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Blog Posts > Across the Plains: Discover Southern Africa’s Wild Hunts and Unforgettable Adventures

Across the Plains: Discover Southern Africa’s Wild Hunts and Unforgettable Adventures

Tim Herald

| February 3, 2025

Tim Herald
February 3, 2025

Few hunting destinations capture the imagination like the plains of southern Africa. Here, across the varied landscapes of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana, hunters find themselves immersed in adventures drawn from vintage safari tales. Whether pursuing kudu through dense bush, tracking gemsbok across open plains, or seeking massive eland, these countries deliver experiences you can’t find anywhere else.

Why Southern Africa Stands Apart

These aren’t the chaotic corners of central or western Africa that may come to mind when thinking of making the trip across the ocean. Instead, you’ll find stable infrastructure, easy travel connections, and abundant wildlife. Here’s a little more about each area.

South Africa’s Eastern Cape

Covering over 260,000 acres of African bush, our outfitter in the Eastern Cape is perfect for hunters looking for a little variety. With over 30 huntable species and amazing accommodations, this place has incredible game populations as well as some amazing non-hunting activities like horseback rides, wellness spas, and day trips. Stay in an African-style guesthouse that rivals any small luxury hotel, complete with gourmet dining.

Namibia’s Bowhunter’s Paradise

Namibia is one of Africa’s most esteemed bowhunting destinations. With exclusive bowhunting-only zones, this outfitter offers undisturbed access to breathtaking landscapes and trophy animals. On any given day, bowhunters can expect opportunities to take two to three trophy animals. Luxurious lodges and tented camps make the trip very comfortable. You’ll enjoy amenities that make this remote location feel like home. Dining under the African stars rounds out this unforgettable experience.

The Kalahari Wilderness

If you’re looking for high-end trophy plains game or dangerous game like buffalo, lion, or rhino, this 80,000-acre concession on the Botswana border is for you. It offers a rare blend of exclusivity and luxury. Stay in safari-style tents with en suite bathrooms and outdoor showers, or opt for open-plan chalets. Both are outfitted with modern conveniences and surrounded by the untouched Kalahari bushveld. This second-generation safari family provides incredible trophy quality and personalized service, making your hunt unforgettable.

Beautiful Botswana’s Vast Concessions

Botswana is stunningly beautiful. Our outfitter here provides access to a private 148,000-acre concession adjacent to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. This place offers an unspoiled wilderness teeming with trophy animals. From Livingstone eland and southern greater kudu to gemsbok and the elusive steenbok, the diversity of game can’t be found anywhere else. The 3-star camp features private thatched-roof chalets, a central lounge, a dining room, and a swimming pool. It’s a perfect blend of comfort and authentic safari adventure.

A Day in the Life on Safari

Your day often begins with the African sunrise. Some camps start you off with a light breakfast before heading into the field, while others prepare full meals to fuel your morning hunt. You’ll spend the morning hours spotting and stalking game, either from a vehicle or on foot, with experienced guides helping track and approach whatever your target game.

At lunch, you might find your way back to camp to enjoy a gourmet meal or eat a packed lunch in the field. The food never disappoints. Camp chefs take pride in preparing exceptional meals to keep you fueled.

As afternoon cools into evening, you’ll often focus on hunting waterholes or vantage points where game is most active. The day ends with the true magic of safari life: gathering around the campfire for drinks and appetizers and sharing stories of the day’s adventures. Dinner becomes an event, with multiple courses served under the African stars.

Firearms and Safety Made Simple

Traveling with firearms to Africa is far easier than most think, thanks to WTA’s experienced outfitters handling the paperwork and permits. Many hunters also choose to rent high-quality rifles in camp, simplifying their travel even more. From your arrival to departure, safety remains paramount. This is a stable area where we’ve operated for decades. Our experienced staff will guide you through every aspect of your trip.

