Best Tasting African Animal

[ECHIV]

I haven't read any posts on this topic but excuse the redneck in me. I am moving to Dar next week and am curious about what everyones favorite animal is not just to hunt, but also to eat? I have friends in Dar who vote Zebra as their favorite and talked with another person who really loved Cape Buffalo. What is your favorite?

 

[Thunder head]

We had Kudu, impala, gemsbok, and eland while i was in camp.

Gemsbok stew was my favorite dish.

 

[monish]

ECHIV

Impala , kudu , warthog are delicious do try a croc too , it tastes yummy !!! if marinated and fried well.

Monish

 

[gre493]

Go for the Thomson's gazelle, that's the tastiest i've ever eaten. I still believe that taste largely depends on the cook and his cooking style.Croc is good too but old ones can be tough.Hippo tastes like chicken and rabbit is also good.

 

[TOM]

Ostrich, zebra and gemsbok were/are my favorites.

 

[Shallom]

Eland is awesome - but i can tell you from personal experience that some of the best tasting meat is not from the best looking animal - i think cane rat and porcupine are some of the most tender and delicious cuts out there. For me, Eland is the best, but they are not an easy to get animal and enjoyed only a few times a season. I think i had also mentioned somewhere before - lion rump steak is damn good too. Rich & red.

 

[PAGuardian]

While in Namibia we tried kudu, gemsbok, and springbok. One night we had kudu cutlets that were my absolute favorite. Gemsbok was also very good and springbok seemed to have a more 'sweet' taste to it.

 

[ThomasBeaham]

Ryan, have you ever tried spotted hyena? Hyena is on my wish list for an upcoming hunt but not sure I want to bag one if it's not edible.

 

[Shallom]

Thomas... there are two animals that will never come close to my taste buds and that is hyena and baboon! You go right ahead and try a hyena if you want, but I doubt there will be any positive reports to make. The animals has a stink that would put a skunk to shame and am sure that stench permeates the flesh as well! I am glad to come across someone who wants to try it though and we are all waiting to hear your verdict... Keep us posted bwana!

 

[RonnieW]

Have you ever tried porcupine? tastes just like Karoo lamb

 

[ECHIV]

Keep the reports coming. I appreciate all the input. I don't think I will be trying Hyena. A friend shot a spring Grizzly that was eitehr pretty good or absolutely awful depending on how it was cooked. I think Carnivores and Omnivores are like that. I do like Alligator and think I will have to try and shoot and eat a Crocodile.

 

[speedbump]

From my experience, eating antelope every day for two weeks:
1. Eland
2. Gemsbok
3. Red hartebeeste
4. Kudu

There are lots of others I'd like to try. All the venison there tastes fantastic, no strong taste like poorly prepared deer. Most were pretty similar, but the eland was truly special. The hartebeeste was a redder, juicier meat. Kudu seemed a bit grainer than gemsbok or eland.

Just to whet your appetite, here's some red hartebeest on the braai and table along with some fresh farm eggs, gouda cheese, and Windhoek Light near Hauschabfontein, Namibia, 2008:

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

speedbump, Did you let this cannibalistic Armoured Cricket feast on your meat? In Namibia, every decade or so, they come out of nowhere in the millions, like the locust in the bible and devour anything in their path including each other!

 

[speedbump]

speedbump, Did you let this cannibalistic Armoured Cricket feast on your meat? In Namibia, every decade or so, they come out of nowhere in the millions, like the locust in the bible and devour anything in their path including each other!

Jerome, he was a very sociable host ... UNLIKE his stinger tailed neighbor ! I saw many there. I only saw one swarm - on the B2 near Karibib, but the rest were scattered. This fella came out every time I sat down to eat and just wandered over to visit.

 

[monish]

Thomas,

The damn thing stinks , let alone the thougt of adding it to the menu.

Monish

 

[monish]

Ronnie

Yes you r correct here it tastes more like a Luscious piggy .

Monish

 

[monish]

Speedbump,

That looks Scrumptious !!!!

Monish

 

[monish]

Ryan

Lion rump steak ????? felines edible never heard of it . How does it tastes ? is the meat with thick strands ??

Monish

 

[Shallom]

Monish,
it is some of the best meat i have had - deep red, with a unique taste that suggests you do not need to add much salt and very tender for such a muscular animal. But i recommend the rump as i have tried other cuts and do not think they are as good. Leopard i will eat but do not prefer over lion. The taste of lion rump is truly tasty and enjoyable. Needs just a hint of garlic/ginger/pepper and lots of cold beer/whisky on rocks/ gin & tonic or a good red wine.... or all of the above in small doses and after every course.

 

[daggaboyblog]

In Zimbabwe we had crocodile tail about 24 hours after it was shot. Makuka boiled it for 3 hours before dipping it in his secret batter and deep frying it! Brilliant!
Cape buffalo Schnitzel was fantastic. We took the inside fillet and left the rest of the old boy to the local community who had him hanging in strips in no time. Surprisingly tender. And Chicere, the old man who spotted my dagga boy asked very politely if he could have the testicles - I was happy to give them to him...
On our last hunt we shot nyala and tsessebe in the last week if the hunt and had a mixed braai of the two with a pile of boerwoers. It wasn't the best meal I ever had, but it was the most expensive!
But the number one all time best African game meat? Well in our book it's a draw - eland and warthog.