Want to do Africa, what am I missing?

conor_90 said:
What sort of budget is required for a cape buffalo hunt in Mozambique? And do they have a minimum caliber restriction?

Anyone who has been to both Africa and Australia to hunt buffalo willing to comment on differences in price/experience? I think I may prefer the Australia if it isn't too hard to import guns.

This would be years down the line but it would be nice to know a more concrete number on the price of hunt and travel together...
Click to expand...


Getting sporting arms into Australia is easy as long as you book with a licenced outfitter, get your gun licence and import permit in advance and give up any thoughts of handguns, autoloaders and pump shotguns. Its even free. Follow those steps exactly and you're golden, try to skip or bend any aspect and you will end up hating life.

I've hunted buffalo in Africa, South America and Australia a fair bit. If I were starting over and thought it was a one time thing I'd probably do what I did first and hunt Africa. If you don't you'll always wonder. Besides, if you hunt the big Aussie buffs first the capes will look even stubbier than they already are.;) Nyati is the runt of the litter.

If I only had one last buffalo hunt left in me it would be in Australia.
 
There's also the bovid in the room, a Wood Bison hunt here in the West. It's a wilder experience than just about anything else, you'll depart into the utter middle of nowhere on sleds in the dead of winter. They're bigger than anything but the asiatics, and the big bulls equal them, true wild and living in their native range. Also can be done cost effectively. Or, Muskox in the territories which can also be startlingly cost effective. Not to add more confusion or anything...

And I just saw you're in LaCrete- you can do it for all but free!
 
Ardent said:
There's also the bovid in the room, a Wood Bison hunt here in the West. It's a wilder experience than just about anything else, you'll depart into the utter middle of nowhere on sleds in the dead of winter. They're bigger than anything but the asiatics, and the big bulls equal them, true wild and living in their native range. Also can be done cost effectively. Or, Muskox in the territories which can also be startlingly cost effective. Not to add more confusion or anything...

And I just saw you're in LaCrete- you can do it for all but free!
Click to expand...

Haha yes a local buffler is definitely on the list but like most guys around here, getting a few hunting days off during the winter is all but impossible. Spending much time in HL these days or not so much?
 
Thanks for your response Dogleg.

Personally I would like to hunt a cape buff and I"m sure their numbers are stable but I struggle with the idea of not keeping the meat; for some reason I can reconcile this more easily with hunting feral animals.

Also; barramundi fishing
 
You do not personally get to keep the meat, but be assured that it will be eaten. And you can have a taste at least. No reason to let the lack of a freezer full stop you.
 
^ more than a freezerful to do with it, but I understand where you are coming from. Cooking is a big part of hunting for me; especially making charcuterie.

Would be amazing if you could go to SA shoot a Cape Buff and import it as biltong, but now we are dreaming.


I am looking at Argentina now; but the trophy quality doesn't seem as good as Australia and the prices can be similar if you shoot a nice trophy.
 
conor_90 said:
Thanks for your response Dogleg.

Personally I would like to hunt a cape buff and I"m sure their numbers are stable but I struggle with the idea of not keeping the meat; for some reason I can reconcile this more easily with hunting feral animals.

Also; barramundi fishing
Click to expand...

Trust me, they get eaten. We ate my buff the day I shot it. Tenderloins were surprisingly tender for an animal around 8 years old. An 8 year old domestic bull would be turned into bologna and all they do it stroll around a pasture and #### heifers compared to their African brethren that have to work harder to make a living.

And if you go to Zim you can go fishing for Tiger Fish on the Zambezi. Maybe in Moz as well if you're on the river.
 
Watch the fine print on some hunts ;the first and last days you pay for are travel days .
That's to say a 7 day hunt means 5 days of hunting.
 
My hunting partner is a South African and he says if you want a great hunt,scrap the trophies and go for a 'biltong' hunt,still get a great hunt,and an impressive animal,but not a trophy for the 'book' but a fraction of the price( this is what the locals go for) forget lions,he says most of the hunts are 'canned' and not even much sport( they sleep most of the day) ,but if you want a cat,go for a leopard for a fraction of the price of a lion ,but far more sporting ,its going to try to stalk and kill you if it gets a chance to.
In south africa,the game belongs to the landowner,not the government ,so they manage the animals and the hunt...
 
