Embarking on an African bowhunting adventure is a dream for many hunters. It's a journey that combines the thrill of the hunt with the challenge of pursuing game in a diverse and often demanding environment.
Hunter's Guide to Bow Hunting the African Way by African Hunter Magazine (2014) is compiled from more than 20 years of published material from the African Hunter Magazine, giving the reader or would-be bowhunter an in depth appreciation of bowhunting in Africa. Augmented with personal hunt reports, technical overviews and 20 anatomical shot placement diagrams, this work work is a must for those first time African bowhunters and those for whom Africa is already home.
This guide offers insights into planning your trip, understanding local regulations, and ensuring an ethical and successful hunt. Whether you are a seasoned bowhunter or a first-time adventurer, this information will help you prepare for an unforgettable experience in the African bush.
Planning Your African Bowhunting Safari
An African safari is a grand adventure. When most of us first journey to the Dark Continent it is the most exotic, most remote, most distant hunting location in our experience. So of course, we worry endlessly about making sure we have all the right gear and the perfect guns and loads. This is healthy.
Laying out the gear and packing and repacking the gun case and duffel bags are an important part of any pre-hunt ritual, and add to the anticipation. If you are thinking of taking the leap and making a trip to Africa, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. But a bowhunter does need to understand things are different overseas.
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Many times, as a Traditional Bowhunter, I’ve found outfitters prefer that you use a compound or crossbow and reach out 40 to 60 yards for your trophies. But on my first trip to Africa (that I booked with Erin Throckmorton) the outfitter adapted some strategies to fit my equipment. It truly was an Awesome experience, from my ancient Impala I took at 8 yards, to my INCREDIBLE 12-year-old Kudu that measured over 52” of spiraling horn above his head that offered me a 16-yard shot.
It was a great learning curve from how the plains game of South Africa would react to a shot with my longbow, shot placement on my end, and preparation for shots and shot distances on game as my chosen gear is slower than most of today’s bowhunting gear. Both the outfitter and I learned a lot on this trip, as I was one of the first traditional bowhunters they had at camp.
Choosing an Outfitter
Turn your dream of an African hunting safari into reality-it’s far more affordable than you might think. We specialize in plains game hunting safaris, offering unforgettable experiences for first-time hunters, seasoned African hunters, and those returning for another safari.
We offer an authentic African hunting experience, blending expert guiding, diverse free-range terrain, comfortable lodge accommodations, and access to a wide variety of species. Nick Bowker is based in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, with Hopewell Lodge serving as our central hub and your home throughout your safari.
Thanks to these long-standing relationships, Nick has exclusive access to over 2 million acres of prime hunting land in and around Bedford. The wildlife is carefully managed by local farmers, each with a vested interest in maintaining healthy populations.
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Landowners own the game on their property, including transient animals that roam freely between properties. Our family has lived in this area for five generations, and hunting is in our blood. Your safari will be a true fair-chase hunt in a free-range African environment. We do not hunt behind high fences, except for a few specific species where this is required.
The Eastern Cape is one of the safest hunting regions in Africa, and in our decades of professional hunting, we have never experienced a security incident. Whether you are a first-time African hunter or returning for another safari, we will be with you every step of the way.
Robert Bowker is the owner of Bowker Hunting, which he manages for the purpose of booking clients for both Nick Bowker Hunting and Bowker Safaris. In addition, Rob is part-owner and director of Nick Bowker Hunting, where he is responsible for finance, marketing, and client communications.
Before focusing on Bowker Hunting, Rob built a successful 25-year career as an international finance executive. A Certified Public Accountant (CA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Rob brings world-class business and financial expertise to the Bowker hunting operations. Benjamin Pringle and Ryan Williamson assist Nick with guiding.
Essential Gear
A medium calibre rifle (.270, 3006, 300 win mag) will be suitable, used with good quality ammunition with projectile weight from grains. A high velocity bullet with a maximum force on impact is needed. Telescopic sights with a 6 fold enlargement are sufficient. Quality full-size binoculars in the 7×42 to 10×40 range.
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We recommend that hunters bring caliber not smaller than 30-06 for thin skinned animals and .375 for thick skinned and Big Five hunts. It is important that to bring a rifle that you are comfortable with!
The 3 most important aspects of an arrow for a successful African kill:
- Perfect arrow flight.
- Ridiculously sharp broad head.
- Heavy arrow, At least 7.5g per bow pound.
Travel Arrangements
will likely take between 24 and 48 hours, depending on layovers and how much you are willing to spend. I traveled through Denver and then Frankfurt, Germany, before finally landing in Johannesburg. Ryan went through Minneapolis and then Paris, France, before arriving a few hours after I did.
