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Minimum
Calibers for Africa
We are often asked often to
recommend a particular caliber for Africa. Aside from
personal preference several countries have laws requiring
minimums for certain species.
Below is a list of minimums by country.
Minimum Equipment Requirements for Rifle Hunting in Africa
by Country
Joule = Divide Joule by 1.357 to get ft. lbs.
Zimbabwe
Class A game
Elephant, buffalo, hippo
A minimum bullet diameter of 9.2mm and energy level of 5,300
joules (3,910 ft-lbs) is required. Most outfitters consider
the .375 to be a minimum
Class B game
Lion, giraffe, eland
A bullet diameter of at least 7mm (.284) and an energy level
of 4,300 joules (3,170 ft-lbs) is necessary.
Most PH's will recommend a .338 mag as minimum on lion
Class C game
Leopard, crocodile, hyena, kudu, sable antelope, blue
wildebeest, waterbuck, zebra, nyala, tsessebe, hartebeest,
gemsbok, blesbok
A bullet diameter of at least 7mm (.284) and an energy level
of 3,000 joules (2,115 ft-lbs) is necessary.
Class D game
Warthog, impala, reedbuck, bushbusk, sitatunga, jackal and
animals smaller than 25 kg (56 lbs).
A bullet diameter of at least 5.56mm (.22) and an energy
level of 850 joules (630 ft-lbs) is necessary.
South Africa
• Most provinces do not have a minimum equipment requirement
for rifle hunting. I typically recommend nothing less than
.270 or equivalent
• Some provinces require a minimum of .375 caliber for
dangerous or big game hunting.
Mozambique
• There is no minimum equipment requirement for rifle
hunting in Mozambique. Like South Africa I would recommend
nothing less than .270 or equivalent
Namibia
• Smallest caliber allowed 7 mm (.284).
• Minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity)
• Big Game
5400 Joule
(Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Rhino, Lion, etc.)
• Large Game
2700 Joule
(Greater Kudu, Cape Eland, Oryx / Gemsbok, Red Hartebeest,
Blue Wildebeest, Black Wildebeest, Hartmann's Zebra,
Burchell's Zebra, Giraffe, Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope,
Waterbuck, Tsessebe, Leopard, etc.)
• Medium to Small Game
1350 Joule
(Springbok, Impala, Blesbok, Gray Duiker, Steenbok, Ostrich,
Caracal, Black-Faced Impala, Red Lechwe, Damara Dik-Dik,
Klipspringer, Black-Backed Jackal, Warthog, Cheetah, Nyala,
Chacma Baboon, Game Birds, etc.)
Tanzania
• The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in
Tanzania is .240 caliber for any game other than dangerous
game.
• The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in
Tanzania is .375 caliber for dangerous game or big game
hunting.
Zambia
• Zambia does not have a minimum equipment requirement for
rifle hunting plains game and rely on common sense. Caliber
in the .270 range will be well suited for some of the
smaller plains game in Zambia.
• The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in
Zambia is .300 caliber for dangerous game such as Leopard
and Lion. I would recommend .338 for lion as minimum
• The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in
Zambia is .375 caliber for dangerous game or big game
hunting such as Elephant, Buffalo and Hippo.
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