The Plains Game Advantage

One of the best parts of hunting in southern Africa is the value. In fact, hunting plains game in Africa is one of the most high-value hunts you’ll find anywhere in the world. A 10-day package often includes opportunities for multiple species (kudu, gemsbok, eland, etc.) at a much better cost than anything you’ll find in North America, where you’d have a tag for only one species. Some regions offer up to 30 different species—the hunting opportunities are basically endless. Whether you’re watching massive kudu bulls ghost through the bush in Botswana or tracking gemsbok across Namibia’s stark landscape, each day brings new opportunities at a great price.

Essential Travel Info

Season: The best time to hunt is from April to September. June through August is considered high season, but April, May, and September often offer cheaper airfare and equally excellent hunting.

Weather: Don’t be surprised by the chilly mornings during Africa’s winter. Temperatures can dip below freezing, especially in June and July, so pack accordingly.

Pack Smart: Include layers for the weather, a good camera for capturing memories, and good boots for walking. Make sure you have adapters for charging your devices—power outlets may differ.

Safety First: Southern Africa is safe and well-developed. These countries are not like more unpredictable regions of central or western Africa. Someone will be there to guide you every step of the way, so you’re never left alone or uncertain about what to do next.

Trophy Handling: Getting your trophies home might sound complicated but it’s streamlined with the help of our recommended import agents in the U.S. They handle all the paperwork and logistics. Your trophies will be delivered to your taxidermist without hassle.

The WTA Experience

With over 25 years operating in this region, WTA has built partnerships with southern Africa’s finest outfitters. Each operation meets our exacting standards for quality, safety, and success rates. This experience translates into amazing adventures for our clients, whether it’s your first African hunt or your twentieth.

Southern Africa’s plains game hunting represents the perfect mix of adventure, opportunity, and value. If you’ve dreamed of hunting Africa, there’s never been a better time to turn those dreams into reality. Let’s plan a hunt for you!

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Chasing Waterfowl from North to South

The Central Flyway is a waterfowl superhighway—a vital corridor for migrating ducks and geese—and for those of us lucky enough to be waterfowlers, it offers unmatched opportunities to hunt and experience the migration from September through January.

Over the past 40 years, I’ve had the privilege of chasing ducks around the world, but many of my favorite memories come from following this flyway, especially during those early years when my duck-obsessed father would pull my brother and me out of school every Fall to chase birds.

That’s right! We missed school every year for dedicated waterfowl trips. No regrets.

In the true north country, along the edges of Canada’s boreal forest, early-season hunts are nothing short of magical. The birds are just beginning their journey south—hungry, unpressured, and eager to settle into newly harvested grain fields. It’s a waterfowler’s paradise. The decoy spreads in these northern zones are often among the first the birds see, and their eager, uneducated responses can be absolutely breathtaking.

One of the most unforgettable sights is the famed swirling cyclone of Canada geese funneling down into a field. I can still hear my dad yelling over the deafening honks, his voice barely audible, “They can’t hear us!” The birds were so loud that those at the top of the funnel couldn’t even hear the gunfire below. If you’ve ever experienced it, you know exactly the kind of spine-tingling moment I’m talking about.

When the birds pushed south, so did we.

The prairie pothole regions of North Dakota are pure waterfowl gold. The right pothole on a cold morning—especially if you can find open water—can be magic. And if the water’s frozen? My dad had a fix: get there early, break trail through the skim ice, and push it under itself to create an opening. Voilà…open water.

I’ll never forget one frigid morning. After breaking ice, my hands were bright red and on the edge of frostbite. I looked at my dad for sympathy, but he just grinned as the puddle ducks cupped up and said, “Do you want warm hands, or do you want to shoot ducks?” Like I said, he was a fanatic. I grabbed the old Winchester pump and did my best. That day, I also learned the value of hand warmers and Gore-Tex gloves.

There are so many unforgettable moments:

Slipping and sliding at a Nebraska reservoir, laughing hysterically as we wondered if we’d ever get the old Suburban and trailer back up the icy boat ramp. After limiting out on greenheads.
Rowing across the Delta Marsh in the dark to find the perfect crescent-shaped bulrush island to set the decoys that the canvasbacks couldn’t resist.
Chasing snow geese in South Dakota and realizing we’d finally picked the perfect field, the one that made it worth all those hours spent spray-painting sheet-metal shell decoys in the garage.

