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bowhuntn37
Guest
any suggestions as far as where and with who i have around 5,000 or 6000 to spend any suggestions would be appreciated
FishlakeElkHunter
Very Active Member
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- 1,177
Bowhuntn....I suggest you join SCI. There are SOOOO many outfitters in Africa and there is a huge risk when travling that far to go on a hunt. You want to make sure that it is TOP notch.
I am glad to see that you are doing some research before spending the money. 5 to 6000 would give you a pretty nice hunt. Is that money including your airfare? If not, you may need to spend just a little more.
I will be at the SCI national show in Reno later this week and will be talking with MANY of the best outfitters in all of Africa. If there is something specific that you are looking for, let me know and I can do some research for you. I will also be looking at booking my Africa hunt while I am there. I can talk to my friends that have been there as they had a great time and did everything with a bow.
PM me if you have specific questions and I can do what I can to get them answered for you this week at the show.
I am glad to see that you are doing some research before spending the money. 5 to 6000 would give you a pretty nice hunt. Is that money including your airfare? If not, you may need to spend just a little more.
I will be at the SCI national show in Reno later this week and will be talking with MANY of the best outfitters in all of Africa. If there is something specific that you are looking for, let me know and I can do some research for you. I will also be looking at booking my Africa hunt while I am there. I can talk to my friends that have been there as they had a great time and did everything with a bow.
PM me if you have specific questions and I can do what I can to get them answered for you this week at the show.
I would also recommend joining SCI. 12 of us went with.
http://www.blaauwkrantz.com/index.php
First class all the way. We took over 40 animals, they were all good ones.
Buff
http://www.blaauwkrantz.com/index.php
First class all the way. We took over 40 animals, they were all good ones.
Buff
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elkfitter
Guest
Cornhusker
Long Time Member
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- 3,898
I don't want to rain on your parade but a plane ticket will cost you a little over $2000. I shot 10 animals taxidermy and shipping was about $7000. If you do decide to go I hunted with this guy he's awesome and the cheapest I've found also very good quality animals. Feel free to PM me if I can help in answering any questions.
http://www.africancapesafaris.com/index.html
Best of Luck
Husker
http://www.africancapesafaris.com/index.html
Best of Luck
Husker
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Huck58
Guest
http://www.bushveldsafari.com/packages.htm
Check this guy out. His packages are less than a guided cougar hunt these days. He is first class. Shop around for airfare, check it out on your own or try a travel agent. I know SAA had some great fares yet this winter. But it might be to soon for when you are wanting to go.
One warning, if you go once, you will rack your brains tying to go again!
Good Luck and let us know what or how you do!
Check this guy out. His packages are less than a guided cougar hunt these days. He is first class. Shop around for airfare, check it out on your own or try a travel agent. I know SAA had some great fares yet this winter. But it might be to soon for when you are wanting to go.
One warning, if you go once, you will rack your brains tying to go again!
Good Luck and let us know what or how you do!
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slider
Guest
Send Neil an E-mail. He'll hook ya up!!!
Alot of info at Bowsite.com
http://www.bowhuntingsafari.com/
Alot of info at Bowsite.com
http://www.bowhuntingsafari.com/
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hntnhrd
Guest
Try www.cruisersafaris.com . We are booked through them for August of 08. Price is great and quality is crazy. They killed a Kudu this past summer over 64 inhces. Go to the site and go to the newletter page. there are reports and pictures of almost every safari they have done for the past 4 years. I here From Bob at least once a month about updates with airlines and other things going on in SA. Good luck.
Rifle or bow? What do you want to hunt? Is it $5-6K total or just for the hunt, not inccluding taxidermy and airfare?
http://www.wildernessathlete.org/ because the most important piece of equipment you own is YOU!
http://www.wildernessathlete.org/ because the most important piece of equipment you own is YOU!
Bambistew
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,958
>I don't want to rain on
>your parade but a plane
>ticket will cost you a
>little over $2000. I
>shot 10 animals taxidermy and
>shipping was about $7000.