Traveling with a bow isn’t as difficult as with firearms, but be advised that inspections and “shakedowns” from Customs agents and local law enforcement can and do happen occasionally - especially to those travelers who are uninformed or appear vulnerable. Ryan had his bow case taken to an outside Customs inspector who thought his case contained a firearm, which cost us an extra hour.
While I was just about to leave the international area, a local Joburg police officer pulled me aside and then attempted to get a little “tip” out of me. Once I informed him the cases were bows and not firearms, and that I had a local South African waiting for me just outside, the officer backed off and I continued on my way without being fleeced.
Days before my trip, I made copies of every form I needed. I also made copies of my driver's license and passport and put everything in a labeled folder. I discovered that while you can't control flights, security hang-ups, etc., the more organized you are, the more airport security and police personnel appreciate it.
I recommend arriving three hours early for both your international flights. I wasn't able to pre-check because of my firearm and ammo, which added check-in time. You will also be going with airport personnel to check your firearm. It's essential to have your ammunition in a separate locked case and declare that ammunition.
It's also imperative to have the keys to your locks handy. I also recommend making a spare and putting it in your carry-on. Take a carry-on and one personal item on the plane. Have boots and hunting clothes in your carry-on for at least one day.
My buddy, Scott Haugen, was with me on this trip. This was Haugen's sixteenth safari, and he told me that if you have your boots and a set of hunt clothes, you won't be staying in the lodge waiting for your luggage while everyone else is out hunting should you have a luggage hiccup. You can always use the outfitter's rifle and ammo and settle up on the cost (if any) later.
It's essential to have your laptop, optics, and camera equipment in your carry-on. Gracy informed us that "sticky fingers" have been an issue before. If your Africa hunt is during June, July, or August, you're hunting the continent in the winter months. We did experience a few morning hunts with temps in the 30s. Most days, temperatures topped out in the low 70s, so prepare accordingly.
I also recommend talking with your outfitter. If you can wash clothes while you're there, I recommend going light on hunt clothing. This way, you can bring souvenirs back home and not exceed the weight limit. The Plane Ride There isn't much to know here except that wearing shorts and a T-shirt was wrong. At night, above 35,000 feet, the cabin got cold. I recommend a hoodie or a puffy jacket in your carry-on. Yes, you will receive a blanket and a pillow; the blanket is see-through and not warm.
The flight is long. We had an excellent tailwind from Atlanta to Joburg, and it was still over 15 hours. The flight is more extended coming back. I recommend sleeping as much as possible and drinking a lot of water. Sleep and water will help you combat jetlag.
Health Considerations
A few other lessons I learned the hard way in-country dealt with the food, water, E. coli, and lost hunting days. The chefs at the concessions were great and the food was delicious. But it’s not America, and the intestinal tolerances of people vary greatly.
I love rare meat and runny eggs - bad move on my part! We also drank many beverages with ice. Bottled water should be the only water you consume, even when brushing your teeth. It was likely through one of these self-inflicted mistakes that I came down with a very nasty bug halfway through our safari.
I tried to tough it out, but after two days of massive fluid loss and not being able to keep much down, I was taken to the local Thabazimbi clinic. The doctor there left me speechless when he told me about the strong E. coli strains prevalent in the area. He also suggested that even when drinking bottled water, that a small amount of whisky should be added.
I lost a few days of valuable hunting time and learned some hard lessons. Even while quite sick, Adriaan managed to put me on a beautiful gemsbok.
Regarding medication, Gracy gave me the option to get travel immunizations and prescriptions but also informed me that it was neither required nor recommended where we were going. Be sure to work with your travel agency on immunizations and meds or do the necessary research online.
Bowhunting Techniques in Africa
This method is preferred during the green season months, February until May as sufficient cover exists and the green bush is softer on the foot and reduces noise while stalking. Spot and stalk hunting is also used for the “more difficult” game species or those that do not frequent waterholes.
Hunting from a blind over salt licks and waterholes has been practiced since the first safaris. Hemingway starts his classic book with a story about a kudu hunt from a blind built “at a close arrow shot from the salt lick”. In fact, as it turned out, the native hunters used the blinds at the same time, and that ruined things for Hem one evening. But the point is, while the writer was hunting with a rifle, he could as well have used a bow.
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Ethical Considerations
The practice of shooting from a moving vehicle is prohibited; ethical principles of hunting determine that any animal must have at least an equal chance to escape. The game is considered the property of the ranchers, and what we American bowhunters hold as ethical values are not always firmly adhered to there.
Some PHs will absolutely pressure you to do things most of us would consider unethical, just to sell another animal. Once our ground rules were firmly established, everything was fine. It’s just something American sportsmen and women need to be aware of.
Legal Requirements in Namibia
Due to the difficulty of achieving the above criteria, bow-hunting in Namibia is technically a highly selective sport and requires above normal self-discipline and physical fitness. A Hunting Guide, Master Hunting Guide or Professional Hunter with additional qualifications for bow-hunting must guide trophy hunters visiting Namibia.
