First hunting licence in Gauteng — complete step-by-step guide for 2025
Here is what you need to know for the current season.
Season: April–September in most provinces. Check your specific province's proclamation on the SA Hunters (sahunters.co.za) or PHASA (phasa.co.za) website — dates and quotas vary by province and can change year to year.
Best destination: Limpopo. Abundant populations and a well-established hunting industry with reputable operators.
Calibre: .308 Win. At typical bush distances of 80–150m, this is entirely adequate with the right bullet. I use Nosler Partition — penetration and weight retention are consistent even at steep angles. The calibre debate on forums goes on forever but honestly, bullet placement matters far more than calibre for all plains game.
Cost: Trophy fees for this species run around R5021 on most reputable farms. Add R1782/day for accommodation and meals if you are going full package. Day hunt options exist from R807/day plus trophy fees if you are self-catering nearby.
Landowner permission: Written letter, your ID number, farm details, and the species you are licensed for. A WhatsApp message does not satisfy the legal requirement. The nature conservation officers do check.
Always hunt with a PHASA-registered professional hunter on unfamiliar ground.
Any questions about specific areas or farms — I hunt Limpopo every season and know most of the reputable operations.
5 Replies
On the landowner permission letter — I found a good template on the SA Hunters website. Print it, get the landowner to sign and stamp it, keep a copy on your phone and one in your vehicle. The conservation officers have become stricter about the format recently.
Which PH did you use in that area? I am planning a self-hunt trip to the Eastern Cape Karoo and am looking for a reliable contact who knows the area and runs an ethical operation. Can you share contact details via DM?
— hannes_strydom
The kudu rut in May–June is genuinely the best time to hunt them. Bulls are vocal, territorial, and moving during daylight hours. The rest of the year you are hunting on spoor and patience. If your schedule allows it, plan for May or early June.
Which PH did you use in that area? I am planning a self-hunt trip to the Eastern Cape Karoo and am looking for a reliable contact who knows the area and runs an ethical operation. Can you share contact details via DM?
Which PH did you use in that area? I am planning a self-hunt trip to the Eastern Cape Karoo and am looking for a reliable contact who knows the area and runs an ethical operation. Can you share contact details via DM?
— hannes_strydom
The warthog transport permit catches a lot of people out. You get it from the PH or the landowner before you leave the property. Some provinces require the meat to go through a registered facility. Check the specific requirements for the province you are hunting in — they differ.
Which PH did you use in that area? I am planning a self-hunt trip to the Eastern Cape Karoo and am looking for a reliable contact who knows the area and runs an ethical operation. Can you share contact details via DM?