Dangerous Game
Cape Buffalo Hunting Packages and Trophy Fees
We hunt our own free-range Cape buffalo on a dedicated 6,200-acre buffalo block in malaria-free Limpopo, part of our wider 24,700-acre reserve near Steenbokpan. Every package below sets out exactly what's included, how the trophy fee scales with the animal, and what a realistic all-in budget looks like — no flat headline price hiding the detail.
Cape buffalo packages
Cape Buffalo Bull — Under 42"
$11,500 trophy feeA mature, hard-bossed bull hunted free-range on foot. Daily rate of $1,000 per hunter, per day, all-inclusive, is charged on top of the trophy fee for the length of your hunt.
- ✓ Trophy fee: $11,500 (under 42")
- ✓ Sole-occupancy Buffalo Tented Camp
- ✓ 1×1 guiding, senior PHASA Professional Hunter
- ✓ Tracker, skinner, 4×4 vehicle, field preparation
Cape Buffalo Bull — 42"–44"
$13,500 trophy feeA larger, older bull in the 42–44" tier. Same free-range hunt, same camp and same 1×1 guiding, priced for the bigger trophy.
- ✓ Trophy fee: $13,500 (42–44")
- ✓ Sole-occupancy Buffalo Tented Camp
- ✓ 1×1 guiding, senior PHASA Professional Hunter
- ✓ Tracker, skinner, 4×4 vehicle, field preparation
Cape Buffalo Bull — Over 44"
Price on applicationAn exceptional, record-class bull. These animals are individually rare, so the trophy fee is quoted on application once we know what's available for your dates.
- ✓ Trophy fee: POA (44"+)
- ✓ Sole-occupancy Buffalo Tented Camp
- ✓ 1×1 guiding, senior PHASA Professional Hunter
- ✓ Tracker, skinner, 4×4 vehicle, field preparation
Cape Buffalo Cow / Cull Hunt
$3,500 trophy feeThe most affordable route into dangerous-game hunting — the same tracking, the same follow-up, the same camp, at a fraction of a trophy-bull fee. Cows are selected as part of the herd management plan.
- ✓ Trophy fee: $3,500 (cow, no cull bulls offered)
- ✓ Sole-occupancy Buffalo Tented Camp
- ✓ 1×1 guiding, senior PHASA Professional Hunter
- ✓ Group cull bookings welcome
How daily rate + trophy fee combine into the total
Every Cape buffalo hunt is priced in two parts: the daily rate — $1,000 per hunter, per day, all-inclusive of accommodation, meals, your PH, tracker, skinner, 4×4 vehicle, field preparation and airport transfers — and the trophy fee for the animal you take. A 7-day hunt for a bull under 42" therefore runs roughly $7,000 in daily rate plus the $11,500 trophy fee. Add days for a larger bull search or to include sable and the total moves accordingly.
The sliding trophy-fee scale, explained plainly
Cape buffalo trophy fees are never a single flat number — they scale with the size and age of the bull actually taken, because a mature 44"+ bull is genuinely rarer than one under 42".
- • Under 42" — $11,500
- • 42"–44" — $13,500
- • Over 44" — price on application
- • Cow — $3,500
As with most outfitters and standard practice for dangerous game, the trophy fee applies to an animal that is wounded and lost, which is why careful shot placement and rifle practice matter before you travel.
The affordable route in: the cull cow option
At $3,500, a cull cow hunt is the most affordable way to experience genuine Cape buffalo hunting. You get the same free-range tracking, the same senior PH and backup rifle, and the same sole-occupancy Buffalo Tented Camp as a trophy-bull hunt — just a lower trophy fee, because cows are hunted as part of the breeding programme's herd management rather than for horn size. Full detail on our Cape buffalo cow & cull hunt page.
A realistic all-in budget for 2026/27
Here's how a 7-day Cape buffalo hunt for a visiting American hunter typically adds up, taking a bull under 42" as the example:
- • Daily rate — 7 days × $1,000 = $7,000
- • Trophy fee — $11,500 (under 42" bull)
- • Dip-and-pack and shipping to the USA — [CHRIS TO CONFIRM: current dip-and-pack and international shipping cost for a full buffalo shoulder/skull mount to the USA]
- • Taxidermy — [CHRIS TO CONFIRM: typical taxidermy cost, whether done in South Africa or after arrival in the USA]
- • International flights to O.R. Tambo — not included, varies by departure city
- • Gratuities — customary at roughly 8–10% of the daily rate for the team
That puts the hunt itself (daily rate + trophy fee) at roughly $18,500 for a bull under 42", before shipping, taxidermy, flights and gratuities. For the full line-by-line breakdown and cull-cow comparison, see our guide: How much does a Cape buffalo hunt cost?
Full pricelist · USD
Get every Cape buffalo price in USD
Daily rates, cow and cull fees, trophy-bull tiers and combo pricing — one PDF, straight to your inbox.
Cape buffalo package FAQs
How much does a Cape buffalo hunting package cost?
Cape buffalo is priced as a daily rate plus a sliding-scale trophy fee. At Marula, the dangerous-game daily rate is USD $1,000 per hunter, per day, all-inclusive, hunted 1×1 from the sole-occupancy Buffalo Tented Camp. Trophy fees run $11,500 for a bull under 42", $13,500 for a bull 42–44", price on application above 44", and $3,500 for a cow.
What's included in a Cape buffalo package and what isn't?
Included: accommodation, all meals, your Professional Hunter, tracker and skinner, 4×4 hunting vehicle, airport transfers and field preparation of your trophy. Not included: the trophy fee itself, taxidermy or dip-and-pack, international shipping, ammunition, gratuities and international flights.
Why is Cape buffalo priced on a sliding scale instead of one flat fee?
A sliding scale reflects the size and age of the bull you actually take — a mature bull under 42" is priced differently to a 42–44" bull, and exceptional bulls over 44" are priced individually (POA) because each is genuinely rare. A cow, hunted as part of herd management, carries a much lower fee. A single flat price would either overcharge hunters taking a modest bull or undercharge for an outstanding one.
Is a cull cow hunt a real alternative to a trophy bull?
Yes. The tracking, the follow-up and the adrenaline are identical — you're still hunting free-range Cape buffalo on foot with a senior PH and backup rifle from the same sole-occupancy camp. The only difference is the trophy fee, which makes a cow or cull hunt the most affordable way into dangerous-game hunting.
How many days does a Cape buffalo hunt need?
A dedicated buffalo hunt usually runs 7 to 10 days. Buffalo are unpredictable, so the extra days give you the time to find and hunt the right animal properly rather than rushing a shot.
What am I charged if I wound a buffalo but don't recover it?
As with most outfitters and standard practice for dangerous game, the trophy fee applies to an animal that is wounded and lost. It's one reason we insist on practice with your rifle and careful shot selection before you hunt.
See also: How much does a buffalo hunt cost?
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!”