Recommendations for hunting lodges in Eastern Cape of South Africa

[canoetrpr]

There is a chance that my wife and I will be planning a vacation with my two boys (7 and 11) to the Eastern Cape part of South Africa to go on a game watching Safari as the highlight.

The safari will be a three night thing at one of the luxurious game lodges but if we are going down we plan to be doing a 10-14 day trip considering the airfare will be about $2k per person.

I'd like to see if there is a chance that I can throw in a short hunting trip to give me a a taste for plains game hunting in Africa. It would have to be a three to four day trip as well, have great accommodations, guides etc. and most importantly have the ability for my family to enjoy the time at the lodge doing other things while I hunt if they don't wish to accompany me (my wife really isn't excited about hunting at all).

I'd appreciate any personal recommendations you have of PHs and lodges in the area that might fit the bill.

Also would appreciate recommendations on what else we ought to see in that area. Perhaps a visit to Cape Town?

 

[Nipigon Jack]

There is a show Feb 1st & 2nd in Toronto called "African Hunting Events"
It may be worth the drive for you. There is a website with a listing of all the outfitters that will be there.

I plan on going to check it out.

 

[reb]

Lalapa Safaris
Give Raymond a call,I am sure he can set up just what you are looking for.

 

[c-fbmi]

My family and I spent 5 days and nights at Falasa, excellent hunting great accommodations and lots for the family to do while I was out for the day.
I highly recommend them.
Take all precautions against malaria, and get prepared for the twice daily tick check......welcome to the eastern cape.

 

[canoetrpr]

There is a show Feb 1st & 2nd in Toronto called "African Hunting Events"
It may be worth the drive for you. There is a website with a listing of all the outfitters that will be there.

I plan on going to check it out.

Yes I heard about this. I plan on checking it out also.

 

[canoetrpr]

My family and I spent 5 days and nights at Falasa, excellent hunting great accommodations and lots for the family to do while I was out for the day.
I highly recommend them.
Take all precautions against malaria, and get prepared for the twice daily tick check......welcome to the eastern cape.

c-fbmi, I was unable to find Falasa. Do I have the spelling wrong? Could you send me a link?

 

[Ardent]

All I can say is have fun, and be sure to snag the opportunity to hunt. I would highly recommend visiting AfricaHunting.com, it's a forum just like this one but dedicated to exactly what you seek to learn about. Much friendlier and more supportive atmosphere to new questions and all that than here, or just about any other forum I've frequented. Will also learn a lot more there than any hunting trade show, at the shows prices are often inflated and choices limited to those that show up and pay for a table. Pretty poor pickings unless you're going to an SCI event etc, big stuff. You don't need that for a quick 3-5 day hunt however, just ask on AfricaHunting with an outline of the timeline and the budget and you'll be flooded by helpful suggestions. Lots of people have already asked your exact question to be sure too if you just read the posts.

 

[c-fbmi]

Wife has contact info but already in bed, will have her look it up in the am.

 

[c-fbmi]

Go on the internet and type in Falaza game park and spa, it'll come up. Great accom and lots for the wife and kids. Excellent hunting as well.............

 

[Nipigon Jack]

All I can say is have fun, and be sure to snag the opportunity to hunt. I would highly recommend visiting AfricaHunting.com, it's a forum just like this one but dedicated to exactly what you seek to learn about. Much friendlier and more supportive atmosphere to new questions and all that than here, or just about any other forum I've frequented. Will also learn a lot more there than any hunting trade show, at the shows prices are often inflated and choices limited to those that show up and pay for a table. Pretty poor pickings unless you're going to an SCI event etc, big stuff. You don't need that for a quick 3-5 day hunt however, just ask on AfricaHunting with an outline of the timeline and the budget and you'll be flooded by helpful suggestions. Lots of people have already asked your exact question to be sure too if you just read the posts.

Thanks for the recommendation Ardent. I spent a couple of hours reading a number of very interesting and informative threads. Lots of information there. Also a lot of familiar names from here.
I'll be ordering African Hunter 2 by Craig Boddington from African Press based on a post I read there. It looks like it will give me all of the basics. Plains Game identification, seasons, locations, etc. I never really thought much about an African safari until I saw photos of c-fbmi's trophys. It might just end up being a pipe dream for me, but it won't hurt to read a book or 2 and investigate a little further. I need to see what the costs are, all in.
If I did go, I will finally have justified the BRNO 375H&H I bought a couple of years ago.

 

[Nipigon Jack]

All I can say is have fun, and be sure to snag the opportunity to hunt. I would highly recommend visiting AfricaHunting.com, it's a forum just like this one but dedicated to exactly what you seek to learn about. Much friendlier and more supportive atmosphere to new questions and all that than here, or just about any other forum I've frequented. Will also learn a lot more there than any hunting trade show, at the shows prices are often inflated and choices limited to those that show up and pay for a table. Pretty poor pickings unless you're going to an SCI event etc, big stuff. You don't need that for a quick 3-5 day hunt however, just ask on AfricaHunting with an outline of the timeline and the budget and you'll be flooded by helpful suggestions. Lots of people have already asked your exact question to be sure too if you just read the posts.

Once again Ardent, thanks for that post.
BTW, sorry for the hijack
Any feedback on what a reasonable daily rate should be for Namibia in early May? Accommodations do not need to be 5 star.
I spent 2 days at the Toronto Hunting Event show learning lots, but I'm still full of questions that need to be answered before I'm comfortable booking a hunt.
From what I know now, my preferences would be for Namibia. Game preferences would be Kudu, Gemsbok and Blue Wildebeest. A Zebra would be nice, but depending on fees could double my trophy fees which may not be in the cards. A day Tiger fishing could be an awesome way to break up the hunt.
Any other suggestions for a first hunt without breaking the bank would be greatly appreciated.

 

[canoetrpr]

As it is turning out Africa is not in the cards for 2014 for me. I hope for it to be in the cards in 2015 though! 2014 we are planning a trip to Hawaii and it seems a side trip hunting goats for one day may be possible there although it seems like a real hassle to bring a rifle on a vacation with 1 day hunting.

I'm not keen on borrowing a rifle from an outfitter to hunt but guess better to hunt than not to (I'd like to make some memories with my own rifles which I have practiced on)