lion on prairie

A Hunter’s Dream | Types Of Big Game In Africa

on . Posted in Blog, Hunting

For hunters seeking a variety of animals and a thrilling big game hunt, Africa is the undoubtedly one of, if not the, best destination out there. 

Every region of Africa offers unique opportunities for big game hunting. The enticement lies in the challenge of tracking and pursuing species such as lions, elephants, leopards, buffalos, and rhinos, among others.

As these are animals that you may not have the opportunity to hunt anywhere else, a big game hunt in Africa can certainly provide you with a once in a lifetime experience!

South African Game

africa continent

The big game hunting opportunities are plentiful in the continent of Africa, however, it’s a vast continent, so where should you start? (photo credit: whatarethe7continents.com)

Keeping in mind that Africa is an immensely large continent, you may find it overwhelming to make a choice when it comes down to choosing a particular destination. With that being said, many hunters have been drawn to South Africa in particular. 

South Africa accounts for a large majority of the big game hunting preserves in Africa. These South African hunting preserves offer up rare and highly-sought after species of game to hunters daring enough to make the trip.

Due to this region being such a hub for big game hunting, interested parties may find that accommodations for hunting trips can be made much more easily than in other places. 

South Africa’s Best and Biggest Species | The “Big 5”

One of the biggest attractions to South African hunting safaris is the chance to hunt “The Big Five.”

Lions, leopards, cape buffalo, elephants, and rhinoceros are the five species that dominate big game hunting in South Africa. These are the animals that certainly offer hunters the exhilarating hunt they are seeking.

Below, we’ll delve into the individual details of Big Five hunting.

Lion

Due to it being the largest cat in Africa, a lion is considered an extremely significant trophy, and taking one down is a huge accomplishment.

A hunter pursuing a trophy Lion must be extremely careful, and approach the hunt with all the necessary precautions.

Lions are dangerous creatures, especially when they are provoked, and can be potentially more dangerous when they are wounded. Additionally, lions travel in packs (a group of lions is called a “pride”), so there is a possibility that other members could get involved. 

The trophy quality of a lion is determined by the age, mane, and size of the animal.

To use an example, a larger male with a resounding mane is regarded as the a top trophy for many hunters world-wide. Finding a trophy lion like this can be very difficult, but they can be found throughout the savannah, grasslands, and semi-desert areas regions of Africa.



Leopard

leopard walking

Leopard hunting is one of the most difficult ventures in big game hunting, mostly because they are so elusive and intelligent, as well as extremely dangerous. 

When it comes to this next big game animal, all bets are off. When it comes to taking down a leopard, the most tried and true hunting method is baiting.

The process of baiting can be a bit grueling, in that it requires an extreme amount of patience, as hunters may wait and observe the bait for countless nights without a single leopard sighting.

Now, a less common, but likely quicker, method of hunting leopards is with the use of hounds. This tactic is ideal for hunters looking for an extra thrill, as you can avoid the waiting involved in baiting and actively pursue a leopard with the help of man’s best friend.



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Cape Buffalo

cape buffalo

Cape buffalo are quite large and bulky animals, making them a highly desirable target. They have heavy legs, which help to support their large body and the extra mass found in their heads and necks.

Even with their large size, cape buffalo can be quick and agile on their feet, making them a tricky target. Additionally, they are a grayish-black color, so they often blend in with the mud they wallow in. 

Given how massive they are and their ability to camouflage themselves, cape buffalo make for quite the difficult hunt. But, the challenge entices hunters to overcome it, which is why Africa has become one of the leading big game destinations in the world. 



Elephant

elephant walking dirt road

Another one of Africa’s most coveted big game species is the elephant, and trophy status involves weight, size and their tusks.

When it comes to determining what exactly contributes to the trophy quality of an elephant, one must look at the weight and size of the elephant, as well as the ivory of their tusks. Typically, good ivory is considered among Africa’s top hunting trophies. 

The classic hunting technique for elephants is tracking them on foot. You’ll spend your time looking for fresh tracks, tracking them through the dense savannah, and then finding an angle for the perfect shot once finally find your target. 