I paid $1200 for airfare, and shipping ran me about $900. It all depends on where you live.
I would not recomend getting anything mounted in Africa. Their work is not what you can expect from a competant taxi here, and what do you do if it looks like crap or is 'broken' when you open the crate? The money you save in mounting cost is minimal at best when you consider shipping costs.
I'm going again in May with www.samaria.co.za
They run a tight ship as well. Lost to pick from, the best thing to do is go to an outdoor show of some sort and talk with some of them. We ended up going with Samaria because the PH was my age and his wife was the same age as mine. We had a great time, and have become part of their family as have they ours.
Good luck on your quest.
>your parade but a plane
>ticket will cost you a
>little over $2000. I
>shot 10 animals taxidermy and
>shipping was about $7000.
I paid $1200 for airfare, and shipping ran me about $900. It all depends on where you live.
I would not recomend getting anything mounted in Africa. Their work is not what you can expect from a competant taxi here, and what do you do if it looks like crap or is 'broken' when you open the crate? The money you save in mounting cost is minimal at best when you consider shipping costs.
I'm going again in May with www.samaria.co.za
They run a tight ship as well. Lost to pick from, the best thing to do is go to an outdoor show of some sort and talk with some of them. We ended up going with Samaria because the PH was my age and his wife was the same age as mine. We had a great time, and have become part of their family as have they ours.
Good luck on your quest.
CAelknuts
Moderator
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- 3,822
In follow up to Bambistew's comments about taxidermy and freight costs, two more reasons to have your taxidermy work done here are that freight savings on unmounted heads is substantial. Also, if you import mounted heads, there is tax payable on the value of the finished heads, or at least that law used to be in place. I'm not sure if that has changed. There is no tax imposed on unmounted heads and skins.
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fishhunt
Guest
Hntnhrd
You?re going to have a great time with Cruiser Safaris. We used them in May of 06 and it was unbelievable. The prices are cheap for the quality of animals you see and the lodging was fantastic. Between my two brothers and me we took 27 animals With my youngest brother taking a 53? Kudu my other brother taking a 57? Kudu and a 40? male Gemsbok and I took a 29 6/8? waterbuck and a 60 3/8 ? Kudu I would highly recommend using Cruiser Safaris
You?re going to have a great time with Cruiser Safaris. We used them in May of 06 and it was unbelievable. The prices are cheap for the quality of animals you see and the lodging was fantastic. Between my two brothers and me we took 27 animals With my youngest brother taking a 53? Kudu my other brother taking a 57? Kudu and a 40? male Gemsbok and I took a 29 6/8? waterbuck and a 60 3/8 ? Kudu I would highly recommend using Cruiser Safaris
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bowhuntn37
Guest
that is just for the hunt i have other money set aside for airfare and i will be doing all my own taxidermy work i am looking to shoot nice animals does not have to be huge as any animal with a bow is a trophy in my book the things i want to shoot for sure are a kudu, zebra and a few others but they do not concern me as much.
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canhunter
Guest
I like the info but what is the true and total cost for all of this. You hear so many prices but none really cover the total cost to go including getting the hides/horns home. I would love to look into this, but I have never been able to determine true cost. I usually get well 5k, but people are reluctant to give a true total cost.
OutdoorWriter
Long Time Member
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- 8,340
Since I don't have a stake in trying to sell you something, and since I was in the same position in 2003 as you are now, here's some input from a very experienced but a then rookie-in-Africa hunter.
I booked a 10-day package hunt for the East Cape of SA with John X Safaris who supposedly has access to about 3,000,000 acres of private land. We hunted in at least five different locations, some of which were based at other lodges from one to 4 hours from the main lodge.
None of the ranches were the put-&-take variety either. Yes, they were all fenced properties, but the only time I actually saw the fences was going through the gates to enter or leave the ranches. Most of them were huge. The game species were populuous and included males (both trophy and non-trophy), females and young ones, i.e. naturally reproducing herds.