These weren’t just hunting trips. They were memories shared with family, with friends, and with the great outdoors itself.

In the end, missing a week of school every year was worth every single minute.

The last duck hunt I shared with my admittedly duck-crazy father was a world away and half a lifetime ago. The hunt may be long over, but the memory will always stay with me.

At WTA, we’re proud to connect our clients with trusted partners so they can experience these same one-of-a-kind adventures.

We offer incredible destinations and outstanding outfitters all along the Central Flyway—from Alberta and Saskatchewan to North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma—so you can create your own lasting memories.

Call Worldwide Trophy Adventures at 1-800-346-8747 today to book your trip of a lifetime.

See Central Flyway Hunts

Against the Odds: Drawing Back-to-Back Sheep and Goat Tags

Drawing a sheep tag with 1-in-5,300 odds is amazing. Drawing a mountain goat tag the next year? That’s lottery luck. That’s why it didn’t seem real when my WTA consultant, Jordan Roche, called me two years in a row with that news!

I’d been working with Jordan at WTA TAGS for about five years, letting him manage my hunting applications in multiple states while I focused on staying in shape for whatever hunts might come through. When he called about the Tok Range Dall sheep tag (the only non-resident permit out of 10 total), I knew it was special.

After the excitement of drawing my tag settled in, it was time to find the right outfitter to make my hunt a success. WTA recommended one of their top partners for that area and handled every detail. My outfitter made it clear: this would be a backpack hunt in some of Alaska’s toughest sheep country. At 64, with two hip replacements, I can’t run anymore. But I can hike. So that’s how I prepared—I hiked mile after mile with a weighted pack, knowing the Tok doesn’t care about age or medical history.

We went in a day and a half before the season opened and spotted a band of 14 rams, including one heavy-horned giant that immediately caught our attention. Then Alaska did what Alaska does best. Weather rolled in, the rams vanished, and we spent the three days scouring valleys and ridges to find them again.

When we finally relocated them, we had to break camp and make a major move. After a full day’s work, we spotted six rams bedding down as evening fell. The next morning, we made our play.

The wind that day was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It sounded like a freight train roaring up the mountain; gusting, dying, gusting again. At 320 yards, I had to time my shot during the lulls. My first shot went wide in the wind. The second shot dropped him—a beautiful 39″ ram. Honestly, I didn’t care about the number. That’s not why I hunt. I’m in it for the experience and a good animal. This ram was both.

The pack-out was its own adventure. We crossed the glacier-fed Tok River multiple times before Matt showed up with a Korean War-era military vehicle that could go just about anywhere. After nine days in the mountains, that slow, bumpy ride was a step up from travelling another 10 miles on foot. This was a trip I’ll never forget.

When Jordan called me in February 2025 to tell me I’d drawn a mountain goat tag, I actually laughed. “Figure out something for next year,” I told him, knowing the odds of a three-peat were one in a million. But first, it was time to prepare for my goat hunt.

I flew into Homer at the end of August, expecting to start hunting on Tuesday. By Monday evening, my outfitter, Paul, was warning me about the incoming weather. “We might not get you in until Friday,” he said. He wasn’t kidding. We sat through three days of howling wind, driving rain, and zero visibility before finally getting our chance.

Paul operates from a landing craft that serves as a mobile base camp. But getting from sea level to where the goats live? That was the hardest climb I’ve ever done, and I’ve completed five sheep hunts.

It was only 1,500 vertical feet, but every step came wrapped in devil’s club thorns, soaking brush, deadfall, and rain-slicked cliff bands. We hiked for what seemed like an eternity before stopping for the night to set up camp.

The next morning changed everything. Once above that coastal jungle, the alpine opened up to reveal why we’d suffered through that brutal climb. There were mountain goats everywhere. Good billies. The kind that makes you forget about devil’s club and exhaustion.

