Hunting Impala in Africa – Everything You Need to Know

hunting impala
Majestic Common Impala trophy hunted at Huntershill Safaris

Hunting impala is high up on the to-do list of nearly every hunter who comes to the land of the Big Five. The rooibok (as impala are known locally) are one of the staple antelopes of Southern Africa, and are considered the bread and butter of the continent. 

Used for everything from dinner on the table to bait for lions, they are also a wonderful first hunt for the new African hunter

Discover Your Trophy: The Impala

hunting impala
Rare white-flanked impala

This is an elegant, medium-sized ring-horned antelope, smaller than the Eland and Kudu

The impala is a grazer, and a browser. Found in sociable herds, you’ll find them in open woodlands, the bushveld, and the mopane scrub. 

A daily water-drinker, you will spot them not too far to water. 

Only the rams have the distinctive lyre-shaped horns, however, the herds tend to bunch up close to each other, often in dense brush, which can make it difficult to identify which antelope is male and which is female.

Types of Impala at Huntershill Safaris

  • Impala Common – The “rooibok” or red buck, this antelope is reddish and medium-sized
  • Impala Black – Much like the common Impala, this variant is strikingly black
  • Impala White Flanked – This rare impala is whitish all over
  • Impala Saddleback – This unique impala sports a dark back that makes it distinct from the others

Best Time to Hunt Impala in Africa

The ideal time to go hunting for impala is in South Africa’s autumn months (April – May) in the rut season, when the best rams can be found within the breeding herds. 

Tips For Hunting Impala

hunting impala
Magnificent Saddle Back Impala Trophy

Impala’s have a highly developed sense of hearing and smell, as well as excellent eyesight.

This means you have to be extra careful and stealthy when walking and stalking. 

Your PH will guide you, but you will find that this trophy is most active during the cooler times of the day (early morning and later in the afternoon). 

If you want a more certain shot at this quarry, consider waiting near known feeding areas. 

However, be careful to not alarm the impala, as they will herd tightly together when startled. 

This makes it easy to shoot more than one impala with a single shot. 

Load and Rifle Recommendations

It is legal to hunt impala with the .22 centerfire, however – if you don’t want to track a wounded impala for the whole day – we recommend 6mm, 7mm, right on up to the 30 calibers as a far better option. 

Quality, heavy-for-caliber round-nose bullets have a solid reputation for the bushveld conditions under which you will be hunting. 

Ideal Shot Placement for Impala

The impala is a tough contender for its size. Therefore, the most effective placement is a high heart/lung shot. For a great lung shot, aim directly up the fore-leg, about one third or a bit higher and just a smidge to the rear.  

What It Costs To Hunt Impala / Trophy Fees

trophy
Saddle Back Impala Trophy

You can hunt Impala as part of a hunting package, or on its own.

  • Impala Common @ $600
  • Impala White Flanked @ 2,000
  • Black Impala @ R1,500
  • Impala Saddleback @ 1,800

What is included: Everything. Yes, everything. Your PH, hunting license, skinner fees, tracker fees, air transfer, laundry, meals, accommodation. Even drinks. 

What’s not included: Your plane ticket, taxidermy charges, and any guns you need to hire from us.

Book Your Impala Trophy Hunt Today!