The wildlife of Tanzania includes an enormous variety of potential hunting trophies such as Cape Eland (Taurotragus Oryx), Roan Antelope (Hippotragus Equinus), Roosevelt Sable (Hippotragus Niger Roosevelti), Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus Strepsiceros), Lesser kudu (Tragelaphus Imberbis), Coke's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus Busephalus Cokeii), Lichtenstein's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus Lichtensteinii), Western Hartebesst (Alcelaphus Buselaphus), Topi (Damaliscus Korrigum), Fringe Eared Oryx (Oryx Beisa Callotis), Brindled or Nyasa or Blacked Tail Gnu (Connochaetes Taurinus), Common Waterbuck (Kobus Ellipsiprymnus), Defassa Waterbuck (Kobus Defassa), Situtunga (Tragelaphus Spekeii), Common Reedbuck (Redunca Arundinum), Bohor Reedbuck (Redunca Redunca), Impala (Aepyceros Melampus), Grant's Gazelle (Gazella Grantii), Robert's Gazelle (Gazella Grantii Robetsii), Thomson's Gazelle (Gazella Thomsonii), Waller's Gazelle (Litocranius Wallerii), Common Duiker (Cephalophus Sylvicapra Grimmia), Peters' Duiker (Cephalophus Callipygus), Kirk Dik-Dik (Madoqua Kirki), Klipspringer (Oreotragus Oreotragus), Oribi (Ourebia Ourebi), Bushpig (Potamochoerus Porcus), Warthog (Phacochoerus Aethiopicus) Hippos and Crocodiles are also hunted.
Tanzania also hosts a large population of Cheetahs (Acinonyx Jubatus) as well however they are fully protected and may not be hunted.
All these species are spread over three main hunting areas in Tanzania but all are not found in every area. The hunting areas are the Masai Land to the north, the Selous to the south, and the central and western regions...
The trophy quality is outstanding and many trophies taken have qualified for prestigious awards in Safari Club International. Over 150 hunting concessions are distributed throughout Tanzania and shared amongst the forty plus outfitters licensed to conduct tourist hunting.
Within these areas, the Tanzania hunting territories are immense in accordance with the vastness of this country. They can cover up to a million acres, in some cases over two million acres... In Tanzania the hunting territories are open, not fenced. The land is leased to predominantly foreign hunting outfitters which ensure their management and maintenance. There are dozens of hunting outfitters in Tanzania of which the large majority are French, South African or Zimbabwean with some English, American, Spanish and Italian hunting outfitters as well.
Most of the Tanzanian terrain consists of shrub savannah, dry and green grassy savannah, broken up by areas of somewhat dense forest. In some regions there are Sahelo-Sudanes zones such as in the northern most part of Masa land which can be very dry and semi-desert like. In the Selous region some of the forests can be quite dense. The overall terrain is generally flat and offers little difficulty other than in the Masai country where some areas can be quite rugged.
Hunting in Tanzania is done on foot but given the vastness of the hunting concessions, it is often necessary to make long journeys by car.
There are many well established hunting companies that usually hold many hunting blocks and whom provide outstanding professional service, uncompromising quality of superbly equipped and comfortable tent camps and well maintained four-wheel drive custom designed safari hunting vehicles. The temporary camps/facilities are erected prior to the start of the hunting season and removed in accordance with the hunting regulations at the end of the season. All include electricity and often modern communications such as satellite phone, even satellite TV as well. The western style cuisine is often of high quality.
For the Selous and the central and western areas, the hunting territories can only be reached by plane. The flight from the capital, Dar-es-salaam, is on average one and a half to two and a half hours.
For the Masai land, hunting areas are reached by car from Arusha, a journey that normally requires three to four hours.
Climate in Tanzania
Rains typically begin in November making hunting into December impractical in Western and the Selous areas. Northern Tanzania can be hunted to the end of December.
World Weather Online provides a very detailed look at current weather conditions, weather forecasts, a history and almanac for predicting average weather conditions during the time while you will be traveling in that part of the world. Click here for Tanzania's climate and temperature forecast.
Tanzania Hunting Season & When Hunting is Allowed
- Hunting Season - July 1st to December 31st (starting 2011 the hunting season is extended through March 31)
- Trophy hunting may take place within the hours of daylight during the hunting season, no hunting is allowed at night and no hunting is allowed with artificial light.
- The Tanzanian government strictly controls the minimum number of days for a hunting safari based upon the species being hunted. Above and beyond the government regulations, the hunting outfitter may also impose their own guidelines as to the minimum number of days required to hunt certain species or combination of species.
- A 7 day hunting safari is the minimum allowed and can include up to two Buffalo and the most common plains game species.
- A 14 day hunting safari is the minimum hunt which can include up to two Buffalo, the most common plains game as well as some of Tanzania's less common plains game species.
- A 16 day hunting safari is the minimum number of days if you desired to take a third Buffalo which also allows you to hunt all of the species available on the 14 day hunting safari.
- A 21 day hunting safari is the minimum number of days required to be able to hunt up to three Buffalo, a Lion, an Elephant, the most common plains game as well as some of Tanzania's less common plains game species.
- Lion and Leopard may only be hunted at once if on a 1 x 1 hunting safari, if on a 2x1 hunting safari both clients must share one Lion and one leopard permit.
- Lion must be at least six years of age.
- The minimum legal length for Leopard is 51.2 inches (1.30 meters), measurement taken from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail.
- The minimum legal size of the ivory for an Elephant is not less than 67 inches (1.70 meters) in length or less than 44 pounds (20 kilograms).
- The minimum overall length for Crocodile is 94.50 inches (2.40 meters).
- Hunting from a vehicle is not permitted, though the vehicle can be used to reach the area from where hunting on foot can begin.
- Shooting an animal from a vehicle is not permitted, a person actually needs to be 219 yards (200 meters) away from a vehicle to shoot an animal.
- No animal may be chased or driven by a vehicle.
- Hunting of female, young and/or immature animals is prohibited.
- Hunting is not permitted within 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) of a National Park.
- Hunting is not permitted within 1,100 yards (1 kilometer) of a an airplane landing area.
- Hunting is not permitted within 547 yards (500 meters) of any water place or salt lick with the exception of the following species Hippopotamus, Sitatunga, Waterbuck and Birds.
You will find information about the bird hunting season in Tanzania near the bottom of this page.
Species to Hunt in Tanzania
Tanzania offers almost sixty species of game for trophy hunting, including four of the big five which consist of Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Buffalo. The most commonly hunted species in Tanzania are Buffalo, Impala, Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Warthog, Zebra, Waterbuck, Hippo, Crocodile and Eland.
TANZANIA Species to Hunt
These species may be available on the hunting license in the country; however they may not be available on quota anywhere in the country. Also individual hunting outfitters may or may not be given any quota or have any remaining licenses left for some species.
Some of these species may not be able to be imported back into your country of residence. You can find information on the importation of sport hunted trophies at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at Permits or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at www.cites.org.
Giraffe, cheetah, rhino and wild dog are protected game and cannot be hunted in Tanzania.
More than one of a species may be taken on different hunt licences. Occasionally an outfitter may reduce this number in order to stretch his quota. For example, the Government allows 2 Cape Buffalo per hunter to be taken on a 10 day hunt but an outfitter may restrict this to 1.
Elephant trophy fees are incremental based on the weight of the tusks.
On a 21 day 2x1 hunts, it is usual for the hunters to only be able to hunt 1 of the key species (such as lion, leopard, lesser kudu etc) between them.