense of hearing and smell but very poor sight. Be cautious of the ‘humped withers, ‘ which can result in your shot being a little high.

Giraffe Trophy Hunting

The giraffe is the largest ruminant and the tallest mammal on the planet. The giraffes can reach 18 feet and makes for very interesting big game hunting. Hunting will be done by walk and stalk.

Steenbok Trophy Hunting

These beautiful little antelope occur widely on the plains in Africa. Only the males carry horns. A hugely underrated trophy, due to its size and few people notice them while hunting other lager game.

Fallow Deer Trophy Hunting

Fallow Deer from were introduced by the British into South Africa in the late 1800s. They are now widespread in the Eastern Cape, particularly in the Bedford region. Fallow deer can jump 6 feet.

Copper Springbok Trophy Hunting

Copper Springbok is a color phase and not a separate subspecies and form part of the four springbok color variations. Shooting all four springbok color variations is referred to as the “Springbok slam.”

Black Springbok Trophy Hunting

Black Springbok is a color phase and is not a separate subspecies. They form part of the four springbok variations. Shooting all the four springbok color variations makes a great combination pedestal mount.

White Springbok Trophy Hunting

White Springbok is a color phase and not a separate subspecies. They form part of the four springbok color phases. Consider the springbok slam on a plains game hunt. Springbok prices have reduced.

Black Impala Trophy Hunting

Black Impala is a color variant of the common impala. The black impala is not a sub-species. The color is all black but with the same two-tone color as the southern impala. An impressive trophy addition for a plains game hunt.

White Blesbok Trophy Hunting

The White Blesbok displays a color mutation of the blesbok and is not a recognized subspecies. Many hunters now opt to shoot both blesboks on a plains game hunt. White blesbok are now common and affordable.

Duiker Trophy Hunting

Duikers are shy, elusive creatures with a fondness for dense cover and will dive into thickets for protection. These are solitary animals and often shot opportunistically while glassing for other larger big game trophies.

By the 1950s, very few wild animals were found outside parks, which resulted from overhunting, the introduction of domestic animals, and overgrazing. The domestic animals introduced diseases that devastated local wildlife, and many areas became devoid of meaningful wildlife.

The fall of apartheid and related increase in tourism and private ownership of wild animals resulted in the reintroduction of many animal species and a rapid rise in the safari and game ranching industries that now surpasses East Africa.

Game ranching in South Africa is now unique in terms of species diversity. South Africa is one of only a few countries where ownership of wildlife is vested with private landowners.

South Africa accounts for a significant portion of the continent’s endangered species such as the African Wild Dog.

Over the ensuing years, an industry unique to South Africa has sprung up, occupying 20m ha (20%) of South Africa’s marginal agricultural land.

Today there is almost 20 million head of game on private ranches; in comparison, there is 14 million head of cattle in South Africa.

The State, in the form of National parks and Provincial parks, conserves only 6 million ha, on which are found only about 5 to 6 million game animals.

The tremendous growth and development of the game ranching and hunted plains game industries are visible throughout South Africa. Supporting infrastructure development all over the country.

African plains animals are always on the increase. As well as the number of hectares dedicated to African Plains Game Hunting.

We are conservation-oriented, owning vast numbers of established herds of wild game in their natural habitat on large land areas. This was achieved over many years of reintroducing game and conservation. Our hunts are only large free-range conservancies. We limit the number of hunting parties to twenty per year to ensure exclusive and high-quality hunting.

Nick Bowker and his family own a significant portion of the land you will be hunting on. You will have exclusive access to some of the best free-range hunting areas in South Africa, hunting African plains animals in their habitat, superior quality, and authentic experience, ensuring you the best African game trophy hunting.