Read on to learn all about the great trophy hunting for Kudu in South Africa that we provide in Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga Provinces.

Kudu are a large species of antelope that live across most of South Africa. We hunt Kudu on all of our hunting areas, but the hunting for Kudu is best on our main hunting area in Limpopo Province.

They typically weigh 400-600 pounds and stand over four feet tall at the shoulder. Kudu have long legs and a grey or light brown colored coat. They also have a number of vertical white stripes along their torso along with a single white chevron on their face between the eyes.

Male kudu have long, spiraling horns. A mature Kudu will have 2 1/2 or even 3 full curls in some cases. Along with eland, nyala, and bushbuck, kudu are one of the four spiral horned antelope that inhabit South Africa.

Kudu usually live in the thick bushveld or on rocky hillsides and are cautious about entering open terrain. They are known for being especially shy and elusive animals, which is how they got their nickname of the “Grey Ghost.”

They are primarily browsing animals and enjoy eating leaves and fruit. Females tend to live in herds of 5-10 other kudu, mainly other females and their young. Mature males are either solitary or live in bachelor herds.

Best Cartridge For Hunting Kudu
We recommend the .270 Winchester as the minimum for trophy hunting Kudu. The .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Magnum are all also great ideal choices for hunting Kudu in South Africa. However, there is also nothing wrong with using something larger, like a 9.3x62mm Mauser or .375 H&H Magnum when hunting Kudu. You won’t get many good shots on these elusive animals, so it’s a good idea to make the ones you do get count.

Kudu Shot Placement
Luckily, Kudu aren’t particularly tough animals. However, they are pretty big, so shot placement is still important. We recommend a traditional shoulder shot when hunting Kudu. When the animal is standing broadside, simply aim at the center of the shoulder, approximately one third of the way up the body (this goes for both rifle and bow hunters).

Make sure you adjust your aiming point accordingly if the Kudu is quartering towards or away from you (aim slightly forward if the impala is quartering towards you and slightly to the rear if the Kudu is quartering away).

Methods For Hunting Kudu
Walk and stalk is the most common method for hunting Kudu and this is how we conduct the vast majority of hunting. Hunting over a water hole can also be a very successful method.

Best Time Of Year For Hunting Kudu
If you are planning on hunting Kudu, we recommend the months of May through November, and September through November in particular. During this time, there is much less vegetation present, which is much better for visibility. Additionally, there are fewer water sources and the Kudu tend to be more concentrated where there is water. Due to this, hundreds of Kudu migrate onto this land from surrounding areas at the height of the dry season.

Average Trophy Size
Our average Kudu trophy measures 51-52” and we usually take few impala that measure 53-56” each year. We have taken four Kudu that measured over 60” during the last five years, including the monster in the photo below. All of these Kudu were shot on our main hunting camp in Limpopo Province near the end of the dry season.

If you’re interested in trophy hunting Kudu in South Africa, contact us for more information or to book your hunt.