Africa..

KattTraxx · Feb 12, 2009

I know that many MM'ers have had the opportunity to hunt Africa over the last few years. We may have that same chance this year, and I am wondering what advice you would give, or more importantly, what would you do differently if you were to go again. I am interested in the politics of the region, the quality of the outfitter, and the quality and cost of the game..

There is a wealth of knowledge here on this board, and I thank those who can help out a little here. Can you imagine a bunch of western hound dog guys turned loose on the dark continent with rifles, bows, and a little supervision? Sounds fun to me..

Thanks Again, KattSkatt..

HoundDawgJr · Feb 12, 2009

I saw the title of this and was hoping it was a post about the sweet song by Toto... but you are just talking about the continent. Damn.

;-)

Elkcrzy1 · Feb 12, 2009

I went in 02 had a blast too !! We hunted with Bobbyhansensafaris.com in South Africa. If I did it again Id leave my rifle home and strictly hunt archery this time. I really enjoyed sitting waterholes and watching the different kinds of birds and wildlife, what a thrill. Someday I will go back !!! Look me up if you have any questions. Gary

CDub · Feb 12, 2009

PM sent.

stinkystomper · Feb 12, 2009

I went in 2007 and again in may of 2008. I had a horrible experience in 2007 and corrected it in 2008 and had a blast on my last safari and spent far less money. If you are interested you can call me. PM me and I will send you my phone number since what I can impart with is far more valuable if I talk to you on the phone.

Outdoors · Feb 12, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-09 AT 04:53PM (MST)[p]
That is why I love MM. I plan on trip to South Africa May 2011 and know will be a great experience IF get the right outfitter/guide. That "IF" gnaws at me once in a while even now. I will definitely select the outfitter/guide based on what I find out from folks here that have recently been on a trip similar to what I am looking to make. Must suck to go through all the planning and expense to have the trip fizzle.

>I went in 2007 and again
>in may of 2008. I
>had a horrible experience in
>2007 and corrected it in
>2008 and had a blast
>on my last safari and
>spent far less money. If
>you are interested you can
>call me. PM me and
>I will send you my
>phone number since what I
>can impart with is far
>more valuable if I talk
>to you on the phone.
>
>
>

fullcry · Feb 12, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-09 AT 05:31PM (MST)[p]If you go,i would go to Namibia or South Africa.Politically both are as safe as here.SAfrica will cost you more over all.For 2 more hrs of flying i like Namibia best.Several of us have hunted with Boet Nel [www.boetnel.8m.com]Great people,take care of every detail,no hassles. I know others are probobly just as good,but i trust who ive been with.GOOD LUCK

One thing i forgot,look around but you will have a hard time beating his prices also...

stinkystomper · Feb 12, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-09 AT 09:06PM (MST)[p]I wouldn't go to namibia unless you are on an extreme budget hunt. You can have a great time but for the most part namibia doesn't have near the quality as most other places in africa. The accomodations are also sub par if you've stayed in over 10 different safari camps. Namibia is fine, just will kick yourself once you go to a really nice safari company and realize that for $75 to $125 per day more you could have got 10 times the experience. You will also kick yourself when you realise the animals just don't grow as big. If you find a very good outfitter you will be ruined because you will never want to hunt anywhere else again. My first trip I paid good money but was with a budget outfitter. Bottled water was refilled before you went out every morning, so you never knew who had coodies and drank out of that bottle the day before. They tell you that the animal you are looking at is a monster when in actuallity it is a yearling. They find that profit is in quanity, and the faster you kill animals the more they make because you end up killing a lot. Then when you see a truly large animal they convince you to pass because the doctor flying in next week on his 10th return safari wants that animal and they are catering to him because he's coming back next year. Who are you? Your nobody because your a first time client and probably won't be back. Stay away from Numzaan Safaris. I can give you a reference and if you want you can talk to my PH. He is actually staying with me at my house now. He's a great guy and doesn't even care if you book with him. He will give you refrences to lots of other safari companies and can even point you to companies who are more affordable and will still give you an awesome time. He's pretty cool like that. Let me know if you need more advice.

CHWine · Feb 13, 2009

I've been 3 times. Each one was better than the previous. Although the first one is always the best. I've done South Africa and Namibia. I took my wife as an observer the second and third trips and it was great. I've got to get back one more time for my cape buffalo. PM me if you'd like more info.

CHWine · Feb 13, 2009

I've been 3 times and still have one more trip to make for cape buffalo. My buddy over there is a small family operation but gets to hunt tons of properties as he teaches PH classes. He's always finding places that have been photo safari ranches for years and then he's the first in to hunt. www.besthunt.co.za PM me if you have any other questions.

nickman · Feb 13, 2009

I don't want anybody to get all "butt hurt" here, but I find it kind of humorous that nobody is screaming at you guys for paying to hunt in Africa.

I personnaly think it is the coolest thing if anyone hunts anywhere they can afford to go.

I suspect you better have about $50k in your pocket when you get to the airport.

