Hunting Eland in Africa
Hunting eland in Africa is the adventure of a lifetime.
A mature eland bull is one of the most impressive trophies you can hunt in Africa. He is Africa’s largest antelope, with the body mass of a large bovine, heavy spiral horns, a thick neck, and the stamina to cover difficult country surprisingly quickly. His size makes him easy to recognise, but it does not make him easy to hunt.
Eland are alert, mobile and often surrounded by other animals.
You may spend hours locating a suitable bull, work carefully into the wind and then lose the opportunity because one cow at the edge of the herd catches your movement.
At Rocklands Safaris, we hunt Cape eland in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
Our hunting area provides the mixed terrain needed for a proper spot-and-stalk hunt, including open ground for glassing and thicker country where the final approach becomes more technical. Rifle and bow hunters are both welcome, and every hunt is planned around the hunter’s experience, fitness, equipment and trophy priorities.
This guide answers the top 10 questions hunters from the United States and Europe most commonly ask before booking a Cape eland hunting safari in Africa.
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Key takeaways
- Cape eland are Africa’s largest antelope species and one of its heaviest plains-game species.
- Their size can be deceptive. They remain difficult to approach and can cover ground quickly.
- Most eland hunts involve glassing, tracking and spot-and-stalk hunting.
- A mature trophy should be judged by age, horn mass, body development and overall character, not horn length alone.
- A .300, .338 or .375-class rifle is a sensible choice for most hunters, provided you shoot it accurately.
- Premium controlled-expansion bullets and correct shot placement are essential.
- Hunters should prepare to walk over uneven ground and shoot confidently from sticks.
- Eland can also be hunted with a bow using appropriately heavy equipment and carefully selected shots.
- Rocklands offers individually planned Eastern Cape safaris for rifle and bow hunters, supported by professional hunters and trackers.
- Allow enough hunting days to locate and assess a mature bull without forcing the hunt.
What is a Cape eland?
The Cape eland is the southern form of the common eland, scientifically known as Taurotragus oryx. It belongs to the spiral-horned antelope group, together with kudu, nyala, bushbuck, and impala.
Both males and females carry horns, although mature bulls normally develop much heavier bases and a more powerful overall appearance. An old bull may show a thick neck, broad forehead, pronounced dewlap, dark forehead tuft, and the blue-grey colouring commonly associated with age.
The Cape eland is also Africa’s largest antelope. Exceptional bulls may approach or exceed 900 kilograms, or roughly 2,000 pounds, although body size varies considerably. This weight affects every part of the hunt, including calibre choice, shot placement, follow-up and carcass recovery. At Rocklands, your professional hunter will ensure you have the best eland hunting experience.
Which eland do we hunt at Rocklands Safaris?
At Rocklands Safaris, we hunt Cape eland. The Cape eland is the southern form of the common eland and is associated mainly with the southern parts of the species’ range, including South Africa.
Hunters booking an eland safari with Rocklands Safaris will be pursuing Cape eland in the Eastern Cape.
Where is the best place to hunt Cape eland in Africa?
For hunters pursuing eland trophies, South Africa is one of the best choices. It offers established professional hunting operations, good international access, and the opportunity to combine eland with a broad range of other plains game.
Rocklands Safaris is situated near Fort Beaufort in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. We are a family-run operation and offer professionally guided hunting, comfortable accommodation, a welcoming atmosphere, customised itineraries, and access to many huntable species.
The value of the Eastern Cape lies in its variety. You are not hunting one flat, uniform block of country. Changes in elevation, vegetation and visibility require the hunting team to keep adjusting the approach. For eland, that usually means glassing likely feeding and resting areas, checking tracks, moving around the wind and using folds in the terrain to close the distance.
Why hunt Cape eland at Rocklands Safaris?
Rocklands is well suited to the hunter who wants a guided Eastern Cape eland hunt planned around realistic ability and clear trophy goals. We accommodate both rifle and bow hunters. At Rocklands, we also structure personalized hunting itineraries rather than requiring every guest to follow the same programme. Accommodation, meals, professional hunting services, non-hunting activities, and other safari logistics can be included as part of the package, so you have the best African safari experience of a lifetime.
How difficult is Cape eland hunting?
Eland hunting can be physically and technically demanding. The main challenge is not usually seeing an animal. The challenge is locating a mature bull, judging him correctly and reaching a position from which you can make a responsible shot.
Eland often move in groups. Even when the selected bull is relaxed, other animals may be looking in your direction. You are therefore trying to beat the eyes, ears and noses of an entire herd rather than one animal.
Their size also causes distance-estimation errors. A large bull can appear much closer than he really is. Hunters who rely on appearance instead of a rangefinder may misjudge the distance and hold incorrectly.
A further difficulty is keeping track of the correct bull when the herd moves. Before shooting, you must be completely certain that you and the professional hunter are watching the same animal.
What calibre is best for hunting Cape eland?
For most hunters, a .300, .338 or .375-class rifle is a sensible eland choice. A .30-06 can kill an eland with the correct broadside shot. However, because an eland is exceptionally large, the hunter may have less margin when the angle is imperfect or heavy bone is encountered.
Suitable choices may include:
- .30-06 Springfield
- .300 Winchester Magnum
- .300 Weatherby Magnum
- .338 Winchester Magnum
- 9.3×62
- .375 Holland & Holland
Best shot placement for hunting Cape eland
Broadside and quartering-away shots provide the clearest access to the vital organs. On a broadside eland, place the bullet in the lower third of the chest, tight behind or through the shoulder, depending on the bullet and angle. The most common placement error is shooting too high. An eland has a very deep body, and the visual centre of that body sits above the most effective heart-lung area. For a quartering-away shot, aim so that the bullet travels forward through the chest towards the far shoulder.
Follow your Rocklands PH’s direction to ensure you have the best hunting experience.
Can you hunt Cape eland with a bow?
Yes, eland can be hunted successfully with a bow, but the equipment and shot selection must be appropriate for an animal of this size. Rocklands welcomes bow hunters and offers both blind and walk-and-stalk opportunities depending on the hunter’s preference and ability. Provide Rocklands with your bow specifications and realistic effective range before the safari so that the hunt can be planned correctly.
What happens to the meat and trophy after the hunt?
An eland provides a very large amount of meat, and carcass handling must begin promptly after recovery. The field team will position and prepare the animal, take photographs and begin the skinning and meat-recovery process. The meat is donated to support local charities.
Your hunting package includes field preparation, while taxidermy, dip and pack, shipping and destination-country costs are excluded.
How much does it cost to hunt Cape eland in South Africa?
Simply tell us the number of hunters, observers, hunting days and priority species. We will build a hunting safari around your dreams.
| Cape Eland | $2 500 |
|---|---|
| Day fee per hunter 1 on 1 | $350 |
| Day fee per hunter 2 on 1 | $250 |
| Day fee per observer | $150 |
Book your Cape eland hunt for the adventure of a lifetime
An eland hunt in Africa is the kind of experience you remember for the rest of your life. The scale of the animal, the challenge of the stalk, the Eastern Cape terrain, and the moment a mature bull finally gives you a clear opportunity all come together in one unforgettable African hunting adventure.
Contact Rocklands Safaris to start planning your eland hunt, and the African adventure of a lifetime.
Contact Rocklands Safaris