But how does it taste?

[Betterinthebush]

I’ve searched the forums. If I missed this subject, I do apologize.

Hunters I’ve spent a lot time of time with that have hunted Africa are unanimous. Waterbuck is not tasty meat, gorgeous trophy, but unpleasant fare at the table. Unanimous to a man. I could never get an accurate description of the flavor. Just revulsion.

Ok, I’m not soon hunting waterbuck. As an owner of an abattoir and custom processing plant (VERY SMALL) I’m thinking “ok, how is that possible?” I have some experience in both controlled confined kill and game killed meat. Mule deer tastes nothing like whitetail deer. Elk always seems somewhat uniform. Moose seems to differ in tase by shot placement (high shoulder vs. boiler room) to me but always still good. Bear.. I won’t eat a bear killed in Pa, but one of the best roasts I’ve ever had was a black bear from the Brooks Range.

I’m new here. Is this true, or just common lore? What, as a new African hunter, if successful should I prepare my tastebuds for? I hope to enjoy Kudu, Gemsbok, Springbok, whatever the bush provides. I’m not picky (I have dreams, but I’m a realistic hunter, not a shopper) but do Impala taste so wildly different from a Duiker that I should prepare my palate for disappointment? A master guide I worked for told me one that “Cape Buffalo ain’t beef. It ain’t even buffalo. The only way to eat it is well-done. Tried to eat it medium-rare. Huge mistake”

What did you all enjoy? What would you sooner run from than put one piece in your mouth again?

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I’ve searched the forums. If I missed this subject, I do apologize.

Hunters I’ve spent a lot time of time with that have hunted Africa are unanimous. Waterbuck is not tasty meat, gorgeous trophy, but unpleasant fare at the table. Unanimous to a man. I could never get an accurate description of the flavor. Just revulsion.

Ok, I’m not soon hunting waterbuck. As an owner of an abattoir and custom processing plant (VERY SMALL) I’m thinking “ok, how is that possible?” I have some experience in both controlled confined kill and game killed meat. Mule deer tastes nothing like whitetail deer. Elk always seems somewhat uniform. Moose seems to differ in tase by shot placement (high shoulder vs. boiler room) to me but always still good. Bear.. I won’t eat a bear killed in Pa, but one of the best roasts I’ve ever had was a black bear from the Brooks Range.

I’m new here. Is this true, or just common lore? What, as a new African hunter, if successful should I prepare my tastebuds for? I hope to enjoy Kudu, Gemsbok, Springbok, whatever the bush provides. I’m not picky (I have dreams, but I’m a realistic hunter, not a shopper) but do Impala taste so wildly different from a Duiker that I should prepare my palate for disappointment? A master guide I worked for told me one that “Cape Buffalo ain’t beef. It ain’t even buffalo. The only way to eat it is well-done. Tried to eat it medium-rare. Huge mistake”

What did you all enjoy? What would you sooner run from than put one piece in your mouth again?

Kudu was a touch gamey(?) too me, gemsbok was a little tough but fine. I thought zebra was fantastic. Shot some guineas and had Guinea schnitzel, it was awesome. My memory is getting fuzzy on the rest. I would definitely eat anything and everything. The last thing I wanted to when spending time halfway around the world was have something familiar.

 

[Hooked Now]

Great question. Our PH on my one and only excursion was a wizard on the braai. Everything he cooked was varying shades of spectacular. You mentioned buffalo. I loved the buffalo we had. Like a great filet but...more. Zebra was everyone's favorite. Bushpig, kudu, gemsbuck, everything was super. We had wildebeest burgers and I thought they were okay. I think the prep and a high grilling temp were key. The wine and the group i was with probably also improved everything. Enjoy it all.

 

[rookhawk]

I’ve searched the forums. If I missed this subject, I do apologize.