The cost was $4,995 ALL INCUSIVE for the daily rate, licenses, 1x1 PH and tracker, ground transportation, lodging, alcohol, food, laundry, trophy preparation (not dip/pack!). The food and accomodations were all first rate.
The package included up to 5 or 6 critters, depending on the ones chosen from the basic list. My choices were kudu, gemsbok, impala, blesbok and springbok. I could have chose two of the smaller deer in place of either the springbok, impala or blesbok.
I then added blue and black wildebeests, zebra, bushbuck, warthog and nyala. Total for the additional trophy fees: $5,000! The PH threw in a second springbok at no charge because I wanted a full hide for a rug. I don't concern myself with record books like some do, but each animal I killed was a good representative trophy for the species (see links at end).
So, right there you've got $10,000 at 2003 prices. Adding on airfare of about $2,200 for ONE person from AZ (probably higher now), tips for guide & staff, dip & pack, shipping of trophies to the US and you're easily up to $15,000 BEFORE any taxidermist gets his hands on you. And...that doesn't include any shopping for trinkets.
The taxidermy for those 12 animals cost me WELL over $5,000, though I stretched it out over 4 years.
Obviously, the fewer animals you take above the package price will reduce your total.
The point: LOOK at ALL the costs involved, not just the daily rate and trophy fees you get quoted here. The devil is in the details, and the "incidentals" add up quickly.
These are links where you can see the quality of game I hunted. -TONY
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1411043/m/219107931?r=219107931#219107931
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1411043/m/619108931?r=121109931#121109931
I booked a 10-day package hunt for the East Cape of SA with John X Safaris who supposedly has access to about 3,000,000 acres of private land. We hunted in at least five different locations, some of which were based at other lodges from one to 4 hours from the main lodge.
None of the ranches were the put-&-take variety either. Yes, they were all fenced properties, but the only time I actually saw the fences was going through the gates to enter or leave the ranches. Most of them were huge. The game species were populuous and included males (both trophy and non-trophy), females and young ones, i.e. naturally reproducing herds.
The cost was $4,995 ALL INCUSIVE for the daily rate, licenses, 1x1 PH and tracker, ground transportation, lodging, alcohol, food, laundry, trophy preparation (not dip/pack!). The food and accomodations were all first rate.
The package included up to 5 or 6 critters, depending on the ones chosen from the basic list. My choices were kudu, gemsbok, impala, blesbok and springbok. I could have chose two of the smaller deer in place of either the springbok, impala or blesbok.
I then added blue and black wildebeests, zebra, bushbuck, warthog and nyala. Total for the additional trophy fees: $5,000! The PH threw in a second springbok at no charge because I wanted a full hide for a rug. I don't concern myself with record books like some do, but each animal I killed was a good representative trophy for the species (see links at end).
So, right there you've got $10,000 at 2003 prices. Adding on airfare of about $2,200 for ONE person from AZ (probably higher now), tips for guide & staff, dip & pack, shipping of trophies to the US and you're easily up to $15,000 BEFORE any taxidermist gets his hands on you. And...that doesn't include any shopping for trinkets.
The taxidermy for those 12 animals cost me WELL over $5,000, though I stretched it out over 4 years.
Obviously, the fewer animals you take above the package price will reduce your total.
The point: LOOK at ALL the costs involved, not just the daily rate and trophy fees you get quoted here. The devil is in the details, and the "incidentals" add up quickly.