Bow hunting shall be conducted exclusively in the company of a registered hunting guide/ master hunting guide or professional hunter with an additional bow hunting qualification at all times in the bush or blind, and not more than two trophy hunters per guide at any given time.
Bow-hunting may only take place on special game farms and areas which are registered for this purpose with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Respect Landowners rights. Bow-hunting may only be conducted for the sake of trophy hunting.
Licenses for various game species may be organized by the outfitter and must clearly stipulate Bowhunting. No animal will be viable for inclusion in the NAPHA Top Ten List if said animals have been harvested with a permit not clearly displaying the Bowhunting stamp at the top of the page.
The onus lies with the trophy hunter to check and ensure that the correct permits are in possession of the outfitter before hunting commences. No person shall without the permission of the Cabinet hunt any game or other wild animal, other than a problem animal, with theaid of artificial light, or during the period from half an hour after sunset on any day to half an hour before sunrise on the following day.
A hunting guest may only take two animals of a kind each year, irrespective if the trophies are exported or not. All Trophies must attain the minimum points of trophy quality.
A bow with a draw weight of not less than 35kg and an arrow weighing not less than 45 grams is required for Giraffe and Eland and draw weight of not less than 35kg with an arrow not less than 40 grams is required for most antelope. The importation of bows for bow hunting is legal in Namibia and no permit is required.
Longbows, recurve bows and compound bows are legal to hunt with, but no crossbows are allowed for hunting in Namibia. According to law arrows should be 20 inch/500mm and longer. Our recommendation is to hunt African game with fixed broad heads and not mechanical broad heads.
The Namibian bow hunting law requires that bow hunters are accompanied by a professional hunter registered as bow hunting guide while hunting. The best season for bow hunting is during the drier months of the year from June until November.
Minimum Legal Requirements for Bow Hunting in Namibia:
- Small Game: 25 ft/lbs and an arrow weight of 350 grains (e.g., African Wild Cat, Blessbuck, Caracal, Rock Rabbit, Damara Dik-Dik, Grey Duiker, Jackal, Klipspringer, Springbuck, and Steenbuck)
- Medium Size Game: 40 ft/lbs and an arrow weight of 400 grains (e.g., Warthog, Baboon, Cheetah, and Spotted Hyena)
- Big Game: 65ft/lbs and an arrow weight of 450 grains (e.g., Kudu, Gemsbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Zebra, etc.)
Available Hunting Packages
Here’s a glimpse into some of the packages available, giving you an idea of what to expect in terms of cost and trophy opportunities:
| Package Name | Duration | Hunters | Price (USD) | Trophies Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Time To South Africa | 7-Day | 1x1 | $6,450.00/PP | Gemsbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Blesbuck |
| First Time To South Africa | 7-Day | 2x1 | $6,050.00/PP | Gemsbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Blesbuck |
| Taste of Africa | 7-Day | 2x1 | $11,600.00 Total | Gemsbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Zebra, Blesbuck, 2 x Impala, 2 x Warthog, 2 x Steenbuck and/or Duiker (Shared between 2 Hunters) |
| Super 6 Package | 7-Day | 1x1 | $10,200.00/PP | Kudu, Gemsbuck, Zebra, Impala, Blesbuck, Warthog |
| Super 6 Package | 7-Day | 2x1 | $9,800.00/PP | Kudu, Gemsbuck, Zebra, Impala, Blesbuck, Warthog |
| Lucky Packet Package | 7-Day | 1x1 | $8,650.00/PP | Kudu, Eland, Waterbuck, or Nyala, Gemsbuck, Blue Wildebeest, or Zebra, Blesbuck or Impala, Duiker, Steenbuck, or Warthog, Baboon, Monkey, Porcupine, or Genet |
| Lucky Packet Package | 7-Day | 2x1 | $8,250.00/PP | Kudu, Eland, Waterbuck, or Nyala, Gemsbuck, Blue Wildebeest, or Zebra, Blesbuck or Impala, Duiker, Steenbuck, or Warthog, Baboon, Monkey, Porcupine, or Genet |
| Ultimate Hunters Package | 7-Day | 1x1 | $12,880.00/PP | Kudu or Eland, Gemsbuck or Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest or Black Wildebeest, Zebra, Blesbuck, Impala, Warthog, Duiker or Steenbuck |
| Ultimate Hunters Package | 7-Day | 2x1 | $12,480.00/PP | Kudu or Eland, Gemsbuck or Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest or Black Wildebeest, Zebra, Blesbuck, Impala, Warthog, Duiker or Steenbuck |
These packages provide a range of options for hunters with varying budgets and trophy goals.
