Dangerous Game
Cape Buffalo Hunting in South Africa
There are outfitters who can put you on a Cape buffalo. And then there are outfitters who breed them, live among them, and have managed the same herds for decades. Marula Game is the second kind.
Set on 24,700 acres of classic Bushveld near Steenbokpan in South Africa's Limpopo Province, Marula Game is a family-owned operation that has spent nearly three decades building one of the district's most carefully managed Cape buffalo herds. For the hunter, that breeding focus is the whole point: consistent quality, genuine free-range pursuit across large blocks, and a range of buffalo opportunities — from mature trophy bulls to management and cull animals — that few outfitters can offer from their own ground.
Why hunt Cape buffalo at Marula
- Our own herds, our own ground. We don't buy in buffalo for the season. They are bred and managed here year-round across multiple large, game-fenced blocks — so the hunt is real, and the quality is consistent.
- True dangerous-game experience. Tracking buffalo on foot through thick cover, reading the wind, closing the distance — this is the hunt that earns its reputation as one of Africa's most demanding and rewarding.
- A spread of opportunities and budgets. Mature trophy bulls for the record book, management bulls past their breeding prime, and cull/cow animals for hunters who want the full dangerous-game experience at a more accessible price.
- Exclusive use. When you book Marula, the camp is yours — your party, your professional hunter, no shared vehicles or crowded blocks.
Trophy, management and cull buffalo — explained
Trophy bulls
Mature, hard-bossed bulls hunted on foot across our buffalo blocks. This is the classic dangerous-game safari — the one most international hunters travel to South Africa for.
Management bulls
Older bulls that have done their work in the herd. They offer a heavy, characterful trophy and an authentic hunt at a lower trophy fee than a top-end bull.
Cull and cow hunts — affordable Cape buffalo hunting
For hunters who want the dangerous-game experience without a record-book budget, cull and cow buffalo offer the same heart-pounding tracking, the same adrenaline, at a fraction of a top trophy fee. It's also how a working breeding operation keeps its herd in balance.
Cape buffalo trophy fees in USD are listed on the Hunting overview.
What a Marula buffalo hunt is really like
The day starts before the light. With our trackers you cut for fresh sign at first light and follow — a herd grazing toward water, or a lone dagga boy holed up in the thick stuff. Hours of patient, quiet stalking follow, the wind dictating every move. When the moment comes it is close, often inside thirty or forty yards, and it asks for a steady nerve and a well-placed shot. Buffalo are immensely tough; we follow up every animal with the care and respect it deserves. Across 24,700 acres of Matlabas Bushveld there is room for a genuine fair-chase pursuit — not a short walk to a known animal. Most hunters leave calling it the most intense hunting of their lives.
Recent buffalo hunts at Marula
A few recent moments from the veld — heavy bosses, honest old bulls, and the kind of country that makes a Cape buffalo hunt memorable.
What our hunters say
Twelve unedited entries from our visitors' book — the same reviews that appear in our structured data. Names are shown as initials to protect our guests' privacy.
“Nice people, nice property, nice service. Had a fun time.”
“Wonderful hospitality and good hunting. Thanks!”
“Thanks for the best hunt trip ever in S. Africa. I'll never forget you guys.”
“Great time in S. Africa. Absolutely great hosts! Hester, Johan & Chris are so hospitable! Great cooks too — thanks for all!”
“Another great time. Unbeatable accommodations!”
“Trip of a lifetime! Everything was perfect — will be back again.”
“My 3rd trip here. Good honest people, awesome experience — and I never shot an animal!”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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!”
“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!”
Rifles, calibres and shot placement for Cape buffalo
South African regulation and sound ethics call for a minimum of .375 calibre on Cape buffalo. The .375 H&H is the classic all-rounder and has accounted for countless buffalo; many hunters step up to a .416 or .458 for the extra margin on a follow-up. Bring quality, heavy-for-calibre bullets — soft-points for the first shot and solids for the raking, going-away angles buffalo so often present. Placement matters more than calibre: the broadside shoulder-and-heart shot is the percentage choice, and your professional hunter will be at your shoulder the whole way. We'll walk through it with you on the range before you ever step into the bush.
When to hunt buffalo in Limpopo
We hunt buffalo right through the South African season, broadly April to September. The cooler, drier winter months are prime: the grass drops, the bush thins, and buffalo concentrate around water — which makes both tracking and spotting far easier. Early season (April and May) brings green-tinged country and milder days; mid-winter (June to August) offers the crispest mornings and the best tracking conditions of all. Buffalo quotas are limited each year, so the strongest dates are taken early — the sooner you talk to us, the more choice you'll have.
