large antelope · Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Hunting the Greater Kudu
Compiled from Safari Hunts platform data and professional-hunter practice · Updated July 2026
The greater kudu is the trophy most first-time African hunters picture before they land: the grey ghost of the bushveld, deep-spiralled horns, and a talent for evaporating into thornveld the moment the wind swings. Kudu are widespread across southern Africa, but density is not the same as easy — mature bulls live in thick cover, feed early and late, and rely on those radar ears. A kudu hunt is won slowly: glassing ridgelines at first light, reading tracks at waterholes, and closing the last two hundred metres on foot.
Judging a trophy greater kudu
Field-judge a bull by the depth and reach of the spiral, not the tips. Two full turns with a deep first curl is a mature bull; the classic benchmark is 50 inches around the spiral, with anything beyond 55 an exceptional trophy. Ivory-tipped, wide-flaring horns on a grey-necked bull mean age — take him.
Method, rifle and season
Almost all kudu are taken walk-and-stalk, with shots typically 80–250 m — a flat-shooting .270 upward is ample, .300-class ideal in thicker country. The rut (May–June in South Africa) pulls bulls into the open; the dry winter months of May–September concentrate game at water and keep the bush thin.
What a greater kudu hunt costs
$1,500Lowest listed
$2,550Median listed
$3,500Highest listed
Live trophy-fee range across 5 active Safari Hunts listings — updates automatically as farms change their prices.
Full cost breakdown: Greater Kudu hunting cost · All African hunt prices.
Where to hunt greater kudu
Farms offering greater kudu now
Live from the Bush Telegraph
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Frequently asked
How difficult is a kudu hunt for a first safari?
Very achievable — kudu are plentiful on well-managed southern African farms — but expect real stalking. Most bulls are taken after two to four days of hunting, not on the first morning.
What rifle calibre is recommended for kudu?
A .270 Win with premium 150-grain bullets is a sensible floor; a .30-06 or .300 magnum with 180-grain bullets gives more margin in thick bush. Shot placement on the shoulder crease matters more than headline calibre.
What does a kudu trophy cost?
Trophy fees vary by region and horn quality expectation — the live price range from farms listed on Safari Hunts is shown on this page and updates automatically as listings change.
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Before you book
Planning a first African hunt · rifles and calibres · best time of year · getting trophies home. All of it in the hunting guides.