So we're leaving for South Africa the end of April on our "trip of a lifetime" plains game hunt. Don't know if I'll ever be able to afford another one so I was wondering if any experienced African hunters would throw in their 2 cents worth for me. I'm planning on hunting Black or Blue Wildebeast and an Impala which are included in my hunt. I've saved up a few dollars and can afford a (Warthog/Springbuck/Blesbuck) combo or blow the wad on a Gemsbuck or a Zebra or maybe a cull Kudu bull. What suggestions do you have? Trying to maximize my African experience on a budget! Grateful for any input!
African Safari advice needed
- Thread starter Big Game
- Start date
Where about in South Africa are you going? Are you planning to bring trophys back? Impala, wildebeest, gemsbuck and warthog are all great species to hunt. Kudu if you can, they are elusive buggers, so if one presents itself take it. Enjoy the hunt. I'm going back at the end of April too, for 2 weeks in the the bush.
Good luck, You will have a awesome time
I have hunted KwaZulu/Natal it was full of game and a wonderful area to see.
My Zebra rug that was done in South Africa was affordable about 450.00 US complete with trim and flat head is one of my favorite trophies.
Impala's are beautiful, I have a European mount of a Gemsbok that is really quite nice.
Good Luck
I have hunted KwaZulu/Natal it was full of game and a wonderful area to see.
My Zebra rug that was done in South Africa was affordable about 450.00 US complete with trim and flat head is one of my favorite trophies.
Impala's are beautiful, I have a European mount of a Gemsbok that is really quite nice.
Good Luck
Be up front with your PH about your expectations. He will tailor your hunt to the way you want to hunt as much as he can. I started my hunt by driving around and spotting game, the ph was used to hunters who would be happy to shoot from or close to the truck. We had a Good chat and started doing lots of walking and spot and stalk. I ended up shooting the best of class of almost all the animals in the area and having a great hunt. The PH's are truly professionals and the trackers are amazing to watch and learn from.
Be patient, remember this African saying.... the white man has the watch, but the African has the time. If you get impatient and pushy things will get even slower.
Don't smile at the local girls !
Be patient, remember this African saying.... the white man has the watch, but the African has the time. If you get impatient and pushy things will get even slower.
Don't smile at the local girls !
Also curious...
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Go for the Zebra for a rug, that's one trophy your wife will appreciate. The rest is really straightforward South Africa is very tame and packaged if you're not driving yourself (worth it too though, hit the parks with your wife if so), in other words rather headache free. On your next trip further afield you'll run into more TIA.
waterhauler
Member
- Location
- Central Ab
We just got back our trophies from our last spring safari to kwazulu natal. If I can give you any advice it would be to start pinching every penny you can until you leave. Once you start shooting you're not going to want to stop. Of all the trophies we got though, the kudu was by far my favorite and it wouldn't have been a success without that trophy.
Because if you do you might end up being sole or
part-owner of one or more.
I just about got my own, complete with uniform at a Zimbabwe road block. Made the mistake of making eye contact and smiled back with a not bad looking black chick, and she tried toget in the truck and come with us. Took a while for PH to talk her out of the idea, and explain that what she thought was the luckiest day of her life was a misunderstanding. The trackers were howling with laughter on the back
of the truck. As we left the PH advised not to smile
at the local girls.
Just out of curiosity, how much does such a safari cost?
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Because if you do you might end up being sole or
part-owner of one or more.
get in the truck and come with us. Took a while for PH to talk her out of the idea, and explain that what she thought was the luckiest day of her life was a misunderstanding. The trackers were howling with laughter on the back
of the truck. As we left the PH advised not to smile
at the local girls.
PROOF... I've been saying it for a long time now, Dogleg does smile. There are at least two living witnesses, a female SAPS officer it seems and myself.
An up to 30% HIV infection rate in remote areas also helps keep westerners on track.
In general sort of way a plainsgame hunt will cost about the same
as a new quad, a Buffalo hunt will cost about the same as really nice second hand 4x4 truck and elephant will come
in close to a new one.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Hugely variable, even within South Africa. There are trips from $3500US excluding airfare on small ranch / fenced hunts (in South Africa, they're all fenced in some dimension, those dimensions can be large) right up to open Tanzania, Zimbabwe, or Zambia at really as much as you want to spend, six figures can be done there it's all up to you.
If going on a budget be prepared mentally for a comfortable hunting themed vacation, you'll see power lines, and the fences, it's like fishing a stocked lake filled with very exotic creatures. I won a trip to one and honestly really enjoyed it, and it beats cattle ranching which is what they'll do with the land and poorly at that, without the hunting ranches.
But to summarize a typical South Africa high fence plains game package will run you $3500-10,000US depending what you're shooting, the size of their farm, and quality of their game.
Because if you do you might end up being sole or
part-owner of one or more.
get in the truck and come with us. Took a while for PH to talk her out of the idea, and explain that what she thought was the luckiest day of her life was a misunderstanding. The trackers were howling with laughter on the back
of the truck. As we left the PH advised not to smile
at the local girls.
So smiling at them makes them think you want to marry them? Or...?
KMG Canada
CGN Regular
- Location
- Alfred, Ontario
OP, I get this type of question from our hunters quite often. Ask yourself what screams Africa to you and go with that. My very first time in Africa, I absolutely had to hunt a Kudu. As it turns out I hunted a Springbok, Zebra, Kudu, Impala, Bontebok, as well as some cull Warthogs and a Jackal. If it comes down to cost, go with Euro mounts and get in some more hunting and maybe just do up one or two of your favorites for shoulder mounts. Talk to your PH when you arrive, sometimes there is a real corker of something that he may have recently seen. Do ask if culls are available after you have shot your package, sometimes they need to take some extra animals off, especially if it is dry. Do take in the sights and sounds of RSA before or after your hunt if you can ....lots to see and do over there post/pre hunt.
Papaclaude
Ballpark figures. Typical package for two hunters for seven days with all food and accommodations included and a Kudu, Impala, Blesbok and Springbok as part of the package 5500 CAD. The other end of the spectrum: Cape Buffalo and spotted Hyena hunt (7 days) 13,600 USD. I do however like Doglegs analogy and will be shamelessly stealing and using it at the Sportsmen's show this year!
Papaclaude
Ballpark figures. Typical package for two hunters for seven days with all food and accommodations included and a Kudu, Impala, Blesbok and Springbok as part of the package 5500 CAD. The other end of the spectrum: Cape Buffalo and spotted Hyena hunt (7 days) 13,600 USD. I do however like Doglegs analogy and will be shamelessly stealing and using it at the Sportsmen's show this year!
marry with her for the time of your stay ....
in French Africa they call that: c est l amour qui passe and knock at your door ....
