Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Limpopo province thoughts

Headed Limpopo the end of July be 1st time ever going doing a plans game hunt
Just looking for experiences in the province
And what the weather is that time of year thanks

We went in 2017 and shot 8 animals, had a great time It’s like the Sandiego Zoo every day. We hired Gracy Travel in Texas for about $500 and they booked airline, sent paperwork for customs and rifles, and created an itinerary and arranged for someone to meet us at the airport. Money well spent, they specialize in safaris. Be sure to buy travel insurance in case, god forbid, you needed medical care over there. It’s relatively cheap. We used Ripcord, but here are several. Have fun and good luck. We’re going back April 2026!

Mild with cool mornings and high fence. The animals get hunted, so it's not shooting fish in a barrel.

My first safari took place in 1993, in what was then called the Northern Province. The place I hunted bordered the Limpopo River, which in that area is the border between RSA and Botswana--and was unfenced That was in mid-August, when the river was low enough to actually walk across it to Botswana--though we didn't. But killed my first kudu on what was essentially an island between RSA and Botswana. Also saw lion tracks on the RSA side of the river, and had a close encounter with a leopard, which was chasing a monkey toward us.

Limpopo Province is far less wild in other places, further from Botswana. But it's still Africa....

Not same time of year but just did our first trip over to Limpopo in Sept of 24. Wonderful experience, no bugs, great people.

High fence but as previous poster said it’s not a gimme. Our ph seemed excited that we wanted to get out of the truck and walk and hunt. Have a great trip, plan on going back as we are looking at going back in 2028

Hunted Limpopo RSA for the first time last year, fantastic 12 day plains game. My flight was into Hoedspruit, right on the boarder of Kruger. I was there in mid-June which is basically their winter solstice. Temps as described above, never wore a jacket, mid-40s in the AM. No bugs, other than ticks, people were great. Maybe it was timing but was struct by how little wind there was, basically up on a terrace sort of sheltered above the eastern cape. Reminds me of Texas but bigger trees. Echoing JB, I was struck by the amount of tourism to Kruger for photo safari and how much agribusiness is in the region.

Shot my best Kudu ever way back when in Limpopo mid-June in the hills (they tend to call 'em mountains) south of Lephalale back when it was called Ellisras.
Those Kudu sure liked hanging out amongst the rocks.

A bit nippy in the mornings, lovely during the day.

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I hunted in the northern Limpopo Province three times; in 2000, 2002, and 2005. Same place each time with Mabelingwane Safaris (no longer in business). It was a fenced game ranch but it was about 11,000 acres in size (if I remember correctly). It's bushveld country so the animals had plenty of places to hide. It was located about 20 miles south of the Limpopo River (which is the border between South Africa and Botswana).

Cheers! Bob F.

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Limpopo Province - Mabelingwane Safaris - 2000
Ruger M77 Mk II Magnum in .375 H&H Mag (300 gr Hornady RN)


My good friend Kate (center) standing by the fire.


They sure do have some big chickens in South Africa!








Here's a couple of pics of Kate.
She used a Ruger M77 Mk II in .338 Win Mag with 250 gr Nosler Partitions.

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Limpopo Province - Mabelingwane Safaris - 2002
Ruger M77 Mk II in .30-06 (220 gr Woodleigh RN)






Hunting along the banks of the Limpopo River.


Limpopo Bushbuck. The opposite side of the river is Botswana.

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Limpopo Province - Mabelingwane Safaris - 2005
CZ 550 American in 9.3x62 (286 gr Woodleigh RN)








Juvenile Bushpig taken for the pot.










Bushpig for breakfast!

Great pics and info thanks for all the post info and details

tons of ticks, so get a prescription for Doxy from your Dr. in case of tick bite fever (very cheap to buy) and use a lot of bug spray for the ticks, your PH will probably have a ton of it but ask before going and you will love it there and plan on going again

June, July, August is winter. We have had snow but rare,….very rare those months. Daytime is mostly high 70’s but very dry might feel like 80 plus which is a frequent daytime temp. It will get dark early by 6:30 depending on exact month

Ground Water is scarce so hunting near water is aways productive. I liked searching for game most of the day, however strongly preferred sitting in a hide near water in the last 90 min of daylight.

Doxy is good for visitors. Tick bite fever is rough the first time. After you get it once you don’t seem to ever be bothered with it again. It’s a few days to kick in so it probably would not interrupt your hunt but you could be feeling sick when you travel home.

I’ve had quite a few hunters get it when they are back home

Thank

Have the opportunity to hunt with Limpopo Safaris (10 day hunt).

Trying to decide whether to go or not.

Would most likely be chaperoning a couple old guys, and I am not the best at following schedules and other folks itinerary.

I would be doing a photographic safari rather than shooting game.

Would be flying into Johannesburg and after the hunt heading to Capetown for a couple daysl

Wondering whether its reasonably safe for old white guys to be in South Africa what with the social unrest that I hear of.

Anyone care to chime in about current conditions there?

Quien Sabe,

GWB

The three of you will be on your own the whole time including driving from Joburg to Limpopo?

You’re okay driving on the left side of the road from the right seat of the vehicle? You driving or flying to cape town? It’s a hella long drive. Your friends have all the gun paperwork sorted to travel inside the country?

A PH is required, is a camp representative fetching you from the airport? Are you doing your photo safari while with your friends or are you driving to a park for that?

I’m gonna suggest you retain some local guidance. A wrong turn someplace could be a stress. Ending up lost on the outskirts of a township won’t end well.

Limpopo folks will pick us up in Joburg and transport to their lodge. So no driving. Limpopo e-mailed me the form for importing firearms. I gave those to the guys.

I'm hoping to take my drone and camera equipment. IIRC maybe do some photo excursions if they can be set up outside. Figure Limpopo can arrange that. May accompany the guys to take pix of their hunts.

One of the guys son is married to a girl who is from South Africa and he and her parents have arranged and paid for us a guide/chaperone in CapeTown.

Any one here done biz with Gracey Travel?

Quien Sabe,

GWB

Well you’re good, as stated you already have local knowledge so that’s better than any opinions here!

use Jennifer with Travel Express her price is nicer than Gracey, used her 3 times in the last 3 years and very happy

I'll used Gracey Travel in the past. Had a good trip & no problems with them. The flight is long--get up & move on the plane. I had my outfitter meet me at the airport ----it helps getting thru customs with your firearms. Make sure you leave some time for Kruger Park. At least 2 or 3 days. I've been there twice---I need to go again. Bob