Hunting Impala in Africa

Hunting impala is one of the most iconic plains-game experiences in Southern Africa. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter returning for another safari, or you’re stepping onto African soil for the very first time, the impala offers an ideal mix of challenge, athletic beauty, and hunting tradition. It’s a species that requires patience, and good judgment, and in return it rewards you with an unforgettable trophy hunting experience. 

At Rocklands Lodge, we host hunters from the USA and Europe every year who are looking for a fair-chase experience guided by experts who know the land, the animals, and the habits of this remarkable antelope. This guide walks you through everything: impala behavior, habitat, shot placement, equipment, and what to expect when hunting them at Rocklands.

Skip ahead: Enquire today about your next hunt

What Makes the Impala a Premier African Game Species?

The impala is one of Africa’s most widely recognized antelope. They’re fast, sharp-eyed, agile, and incredibly alert. This means an impala hunt is rarely straightforward; instead, it combines glassing, quiet tracking, and well-timed opportunities. For hunters who want a species that is physically accessible yet mentally challenging, hunting impala in Africa hits the perfect middle ground. You’ll find them in good numbers across our terrain at Rocklands, but each ram presents its own puzzle.

Impala Fast Facts

• Weight: 100–150 lbs
• Speed: Up to 50 mph
• Jumping ability: 10 feet high, 30 feet long
• Horns: Only rams carry horns
• Best months to hunt: April–October

Explore: Hunting Packages South Africa

Where Impala Live: Habitat & Environment

To hunt Impala, it is important to understand their habitat and habits. Impalas prefer mixed terrain where they can move quickly, feed without competition, and keep a strategic eye out for predators. At Rocklands Lodge, our varied landscape offers ideal environments for them. Our habitat variety allows us to tailor each hunt to your preference, whether that’s a spot-and-stalk in the early morning light or glassing from higher ridgelines before making a quiet approach.

The key is knowing where impala naturally transition during the day, and our professional hunters track their routines throughout the season.

Typical Impala Habitat

• Light woodland for shade and bedding
• Open savanna for grazing
• Scrub edges where they gather before feeding
• Water zones essential during the dry season

Impala Behavior: What Every Hunter Should Know

Impalas survive by reacting quickly to danger. To hunt them effectively, you must understand how they see, hear, and move. They rely on a combination of exceptional eyesight, sharp hearing, and a strong sense of smell. At Rocklands, we use these instincts to your advantage by reading wind patterns, observing herd structure, and predicting movement between bedding and feeding areas. Once you understand their natural rhythm, impalas become far easier to approach, but never simple.

Herd Structure

• Breeding herds: Ewes and young
• Bachelor herds: Young rams
• Territorial rams: Rams controlling prime areas

Behavior Traits

• Highly alert and reactive
• Move frequently between cover and open grass
• Most active early morning and late afternoon
• Very sensitive to wind and sound

Shot Placement Guide for Impala

A successful impala hunt in Africa requires precise shot placement. Unlike some larger African species, impalas are lean, athletic animals. Their smaller vital zone demands accuracy and patience, especially because impalas often jump, duck, or pivot in response to sound or sudden movement.

At Rocklands, our PHs guide you through shot angles, distances, and animal positioning so your shot is ethical, clean, and effective. The goal is always a quick, humane harvest that respects the animal.

Broadside Shot (Ideal)

The classic broadside shot exposes the entire lung and heart area. Aim one-third up from the bottom of the chest, just behind the shoulder.

Quartering-Away Shot

Ideal for bowhunters or closer rifle shots. Aim for the opposite shoulder, allowing the projectile to pass through the vitals.

Quartering-Toward Shot

More challenging but acceptable with the right angle. Aim toward the inside of the near-side shoulder.

High-Shoulder Shot

Anchors the impala instantly but may damage more meat. Use only if recovery conditions are poor.

Recommended Calibers and Equipment

Choosing the right caliber and bullet ensures penetration without excessive damage. Impalas are not thick-skinned or heavily muscled, so moderate calibers paired with quality bullets are ideal. Many hunters visiting Rocklands prefer familiar rifles that they shoot confidently, accuracy matters far more than raw power.

Our guides can help you select the right ammunition, discuss bullet performance at typical African distances, and prepare for both open-ground and brush shooting situations.

Rifle Calibers

• .243 Win
• .270 Win
• .308 Win
• 6.5 Creedmoor
• 7mm-08

Bullet Types

• 100–150 grain soft-points
• Controlled-expansion bullets
• Premium bonded bullets

Bowhunting

Bowhunters love impalas for the combination of challenge and opportunity. Because impalas are jumpy and string-sensitive, bowhunters must be patient and quiet.

Recommended:

• 55–70 lb draw
• 400–500 grain arrow
• Fixed-blade or strong mechanical broadheads. 

Expect 20–40 yard shot opportunities.

How to Hunt Impala at Rocklands Lodge

Rocklands Lodge is a premier destination for impala hunting because our terrain, game numbers, and guiding expertise create a fair-chase environment with consistently high success rates. As an affordable African safari, rather than rely on artificial hunting conditions, we focus on true skill, proper stalking technique, and a deep respect for the land. Our PHs spend countless hours tracking herd movements, noting territorial rams, locating bachelor groups, and identifying trophy animals worth pursuing.

Every hunt is customized to your goals, the hunting conditions, and your experience level.

Common Methods

• Spot and stalk in early morning and late afternoon
• Waterhole hunting for bowhunters
• Walk-and-glass strategies across ridgelines
• Ambush setups on natural travel corridors

Why Rocklands?

• High impala density
• Experienced, ethical professional hunters
• Bow and rifle-friendly terrain
• Top-tier lodging, meals, and hospitality
• Excellent trophy preparation and care

The Impala Rut: When Hunting Gets More Exciting

The impala rut (April–May) transforms the quiet bush into a dramatic arena of calls, clashes, and territorial displays. During this period, rams become aggressive and distracted, offering hunters excellent opportunities.

You’ll witness rams chasing rivals, rounding up ewes, and defending territories, sometimes too aggressively for their own good. The rut creates more movement, more noise, and more daylight opportunities, making it one of the best times of year to hunt impala at Rocklands.

Planning Your Impala Hunt at Rocklands Lodge

Rocklands offers the best hunting safaris in Africa: delicious meals, warm hospitality, unforgettable landscapes, and ethical fair-chase hunting guided by professionals. Whether you’re hunting impala as your first African species or adding it to a multi-species safari, we help with everything from hunting packages to trophy export.

What’s Included

• Expert PH
• Trophy field prep
• Comfortable lodge accommodation
• All meals and beverages
• Transport during the hunt

What to Pack

• Rifle or bow you shoot confidently
• Lightweight, neutral-colored clothing
• Binoculars and rangefinder
• Sturdy boots

We assist with everything else.

If you’re not sure what to hunt in Africa, hunting impala is one of the most rewarding experiences an African safari can offer. It combines skill, strategy, patience, and the thrill of seeing one of the continent’s most graceful animals in its natural environment. At Rocklands Lodge, we honor that experience by offering ethical hunts, expert guidance, and warm South African hospitality.

Whether you’re dreaming of your first African hunt or returning for another unforgettable season, Rocklands Lodge is ready to welcome you.

Ready to Book Your Impala Hunt?

Rocklands Lodge welcomes hunters from the USA and Europe for unforgettable impala hunts. Enquire today!