Free-range plains game · from $1,150
Blue Wildebeest Hunting in South Africa
Blue wildebeest — the "poor man's buffalo" — is a staple of every first African plains-game safari and one of the toughest, most tenacious trophies on the property. Deep-chested, muscular, and stubborn on the trigger, a mature blue bull rewards good bullet placement and punishes anything less. At Marula Game we hunt free-range blue wildebeest herds on 24,700 malaria-free acres of Limpopo Bushveld, fair chase on foot with a licensed PHASA Professional Hunter. Trophy fees start at USD $1,150.
Blue Wildebeest · trophy fees (USD)
from $1,150 USD
- Blue wildebeest bull, representative — $1,150
- Exceptional bulls (heavy horn mass, wide sweep) — POA
Trophy fees are payable only on animals taken (or wounded). Plains-game daily rates from $400–$500 per hunter per day, all-inclusive.
The poor man's buffalo
Old PHs earned that nickname the hard way. Blue wildebeest run on adrenaline and refuse to fall on marginal shots — a wounded bull can cover a kilometre of thick thorn before it stops, and the follow-up is work. Which is exactly why every serious plains-game hunter wants one on the wall: a heavy, dark-maned bull with a wide boss and downswept horns is a real trophy, and shooting one well teaches you to hunt the way buffalo demand you hunt.
Why hunt blue wildebeest at Marula
- Free-range on our own ground. Wild blue wildebeest herds hunted on foot across 24,700 acres — no put-and-take.
- Your own farm and camp. Our farms are separate, each with its own private camp — your party hunts its own ground with a dedicated PH.
- Mature trophy bulls. Old bulls with heavy bosses and wide horn sweep, aged and selected on foot with the PH.
- Owner-hosted since 1997. Every safari is personally hosted by outfitter Chris Burger — PHASA Executive Committee member and WRSA Game Farmer & Game Breeder of the Year.
- Malaria-free. The Waterberg / Limpopo Valley is one of the few African hunting destinations you can safely bring family into without prophylaxis.
The hunt itself
Blue wildebeest hunting at Marula is walk-and-stalk into feeding herds on the open flats and around pans. Once an old bull is picked out — dark face, thick boss, worn-down horn tips — the stalk quarters the wind through leadwood and mopane cover. Shots run 80 to 200 metres from sticks. Use enough rifle: .30-06 minimum with a premium bonded soft-point, .300 or .338 preferred. Placement is tight behind the shoulder, one third up — not through the top of the shoulder. Anything less and you will learn why they call it the poor man's buffalo.
Blue wildebeest hunt price (USD)
The blue wildebeest hunt price at Marula starts at USD $1,150 trophy fee for a representative mature bull, with exceptional trophies priced on application. Trophy fees are payable only on animals taken (or wounded). Daily rates are two-tier and all-inclusive — plains-game hunts USD $400–$500 per hunter per day from the standard lodges (Tents on Antwerp $400, Leadwood/Haakdoring $450, Marula Lodge $500). Blue wildebeest are the natural cornerstone of a wider plains-game safari alongside kudu, gemsbok, zebra and waterbuck.
Full pricelist · USD
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What's included
- ✓ Exclusive-use luxury lodge or tented camp
- ✓ All meals and beverages (in moderation)
- ✓ Licensed PHASA Professional Hunter, tracker & skinner
- ✓ 4×4 hunting vehicle, field prep and delivery to taxidermist
- ✓ Airport transfers from Johannesburg (JNB) or Polokwane
- ✓ Firearm import assistance and all hunting permits
Blue wildebeest hunting FAQs
What is the blue wildebeest hunt price at Marula?
Blue wildebeest trophy fees start at USD $1,150 for a mature bull. Plains-game daily rates are all-inclusive from USD $400–$500 per hunter per day, covering lodge accommodation, all meals, a licensed Professional Hunter, tracker & skinner, 4×4 hunting vehicle and airport transfers.
Why is blue wildebeest called the poor man's buffalo?
Blue wildebeest are tough, tenacious and can soak up a poorly placed shot the way a buffalo will — they run hard on adrenaline, hold their feet on marginal hits and demand real bullet placement. That reputation is why old-time PHs still call them the poor man's buffalo, and why every serious plains-game hunter wants one.
When is the best time to hunt blue wildebeest in Limpopo?
The South African hunting season runs April to September. Blue wildebeest hunt well throughout — herds concentrate on open feeding areas year-round — but the dry winter months (May–August) put animals on water and thin the bush for easier stalks.
Can I import a blue wildebeest trophy to the USA?
Yes. Blue wildebeest is not CITES-listed, so import into the United States is straightforward — no CITES permit required, only the standard USFWS 3-177 declaration and a South African export permit. Your dip-and-pack facility handles the paperwork on your behalf.
See also our guide to importing trophies to the USA.