Free-Range · Own-Bred Trophy Bulls
Roan Hunting in South Africa — Free-Range Roan Antelope Hunts
Roan hunting is among the rarest opportunities in African hunting. Roan are one of the continent's largest antelope — horse-like, stately, and scarce across their historic range, which is why genuine roan hunts are so hard to come by. At Marula Game we offer free-range roan hunts across 24,700 acres of Limpopo bushveld, from our own breeding herd, fair chase on foot with a licensed PHASA Professional Hunter.
Almost all roan hunts on offer in South Africa are put-and-take bulls released into small camps. Ours are not: our roan hunting is done on foot, on open ground, on bulls born and raised on the property. That is the difference guests notice on day one of the hunt.
Because roan hunts release on very limited quota each season, many guests pair a roan bull with sable on the same safari — see our sable and roan hunting packages for pricing on both bulls together, or add roan hunting to a longer plains-game safari.
Roan hunts on limited quota — 2026/27 availability
We release only a handful of roan hunts each season — typically four to six roan permits a year across the whole property — so that offtake never outpaces what our breeding herd can carry. Once those permits are taken, roan hunting closes for the season regardless of how much interest remains.
Every one of those roan hunts is booked directly with the owner, Chris Burger. There is no agent in the middle: Chris confirms which bulls are available, what trophy class they are likely to fall in, and the roan antelope hunting price for that specific bull before you commit to dates.
For the 2026/27 season, roan antelope hunting is quoted from USD $5,800 for a mature bull under 28 inches, with record-class 28–32 inch bulls at $7,000 and exceptional bulls beyond that on application. Because quota is filled on a first-confirmed basis and roan hunts are usually booked around a longer safari, we recommend enquiring early in the year rather than close to your travel dates.
Wild African roan, not a game-ranch roan
A great many of the roan offered to American hunters are on Texas exotic game ranches, where roan are a non-native species in unfamiliar habitat. Others are bought in and released onto a property shortly before the hunt. Marula Game breeds its own roan on five contiguous free-range farms in the Limpopo bushveld, so the bull you hunt was born, raised and matured on the ground you walk. Roan here are hunted walk-and-stalk on foot, in fair chase, and only a small quota is released each season so that offtake never outpaces what the herd can carry.
Roan Hunting at Marula Game
Roan hunts at Marula take place from our headquarters near Steenbokpan in the Limpopo bushveld, running west into the red sand and camelthorn country on the edge of the Kalahari. It is genuine free-range hunting — 24,700 acres of contiguous wild ground, no small enclosures, no put-and-take. Bulls that live and breed on this land are the bulls you hunt.
Method is classic spot-and-stalk on foot. First light is spent glassing from vantage points and cutting sign along the sandy drainage lines and pan edges; when a mature bull is located, the tracking team works him into range for a careful stalk. Plan on 4–6 hunting days per roan — some fall in a morning, others take the full week.
Consistent trophy quality is no accident. Marula's owner, Chris Burger, was named WRSA Game Farmer & Game Breeder of the Year and is a member of Classic Game Breeders, and roan have been bred and managed on this ground for decades. Every roan hunt is on a mature bull from the resident herd.
Roan Trophy Quality & What to Expect
Mature Marula roan bulls typically measure 26 to 30 inches along the outer curve of the horn, with exceptional trophies reaching 30 inches and beyond. Body mass is what surprises most first-time roan hunters — a mature bull is 250–300 kg on the hoof, dark-faced with the distinctive black-and-white harlequin mask and heavy, backswept scimitar horns.
Terrain across the concession is mixed Bushveld — mopane and combretum thornveld, open grass pans, sandy drainage lines, and camelthorn savanna as you move west toward the Kalahari. Shots typically fall between 80 and 200 metres from a set of sticks. The cooler dry months of April to September are best for roan hunts; June through August are prime.
Roan are heavy-bodied and can absorb a poorly placed shot, so calibre matters. A .300 magnum class rifle or larger, loaded with a controlled- expansion premium bullet (Barnes TSX, Swift A-Frame, Nosler Partition), is our recommendation. See our rifle & calibre guide for full load and gear notes — the buffalo-focused advice translates directly to roan and other large plains game.
Roan Hunting Packages & Pricing
Roan is a premium trophy and pricing is set on application on a sliding scale for horn length and trophy class. As an indication, mature bulls at Marula start from around USD $5,800, with record-class 28–32 inch bulls from $7,000 and exceptional bulls over 32 inches priced on application. Because roan quota is very limited, every roan hunt is confirmed personally with the owner — please enquire for current roan pricing and availability.
