African Hunting - Big Game and Plains Game

More than 30 species of trophy quality game hunting in South Africa.

500 km² of available hunting area spanning 4 biospheres in close proximity.

The Bedford area provides an unparalleled diversity with up to 30 different species of available Big Game and Plains Game African Hunting

Big Game and Plains Game African Hunting

Below is set out the range of trophies available All hunting areas are within half an hour’s drive. By clicking the Read More button you will find detailed information on each animal and hunting tactics used.

African Buffalo hunting with Nick Bowker Hunting. One of Africa’s leading outfitters.

A Buffalo Trophy Hunted in Africa with Nick Bowker Hunting. Your Professional Hunter and Outfitter.

Buffalo in the long grass. Minimum legal requirement to hunt buffalo is a 375 caliber.

Buffalo
Trophy Hunting

Buffalo are one of the most sort after African trophies. A 375-calibre rifle is the minimum legal rifle requirement to hunt an African Buffalo. Buffalo kill more hunters than any other species.

Kudu in the thick brush. Kudu are notoriously alert and hard to approach

Kudu
Trophy Hunting

A truly magnificent trophy for any African hunting safari. Kudu are always one of the first animals on any hunters list. Kudu have an amazing eyesight and the nickname "Grey Ghost" is for good reason. Kudu are able to vanish into thin air.

Nyala approaching a waterhole. Nyala need to be stalked in the thick brush.

Nyala
Trophy Hunting

A very sort after trophy and one of the most beautiful African antelope. A nyala bull stepping out from the thick bush, and giving you your shot after hours of glassing will not be forgotten. A must ‘have’ trophy on any African hunting safari.

Waterbuck standing in the savanna. An old Waterbuck is one of the most cunning trophies to hunt.

Waterbuck
Trophy Hunting

A waterbuck bull is a must for any aspiring African hunter. Its sheer size, impressive horns sweeping back and then hooking forward makes it a very desirable trophy. Hunting a free-range waterbuck is not easy.

Eland standing in the arid Karoo region of South Africa. The largest big game antelope in Africa.

Eland
Trophy Hunting

The largest of the Spiral Horned family in South Africa. Older mature males can weigh up to one ton and can be very difficult to bring down. Another truly impressive African trophy. Eland make for fantastic big game African hunting.

Blesbok standing in the plains. Blesbok are hunted on the open plains.

Blesbok
Trophy Hunting

Seen by many as the perfect trophy for the first-time hunter to Africa. Blesbok are true plains game animals. The blesbok are very wary and difficult to approach. Longer shots may be required for true plains game hunting.

Impala standing in the green savanna. Impala make great quarry on an african safari.

Impala
Trophy Hunting

Another trophy most hunters want to take on their first hunt. The smooth skin and two tone red coloration make for a striking trophy. Impala are included in most African hunting packages. Impala can leap up to 10 feet in the air.

Warthog in a mud bath. Warthog are often shot near water and love a mud bath

Warthog
Trophy Hunting

Warthogs are great trophies to hunt always with an exciting stalk. Warthog are now one of the most widely spread animals in the Eastern Cape. High quality boars are still difficult to find. Any African hunting trip should include a warthog.

Black Wildebeest in the open plains. Black Wildebeest are notoriously tough and difficult to bring down.

Black Wildebeest
Trophy Hunting

These strange looking animals occur naturally only in South Africa. The black wildebeest was saved from extinction with only 17 animals remaining. Black Wildebeest are now widespread in South Africa and is one tough and aggressive animal.

Springbok standing in the dry plains of South Africa. Springbok are difficult to stalk in the open plains.

Springbok
Trophy Hunting

The name of this antelope comes from the Afrikaans word "spring" which means to jump. Springbok are shot mainly in the open plains and stalks can be tricky. Plains game hunting for springbok is a must for any hunter.

Mountain Reedbuck on the hillside. Mountain Reedbuck are hunted on the side of steep valleys.

Mountain Reedbuck
Trophy Hunting

The mountain reedbuck will often be found lying in the grass or under a tree. The male will likely be lying a little way from the females. A challenging but well worth while African hunting adventure.

Red Lechwe on a flood plain. Red Lechwe hunts take place in marshes and reeds.

Red Lechwe
Trophy Hunting

The Red Lechwe is an extremely beautiful trophy and do not occur in abundance in South Africa. The Bedford area is fortunate to have a number of free ranging lechwe herds. Horns will wear down dramatically with age.

Blue Wildebeest on the plains next to a waterhole. Blue Wildebeest can be very aggressive when wounded.

Blue Wildebeest
Hunting

Blue Wildebeest also called the Poor Man's Buffalo. These animals have been known to travel a few hundred yards with a well-placed heart shot. Blue Wildebeest can be extremely dangerous when wounded.

Zebra in the open grasslands. Zebra trophies make for a wonderful flat skin or rug.

Zebra
Trophy Hunting

Hunting 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 make for a beautiful flat skin and an exciting African hunting experience.

