2026/27 Pricing
African Hunting Safari Cost — Packages & Prices
If you are researching African hunting safari cost for a 2026 or 2027 trip, the honest answer is: it depends on the species you want, the number of days, and the camp. At Marula Game in the malaria-free Limpopo Valley, we quote every safari around a simple two-part model: an all-inclusive daily rate, plus a trophy fee per animal taken. No hidden fees, no surprises, and every hunter works directly with the owner to build the right package.
The two-part pricing model
South African hunting packages are priced in two parts. The first is the daily rate, which is fully inclusive of your camp, meals, Professional Hunter, tracker, vehicle and transfers. The second is the trophy fee, charged only for animals taken or wounded. Add the two together and you have the total cost of your safari.
Daily rate includes
- ✓ Luxury lodge or camp accommodation
- ✓ All meals — breakfast, brunch & dinner
- ✓ Beverages (in moderation)
- ✓ Licensed PHASA Professional Hunter
- ✓ Tracker & skinner
- ✓ 4×4 hunting vehicle
- ✓ Airport transfers (JNB / Polokwane)
- ✓ Firearm import/export assistance
- ✓ Field prep & delivery to taxidermist
- ✓ CITES & hunting permits where applicable
Excludes
- ✗ International airfare
- ✗ Trophy fees (per animal taken or wounded)
- ✗ Taxidermy & international trophy shipping
- ✗ Dip & pack
- ✗ Personal / travel / trophy insurance
- ✗ Gratuities (see booking terms)
- ✗ Ammunition
- ✗ Special permit fees where applicable
All-inclusive daily rates
Daily rates are two-tier. Plains-game hunts are USD $400–$500 per hunter per day from the standard lodges. Cape buffalo and dangerous game are hunted 1×1 from the exclusive Buffalo Tented Camp at USD $1,000 per hunter per day. Every rate includes the same full-service inclusions.
| Tents on Antwerp(Plains game) | $400 / pppn |
| Leadwood Lodge(Plains game) | $450 / pppn |
| Haakdoring Lodge(Plains game) | $450 / pppn |
| Marula Lodge(Plains game) | $500 / pppn |
| Buffalo Tented Camp(Cape buffalo 1×1) | $1,000 / pppn |
Typical all-in safari budgets
A quick reference for what most hunters actually spend at Marula, from a first-timer's plains-game trip to a flagship dangerous-game safari. Every figure is USD, all-inclusive of daily rates and the trophy fees listed in each package — international flights, taxidermy and shipping are extra.
| Plains game safari (5 animals)(7 days) | from $7,430 |
| Cape buffalo cow / cull hunt(5 days) | from $8,500 |
| Cape buffalo bull 1×1(7 days) | from $18,500 |
| Cape Buffalo & Sable combo(8 days) | $27,500 |
| Flagship dangerous game(10 days) | $36,000 |
| Non-hunter / observer(any length) | from $250 pppn |
Prices per hunter, USD. Non-hunter / observer rate applies to any accompanying spouse or family member.
Featured South Africa hunting packages
These three packages are the most common starting points for hunters asking about South Africa hunting packages. Each is fully transparent: you can see exactly how the daily rate and trophy fees add up to the total.
5 animals · 20% off trophy fees
7-Day Plains Game Safari
Gemsbok (Oryx)$1,850
Impala$550
Blue Wildebeest$1,150
Warthog$550
Plains Zebra$1,250
Package discount (20%)−$1,070
7 nights · Leadwood Lodge$3,150
Total per hunter$7,430
7–8 days · buffalo + sable + plains game
Cape Buffalo & Sable Combo
Cape Buffalo bull (<42")$11,500
Sable bull (<42")$5,850
Selected plains-game trophyfrom $1,850
8 nights · Buffalo Tented Camp$8,000
Total per hunter$27,500
Buffalo · Sable · Roan · Kudu
10-Day Flagship Dangerous Game
Cape Buffalo bull$11,500
Sable bull$7,350
Roan bull$7,000
Greater Kudu$6,650
Package discount (20%)−$6,500
10 nights · Buffalo Tented Camp$10,000
Total per hunter$36,000
Representative trophy fees (USD)
Trophy fees are charged per animal taken or wounded. These are some of the most commonly requested species — the full list, including all classes and upgrades, is in the pricelist PDF below.
| Cape Buffalo Bull (<42") | $11,500 |
| Cape Buffalo Bull (42–44") | $13,500 |
| Cape Buffalo Cow | $3,500 |
| Greater Kudu (<55") | $4,250 |
| Sable Antelope (<42") | $5,850 |
| Roan Antelope (<28") | $5,800 |
| Gemsbok / Oryx | $1,850 |
| Impala | $550 |
| Plains Zebra | $1,250 |
| Blue Wildebeest | $1,150 |
All prices USD, per animal taken or wounded. Full pricelist available below.
Hidden costs travellers often forget
These sit outside the safari invoice and are billed by third parties — taxidermists, shippers, insurers — but every serious enquiry should factor them in. The figures below are typical 2026 ranges for hunters travelling from the US or EU.
| SAPS 520 rifle permit assistance | included |
| Dip & pack (per animal) | $40–$80 |
| Taxidermy — shoulder mount (from) | ~$650 |
| Taxidermy — full Cape buffalo pedestal | $6,500+ |
| Shared shipping crate to US / EU | $2,500–$4,500 |
| Gratuities (guideline, split among staff) | ~10% of safari |
| Travel & trophy insurance | at cost |
Third-party costs. We introduce you to trusted taxidermists and shipping agents before you leave camp.
Two of these deserve their own read before you fly: bringing your rifle to South Africa (SAPS 520) and our safari tipping guide.