Hunters I’ve spent a lot time of time with that have hunted Africa are unanimous. Waterbuck is not tasty meat, gorgeous trophy, but unpleasant fare at the table. Unanimous to a man. I could never get an accurate description of the flavor. Just revulsion.

Ok, I’m not soon hunting waterbuck. As an owner of an abattoir and custom processing plant (VERY SMALL) I’m thinking “ok, how is that possible?” I have some experience in both controlled confined kill and game killed meat. Mule deer tastes nothing like whitetail deer. Elk always seems somewhat uniform. Moose seems to differ in tase by shot placement (high shoulder vs. boiler room) to me but always still good. Bear.. I won’t eat a bear killed in Pa, but one of the best roasts I’ve ever had was a black bear from the Brooks Range.

I’m new here. Is this true, or just common lore? What, as a new African hunter, if successful should I prepare my tastebuds for? I hope to enjoy Kudu, Gemsbok, Springbok, whatever the bush provides. I’m not picky (I have dreams, but I’m a realistic hunter, not a shopper) but do Impala taste so wildly different from a Duiker that I should prepare my palate for disappointment? A master guide I worked for told me one that “Cape Buffalo ain’t beef. It ain’t even buffalo. The only way to eat it is well-done. Tried to eat it medium-rare. Huge mistake”

What did you all enjoy? What would you sooner run from than put one piece in your mouth again?

I’ve eaten a fair amount of waterbuck and I found it to be excellent so I had to ask “why doesn’t it taste terrible just as the legend suggests?”. Their answer was the oily musk on the waterproof fur and the glands are quite putrid. It must be skinned very carefully but if done properly the meat is wonderful.

That’s what I found to be the case.

I really like Zebra but it’s an odd taste, like explaining lamb to someone that only eats pork and beef. Bushbuck marrow was a top-10 lifetime meal. Impala is excellent. Kudu is pretty good, but I think those that put it on top of the list probably ascribe a bit of the majesty of the animal to the entree. Gemsbok is fantastic but bland and odorless, so it is best eaten raw/rare otherwise it tastes like whatever sauce or gravy is included. Cape Buffalo ossa bucco is excellent as is the rest of the Cape buffalo when braised or stewed, the steaks were unremarkable. I found giraffe to be pungent and mediocre, about the only animal I can recall being unimpressed.

Generally speaking, all of the African game is better tasting than North American cervids but I like all game.

 

[Hunt anything]

I’ve eaten waterbuck in South Africa and Mozambique, it was just fine. The skinners must take GREAT care not to touch hide and then meat. It’s best if one person skins an another pull the hide. The off flavor comes from the oil on the hide.

 

[30.06king]

Only eaten Waerbuck once. Served as stew. Delicious.
I have enjoyed most game meats I have eaten and I do like meat generally. I like to try meat from game I have hunted and shot. Something previously untried is always keenly anticipated.
The only disappointments have been meats that had spoiled but still cooked up and served anyway. Thankfully this happened fewer than a handful of times.

 

[375Fox]

All the common game is very good like kudu gemsbok impala wildebeest etc
Eland springbok sable is excellent
I’d rather not eat bushbuck buffalo warthog if other options.
Waterbuck is ok if skinned properly but a lot of care has to be taken to keep meat clean.
A lot depends how long it rides in the back of the truck in heat and sun until it gets to skinning shed.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

Eland tenderloin is my favorite.

Other tenderloin and top loin cooked on the Braai has always been excellent.

Zebra was my least favorite, but it was the top choice of the locals. All the meat was used and appreciated.

By the way, eland tenderloin was my favorite

 

[uplander01]

I really like it all, never had waterbuck though. Eland is probably my favorite. Ate lots of impala on one of my last trips, I could eat that every day.

 

[Pablo]

Impala roast, gemsbok chicken fried backstraps, blue wildebeest in lasagna and sausage, blesbok and blue wildebeest pizza were all good. Waterbuck was not on the menu, they all said it was terrible from the oil glands. I really wanted to try eland, but they were serving it the night after we left. Bummer. Worst thing I had in camp was an overcooked beef t-bone.

