Just over 8,500 hunters traveled to South Africa in 2018 for a hunting safari. In total they spent almost $108 million in trophy fees alone. When adding daily rates, the total came to almost $134 million.
The figures do not account for any additional travel-related expenses hunters may have invurred while in the country. The figures were released during a presentation by the Department of Environmental Affairs of South Africa’s Mpho Tjiane during the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa Convention and AGM held in Bela Bela, South Africa this past November.
Limpopo countries to lead as South Africa’s most popular hunting province with 3,927 clients in 2018. The number grew by 527 from 2017’s total of 3,400 hunters and 2016’s 3,300. The Eastern Cape followed in second place with 1,510 hunters, a difference of more than 2,400. North West saw 1,004 clients in 2018. Kwazulu Natal, Northern Cape,Mpumanlang, Free State, Western Cape, Gauteng followed in descending order. Four provinces saw increase in the number of hunters.
The United States remains South Africa’s greatest source of hunting clients. In 2018 5,030 hunters going on safari to South Africa were Americans. Denmark came in as a far second with only 452 hunters, followed by German at 332.
The number of American hunters has also continued to increase, going from 3,790 in 2016 to 4,774 in 2017 and jumping another in 2018. Overall the number of Americans hunting in South Africa has grown by just over 32 percent since 2017. Most of those hunters, a whopping 2,405 or 47 percent, went to the Limpopo Province. The second favorite province among American hunters is Eastern Cape (923 hunters) followed by North West with 572 hunters. Limpopo was also by far the favorite of hunters from Denmark, Germany, Spain and Canada.
The top 10 species hunted in South Africa continue to be impala, warthog, kudu, common blesbok, common springbok, blue wildebeest, gemsbok, Burchell zebra, nyala and waterbuck in that order, with very little variation from year to year.
When looking at key species, the Cape buffalo is the most common species hunted,, with 1,129 buffalo taken in 2018. It was also the top income generating species for the third consecutive year, bringing in 213,526,468 Rands (about $14,456, 768). Lion were third place in the most hunted key species, with 358 taken, a bit less than ostrich (424 hunted). Roan (319) and crocodile (187) followed key species harvested. Hunters took 56 white rhino and only 2 black rhino. Elephant accounted for 39 trophies taken while hippo showed 64 animals hunted. Only 6 leopards were taken in 2018, reflecting the very restrictive quota.
After Cape Buffalo, sable antelope were the top income generation. Producing 204,988,407 Rands ($13,878,700). Kudu followed in third ($7,978,578) and then nyala ($5,658,009). Lion came in fifth place at $3,210, 874 for 2018. That is down from $7,496,904 in 2016 aroun when US Fish and Wildlife changed the requirements to import lion trophies to the United States.
Not surprisingly, when looking at the province that generated the most income, Limpopo was the overwhelming winner, brining in 624,635,279 Rands ($42,290,811), more than twice as much as the runner up, Eastern Cape with 247,179,174 Rands ($16,735,218). Limpopo’s hunting income has also increased each year since 2016. When looking ar general hunting numbers in 2018, South Africa saw a increase of about 30% in the number of hunters visiting this hunting destination since 2016.