These are links where you can see the quality of game I hunted. -TONY
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1411043/m/219107931?r=219107931#219107931
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1411043/m/619108931?r=121109931#121109931
BIGOLMULEY
Active Member
- Messages
- 525
I went last April and had a blast. I took my wife, and with a mix up with my passport that added to a $4000 ticket to the price of my hunt(buying with two days notice) I ended up spending about $15000. (should have been $11000 as I had bought our tickets with skymiles) I shot six animals. Kudu, Gemsbok, Zebra, Blue Wildabeast, Nyala, and a Impala. This includes everything but the shipping back. I did have my animals mounted there, as I knew the guy and saw his work. Saying that, I have yet to see my animals and they are in route. I knew they would not be as good as my guy at home, but I plan on going back to hunt with a bow in '09 and will see how it goes then. (Cape Buffalo). Lots of little things added up fast. Gun permits, tips, wife buying kids everything it seemed. But worth it and can't wait to go back.
Have fun, and enjoy the time there.
Jason "The Big Ol' Muley"
Have fun, and enjoy the time there.
Jason "The Big Ol' Muley"
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slider
Guest
My flight round trip. $2410.00. All inclusive 5 animals and a 10 day hunt. $7000.00 not including tips and trinkits. Shipping animals to Seattle $1000.00 Taxi bill $5000.00 -$7000.00 Somebody that says you can go to Africa for the same price as an Elk hunt is INSANE!!!Good Luck
Bambistew
Very Active Member
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- 1,958
You can go to Africa for the price of an elk hunt... just can't afford to shoot many animals. 
When was the last time you heard someone that went hunting for elk or deer and factored in the $500-1000 for taxidermy work? I never have... just something you do if you are lucky enough to kill a big one. You don't have to take it all in at one time either. Get the hides/capes tanned and stick them someplace safe till you get the money to mount them. Hang the euro mounts on the wall and enjoy them in the mean time. Take lots of pictures at the least. You could even leave all the stuff there, save yourself the headache of shipping/taxi work and put it toward your next hunt.
My first tirp in 05 cost $9800 air/hunt/trophy/tip, for 10 days hunting 3 days touring and I took my wife. We got a great deal, but if you shop around and don't splurge and shoot a bunch of animals you didn't intend to in the first place, its much cheaper. The Crusier package is about as cheap of a hunt as you can find. It seems the 'cheaper' hunts are conducted on land owned by the outfitter, where as the more expensive hunts are conducted on leased land... Keep that in mind.
We're going back in May, but will be hunting for 6.5 days, and only 3 animals, eland, impala, warthog, but will be trouing for 6. Not sure about taxi work this time around. Probalby just go with euro mounts if I even do any. Right now I'm looking at $7500 for both of us including air.
One thing to consider, I believe plane tickets are based on 3 prices, low (Dec-March), shoulder (April-May, Sept-Oct) and high (June-Aug) seasons. The shoulder season is usually about 75% of the high...
Definately work out all the details, but in the end you're going on a once in a lifetime trip (at least tell your wife that) whats a couple thousand? Heck most people here spend that much on a pair of bino's they use one week a year.
To be honest, I could go back and spend 2 weeks hunting down a monster impala and be content. Don't get wrapped up in a 'body' count. Enjoy the hunt. The most memorable part of my hunt was chasing a wounded gemsbok for 3 days before catching up and killing him.
I'm looking forward to my next trip. We're taking a couple 'first timers' with us, I'll let them spend the money on trophy fees.
When was the last time you heard someone that went hunting for elk or deer and factored in the $500-1000 for taxidermy work? I never have... just something you do if you are lucky enough to kill a big one. You don't have to take it all in at one time either. Get the hides/capes tanned and stick them someplace safe till you get the money to mount them. Hang the euro mounts on the wall and enjoy them in the mean time. Take lots of pictures at the least. You could even leave all the stuff there, save yourself the headache of shipping/taxi work and put it toward your next hunt.
My first tirp in 05 cost $9800 air/hunt/trophy/tip, for 10 days hunting 3 days touring and I took my wife. We got a great deal, but if you shop around and don't splurge and shoot a bunch of animals you didn't intend to in the first place, its much cheaper. The Crusier package is about as cheap of a hunt as you can find. It seems the 'cheaper' hunts are conducted on land owned by the outfitter, where as the more expensive hunts are conducted on leased land... Keep that in mind.