If you took that same cash to a RMEF banquet and bought a Premium elk tag, some of these guys would want to form a lynch mob.

Just a thought.

I hope you have a GREAT trip.

scottyboy · Feb 13, 2009

Ive been to Africa 4 times for hunting and lived in South Africa for a year and worked there for a hunting outfit... and I leave in 5 days for Zimbabwe for 2 weeks to chase cape buff and ele bulls.. PM me if you woud like some refernces on several reputable outfits to go with.. I study (obsess!) African hunting the way some on here with muleys and elk..

Do a search here on MM and you'll see my last 2 hunt reports.. one in '06, and the last one was in Sept '08.. Hope to have another one on here in a few weeks.

Cheers

stinkystomper · Feb 13, 2009

>I don't want anybody to get
>all "butt hurt" here, but
>I find it kind of
>humorous that nobody is screaming
>at you guys for paying
>to hunt in Africa.
>
>I personnaly think it is the
>coolest thing if anyone hunts
>anywhere they can afford to
>go.
>
>I suspect you better have about
>$50k in your pocket when
>you get to the airport.
>
>
>If you took that same cash
>to a RMEF banquet and
>bought a Premium elk tag,
>some of these guys would
>want to form a lynch
>mob.
>
> Just a thought.
>
>I hope you have a GREAT
>trip.

$50K!??????
ROFLMFAO!

heck no! if you want an elephant maybe. If you shoot a black rhino expect to go up to $250k but not everybody buys a governor bighorn sheep tag either.

My first safari I spent $9,000. myself and my wife both shot several animals, from zebra to kudu to impala 10 animals total were taken.

On my last safari I spent $15,000 total and shot a monsterous black giraffe bull, 3 kudu (one equivalent to a 400 class elk n the others comparable to 375++ bulls), 3 wildabees, springbok, 4 gemsbok (one over 41"), impala, 4 to 8 warthogs(cant remember), waterbuck 31", puffadder, a couple of blesbok, white blesbok, a ton of quail, dove and pheasant. Thats over 20 animals. I stayed for 15 days and stayed in 5 star accomodations and had a 96 ounce fillet for dinner every night. Not to mention a 5 course desert platter. Oh, and a few thousand dollars of the 15k was used for tips and to buy my wife a lot of tanzanite jewelry. I think that is very affordable. I know a san juan tag just sold for 37k at the expo and the pahvant tags went for 22k. Thats a lot more than what I spent in africa and you arent even guaranteed an elk. If you do get an elk you can only shoot one. If you kill a kudu in africa and want to hunt another one you simpy pay for 1 more from quota or move to another property if the quota there is filled. Trust me, you can't compare hunting here in the states with africa. Africa is way more exhilirating!

slider · Feb 13, 2009

I went to R.S.A. in 08 and had a BLAST!!!
Here is a 54" Kudu

www.albinovest.com

CAelknuts · Feb 13, 2009

I'll be leaving for South Africa with my family this summer, for a two week trip. It'll be my fourth hunting trip in Africa. My first three safaris were in Zimbabwe (2) and Botswana, totaling 63 days in the field hunting. If I can be of any assistance to you, feel free to PM me and I'll be glad to help.

You're in good hands, as some of these other guys on this thread have also had good experience and you'll quickly figure it out after talking with a few guys. There are plenty of quality safari operators over there if you know what to look for.

whipknot · Feb 14, 2009

If you are looking for info... email John Oosthuizen(address below). I've never been to Africa, but I know John personally along with a number of his clients that have gone with him and rave about his operation. Tell him that Don from SportEAR referred you. He's a great guy.

John Oosthuizen
[email protected]
http://www.huntersandguides.co.za/about.htm

Elkcrzy1 · Feb 15, 2009

I killed 9 animals for about what it would cost to go an a dall sheep hunt. You can do the absolute hunt of a lifetime for less than 10,000. Taxidermy when you get home is up to you but that can get ugly as well. I would look at bobbyhansensafaris.com they just did a fantastic job while we were there from the food to the hunting !! I never got your pm cdub

KattTraxx · Feb 16, 2009

All,
Thanks a lot for your input. You have helped a great deal, and we appreciate it. Any further information would sure be welcomed. Thanks, and Keep It Coming.. KattKrapp..

CAelknuts · Feb 16, 2009

Katt,

Check your PMs.

llamapacker · Feb 17, 2009

I've been six times for everything from warthog and impala up to Buff, Leopard, and Elephant. I've never had a bad hunt in Africa. It is by far more afordable than any guided hunting in the US.
It all comes down to what is in your budget and what do you want to hunt. Plains game hunts in several countries will set you back less than 10K for a 10 day hunt with about 6-10 animals. Yes, if you want lion, elephant, etc., the budget needs to be quite a bit more. It is alot like comparing stone sheep hunting to a hog hunt in Texas. Not the same expereince, and not the same price tag, either. Yet they are all fun hunts.

South Africa and Namibia are the primary destinations for most first timers, although Zim, Moz, and Tanzania shouldn't be ruled out. Ask if you have specific questions.

Bill