I took my billy on August 30, the first day of actual hunting after being sidelined due to weather. While packing him out, we witnessed something I’d never seen: ravens harassing a billy goat. They would swoop within inches of his head, and he’d swing his horns, trying to knock them away. Paul had told me about this strange relationship between ravens and goats, but seeing it firsthand was incredible.

The trip down gave us one more show. A black bear, fat from gorging on berries, army-crawled through the blueberry patches, entertained us from 400 yards away. I had a bear tag, but watching him was worth more than any trophy. Crossing salmon-choked streams on the way out completed the full Alaskan experience.

Both hunts worked because of solid preparation and connections with the right team. Jordan, my WTA consultant, had been helping me strategically build points and select units for years. When the draw results came through, WTA’s network meant proven outfitters were ready and handled every detail. They provided thorough gear lists, arranged logistics, and coordinated air charters. Everything was dialed in.

Some guys chase record books. Others chase hunting milestones. I finished my slam in 2019 with a desert ram, but what excites me most these days is the experience—the hunts that test you, humble you, and stay with you long after the pack is unloaded. When you work with the right people and put in the preparation, amazing things can happen. Jordan’s already working on my applications for 2026, so we’ll see what adventure comes through next.

Contact WTA TAGS to learn more about drawing the tags of your dreams: 1-800-755-8247.

Get Started with WTA TAGS

South African Plains Game Safari: The Hunt

South Africa’s southern tip offers a plains game safari that surprises even the most seasoned hunters with its challenge and variety. As a WTA consultant, I had the privilege of hosting this hunt, traveling alongside the group, sharing the hunt itself, and making sure every detail ran smoothly. By the end, hunters who started as strangers had bonded over long days in the bush and were already planning future trips together.

This hunt delivers true, high-value hunting in rugged, mountainous country. It’s not the type of safari where you ride around and shoot from a truck. Spot-and-stalk is the focus, often through thick brush and thorny cover, and shots can stretch past 200 yards off sticks. The ranch spans 80,000 acres and is home to more than 200,000 self-sustaining animals. You’ll see hundreds of game daily, with 10 to 15 species scattered across the property. Eastern Cape kudu, gemsbok, wildebeest, zebra, springbok, and impala to name just a few of the opportunities you’ll encounter, with plenty of surprises mixed in.

Days start early with breakfast at first light, followed by a drive into the bush with your professional hunter (PH) and tracker. From there, it’s boots on the ground—glassing ridges, stalking through thorn, and working into shooting range. Lunch might be back at the lodge or packed afield, depending on how far you’ve pushed into the property. Afternoons mirror the mornings, with hunting until dark. It’s real, engaging, and rewarding.

The camp itself is comfortable without losing its hunting-camp feel. Sixteen chalets, 8 of them newly built, offer clean and welcoming rooms. Evenings are spent around a central fire in the main lodge, with two game-based meals served nightly and fresh bread baked over the flames. It’s a simple but authentic setting, and every part of camp life is centered around the hunting experience.

Trophy care is well handled. Once an animal is down, your PH and tracker take care of the recovery and skinning. An on-site shed and cooler ensure nothing goes to waste. At the end of the hunt, an exporter meets you in camp to walk through options for dip-and-pack or full taxidermy. Everything is handled face-to-face, including shipping and paperwork, making the process straightforward and stress-free.

One of my favorite memories was an impromptu pistol competition with the local police captain and his deputies, friends of the outfitter. We shared plenty of laughs, a few friendly wagers, and even sent them home with meat in the back of their cruiser. That type of camaraderie and welcome isn’t something you find everywhere, and it speaks volumes about the atmosphere here.

The ranch is family-run, with owner Barry and his son Fred at the helm. Despite Barry’s paralysis from a plane accident years ago, he remains an ever-present storyteller and host, and Fred carries forward the day-to-day operations. Their passion and hospitality make the ranch feel like home.

The hunting in South Africa is unlike anything else in the world, and this safari’s mix of challenge, variety, and value makes it stand out. For hunters looking for a true plains game adventure in breathtaking mountain country, this is a trip that delivers.

Learn More about this Hunt