5-7 day Safari- Plsins Game?

woodruffhunter

Long Time Member
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Ok, I am not trying to start a big arguement here but I think its a good topic to discuss; especially for a first time hunter in Africa.

I am 100% against the idea of a 5 day Africa hunt. I see these "deals" advertised for 5 days and shake my head. Now, I am not saying its all bad but with the travel, and jet lag, can you really get the whole experience?

I would never go for less than 10 days. I realize that some can only go for a week and that is understandable. However, a 5 day hunt is not that reasonable IMO.

I see so many of these "donated" hunts for 5 days. After paying for flights, shipping, and prep, to me, it jsut isn't worth it!

Go ahead and fire away!
 
Wood...agree 100%. 5 days doesn't give a hunter enough time to get into the flow of the hunt. If a donated hunt is purchased for 5 days, add 3-5 more days, most Outfitters will welcome the upgrade.

from the "Heartland of Wyoming"
 
I went for 10 days and IMO that is to short as well if given the option. I think 12-14 days is really needed to do it right but work schedules usually don't allow for it. I know I had to plan years in advance for the 10 day hunt but I would highly highly recommend no less than 10 hunting days.

I also think that outfitters offer 5 days of hunting at a discount in order to secure the client in booking more days at the regular price. A 5 day safari is a total travesty and I think 7 is not much better.
 
Well I am glad to hear I'm not the only one. I feel bad when I hear someone
book their dream hunt and then, can't get the full enjoyment out of it.

A lot of these "discount" hunts sound good, but in reality I'm sure one would regret that setup. Tony gave me advice on my hunt. I just kept think about
ways to cut costs before I went. I then decided to add days and animals.

Heck, who knows when you'll be back. Shoot extra animals and stay as
long as you can!!!
 
A five day "donated" hunt is just a hook to get the client to book more days. The shortest I ever did was 7 days, on my first trip, and it is very, very short.

Donated hunts are often times a marketing ploy, to get the client signed up and then sell them the remainder of the hunt at regular rates. Often times you can negotiate a better overall package working directly with the PH.

I have been on one 10 day donated hunt to Africa with an exceptional PH,and a very reputable outfitter. It was a complete package with 10 animals, 10 days, etc., and we had a great time, although we still added some additional animals to make it profitable for the PH. And we paid a reasonable price for the donated hunt as well, as many others knew of the outfits reputation.

Be very, very leary of the donated hunts. The PH isn't really giving to charity, in most cases, as they are supplementing their marketing, much like WalMart does with Black Friday specials. Loss leaders can still provide good profit for the PH, but not if the hunter just stays for a few days.

Book a longer hunt, get the full expereince, and have a great time.
Bill
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-23-13 AT 11:03PM (MST)[p]I agree that five days is too short, with one big caveat. First, I should state that my first safari was for 24 days in Zimbabwe. My 2nd was for 15 days in Zim and I thought it was too short. My third was again a 24 day hunt, this time in Botswana. Finally, on my fourth trip to Africa, this time to South Africa, we hunted for 5 days - and it was a great trip. Let me explain...

My first three hunts were just that, HUNTS. In the future, if I can do 14-15 days, I won't hunt for 10. If I can do 21 or longer I will. But, on the last trip, I took my family on a 2 week VACATION to South Africa, and we hunted 5 days with Spear Safaris(the same company that Kilbuc has had several very good hunts with)at the tail end of our VACATION. We started out trip by touring Kruger Park on our own for 3 days, followed by 2 days at Thornybush Private Game Reserve. Those first five days were wonderful. We saw lots of game including all of the Big 5. After that, we traveled to Spear's camp and hunted a property about an hour from their main camp. During that five day period, my son took a beautiful, heavy kudu with outward pointing tips that stretched the tape beyond 53", he also took a real nice warthog and impala. I only wanted to shoot one animal and I succeeded in taking a very respectable nyala of nearly 27" on the last morning.

Was the hunt too short? Of course it was. But, in the context of the overall trip/vacation for my family it was a nice way to wrap up our time in SA and it beat the hell out of not going at all.

BTW, I purchased this entire trip directly through Spear Safaris, there was no donated hunt or any 3rd party involved. Marita Dyason booked our rental vehicle, lodging at three camps in Kruger, time at Thornybush and of course the hunting.

Better is definitely longer, but don't let a lack of hunting time be a reason for staying home. My next hunt in Africa will be at least 10 days, and probably occur in either 2014, or 2015 at the latest. Right now, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique all look pretty good, and each for different reasons. I've hunted Zim twice, so it'll probably be one of the other two where I haven't yet hunted.
 

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