We're going back in May, but will be hunting for 6.5 days, and only 3 animals, eland, impala, warthog, but will be trouing for 6. Not sure about taxi work this time around. Probalby just go with euro mounts if I even do any. Right now I'm looking at $7500 for both of us including air.
One thing to consider, I believe plane tickets are based on 3 prices, low (Dec-March), shoulder (April-May, Sept-Oct) and high (June-Aug) seasons. The shoulder season is usually about 75% of the high...
Definately work out all the details, but in the end you're going on a once in a lifetime trip (at least tell your wife that) whats a couple thousand? Heck most people here spend that much on a pair of bino's they use one week a year.
To be honest, I could go back and spend 2 weeks hunting down a monster impala and be content. Don't get wrapped up in a 'body' count. Enjoy the hunt. The most memorable part of my hunt was chasing a wounded gemsbok for 3 days before catching up and killing him.
I'm looking forward to my next trip. We're taking a couple 'first timers' with us, I'll let them spend the money on trophy fees.
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hntnhrd
Guest
Fishhunt the picture of your Kudu on their webiste is what sealed the deal for me. Bob seems great. He was very strait forward and answered all my questions happily. I am bringing my wife and daughter and wanted to go somewhere were they would be welcomed and have things to do besides taggin along on hunts. There are numerous things that they will be able to do and my daughter can take few animals also.
I asked the agent for cruisers why their pacakages were so cheap. ( might as well be blunt) and he stated exactly what Bambistew said. They own approximately 100,000 acres and all the lodging. They don't have to lease anything. 6 animals (Kudu,zebra,impala, wildebeest, warthog and steenbok and 10 days 1x1 is 4700. I found some other places that were close to 8K for the same thing. The quality of the animals is also important and Cruisers seems to have great quality. This year they took 3 Kudu over 60 inches.
Cruisers starts booking hunts on a certain day in February ( can't reemeber exact), at noon time. By the time I got through on the phone it was 2:30 and all of June and July was booked. Bob was very frazzled when was talking to him. He couldn;t beleive how busy he was. So we took 10 days in August and will be there for both My wifes and mine birthdays.
BS did you go with Cruisers or did you just look into them. I remember seeing some of your pictures on another site.
I asked the agent for cruisers why their pacakages were so cheap. ( might as well be blunt) and he stated exactly what Bambistew said. They own approximately 100,000 acres and all the lodging. They don't have to lease anything. 6 animals (Kudu,zebra,impala, wildebeest, warthog and steenbok and 10 days 1x1 is 4700. I found some other places that were close to 8K for the same thing. The quality of the animals is also important and Cruisers seems to have great quality. This year they took 3 Kudu over 60 inches.
Cruisers starts booking hunts on a certain day in February ( can't reemeber exact), at noon time. By the time I got through on the phone it was 2:30 and all of June and July was booked. Bob was very frazzled when was talking to him. He couldn;t beleive how busy he was. So we took 10 days in August and will be there for both My wifes and mine birthdays.
BS did you go with Cruisers or did you just look into them. I remember seeing some of your pictures on another site
.
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fishhunt
Guest
hntnhrd,
Yes I used Cruiser Safari. We all took are wives with us.Some days they went on the hunts, other days they went shopping or other side trips.Bob is great he takes care of every thing. When you arrive at camp you will meet Pieter the owner he has a great sense of humor. I asked him why his hunt are cheaper then other safaris and he has a great theory on it.I don't know why are pictures would be on any other web site (would like to know what site?) You are going to have the best ten days of hunting of your life!If you have any more questions about any part of the trip send me an email.
Yes I used Cruiser Safari. We all took are wives with us.Some days they went on the hunts, other days they went shopping or other side trips.Bob is great he takes care of every thing. When you arrive at camp you will meet Pieter the owner he has a great sense of humor. I asked him why his hunt are cheaper then other safaris and he has a great theory on it.I don't know why are pictures would be on any other web site (would like to know what site?) You are going to have the best ten days of hunting of your life!If you have any more questions about any part of the trip send me an email.