A typical roan package is all-inclusive of the licensed PHASA Professional Hunter, tracker and skinner, daily rate and sole-occupancy accommodation at one of our lodges or tented camps, 4×4 hunting vehicle, all meals and beverages in moderation, airport transfers from Johannesburg (JNB) or Polokwane, field prep and delivery to the taxidermist, and firearm import assistance. Trophy fees are payable only on animals taken or wounded. Excluded: international flights, taxidermy, dip-and-pack, gratuities and personal extras.
Most guests pair a roan with sable, greater kudu or a Cape buffalo bull — see our plains-game safari page for 7-day itineraries, or the Cape buffalo hunt page for combined dangerous-game safaris that carry a 20% trophy fee discount when roan is added.
Full pricelist · USD
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What's included
- ✓ Sole-occupancy 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
Roan hunts on our own breeding herd
Marula Game breeds its own roan rather than buying bulls in for the season. That is the reason the quota is small — we only release what the herd can carry each year — but it is also why trophy quality stays consistent from one season to the next, with bulls that have grown out on the same ground they are hunted on. Every roan hunt is booked directly with the owner, Chris Burger, so the bull, the dates and the price are confirmed before you travel.
Roan Antelope Hunting FAQs
How much does a roan antelope hunt cost?
Roan hunts at Marula Game start at $5,800 for a representative bull, with record-class 28-32 inch roan at $7,000. Daily rates are $400-$500 per hunter per day and most roan hunts are booked as part of a 5-7 day safari. Quota is limited because every roan comes off our own breeding herd, so prices are held for the full season once your dates are confirmed.
Where is the best place to hunt roan antelope?
Roan are native to the Southern African savanna, and South Africa's Limpopo province holds some of the strongest managed populations. Roan are also offered on exotic game ranches in Texas, but those are non-native animals in unfamiliar habitat. At Marula Game you hunt roan where they belong, on free-range bushveld, off a herd we have bred ourselves since 1997.
Are cheap roan hunts worth booking?
Be careful with unusually cheap roan. A low price on a rare antelope usually means a young bull, a put-and-take animal released shortly before the hunt, or a small enclosure. Our roan start at $5,800 because they are mature, free-range animals off our own herd. We would rather quote honestly than surprise you in camp.
How far in advance should I book a roan hunt?
Six to twelve months. We release only a handful of roan hunts each season and the quota is usually taken by mid-season. If you have dates in mind, enquire early and we will hold them while you plan the rest of your safari.
Is roan antelope hunting free-range at Marula Game?
Yes. Roan hunts at Marula are free-range across our 24,700-acre Limpopo bushveld property, from our own breeding herd. There are no small enclosures, no put-and-take — bulls are hunted on foot, on wild ground, in fair chase.
What is the best time of year for roan hunts?
The cooler dry months from April to September offer the best conditions for roan hunting in the Limpopo bushveld. Foliage thins, animals concentrate on the pans and drainage lines, and tracking in the sand is at its best. June through August are the prime months for spot-and-stalk.
How many days should I plan for a roan antelope hunt?
Most roan hunts are completed in 4–6 hunting days. Roan move in small breeding herds and mature bulls are wary, so we recommend building in a buffer day or two on top of that, especially if you are pairing roan with sable, kudu or Cape buffalo on the same safari.
What calibre is recommended for roan?
Roan are heavy-bodied antelope of 250–300 kg and can absorb a poorly placed shot. A .300 magnum class rifle or larger, loaded with a controlled-expansion premium bullet, is ideal. See our rifle & calibre guide for full recommendations.
Can I import a roan trophy to the USA?
Yes. Roan antelope is not CITES-listed, so import into the United States is straightforward — no CITES permit required, standard USFWS 3-177 declaration and a South African export permit only. Your dip-and-pack facility handles the paperwork on your behalf.
What makes roan antelope hunting different from other plains game?
Roan is one of the rarest antelope you can legally hunt in South Africa, and very few outfitters offer it off their own herd. Roan hunts are walk-and-stalk on foot in open bushveld, they often take several days of genuine tracking, and the quota is small enough that we book them personally rather than through agents. It is a specialist hunt, not an add-on.
Where can I hunt roan antelope in Africa?
South Africa's Limpopo bushveld is the most reliable place to hunt a mature, free-range roan bull today. Marula Game breeds its own roan on 24,700 acres near Steenbokpan and releases only four to six roan permits a year, so the bull you hunt was born and grown out on the ground you walk. This is fair-chase hunting on foot in wild bushveld — not a Texas exotic ranch and not a put-and-take bull released before your arrival. The property is malaria-free and reached in a few hours from Johannesburg.
See also our guide to importing trophies to the USA and the full Marula hunting overview.
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!”