Getting into close quarters with an elephant to determine trophy quality is normal practice, and ultimately taking a good bull can be extremely challenging.

Elephants have sensitive smell and hearing, so you must pay attention to things such as wind direction when stalking.

Due to an elephant’s habitat, shots on these animals are typically taken at close range, as elephants are typically found in areas ranging from the desert to the dense savannah with high rainfall.



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Rhinoceros

rhino and baby

Rhinoceros are the second largest land animal in the world, and have traditionally been one of the most coveted animals for big game hunters.

Throughout history, rhinos have been hunted and poached to extremely low population levels, but thanks to the efforts of conservationists, white rhino numbers have bounced back significantly. Unfortunately, the black rhino is still a protected species, and so their hunting permit requirements are much stricter.

Because of the sheer size of rhinos and the stringent hunting regulations attached to them, be sure to book with an outfitter that has a good reputation in regard to big game hunting, and that also knows the ins and outs of the law.




In recent years, the Big Five has extended to the “Dangerous Seven,” which includes the addition of the hippopotamus and the crocodile.

hippos in the water
Hippopotamus
crocodile with mouth open
Crocodile

In addition, “plains game hunting” has also become the most common type of big game hunting, due to it being more affordable and accessible than the Big Five.

Plains game include species such as giraffe, zebra, spiral horned antelope, wildebeest, among others.

giraffe walking
Giraffe
zebras grazing
Zebra
greater kudu
Greater Kudu
crocodile with mouth open
Wildebeest


Taking the Trip of a Lifetime | Major Things To Consider

As exciting as a South African hunting trip is, there are countless factors that must be taken into consideration. Choosing the game you would like to hunt is just the first step. Everything from travel arrangements to travel insurance must be arranged before any shots are taken.

As with any other trip, you need to make almost all preparations in advance. This is essential for a huge journey, considering most hunters will be traveling internationally for a big game hunt in Africa.

If you want your big game hunting trip to go smoothly, you’ll want to do all the necessary research and iron out all the details you might not be 100% certain about.

Below are some key factors to consider when organizing your hunting trip of a lifetime:



Location

South African provinces

The provinces of South Africa all provide various big game hunting opportunities, with Limpopo and Eastern Cape being two of the most popular. (photo credit: southafrica.to)

In South Africa, hunting is readily available in the following nine provinces:

As you can see, you have plenty of options to choose from of when selecting your hunting destination.

The most popular areas listed above are Limpopo and Eastern Cape, with the other options still boasting amazing hunts and beautiful big game. Still, location popularity will likely not determine where you’ll be hunting, but rather what animal you will be looking to harvest.



Cost

Many hunters incorrectly assume that hunting in South Africa is more expensive than it really is.

In fact, an all-inclusive hunt for several species of plains game cost about the same as an elk hunt in the U.S.

When calculating the cost of a big game hunt (with the exception of some specialty hunts that have very niche requirements), the following will be everything you need to consider:

  • Travel arrangements
  • Trophy fees
  • Daily hunting rates
  • Taxidermy and shipping
  • Fees associated with lodging/stay (food, ammunition, etc.)


Skill

Keep in mind, big game hunting is an extremely physical commitment. You’ll want to be well prepared for the hours of walking and stalking that will likely be involved.

It’s imperative that you be in good and healthy physical shape, because you never know when you will find yourself in a life or death situation. 

Additionally, it’s advisable that you be a seasoned hunter for a hunting venture such as this. Not only can big game hunting be physically demanding, but dangerous as well. You don’t want to arrive ill-prepared and in over your head.




Availability

South Africa has a warm, moderate, and dry climate, which is ideal for big game hunting.

giraffes on prairie

Generally speaking, the big game hunting season in South Africa typically runs from the early Spring to mid-late Fall. With that being said, some of the most preferred hunting months for most South African species fall in the Summer months, with the prime hunting weather being a strong influence. 

Now, looking at what works best for you, the best indication of when you should plan your hunt really comes down the type of game you are looking to hunt or any restrictions or limitations you may have, such as budget or time availability.

No one hunt is perfect for everyone, but everyone has that one hunt that is perfect for them, it’s just a matter of doing the research!



