Spotted hyena hunting package 2026/2027 | All-inclusive

Master the dark. Secure your trophy in the Limpopo bushveld with 1x1 PH guidance, proven baiting strategies, and an outfitter with 29 years of experience.

Hunting package details 2026 / 2027

The following package is structured for the serious nocturnal hunter, combining rigorous pre-hunt preparation with the comfort of our luxury bushveld facilities. We have streamlined every detail to ensure your time is spent focused on the hunt.

Hyena hunting package is ideal as an add-on package

Because our hyena operations are concentrated in prime habitat, this hunt serves as the perfect night-time complement to your primary safari. Many of our clients integrate this into their existing itinerary to maximize their time in the field.

This package pairs seamlessly with our premier trophy offerings, including:

• Dangerous Game: Cape Buffalo and Leopard.

• Prized Antelope: Sable, Roan, and Nyala.

• Diverse Plains Game: A wide variety of species available across our Limpopo, North West, and KZN concessions.

The African Bushbuck Adventures advantage

You aren't just booking a hunt; you are securing 29 years of institutional knowledge. While other outfitters provide a PH and a vehicle, we provide a managed outcome.

• Elite concessions: We operate on 10,000+ acres of prime habitat adjacent to the Kruger National Park. This creates a natural overflow of clan activity, giving us the highest density of trophy-class individuals in the region.

• Zero-guesswork baiting: We don't rely on luck. Our team initiates the baiting process and camera monitoring before you arrive. By the time you touch down at Johannesburg International Airport, we already know which individuals are hitting the bait and during which hours.

• The nocturnal specialist: Hyena hunting is a game of patience and optics. Our PH team are experts in standard and thermal night-vision applications, ensuring you have the clearest possible shot window on a target that never stays still.

• Uncompromising ethics: We focus on the removal of older, outcast individuals. This target-specific approach protects the clan's matriarchal stability while ensuring the trophy you take is truly mature.

Hunting methods and trophy preparation

Hunting the nocturnal spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) requires specialized techniques and a deep understanding of predator behavior. We focus on methods that prioritize stealth and high-success encounters.

• Baiting and blinds: The most effective method involves strategic baiting, often utilizing scent drags from harvested plains game. We hunt from concealed, comfortable blinds to ensure you remain undetected by this elusive predator.

• Spot and stalk: While rare, opportunistic stalking may be employed during the twilight hours or at night using appropriate, legally compliant optics.

• Thermal and night-vision support: Your PH will utilize high-grade thermal optics for monitoring activity, switching to traditional low-light scopes for the final approach and shot.

• The golden rule: Our professional hunters are experts in reading the bush and the wind. We maintain the highest standards of safety and ethical hunting, ensuring that your encounter is both safe and successful.

Video: The nocturnal predator experience

Our spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) hunting video provides a rare look into the preparation and execution required for a successful predator safari. While the footage depicts a successful harvest on the first day, this is the exception rather than the rule. Significant hours are dedicated to harvesting bait animals, preparing scent drags, and managing bait stations long before the first shot is taken.

One of the most remarkable aspects of hunting with African Bushbuck Adventures is the unpredictability of the bush. During this specific all-inclusive safari, our clients were treated to the rare sight of a leopard on two separate occasions while waiting for the hyena to break cover.

Experience the tension and the triumph of the night hunt. Sit back, relax, and visualize yourself securing an impressive trophy after a world-class predator safari.

Limited 2026 availability

We have limited permits remaining for the 2026 season. Because these hunts require extensive pre-baiting and site preparation, bookings must be confirmed at least 60 days in advance to ensure your success in the field.

Secure your dates today.

Optimal conditions for your predator safari

While the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) can be hunted year-round, certain windows provide a distinct advantage for the serious trophy hunter.

• The cooler months (April – September): This is the premium window. Lower temperatures allow bait to remain active for longer periods, significantly increasing your chances of attracting a clan to the station.

• The summer season (November – March): Success remains high, but hunters should prepare for afternoon thundershowers and increased humidity.

• The moon phase factor: Regardless of the time of year, we recommend planning your safari around the new moon. Darker nights make these intelligent predators far less cautious, providing the optimal window for a successful harvest.

Expert guidance and safety

Your safety and the ethics of the hunt are our primary concerns. At African Bushbuck Adventures, we rely on established expertise, not seasonal staff.

• Elite mentorship: Every professional hunter we employ has a minimum of 15 years of full-time dangerous game experience.

• Tactical knowledge: Our team specializes in "reading" the night bush, managing wind direction at baiting stations, and ensuring that your encounter is both safe and successful.

• Respect for the quarry: Hyena hunting is a game of patience and skill. We prioritize a clean, ethical harvest that respects the resilience of this formidable predator.

Pricing & Transparency

All-Inclusive Rate: $6,950

What’s Included: Daily rates, 1x1 PH services, trackers, luxury lodge accommodation, full catering (meals and local beverages), daily laundry service, and the mandatory TOPS permit fee.

What’s Extra: Bait units (impala @ $100/unit), rifle rental ($40/night), professional taxidermy services, and trophy shipping.

Budget Transparency (Exclusions):

• Airfare: International flights to and from JNB.

• Trophy logistics: Taxidermy, dipping, packing, and final shipping fees for your trophies to your home.

• Personal expenses: Souvenirs, personal phone calls, and items of a personal nature.

• Gratuities: Tips for the PH, trackers, skinners, and lodge staff are discretionary.

• Insurance: Travel, hunting, and personal liability insurance.

• Observers: Non-hunting companions are welcome at a rate of $150 per person, per day.

Baiting requirements and logistics

Successful hyena hunting relies on the consistency and quality of the bait station. We use a high-volume approach to ensure the clan remains centered on our property.

• Bait selection: We prioritize mature plains game carcasses. impala, blesbok, or blue wildebeest provide the necessary scent profile and longevity required for multi-night site occupation.

• Consumption rates: A dominant clan can consume an entire carcass in a single night. To keep the site active, we plan for a replenishment rate of one unit of bait per 24-hour cycle during the peak of your hunt.

• Scent management: We utilize specialized scent drags—prepared from the offal of harvested plains game—to create a highway leading to the blind. This technique is non-negotiable for pulling dominant individuals away from natural game trails.

• Preparation: Our team manages the placement and replenishment of bait, ensuring fresh scent is introduced daily to counteract the dry, high-veld conditions that can mute olfactory signals.

Baiting cost

Baiting logistics: Your all-inclusive fee covers the setup of your station. The optional $100/unit fee covers the acquisition and delivery of fresh bait animals (typically cull-quality Impala) to your specific site, ensuring continuous activity throughout your stay.