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Hunting Tanzania

Hunting Tanzania - The unspoilt wilderness areas of Tanzania make for some of the best big game hunting in Africa.

"The Selous Game Reserve is a massive 5 million acres in extent and has a further 2 million acres of buffer zone surrounding it. The reserve supports the largest populations of African game animals in one reserve anywhere on the continent - 30,000 elephants, 200,000 Cape buffalo and 80,000 wildebeest and significant populations of almost every other species of African mammals. Although there are a very few exceptions, the buffer zones tend to hold far fewer head of game per square kilometre than the Selous Reserve proper. This is mostly due to the fact that unlike the Selous itself, the buffer zones permit human habitation and therefore suffer from a degree of poaching - mostly subsistence poaching. The Selous is the largest game reserve in the world, is entirely unfenced and can be classified as one of the very few remaining pristine true wilderness areas in existence. The reserve is split into approximately 40 hunting concessions and leased on five year terms, to a variety of safari companies. These concession blocks are labelled by letters and numbers. The letter(s) refers to the first letter(s) of the name(s) of the river boundaries and the number refers to the exact location. For example, K2 refers to the second concession on the Kilombero River. If the area is referred to by a name such as Gonabisi it is a buffer zone and not part of the Selous Reserve. There are no exceptions to this rule."

Tanzania Hunting Season

1st July until 31st March (The season was extended in the new Tanzanian Wildlife Tourist Hunting regulations of 2010)

Tanzania Weather

The season may end earlier (mid November) in some areas like the Selous Reserve because the rains may start towards the end of November making the hunting impossible.
Tanzania lies so close to the equator that seasonal variations in temperature are not extreme.
In the north, temperatures will range between 25ºC to 28ºC during the day.
Further south, temperatures may reach 40ºC.

Tanzania Map

This map may be enlarged and moved in all directions. You may also select satellite and terrain views.

Tanzania Game Laws

All trophy hunting to take place within the hours of daylight. No hunting between sunset and sunrise.
No hunting is allowed at night or with artificial light.
The minimum number of days (10, 16, 21/28) for a hunting safari is controlled by the Government and is based upon a certain list of species that may be hunted.
Shooting from a vehicle is not permitted.
Hunting female animals which are apparently pregnant or accompanied by young, young and/or immature animals is prohibited.
Hunting permits must be issued prior to the hunt commencing.
A separate permit must be issued for each individual hunting client.
Particular species size minimums (below) must be adhered to or there may be a penalty of up to 3x the trophy fee and possible confiscation of the trophy.
The minimum calibre requirement for any game, except dangerous game is .240
The minimum calibre requirement for dangerous game is .375

Tanzania Species Minimum Size/Age Requirements

With these original 2000 Wildlife Tourist Hunting regulation minimums, no person could hunt...

Leopard less than 130cm from tip of nose to root of tail.
Elephant with tusks weighing less than 15kg per tusk or measuring less than 150cm per tusk.
Crocodile less than 240cm from nose to tip of tail.
Lion of any age below 6 years.

The new 2010 Tourist Hunting Regulations, which replace those of 2000, state no person may hunt...

Lion below the age of 6 years.
Elephant with tusks weighing less than 18kg per tusk or measuring less than 160cm per tusk.
Leopard less than 150cm from nose to tip of tail.
Crocodile less than 300cm from nose to tip of tail.

There appears that there may an error with the leopard minimum, but as this is now law, we would suggest consulting first with your outfitter if you intend to hunt leopard in Tanzania.

There is also no stated specified method by which they want lion age to be assessed.

Tanzania Hunting Species

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 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.