Making Your Choice

As we’ve expanded on, there is plenty to consider for a hunting expedition in South Africa. Still, what it all really comes down to is what’s going to work best for you and what your ideal hunting experience is, as well as what you can afford.

elephants at water hole

As overwhelming as that may sound, it’s also incredibly exciting. Just make sure that you are working with a guide who you can trust and that you know is familiar with the area and the game you are hunting.



Types Of Big Game In Africa | Plan Your Hunt Today!

Big game hunting is a deeply satisfying sport enjoyed by thousands. A hunting expedition in South Africa can be a life-changing and rewarding experience.

To ensure the success of your trip, you’ll want to have a plethora of knowledge on all things related to the hunt. After taking the time to read through this guide, you’re already off to a great start!

grim reaper 1-38 header image

Should You Reap With Grim Reaper Broadheads? | In-Depth Review

In this in-depth review, I tested the Grim Reaper Mechanical Broadheads, specifically the 1-3/8″, 3-blade Pro Series tip.

I’ve hunted with these heads quite a bit and I’ve tested a number of Grim Reapers.

In these tests, I used my Bowtech CP28 set at 72 pounds, Bishop FOC King Arrows for most of the shooting, and then Bishop FAD Eliminators for the really hard impact shots, because they can really handle it.

Grim Reaper 1-3/8″ Pro Series Tip Broadheads Up Close

Let’s zoom on in here, go through some of the design features and specifications, and then put this Grim Reaper 1-3/8″, 3-blade to the test.

grim reaper 1-38 profile view

Here’s a good look of the head. Man, there’s a lot of cool stuff about this broadhead…

grim reaper 1-38 blade thickness

First of all, the materials… the blades are a 440C stainless steel and they’re 0.035″ thick so pretty decent thickness to them. And then the tip is a hardened steel tip. This is their Pro Series tip. They make a few different tips for their mechanicals. This is by far my favorite because it’s really sharp like a cut-on-contact tip but it’s also a chiseled tip which penetrates through really tough mediums very well. I’ve seen that thing buried really deeply into concrete in previous tests.

Here’s a good look of the head. Man, there’s a lot of cool stuff about this broadhead. First of all, the materials, the blades are a 440C stainless steel and they’re 0.035" thick so pretty decent thickness to them. And then the tip is a hardened steel tip. This is their Pro Series tip. They make a few different tips for their mechanicals. This is by far my favorite because it’s really sharp like a cut-on-contact tip but it’s also a chiseled tip which I mean, it penetrates through really tough mediums very well. I’ve seen that thing buried really deeply into concrete in previous tests.

And then you’ve got an aluminum ferrule right here. And, then you’ve got this retention cap which that’s a steel retention cap that’s not replaceable. And, that’s a nice thing. You don’t have to worry about O-rings or rubber bands or anything.

grim reaper 1-38 blades in open position

As the head impacts, it’s a front-deploying or over-to-the-top-deploying impact. There’s a spring inside. It gives it a little give to help it have a little bit better opening size than other broadheads. And the blades sweep back into this model with the black caps of 40-degree angle to the blades, and pretty sharp blades right there as well. So the total cutting diameter on this is 1-3/8″ and so with 3 blades, it comes to over 2″ of cut.



Grim Reaper Broadhead Testing

I was eager to put it to the test… let’s see how it performed…

Flight Forgiveness (I field pt then I broadhead @30 yds) 

grim reaper 1-38 flight test

As you would expect from a mechanical, the Grim Reaper had excellent flight, flying right with the field point.


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Initial Sharpness

grim reaper 1-38 initial sharpness test

It took 200 grams of force to cut through the wire which is a 10 on a 10-point scale.



Penetration Test 1 (2/3″ rubber mat, 1/2″ MDF, FBI Gel)   

grim reaper 1-38 ballistic gel test

It penetrated 5-3/4″ into the 2/3″ rubber mat, 1/2″ MDF and ballistic gel...

grim reaper 1-38 entrance hole in foam

And here’s a look at the entrance hole which is just the size of the broadhead in the close position.