Red Hartebeest standing on the plains in Africa. Red Hartebeest are one of the fasted big game animals.

Red Hartebeest
Trophy Hunting

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

Gemsbok on the dry plains of Africa. Gemsbok male and females make great trophies.

Gemsbok
Trophy Hunting

Gemsbok males and females make for great trophies. Extremely aggressive and very dangerous when injured, cornered, or threatened, both sexes carry very long spear-like horns. Never shoot above the horizontal midline of the Gemsbok.

Fallow Deer were in introduced to South Africa. Fallow Deer are best hunted in the rut.

Fallow Deer
Trophy Hunting

Fallow Deer from Europe were introduced by the British in South Africa. Fallow Deer are widespread in the Eastern Cape in particular in the Bedford region. Fallow deer can make jumps up to 6 feet-high.

Bushbuck walking down a path in thick vegetation. Bushbuck are hunted in the late afternoon.

Bushbuck
Trophy Hunting

In the Bedford area Bushbuck are hunted in the mountain area or along river beds in the thick brush. Bushbuck will live in amongst human settlements with ease and will adapt their feeding habitats and become nocturnal.

Giraffe walking towards trees to begin browsing. Giraffe shooting requires a big caliber rifle.

Giraffe
Trophy Hunting

Giraffe is the largest ruminant and the tallest mammal on the planet. The giraffe can top out at nearly 18 feet in the largest of males and make for a very interesting big game African hunting.

Beautiful Sable antelope in the grasslands. Sable Antelope make for a spectacular trophy.

Sable Antelope
Trophy Hunting

A jet black mature Sable bull is without a doubt the most impressive trophy. Sable are not indigenous to the Eastern Cape but have been introduced. Sable are now widely spread and are another must have trophy on any African hunting safari.

A Bushpig on the move in Africa. Bushpig are mainly shot at night.

Bushpig
Trophy Hunting

Bushpig are nocturnal. Bad-tempered and hostile, the bush pig is hunted after dark when he is most active. Be wary of his short razor-sharp tusks. Bushpig are sometimes shot opportunistically in broad day light.

Common Reedbuck in thick grass. Common Reedbuck often stop when disturbed giving the hunter time to make his shot.

Common Reedbuck
Trophy Hunting

The Common Reedbuck forms part of the Reedbuck family and is the largest of the family in Africa. Although very alert and quick out of the tall grass or reeds, reedbuck will never run too far before stopping.

A duiker in the thick bush. Duiker shooting often happens opportunistically while hunting other species.

Grey Duiker
Trophy Hunting

Duikers are very shy, elusive creatures with a fondness for dense cover and tend to dive into thickets for protection. Duiker are solitary animals and often shot opportunistically while glassing for other trophies.

Steenbok standing in the short green grass. Steenbok are beautiful trophy.

Steenbok
Trophy Hunting

These beautiful little antelope occur widely on the open plains. Only the males carry the very upright horns. A hugely underrated trophy, mainly due to its size or the fact that so few people notice them while plains game hunting.

Copper Springbok on the plains in South Africa. Copper Springbok are hunted the same way as a common springbok.

Copper Springbok
Trophy Hunting

Copper Springbok are a color phase and not a separate subspecies. Copper Springbok form part of the four springbok color variations. Hunting the copper springbok is no different to hunting a common springbok.

White Springbok in the short grass of Africa. White Springbok are a color variant of the common springbok

White Springbok Trophy Hunting

White Springbok are a color phase and not a separate subspecies. White Springbok form part of the four springbok color variations. Hunting the white springbok is no different to hunting a common springbok.

Black Springbok in the long grass of South Africa. Black Springbok are not a separate sub species.

Black Springbok Trophy Hunting

Black Springbok are a color phase and not a separate subspecies. Black Springbok form part of the four springbok color variations. You may want to consider an African hunting safari where you complete the springbok slam.

Roan Antelope out on the dry open plains of Africa. Roan Antelope can be dangerous when wounded.

Roan Antelope
Trophy Hunting

After eland and kudu, roan are Africa’s largest antelope. Roan are large, tough and tenacious animals. Roan like sable are not indigenous to the Eastern Cape but have been introduced. Roan make for very exciting big game African hunting.

Black Impala ram in an open patch of grassland. Black Impala makes for an interesting hunt.

Black Impala
Trophy Hunting

Black impala is a color variant of the southern impala. The Black Impala is not a separate subspecies. The color is all black but with the same two-tone coloration as the southern impala but in black.

White Blesbok males facing in opposite directions. White Blesbok may require longer shots.

White Blesbok
Trophy Hunting

The White Blesbok displays a color mutation of its cousin the common blesbok and is not a recognized subspecies. Many hunters now opt to shoot the white blesbok rather than the common blesbok as their first blesbok trophy.

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NICK BOWKER HUNTING

Olivefountain, Bedford

Eastern Cape, South Africa

info@nickbowkerhunting.com

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