Is it wrong to buy bushmeat & skins?
– The trade in Southern Africa?
Our Africa Holidays
Botswana safari and Victoria Falls
An unforgettable wildlife and scenery experience
South Africa safari holiday, 14 days
Award winning safari in South Africa
Botswana camping safaris
Botswana's premier game parks, Okavango Moremi Savuti Chobe
Ten day wildlife safari, South Africa
Award winning wildlife safaris in South Africa
Cape Town to Vic Falls holiday in Southern Africa
A spectacular and diverse African journey
Namibia and Botswana safari holiday
Namibia & Botswana lodge safari Caprivi Etosha Okavango
Ethiopia holiday, tailormade
Discover the people, places and wildlife of Ethiopia
Madagascar North Coast adventure holiday
Action packed expedition through wild north east Madagascar
Madagascar in depth, small group tour
Madagascar's unique wildlife and off the beaten track gems
Namibia and Botswana camping safari
Camping safari to Namib desert, Caprivi, Etosha & Okavango
Tanzania Selous safari holiday & Zanzibar
Off-the-beaten track safari experiences & paradise beaches
Luxury trekking holiday in the Atlas Mountains
Stay at the Kasbah du Toubkal and trek in style
Namibia self drive holiday, big cat conservation
Self drive trip taking in Namibia's highlights
Uganda gorilla tracking and wildlife safari holiday
A wonderful gorilla and wild life experience in Uganda
Classic South Africa self drive holiday
Ideally suited for the first-time visitor to South Africa
Serengeti Trail, Kenya & Tanzania safari
Overland truck safari
Morocco holiday, Marrakech to the Sahara
Marrakech and Sahara - stay in a Riad, sleep under the stars
Swaziland wildife and culture tour
Explore Eswatini, one of the smallest countries in Africa
Gorilla Safari & the Masai Mara
Superb safari and trip to see gorillas
Sao Tome discovery tour
Explore these paradise islands with the Bradt Guide Author
Small group holidays to Madagascar
Experience the best of this enigmatic island continent
Morocco cultural tour
Come and see Morocco's kaleidoscope of colours
Ethiopia holidays, tailor made
Discover the natural beauty and culture of Ethiopia
Uganda wildlife and activity holiday
Experience the Pearl of Africa...true African adventure!
Ivory Coast small group tour
Explore the little known but welcoming Ivory Coast
Self drive South Africa holiday
Explore Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route
Namibia small group guided holiday and safari
A fabulous small group guided trip in Nambia
Gorilla and game safari in Uganda
The great Silverback Gorilla & wildlife all in one package!
Luxury Botswana safari & Victoria Falls
Luxurious lodges & spectacular wildlife viewing
North Morocco adventure holiday
Explore extravagant sights and hidden delights of Morocco.
Is it ethical to eat wild meat?
Not all bushmeat is equal. Some may be from endangered species – this is a particular problem in West and Central Africa, where the hunting of wildlife for food is pushing some species towards extinction. Some species are not endangered, but it may still be illegal to hunt them, particularly if they have been poached from within national parks and protected areas. Others still can be hunted legally, sometimes within set quotas and/or with licences, in the same way as game is hunted and eaten in Europe.Bushmeat in Southern Africa
Southern Africa in particular – including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland – serves up a lot of bushmeat. In fact, in South Africa, renowned for its meat loving braai culture, 20 percent of red meat comes from game species during hunting season. It may seem a bit odd, post-safari, to find a plate of oryx or springbok in front of you, but if you are a meat eater, it can, in fact, be much more ethical to tuck into a local species than beef, lamb or pork. You won’t be eating elephants and lions; typically the meat comes from antelope species such as kudu and antelope. These are effectively African venison or wild boar. Hunting wild or semi wild animals means that there is no need for non native species to be farmed. This means fences don’t need to be built – potentially blocking migration routes – plus water is conserved and landscapes remain wild. Some game is hunted on existing farmland, but as the farmers can profit from this, they are happier to leave these species to roam freely than to chase them off their land.In many cases, it may also be necessary to import meat such as beef or pork, or at least to transport it long distances. Even in the middle of the desert, there will be game, so this means less transportation is used. And of course, this meat is free range, organic and free from antibiotics and steroids so commonly used in other livestock.
In Namibia, meanwhile, between 16 and 26 million kilograms of game meat are produced each year from its private farmland. In one of the most arid countries in the world, native species are far more tolerant to droughts and the harsh desert environment than traditional livestock.
Our top Africa Holiday
Botswana camping safaris
Botswana's premier game parks, Okavango Moremi Savuti Chobe
2021: 2 May, 23 May, 30 May, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 15 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 7 Nov, 14 Nov, 21 Nov, 5 Dec, 12 Dec, 19 Dec, 26 Dec
2022: 2 Jan, 9 Jan, 23 Jan, 30 Jan, 13 Feb, 20 Feb, 27 Feb, 6 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 10 Jul, 31 Jul, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 16 Oct ...
How do I know what is ethical?
In the past, travellers have reported their concerns about coming across markets or roadside stalls selling suspicious looking meat, animal skins or other body parts. Animal skins are widely available and are often a byproduct of the meat trade. Even Johannesburg airport's shops are full of springbok bags and zebra skin cushions.
If you see leopard or cheetah skins, of course, these are from endangered species, and you should report this as soon as possible. But as above, illegal skins are not likely to be on show for tourists.
Some tourists have been offered cheap rhino horn jewellery on markets or roadside stalls. Given that a rhino horn has a street value of over $200,000, a $5 trinket is not going to be genuine rhino horn, or even ivory. And given the lengthy prison sentences for this illegal trade, setting up roadside stall would be far too risky a business.
However, outside of Southern Africa the story may well be different. With little regulation, a lack of law enforcement and traditional practices involving wild animals for meat and medicine, Central and West Africa are in the midst of a severe bushmeat crisis. The huge trade in endangered species is pushing many animals towards extinction. In addition, poached meat, and eating species such as primates or pangolins, can transmit diseases. Read more in our report here.