Edge Retention Test (sharpness after Penetration Test 1)

grim reaper 1-38 sharpness after mdf ballistic gel test

It took an extra 75 grams of force to cut through the wire. That translates into an 8.5 on a 10-point scale.




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Penetration Test 2 (layered cardboard)

grim reaper 1-38 cardboad penetration test

It penetrated through 47 layers. And, I do think it’s noteworthy to point out that the last inch plus of that penetration is just that long tip. It’s not actually the blades doing the penetrating. But it still did penetrate through 47 layers.

Angled Shot Test (1/4″ MDF Carpet)

The Grim Reaper had no problems penetrating the 1/4″ angled MDF fronted by carpet, however in the next test…

Durability Test (1/2″ MDF max 3 shots)

grim reaper after 2 shots through MDF

Here is the look at the head after just two shots to the MDF. On the second shot, that retention cap broke open and rendered the broadhead useless thereafter. So, it didn’t make it to the third shot in the MDF and it will not go through to what would normally be the steel plate round. However, I still wanted to test the ferrule strength by shooting it into a concrete block.




Cinder Block Test

grim reaper 1-38 after concrete test

This is the head afterwards. As you can see, the retention cap, especially in the 100-grain models is quite weak with a really hard impactIt just kind of – it just fractures here and falls apart. However, when I shot it into the concrete it penetrated really deeply. I love those Pro tips! There was no getting that Pro tip out of the concrete. And, you can see the ferrule did get a bit of a bend to it as well.



Final Thoughts On The Grim Reaper Broadheads Review

So, what do you think?

I’ve really liked Grim Reapers. And, I love this Pro Series tip. And like I said, I’ve used them successfully in a number of hunts over the years.

On the 100-grain model especially, I like that there aren’t any replaceable rings or bands. However, it’s not the most durable system on the market.



Pretty much every time I’ve tested it on any relatively hard impact, it’s just broken. It has not done very well.

Now, of course, you can get new ones, but it just doesn’t quite have the durability that I look for.

grim reaper 1-38 lusk grade

The Grim Reaper 1-3/8″ expandable with the Pro Series tip scored 7 on the Lusk Golden Arrows grading scale.

Check out the score sheet and see how it performed and see if this might be a good fit for you.

g5 megameat broadhead review header

Is “MEGA” Better? | G5 Megameat Broadheads Review

In this review, I’m testing the Today, I’m going to be doing a retest of a head I did a couple of years ago. I’ve gotten so many requests to retest it, and since I’ve updated my broadhead test process, I’m going to be re-testing the Megameat, from G5 Outdoors.

First of all, Megameat… what a cool name!

And, it’s also a really intriguing broadhead! It has a super big cut, and it’s rear-deploying. There’s a lot to like about this head, so let’s see how it stacks up against other broadheads I’ve tested!

For this review, I’m using my Bowtech CP28, set at 72 pounds, with a 27-inch draw. I’m using Bishop FOC King Arrows for most of the shooting, but then I’m using the Bishop FAD Eliminators for the really hard impact shots.

G5 Megameat Up Close

Let’s zoom in and go through some of the design features and specifications of the G5 Megmeat!

G5 megameat profile

Here’s a good look of the 100-grain Megameat and there are a few things I want to point out right off the bat… it’s really tight and has a very low profile in flight, which is nice for such a big cutting broadhead.

G5 megameat ballistic tip

And, they also come with a ballistic matched tip that flies just like the broadhead. So, you can practice with this and know that the broadhead is going to fly similarly.

megameat ferrule and blade thickness

As for the materials, it has a stainless steel ferrule and the blades are also a steel, at 0.032″ thick. Now, I just want to note that the 3 edges of this ferrule are in between each of the main cutting blades. So, it actually is like 6 cutting surfaces.




megameat chisel tip

It has the 3 big blades and then 3 little edges in between. That’s just going to open up a really nice wound channel. Most broadheads have the chisel tip line up with those blades and that aids in penetration, but this is going to aid in cutting more stuff, which is why you get the Megameat in the first place, right?

megameat blades snap in

The blades are held in place by this base here. They clip into the base. That base is replaceable and they snap in very securely. It holds them very securely even out of a crossbow.

megameat in fully open position

And then when they’re in the fully open position they have a whopping big cut. So 2″ cutting diameter with 3 blades plus these little 3 gives it a total cut of 3.45″. That’s a lot of stuff being cut!

