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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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Limited-Entry Alaska Dall Sheep: North America’s Pinnacle Hunt

As the December 15 deadline to apply for Alaska’s most coveted big-game tags approaches, one opportunity stands above all others: limited-entry Dall sheep. If you’ve ever dreamed of pursuing this iconic high-country species, now is the time to apply.

Why this Hunt Matters More than Ever

In the not-too-distant past, Alaska suffered back-to-back-to-back severe weather events that dramatically impacted Dall sheep populations across much of the state, resulting in fewer over-the-counter opportunities and even closures. Hunters have been forced to look to Canada, where hunts are now largely sold out through 2027 and prices have surged beyond $60,000. Even at such outrageous prices, availability is scarce.

This shift has made Alaska’s limited-entry draw areas for Dall sheep one of the most valuable options left for serious hunters. With hunts priced between $28,000 and $35,000, applicants can still access very high-quality white sheep at nearly half the cost of Canadian alternatives.

Exceptional Success Rates

Despite the challenges statewide, the limited-entry regions—managed by very conservative tag allocations—continue to produce outstanding results for the lucky applicants of WTA TAGS:

100% shot opportunity during the past three seasons,
90%+ harvest rates on mature rams,
Some of the largest Dall rams in North America.

For those willing to embrace the physical challenge, this hunt represents the ultimate North American mountain adventure.

Why…

My Alaska Range Grizzly Adventure

I’ve been a bear hunter my whole life, but grizzly was always the dream. When the time finally came, I reached out to WTA to book a hunt. My someday hunt was finally becoming a reality. I thought I knew what I was hoping for: one good opportunity at a mature grizzly. What actually happened over those 10 days was beyond anything I could have imagined.

My journey began in Anchorage, where I stayed the night before flying into the bush. The outfitter has a liaison in town to help with any last-minute needs, so no rental car was needed. The next morning at Merrill Field, I boarded a turboprop (they use caravans, not tiny Super Cubs) for the 1½-hour flight into hunting country.

At the airstrip, the crew waited with Kong—a massive military deuce-and-a-half that can ford rivers, plus Polaris six-wheelers. After a stop at the roadhouse to organize, we headed to moose camp, about four miles upriver.

The camp itself told stories of 50 years of hunting. Cabin walls covered with dozens of hunters’ stories, as far back as the ’70s. Old regulation books showing $50 polar bear licenses. Boxes of ammo, left behind over decades for anyone who might need them. Four cabins with wood stoves surrounded the main lodge, and there was a creek-fed shower with endless hot water. A crate of beer stays ice-cold in the stream. It’s glorious. Remote Alaska with just enough comfort to keep you hunting hard every day.

From the roadhouse, we spotted two black bears on the mountainside. That evening, the cameraman Jordan and I glassed near camp, getting oriented for what was supposed to be a grizzly-focused hunt.

The next morning, those black bears were still there. We moved in. At 390 yards, with shifting thermals threatening to blow our approach, I took my shot. Low but lethal. Two more shots finished it. While butchering, we discovered this old boar was peppered with birdshot—dozens of pellets in each leg and shoulder. Somewhere, sometime, he’d been a problem bear. He could take a bullet. By 3 p.m., we had meat in the freezer and the hide salted. We were back to looking for grizzly.

Day two took us seven miles up the creek on six-wheelers, somewhat technical riding through river crossings and over rough terrain. Near the old sheep camp, we spotted a sow with three cubs and various black bears, but no boars.

Then everything changed. Rounding an alder-lined corner, our guide hit the brakes. A black bear ahead was acting strangely. It was actually approaching us. Behind him, a grizzly was hunting him, panting from the chase. The black bear, caught between predators, escaped up the cliffs.

The grizzly sat on its haunches, exhausted, looking between us and the black bear as it escaped. This bear was in full predator mode, seemingly calculating whether we might be easier prey. Then he simply lay down for a nap, 400 yards away, completely unconcerned by our presence.

For 34 minutes, I stayed behind the gun. Time passed slowly as we talked through every scenario: “If he does this, we’ll do that.” Finally, he stood and turned broadside at 415 yards. One squeeze, perfect shot placement. He barrel-rolled down the slope.

This was it—the animal I’d wanted forever, taken in a sequence I couldn’t have scripted better. Pure euphoria.

We had two bears down and over a week left of hunting. Day three was Jordan’s birthday, and we decided to get him a bear tag from camp. This would be his first hunt behind a rifle. We picked up a great black bear in no time. Jordan’s demeanor totally changed as he went into hunt mode and put a perfect 350-yard shot right into the bear’s heart. Top-tier birthday!

Three bears in three days with a week remaining. I bought a second tag and grabbed my bow. We spent four days searching for another bear, exploring drainages, following wolf tracks, catching Dolly Varden, and collecting shed antlers. Living the full Alaska experience while always hunting.

On the second-to-last day, I spotted a huge black bear doing loops through berry patches on a steep face. After multiple failed positioning attempts, I opted to go solo while Jordan and our guide filmed from a distance. The bear, hearing me crash through the alders below him, thought I was another bear invading his berries. At nine yards, with his hackles up and ears flat, I put an arrow through his front shoulder. Our group’s fourth bear.

Four bears in four days. An incredible adventure. This was the outfitter’s first year focusing on Fall bear hunting. The populations are thriving (evident from the moose without calves), and they’ve wisely increased tag allocations.

I came to Alaska with a lifelong dream of taking a grizzly. What I got was something I couldn’t have imagined: multiple species, incredible encounters, and memories that transformed a dream hunt into something beyond dreams. The grizzly lying down in front of us, completely unafraid. Jordan’s pure joy at his first bear. Stalking with my bow, close enough to hear the bear growling and clacking its jaws.

Some hunts meet your expectations. This one created new ones. When you book with WTA, you’re not just booking a hunt, you’re setting yourself up for adventures you can’t even imagine.

Learn about this Hunt

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.

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