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hntnhrd
Guest
Maybe I was mistaken but in the newsletter section of the Cruisers Safari website there is a picture of a 60+ inch Kudu and I was assuming it was yours. I will send you an email as I have a couple questions about your trip.
I was asking Bambistew if he went with Cruisers and after reading his post realized hae had hunted with another company.
Bob seems excellent so far and I have heard nothing but positive of him.
In researching africa the main thing I was told was book through someone with a ton of experience that can handle any and all problems. You are too far away from home to just try to wing it.
I was asking Bambistew if he went with Cruisers and after reading his post realized hae had hunted with another company.
Bob seems excellent so far and I have heard nothing but positive of him.
In researching africa the main thing I was told was book through someone with a ton of experience that can handle any and all problems. You are too far away from home to just try to wing it.
For about 200 bucks more you can go to NAMIBIA.Costs overall are less for more animals...If you can go to the SCI show in RENO its worth it lots of deals.Join SCI theres lots of deals in the magazines.. Try to have your stuff sent with anybody elses coming back to the states they stick it to you.Taxidermy is what really costs you.Like they said,get everything tanned and then get each one done as you can afford it...Personally i like the package hunts better.If you have or use frequent flier miles thats the way to go...
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canhunter
Guest
Thanks for the updated and much fuller picture of true costs. Just priced me right out of Africa. I could probably handle the 5k for a 10 day hunt, but the reality of 10k+++ before mounts is the killer. I had heard all kinds of stories, and every person I talked to (in person) would never admit to how much they paid. Heck I don't care it's their money spend it how they want. Envious as heck.
Bambistew
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,958
Canhunter... you're right, airfaire will set you back right off the bat, then figure at a minimum $250-300 a day to hunt, thats at or over $5k with out any trophy fee's. I think a 10 day hunt could be done for $7500 if you didn't splurge on animals, and focused on killing big critters and not just filling the 'bag' so to speak. On my first trip I think I went a little overboard on animals (course I told myself that it was going to be my 'once in a life time' hunt). If I had to do it over, I would have scratched the taxidermy, and shot 1 less "expensive" animal. The money saved would have paid for the next trip.
I enjoy the hunt more than I do killing animals anymore it seems, maybe because I can't kill anything big? LOL I spent 4 days trying to sneak up on an impala and kill it with my bow. I got close many times, but just coudln't pull it off, and the last morning I gave up and sniped one with my rifle. I'm half tempted to try it again, but I really want to focus on a big eland first and foremost.
My wife shot the blue 'beest. I killed the kudu, and bushbuck the same day. IMO, I doubt I'll ever be that lucky again. The kudu was the 2nd biggest they'd killed on thier farm in 17 years, and the bushbuck was the biggest.
For those interested... left to right, kudu, warthog, gemsbok, bushbuck, blue wildebeest, impala.
I'm in the midst of finalizing my next trip for the end of May. I think I have as much fun planning and figuring out all the details as I do going on the hunt.
I enjoy the hunt more than I do killing animals anymore it seems, maybe because I can't kill anything big? LOL I spent 4 days trying to sneak up on an impala and kill it with my bow. I got close many times, but just coudln't pull it off, and the last morning I gave up and sniped one with my rifle. I'm half tempted to try it again, but I really want to focus on a big eland first and foremost.
My wife shot the blue 'beest. I killed the kudu, and bushbuck the same day. IMO, I doubt I'll ever be that lucky again. The kudu was the 2nd biggest they'd killed on thier farm in 17 years, and the bushbuck was the biggest.
For those interested... left to right, kudu, warthog, gemsbok, bushbuck, blue wildebeest, impala.
I'm in the midst of finalizing my next trip for the end of May. I think I have as much fun planning and figuring out all the details as I do going on the hunt.
