Impala Hunting

Impala hunting is probably the first experience for most African hunters. This elegant antelope can run and maintain speeds faster than 60km/h and can leap lengths of 10m and 3m in height.

Impala Trophy Minimums

Where To Hunt An Impala

• You can hunt an southern impala in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and southern Tanzania.
• You can hunt an East African impala in south west and north east Uganda and Tanzania, as far south as the Selous. Curiously there is a 100 mile wide impala-free zone between the southern extremity of the East African impala range and the southern impala range, just north of the Mozambique border.
• The only place you can hunt a black-faced impala is in Namibia where they have been introduced on game ranches. However US hunters may not import a black-faced impala trophy into the USA.

Impala Hunting Prices

• In private game ranches in Botswana, an southern impala trophy fee is between US$250 and US$400.
• In Mozambique the non-refundable licence fee for a southern impala is between US$250 and US$300 with a trophy fee which ranges from US$100 to US$700.
• In Namibia, the southern or 'common' impala trophy fee ranges between US$595 to US$850. The black-faced impala trophy fee is between US$1950 and US$3000.
• In South Africa, the trophy fee for a southern impala is between US$280 and US$600. Impala are available on practically all package hunts in South Africa. In some places you can hunt a female impala for about US$80.
• In Tanzania, the impala is available to hunt on all licence lengths. The Government trophy fee for both the southern and East African impala is US$390. With anti-poaching and Community Development fees added, the impala trophy fee will be between US$450 and US$950. Some outfitters specify the type of impala available, others do not. In most hunt locations in Tanzania except in the far south, the impala will be the East African subspecies.
• In Uganda, the trophy fee for an East African impala ranges between US$300 and US$950. Some outfitters raise the fee considerably if a trophy is over 30".
• In Zambia, the trophy fee for a southern impala is around US$300.
• In Zimbabwe, the trophy fee for a trophy southern impala is between US$250 and US$430. If you take a female or a non-trophy impala for bait, the fee is around US$175.

Impala Hunting Methods

• Walking and stalking in the likely habitat of impala will lead to a successful hunt, particularly when they are most active in the mornings and evenings.

A Good Impala Trophy

Look for good horn length and thick bases. The tips should be smooth, sharply-pointed and rise vertically, rather than tilt inwards. If the horn tips turn outwards, it should be great trophy impala.

It is not unusual for deformed horns to be record-breaking trophies, so go for it if you see an impala such as the one taken by Count Ahlefeldt-Bille in 1937 with PH Syd Downey. This East African impala remains the Rowland Ward world record and can be seen at Egeskov Castle in Denmark.

Impala Hunting Shot Placement

• As impala antelope shot placement is similar to other antelope plains game species, go to Shot Placement On Plains Game.
• African Hunter Shot Placement Pocket Field Guide for impala

Impala Ram Vital Statistics

• Height: 86-96cm / 34-38"
• Weight: 100-145lbs / 45-65kg

Impala Habitat and Requirements

• These antelope favour open woodland bordering grassland.
• Impala graze when grass is fresh growing and browse when the grass is dry.
• Impala usually live near water but can go without drinking.

Impala Social Structure

• The impala live in mixed herds, batchelor herds and female and young only herds.

Impala Gestation Period

• After a gestation period of around 7 months, one offspring is born.

Impala Gender Identification

• The lyre-shaped horns are found only in males.
• Mature rams are larger and more heavily-set than females

Impala Image Gallery

Impala Trophy Permits (2015)

Impala Trophy Taxidermy

• If your budget can stretch to it, the graceful impala makes for a beautiful full mount display. If a full mount is not possible, of course bushbuck make great pedestal or shoulder mounts.
• Don't forget to tell your taxidermist not to blacken and polish the horns, if you want the horns to look natural.

So What About The Impala Name?

The name 'impala' comes from the Zulu language and means 'gazelle'

Aepyceros melampus comes from the Greek for 'high' 'horn' & 'black' 'foot'

The black-faced impala, Aepyceros melampus petersi, was named after Wilhelm Karl Hartwig Peters (1815 - 1883) who was a German naturalist and explorer who became curator of the Berlin Zoological Museum.

Hunting Other African Animals

Big Five Hunting

• African Buffalo
• African Lion
• African Leopard
• African Elephant
• Rhino

Waterside Hunting

• Hippo
• Crocodile

Other Plains Game Hunting

• Giraffe
• Zebra

Spiral Horned Antelope Hunting

• Bushbuck
• Kudu
• Nyala
• Mountain Nyala
• Sitatunga
• Bongo
• Eland

Large Antelope Hunting

• Sable
• Roan
• Waterbuck
• Kob
• Lechwe
• Oryx / Gemsbuck
• Wildebeest
• Hartebeest
• Tsessebe / Topi

Medium Antelope Hunting

• Blesbok
• Bontebok
• Reedbuck
• Impala
• Gerenuk
• Springbok
• Rhebok
• Puku

Small Antelope Hunting

• Gazelle
• Duiker
• Dik-Dik
• Steinbok
• Grysbok
• Oribi
• Klipspringer
• Suni
• Bate's Pygmy Antelope

African Pig Hunting

• Warthog
• Bushpig
• Forest Hogs

Other Cat Hunting

• Cheetah
• Serval
• Caracal
• African Wildcat

Animals Of Opportunity

• Baboon
• Civet
• Genet
• Honey Badger (Ratel)
• Hyena
• Jackal
• Ostrich
• Porcupine
• African Fox
• Monkey