More than buffalo — build a complete safari
Few hunters travel this far for a single animal. Most pair their buffalo with a few days of plains game — kudu, gemsbok, impala, blue wildebeest — or step up to another of Africa's iconic species. Marula also offers premium sable and roan, including our dedicated Cape Buffalo & Sable package. Tell us what you're after and we'll shape one seamless safari around it. See Plains Game Hunting, Sable & Roan hunting and Photographic Safaris.
Conservation through hunting
Every buffalo hunted at Marula helps protect many more. Our owner and outfitter, Chris Burger, serves on the PHASA Executive Committee, was named WRSA Game Farmer & Game Breeder of the Year, and is a founding member of the Matlabas Custodians, working to protect this stretch of the Limpopo Valley. The income from carefully managed, limited buffalo offtake funds anti-poaching, habitat and water management, and the breeding programme that keeps our herds strong and genetically healthy. Hunt with us and you become part of that story — fair chase, ethically managed, and good for the Bushveld.
How much does Cape buffalo hunting in South Africa cost?
Cape buffalo hunting in South Africa at Marula Game starts from $11,500 all-in for a cull or cow buffalo hunt, with management bulls from around $16,000 and mature hard-bossed trophy bulls from $24,000 upward depending on boss width and age. Prices include your professional hunter, trackers, exclusive-use lodging and field prep. For a line-by-line breakdown of daily rates, trophy fees and what's included, see our full guide: How much does a buffalo hunt cost?.
What our hunters say
From our camp visitors' book, 2001–2021.
“Nice people, nice property, nice service. Had a fun time.”
“Wonderful hospitality and good hunting. Thanks!”
“Thanks for the best hunt trip ever in S. Africa. I'll never forget you guys.”
“Great time in S. Africa. Absolutely great hosts! Hester, Johan & Chris are so hospitable! Great cooks too — thanks for all!”
“Another great time. Unbeatable accommodations!”
“Trip of a lifetime! Everything was perfect — will be back again.”
“My 3rd trip here. Good honest people, awesome experience — and I never shot an animal!”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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!”
“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!”
Cape buffalo hunting FAQs
How much does Cape buffalo hunting in South Africa cost?
At Marula Game, Cape buffalo hunting in South Africa starts from $11,500 all-in for a cull or cow buffalo hunt, with management bulls from around $16,000 and mature hard-bossed trophy bulls from $24,000 upward depending on boss width and age. See our full guide: How much does a buffalo hunt cost?.
Where is the best Cape buffalo hunting in South Africa?
The Limpopo Bushveld is one of the best places for Cape buffalo hunting in South Africa. Marula hunts its own buffalo herds bred on 24,700 malaria-free acres near Steenbokpan, about four hours from Johannesburg.
Where should I shoot a Cape buffalo?
On a broadside Cape buffalo, aim for the lower third of the body straight up the front leg — the shoulder-and-heart shot. South African law requires a minimum .375 calibre. Read our full shot placement guide for diagrams and follow-up rules.
How long is a Cape buffalo hunt?
A dedicated buffalo hunt usually runs 7 to 10 days. Add days if you'd like to include plains game or a second species.
What are my chances of taking a buffalo?
Hunting our own managed herds across large blocks, a fit hunter prepared to walk has excellent opportunities. Buffalo are wild and fair-chase, so nothing is guaranteed — but few hunters go home without their chance.
Can non-hunting partners come along?
Absolutely. While you hunt, partners and family can enjoy game drives, photographic hides and our conservation experiences.
How do I get my trophy home?
We handle field preparation and connect you with a trusted taxidermist and dip-and-pack/shipping agent. See our guide to importing trophies to the USA and our buffalo cost guide.
How do I get to Marula?
It's about four hours by road from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, and we have a private airstrip on the property for guests who prefer to fly in.
Plan your buffalo hunt
Buffalo quotas are limited each season and the best dates book early. Tell us when you'd like to travel and which buffalo experience suits you, and we'll build the safari around it.
Request available datesMarula Game is a registered member of the hunting industry's professional bodies (SCI, PHASA, DSC). See also: Plains Game Hunting · Sable & Roan hunting · Photographic Safaris · The Lodge · How much does a buffalo hunt cost?