How to lower your African hunting safari cost
Every hunter has a budget. These are the honest ways to bring the total down without cutting the experience.
- Choose a cull or management animal. A buffalo cow instead of a bull, or a management sable, can halve the trophy fee — the hunt itself is the same.
- Hunt 2×1 with a partner. Sharing a PH and vehicle drops the daily rate ~20% per hunter. Ideal for father-son, father-daughter or buddy trips.
- Book a package. A 5-animal plains-game package earns a 20% discount off the total trophy bill versus à la carte.
- Ship euro-mounts and skulls only. Full-mount taxidermy and crating is where budgets balloon. Skulls and horns can ship in a fraction of the volume.
- Travel in shoulder season. April and September deliver excellent hunting with slightly softer availability — ask us about shoulder-season specials.
Full pricelist · USD
Download the full 2026/27 pricelist
Every species, every class, every daily rate and combo — a single PDF in USD, sent to your inbox.
African hunting safari cost FAQs
How much does an African hunting safari cost?
African hunting safari cost is built from two parts: an all-inclusive daily rate, plus a trophy fee per animal taken. At Marula Game in Limpopo, 2026/27 plains-game daily rates are USD $400–$500 per hunter per day, while Cape buffalo 1×1 dangerous-game hunts are USD $1,000 per day from the exclusive Buffalo Tented Camp. Trophy fees start at $550 for impala and run to $11,500+ for a Cape buffalo bull. A typical 7-day plains-game safari with five animals starts from USD $7,430 all-inclusive.
What's included in the daily rate?
The daily rate is fully inclusive: luxury lodge or camp accommodation, all meals, beverages in moderation, a licensed PHASA Professional Hunter, tracker and skinner, 4×4 hunting vehicle, airport transfers from Johannesburg or Polokwane, field preparation and delivery to the taxidermist, firearm import assistance, and all CITES and hunting permits where applicable. It does not include international flights, trophy fees, taxidermy, dip-and-pack, shipping, gratuities, ammunition or personal insurance.
How much is a Cape buffalo hunt?
A Cape buffalo hunt at Marula costs USD $1,000 per hunter per day for 1×1 dangerous-game guiding from the sole-occupancy Buffalo Tented Camp, plus the trophy fee: $11,500 for a bull under 42 inches, $13,500 for 42–44 inches, and POA for bulls over 44 inches. Buffalo cows are $3,500. Most hunters allow 7–10 days to hunt a buffalo properly. The Cape Buffalo & Sable Combo package starts from USD $27,500 all-inclusive.
Is there a cheaper option?
Yes — the most affordable way to hunt Africa is a plains-game or cull package. A 7-day plains-game safari with five animals starts from USD $7,430, and management or cull animals cost even less while still delivering great meat and a genuine African hunting experience. These are the best entry point for first-time hunters or those on a tighter budget.
Are trophy fees negotiable?
Trophy fees themselves are fixed and published in our 2026/27 pricelist, but there are two honest ways to lower your effective cost per animal. First, package pricing: booking a multi-animal plains-game safari earns a 20% package discount off trophy fees. Second, class: taking a management, cull or representative animal instead of a top-class trophy saves 30–60% on the trophy fee without changing the hunting experience. We'll build the mix that fits your budget.
What's the cheapest way to hunt Cape buffalo?
A buffalo cow or cull hunt is the most affordable way onto the black horns. Cows are $3,500 versus $11,500+ for a bull, the daily count is shorter (typically 4–5 days rather than 7–10), and you still hunt on foot from the sole-occupancy Buffalo Tented Camp with the same PH and trackers. It's a legitimate dangerous-game hunt at roughly half the total cost of a bull safari — see our Cape Buffalo cow / cull page for a full worked example.
How much should I budget for taxidermy and shipping?
Field prep and delivery to the taxidermist is included in your daily rate, but taxidermy, dip-and-pack and international shipping are billed separately by third-party providers. As a rough guide, budget USD $40–$80 per animal for dip-and-pack, $2,500–$4,500 for a shared shipping crate to the US or EU, and taxidermy from ~$650 for a shoulder mount up to $6,500+ for a full Cape buffalo pedestal. Euro-mounts and skulls only are a fraction of that. We'll introduce you to trusted taxidermists and shippers before you leave camp.
What hidden costs do hunters forget?
Four line items catch first-time African hunters out: the SAPS 520 rifle permit (free, but requires paperwork before you fly — we handle it), trophy dip-and-pack, international trophy shipping, and gratuities. A reasonable tip guideline is 10% of the safari price split between your PH, trackers, skinner and camp staff. Travel and trophy insurance is optional but strongly recommended for dangerous-game hunts.
Guest Reviews
What our guests say
Unedited entries from our visitors' book. Names shown as initials to protect our guests' privacy.
“Thank you so much for hosting us on this hunt. This has become my home away from home a number of times, and if you'll have me, I hope to come even more times in the future!”
“WOW — I have a new family. Every day a warm smile. I learnt so much about South Africa. Can't wait to save up to come back. Thank you Marula family!”
“Overwhelmed with daily love and accepted with open arms. Not one day without a smile. This place is like a paradise that you never want to leave.”
“Uniquely spectacular! Wow! This was truly a trip of a lifetime. We felt welcomed, cared for and definitely pampered. The rustic elegance of this setting is beyond compare. The hunting was beyond our expectations.”
“From the moment we were picked up from the airport to the very last day, we were treated like royalty. The friendships forged will last a lifetime. The memories are a gift we will cherish forever.”
“My 3rd trip here. Good honest people, awesome experience — and I never shot an animal!”