 

[375er]

Zebra is fantastic in my experience.

 

[CamoManJ]

+1 Eland was easily my favorite as well, excellent paired with local red wine.

 

[Sarg]

Most African game seems to taste great, some is just more tasty than others, Waterbuck is fine as others have stated, just keep it clean.

Gemsbok & all Oryx’s, including Sable seem to be top of the taste buds, Zebra & Bushpig / Red River hog extremely nice !

Oh Yes Eland is superb & normally tender ?

Gambian Rat even with added spices contrary to popular opinion does not taste like Chicken !!!

 

[kdenn]

Zebra is delicious. Lechwe tenderloin was the best. Everything we’ve eaten was tasty. Even had warthog, chewy but not bad.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

Beef was my least favorite dinner in Africa. And, I've raised cattle for a living here in the states.

 

[112Savage]

Sable- tenderloins, taste was good but very tough
Impala- backstraps very good, tender
Springbok- leg roast, very similar in texture and taste to whitetail
Warthog- definitely pork- similar to wild boar
Zebra- tenderloins- marinated in Italian dressing and grilled. Amazing
Gemsbok- ground, sausages, liver pudding?and biltong - all very good. The biltong tasted old compared to beef biltong
Nyala- backstraps, and liver in curry sauce- amazing
Waterbuck- tenderloins- great tasting meat no off taste.

The zebra was a point of contention with the cook. She didn’t want it in her kitchen so it was grilled. It and the waterbuck were mine and my wife’s favorite. My least favorite was the sable because it was so tough.
I was told by the PH and skinners they had to be very careful with the hide but it was otherwise very good to eat. The gemsbok liver pudding looked like brownies and was really good. The Nyala liver curry was simply amazing. Our cook was very “English” with her cooking and didn’t season much so we got a good taste of everything

 

[Pablo]

Forgot to add we tried lion tenderloin that had been cubed and grilled. It wasn’t bad but a little chewy. I’m sure the three brandy and cokes made it better.

 

[Nosler guy]

Our outfitter / guide said (just like a lot of the other posts) that waterbuck is all in the handling. Got a nice bull on a cooler day - got him back and processed in reasonable time. Skinned him carefully. A few days later, towards the end of the hunt, had a wrap up feast - tenderloins from Waterbuck, nyala, impala and mountain reedbuck, all done up on the Braai. All were fantastic, the Waterbuck didn't have to take a back seat to any of the others.

Had Zebra at same camp, even though Wiehaun was a wizard on the grill, it was my least favorite.

Had Gemsbok, done several different ways in Namibia, safe to say, the best wild game I've ever had - very enjoyable

 

[BryceM]

In order of preference:

Blue Wildebeest
Duiker
Buffalo
Kudu
Crocodile
Eland
Zebra (but sometimes not so good)
Warthog (sausage)
Gemsbok (one I recall was incredibly good)
Red Hartebeest
Springbok
Impala
Steenbok
Giraffe

I've killed a few waterbuck, but have never had any to eat. Just a timing thing. I too have heard it's OK if you keep the hair/oil off of it. I will walk through fire to have blue wildebeest. I'm so sad I can't bring some home. I've never tried sable or blesbok.

All of it depends on how it's prepared, the age of the animal, how long it ran, gutshot, etc. I couldn't believe how good nasty old buffalo bull is. I've heard a young giraffe is excellent eating. The old bull I shot wasn't really edible.

Going hungry is a bit better than eating mule deer. Elk is OK. Moose is usually good, but sometimes not. Pronghorn depends entirely on how quickly it gets cooled down. Bison is amazing. Better than beef IMO.

 

[ftrovato]

Took a zebra last day of safari so I didn't get to try it. But I've been told it is the best of the best.

My favorite was Nyala tenderloin. I thought it was the best animal protein I ever ate! Even better than Eland.