Kudu season 2025 — which provinces are open and current quota situation

Good info. On the calibre debate — I have been hunting KZN for 26 years and the conversation never changes. The calibre matters far less than the shot placement — a poorly placed .375 is worse than a perfectly placed .243.

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 or Eastern Cape. Abundant populations and a well-established hunting industry with reputable operators.

Calibre: .308 Win or 30-06. At typical bush distances of 80–150m, this is entirely adequate with the right bullet. I use Nosler Partition or Barnes TTSX — 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 R5404 on most reputable farms. Add R2406/day for accommodation and meals if you are going full package. Day hunt options exist from R609/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.

The Eastern Cape has restricted kudu cow hunting — check the current provincial proclamation before booking. The rut in May–June makes bulls easier to locate.

Any questions about specific areas or farms — I hunt Limpopo or Eastern Cape every season and know most of the reputable operations.
— surika_hugo

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.

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 or Eastern Cape. Abundant populations and a well-established hunting industry with reputable operators.

Calibre: .308 Win or 30-06. At typical bush distances of 80–150m, this is entirely adequate with the right bullet. I use Nosler Partition or Barnes TTSX — 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 R5404 on most reputable farms. Add R2406/day for accommodation and meals if you are going full package. Day hunt options exist from R609/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.

The Eastern Cape has restricted kudu cow hunting — check the current provincial proclamation before booking. The rut in May–June makes bulls easier to locate.

Any questions about specific areas or farms — I hunt Limpopo or Eastern Cape every season and know most of the reputable operations.
— surika_hugo

Good info. On the calibre debate — I have been hunting KZN for 18 years and the conversation never changes. .308 with the right bullet has put down everything I have aimed it at cleanly.