The Megameat has a nice short profile to the steel ferrule. While, I imagined the ferrule would be pretty durable, and the clips would hold the blades well, even at high speeds, I did wonder about the durability of the blades.

The blades slide pretty freely and are quite vented. They have a pretty standard diameter, or standard cut.

Our standard width here is 0.032″, but with a relatively thin design, and all that venting and then being so long, I thought that might be a weak point the the head.



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Megameat Broadhead Tests

So, let’s find out what the tests showed!

Flight Forgiveness (I field pt then I broadhead @30 yds):  

megameat flight test

The Megameat had excellent flight, with the broadheads flying near the field points.

Initial Sharpness Test

megameat initial sharpness test

It only took 150 grams of force to cut through the wire which is a 10 on a 10-point scale!



Penetration Test 1 (2/3″ rubber mat, 1/2″ MDF, FBI Gel):   

megameat ballistic gel test

It penetrated 6 1/2″. And here, you can see the entrance hole, which is just about its full cutting diameter. These heads really do open well on impact….

megameat bent blades after ballistic gel mdf test

But on the negative side, all 3 blades bent back quite a bit and that’s pretty rare that blades bend on this penetration test 1.




Edge Retention Test (sharpness after Penetration Test 1)

megameat sharpness after penetration test

It took an additional 25 grams of force to cut through the wire, which is a 9.5 on a 10-point scale.

Penetration Test 2 (layered cardboard)

megameat cardboard penetration test

It penetrated through 49 layers of cardboard.

Angled Shot Test (1/4″ MDF Carpet)

The Megameat had no problem penetrating the angled MDF.


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Durability Test (1/2″ MDF max 3 shots)

megameat after 1 shot into MDF

Here is the Megameat after one shot into the MDF and this was a new broadhead. I didn’t use the one that had previously bent on penetration test 1. I normally just use the same head all the way through. But since that was so bent, I started with a new head. And this is what happened just after one shot through the MDF. Normally, I do three shots, but I stopped after one because it was just so jacked up. So, it’s not going to go on to the steel plate test that I typically do.



Cinder Block Test

megameat cinder block results

So, here it is after impacting the concrete. Now as you saw, the blades got considerably bent on the MDF. And so, they didn’t make it to the steel plate round and even lost one of these blades. I used a pair of pliers to bend this blade back so I could shoot it into the cinder block, because I wanted to see how the ferrule would hold up. And man, the ferrule held up really well into the cinder block. The blades are just pretty weak because they are so long and they are so narrow and vented. But the ferrule did very well.



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Final Thoughts On G5 Megameat Broadheads

So, what do you think of the Megameat?

Man, there are a lot of cool features about this broadhead! I like the flight. I love the cut size. I love the rear-deploying blades and the way they open up to their full cut on impact. I also love the durability of the ferrule. That held up really well.

But man, the blades are weak!

I just wish they were stronger. I know in many situations, you can shoot it into an animal and it’s going to do just fine. I would say in most situations, it’s going to do just that. But, the blades are still just a bit weak.



So, how important that is for you… that’s up to you to determine. They bent very badly even in penetration test 1 (it’s rare that I see a broadhead get bent or damaged in that test), and then in the MDF, they just got all mangled. So, there is definitely a drawback.

Some people say, “Oh, it doesn’t matter. It’s one and done.” And I hear you.

But, it’s not just about being able to reuse the broadhead. If it’s one and done a quarter of the way through an animal, that’s a problem. It’s when does the “done” take place?

If it hits a rib or hits a bone, or maybe just an angled shot, and loses a couple of blades, or has some severely broken or bent back then maybe you’re not getting the big cutting diameter that you were really hoping for.



megameat lusk score card

The G5 Megameat scored 80.95 out of a possible 100 points on the Lusk Score Card, giving it 8 golden arrows.

But, if you hit in the right spot, man, you’re going to really make a huge hole and put them down fast. So, that’s up to you to determine whether that’s a reasonable risk to take.