Yidava, you have gotten some good advice on here and your list of costs is pretty close to the actual expenses. What exactly is on your list? What type of taxidermy are you thinking about, remember with the new import rules dip and pack is pretty much out, should help determine where is the best place to hunt and the cost. I can't comment on rifle hire at other outfitters but the ones are hunters get are our own. However import into RSA and Namibia is not difficult. The rand is not doing well vs the usd but ok vs cad therefore getting hunts priced in cad should be a must. Last but not least, think about some tourism costs while over in Africa. Hope this helps a bit, remember the planning is half the fun! Any specific questions, i would be happy to help!
 
Last edited:
yidava25 said:
Haha yes a local buffler is definitely on the list but like most guys around here, getting a few hunting days off during the winter is all but impossible. Spending much time in HL these days or not so much?
Click to expand...

Haven't been back in awhile, we moved back to BC about three years ago. If you're ever after some info on that hunt just shoot, it's bloody well worth doing!

Angus
 
KMG Canada said:
Yidava, you have gotten some good advice on here and your list of costs is pretty close to the actual expenses. What exactly is on your list? What type of taxidermy are you thinking about, remember with the new import rules dip and pack is pretty much out, should help determine where is the best place to hunt and the cost. I can't comment on rifle hire at other outfitters but the ones are hunters get are our own. However import into RSA and Namibia is not difficult. The rand is not doing well vs the usd but ok vs cad therefore getting hunts priced in cad should be a must. Last but not least, think about some tourism costs while over in Africa. Hope this helps a bit, remember the planning is half the fun! Any specific questions, i would be happy to help!
Click to expand...

My want list is:

Waterbuck
Kudu
Gemsbok
Impala
Bushbuck
Warthog
Duiker

I have a feeling this list won't mean much once I'm there but it's fun to plan.
I'd like to shoulder mount as many as possible but cost may be a limiting factor. I like euro mounts and rugs so I may be able to save a little there.
Whether or not I'll bring my own rifle is pretty up in the air right now. I have strong feelings both ways.
 
Ardent said:
Bringing your own rifle is about as complicated as going to the bank and making a wife transfer, complete non-event I would absolutely suggest you do.
Click to expand...

LOL! I didn't know that was one of the services offered at the Bank! Still plan to keep my wife though ;-)
 
Yidava, looks to me like you have a seven day safari as a minimum with that list. Good news is that something like that is achievable within one hunting area such as the east cape where i hunt at least. Mixing up the mounts will save money. A waterbuck goes from 900 shoulder mount to 300 when you do a euro mount. Some outfits will let you do substitutions should that opportunityof a lifetime animal walk by. Did anybody give you any qoutes for something like this?
 
KMG Canada said:
Yidava, looks to me like you have a seven day safari as a minimum with that list. Good news is that something like that is achievable within one hunting area such as the east cape where i hunt at least. Mixing up the mounts will save money. A waterbuck goes from 900 shoulder mount to 300 when you do a euro mount. Some outfits will let you do substitutions should that opportunityof a lifetime animal walk by. Did anybody give you any qoutes for something like this?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the taxi. numbers, that is one thing I'm having a hard time getting a price estimate on.

I'm thinking of doing a 10 day safari at least to get a chance at those animals. I've contacted a few outfitters so I have a bit of a feel for the price range I'll be in.
 
Open to a couple suggestions on guys I've actually met over there?

Richard & Ruth at Safari Afrika (just google him), stellar area of the Limpopo with beautiful scenery, they're not in the flat drudgery but rather the rocks / minor mountains and plains. Also have extraordinary game, and rates. Not sure how they run at those rates honestly, mention Angus from Wild Coast refered you and it may or may not be worth something.

Louis Van Bergen at Sprial Horn Safaris, hunted plains game with him, not the cheapest but the game quality immediately shows you why, very much a Kudu specialist hence the name. If you want a 60" Kudu he's the guy to talk to. Good Leopard guy, too (though I've only seen his results, yet to cat hunt with Louie). He also guides in Zambia, the real deal. Also an enthusiastic bow hunter if you're into sticks and strings, he's done a lot of dangerous game that way barefoot. Interesting character.

Jason Whitehead with San Souci Safaris, super family and stellar desert area bordering Namibia, big is an understatement. First class operation, not the cheapest, but the classic African picture and scenery, Gemsbok specialists, but have lots of good game.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom