Leopard Hunting in Africa
Bait and blind, done properly. Save Valley for trophy cats, Makuti for the odds, the tom confirmed on trail camera before you ever sit the blind.
Inquire about a huntLeopard is Johan's momentum flagship: 14 for 14 since 2021. Every hunt starts on the trail camera, patterning a specific tom night after night, so the days in the blind are spent on a cat already known, not a guess.
Three areas, different strengths. Save Valley Conservancy for the larger, trophy-class cats; the Zambezi Valley and neighboring Makuti when the odds matter as much as the ceiling. All are late-dry-season hunts, when game concentrates on water and bait works best.
Bait and blind, confirmed on camera first
Bait is hung and trail cameras set well before the blind is ever occupied, so the tom is identified, aged and judged on the screen first. By the time you're in the blind, you're hunting a known cat, not hoping one arrives.
Where it happens
ZIMBABWESave Valley · Savuli
The larger cats. Typical skull 15–16 inch this season. Best May, June, July. This season: 4 for 4.
Zambezi Valley
Typical cats run around 55kg (roughly 120lb), skull 14–15 inch. Best June, July, August.
Makuti
Just above the Zambezi Valley, close by. High-success leopard country, the stronger area for the odds.
Season — Save Valley: May, June, July. Zambezi Valley: June, July, August. Every area runs on its own window, check with Johan for your dates.
Trophy — Save Valley produces the larger cats, skull typically 15–16 inch this season. Zambezi Valley cats run smaller, around 55kg (120lb), skull 14–15 inch.
The tom, confirmed, before you ever sit the blind.
A leopard working the bait on Johan's trail cameras. Every leopard hunt starts here, patterning a specific tom night after night, so the days in the blind are spent on a cat we already know. It's the discipline behind 14 for 14 since 2021.
From the field
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Common questions about leopard hunting
What does "14 for 14 since 2021" mean?+
How big are the leopards taken?+
When's the best time, and in which area?+
How does the trail camera actually work?+
What caliber do I need for leopard?+
How does trophy export work for leopard?+
“I have known Johan since the early 2000s, he was our main PH at Buffalo Trails and later at HHK Safaris, where he is still one of the top hunters today. In all those years we never had a bad reference out of his safaris. He is one of the best professional hunters in Africa: his knowledge is superb, and he is honest, straight, loyal and great fun in camp. His success rate on lion and leopard is close to 100%, and he knows elephant and buffalo hunting as well as anyone. So many of our clients rebooked just to hunt with him again. If you plan a safari in Zimbabwe, Johan is your PH, you will have a dream hunt.”
Tell Johan what you want to hunt.
No price lists, no pressure, a real conversation about the leopard hunt that fits you. Replies usually within a day.
Johan takes on a limited number of hunts each season, some seasons are booked out a year or two in advance.