Hunting & active tourism

Hunting in Tunisia

Hunting is one of the most excitable and venturesome sports. Ancient as the world itself it has become nowadays an aristocratic hobby. Men who like to hunt are active, self-confident, always ready to deal with unusual situations and like to take risks. 

Hunting is a kind of passion that will give you excitement and lots of wonderful memories. Following a wild animal is always an adventure of its own and there is so much to tell your friends about afterwards.

Hunting in Tunisia is permitted for Tunisian residents, temporary residents (subjects granted temporary permission to stay), tourists (subjects visiting country for a period less than three months, using tourist visa or voucher). For tourist-hunters list of wild animals and wildfowl allowed to shoot is limited.

Boar hunting

Most popular type of hunting among tourist-hunters is boar hunting in the northern Tunisia – in Tabarka. Northern Tunisia is very different from central and southern parts of the country. Its serpentine roads, impenetrable woods, pine trees, corkwood, mushrooms and berries.

In surroundings of Tabarka city, on the 40000 hectare area Hrumiria wild boar hunting is held. Largest species weight over 130 kilos, average weight – 80 kilos. Board have pretty sharp husks (up to 13cm), which hunters are very proud of and always keep them as a trophy.

Due to nature qualities (very thick woods, which won’t allow getting close to the boar) hunting is only possible in the valley. Hunter form a chain, 50-80 meters from each other, distance depends on number of hunters and areal features.

Group of hunters of 8 to 12 people is usually accompanied with about 10 professional hunters – organizing side representatives (specialized tourist agency). Group is provided with all necessary equipment but guns which every hunter must bring on his own.

Hunting regulations

Hunters activities, tourist-hunters included, are regulated with Chapter 2 of official journal of Tunisian Republic, which annually publishes Ministries orders, in this case order of agricultural ministry and water resources. Extracts (article 18, 19):

Article 18

Current hunting season tourist-hunters entry is only allowed on following periods:
- From 04.10.2009 till 28.02.2010 – for boar hunting in northern Tunisia (areas around Tabarka and Ain Drahem cities);
- From 04.10.2009 till 25.04.2010 – for boar hunting in southern Tunisia (areas around Tozer, Kebili, Gafsa, Gabes cities);
- From 08.11.2009 till 21.03.2010 – for thrush hunting.

Thrush hunting is only allowed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and must be finished before 14:00. Boar hunting is allowed any day of boar hunting period.

Ammo import is allowed according to current legislation which is estimated 350 ammo per hunter for thrush hunting, and 50 ammo per hunter for boar hunting.

Import of hounds and hunting horns is prohibited. Also prohibited to get rid of unused ammo.

Transit hunting weapons, which are not allowed to use on Tunisia territory is kept by customs service and is returned to its owner upon leaving the country.

Article 19

For hunting license issuance (tourist-hunting license) governmental fees acceptor takes a non recurrent fee:
- 100td for a boar hunting license;
- 1000td for a thrush hunting license in a period from 23.12 to 29.01 and 2000td in a period from 03.02 to 05.03.

Adding to that, in case of shooting the boar at the hunting day’s end hunter contributes to the cashbox of governmental acceptor fee of 100td for each animal killed.

Tourist license for hunting is valid for up to 3 months. After license expires you must renew it. Places to hunt (areas) are indicated on the license and cannot exceed three areas for boar hunting and two areas for thrush hunting.

Tourist-hunter’s expenses

Besides paying governmental fees: non-recurring fee for the hunting license (100td/1000td/2000td) and regional payment per animal killed (100td), all hunting organization services are also paid.

Hunt organizer is always a specialized tourist company – receiving party on Tunisia territory.

All calculations on hunting organization for tourist-hunter or group of tourist-hunters are made individually for every order, according to its options. In Tunisia price for hunting organization services is more available than price for same kind of services in Europe.

Price marginally depends on number of tourist-hunters when hunting boar: bigger groups are cheaper per person. Minimal number of group members – 8 people, maximum – 12 people. If you came to Tunisia in a group less than 8 people your mini group can be merged with another group.

Final price, for both boar and thrush hunting, also depends on services which hunters require: additional meals, additional entertainment program, doctor’s accompaniment, video shooting etc.

Average price for 7 day boar hunting program is 1500 euro and includes per person:

- administrational expenses of organizing company
- transfer airport-hotel-airport
- room for two people in 4* hotel
- food – FB, full board (no drinks included)
- transport and getting accompanied while hunting
- additional entertainment

7 day boar hunting program price does not include:

- air ticket
- governmental fee for hunting license
- regional payments per animal killed
- ammo cost, in case they were not brought along and are being purchased locally
Standart programm of boar hunting for 7 days

Average price for 5 day thrush hunting is 1750 euro and includes per person:

- administrational expenses of organizing company
- transfer airport-hotel-airport
- room for two people in 4* hotel
- food – FB, full board (no drinks included)
- transport and getting accompanied while hunting

5 day thrush hunting program price does not include:

- air ticket
- governmental fee for hunting license
- ammo cost, in case they were not brought along and are being purchased locally
- gathering fowl assistants services (33 euro/day)
- additional entertainment

Standart programm of thrush hunting for 5 days

List of documents which tourist-hunter must send to hunting organizers month prior presumed date of trip beginning:
- High quality copy of current passport;
- High quality copy of hunting license, provided by relevant organization in the country of residence;
- Detailed technical characteristics (tech passport) or weapon which will be brought on Tunisian territory.