My father and I have decided to go to Africa next year. I am in the process of researching not only which companies to use, but which countries to hunt in. We are looking for a 7-14 day fair chase safari with a total budget of around $12K +- 10%. Dangerous game is out, due to budget and health concerns ( and excessive nagging from my mother.) I have found a few companies, such as African Sky Hunting and Kowas Adventure Hunting. If you have any experience, please chime in.
Hunting & Fishing Safari Company/ Package Recomendations
- Thread starter mountainman308
- Start date
African Big Game Hunting - Forum
Here's a link to the African hunting area over on the Accurate Reloading forums. A ton of African hunters, Outfitters and those who have hunted Africa...on the site.
I did RSA twice, great hunts both times. Most hunts are on large fenced in Ranches or Reserves owned by the Provinces. Everything is FENCED, Mostly to keep the poachers OUT, not so much the animals IN.
I'd suggest attending an SCI Convention if you could, or better yet attend the annual meeting in Reno. (Safari Club Intl ) At the larger Meetings like Reno there are hundreds of Guides and Outfitters in attendance. Easy to see whats available.
Don't forget your Taxidermy Costs in your budget. First trip I had all my hides and heads prepared then shipped back and I used a MT Taxidermist to get them done. Two or three each year...all I could afford back then. Took me three years plus to finally get them all done. Taxidermy CAN cost as much as the hunt.
Second trip over I had the majority of the heads prepped then simply European mounted. Saved me a ton of money.
I'd suggest buying/borrowing a book on African Game animal anatomy as well. Their vitals are set up a bit differently than your average whitetail. "The Perfect Shot" by Robertson is the standard.
Good Luck.
FN in MT
Here's a link to the African hunting area over on the Accurate Reloading forums. A ton of African hunters, Outfitters and those who have hunted Africa...on the site.
I did RSA twice, great hunts both times. Most hunts are on large fenced in Ranches or Reserves owned by the Provinces. Everything is FENCED, Mostly to keep the poachers OUT, not so much the animals IN.
I'd suggest attending an SCI Convention if you could, or better yet attend the annual meeting in Reno. (Safari Club Intl ) At the larger Meetings like Reno there are hundreds of Guides and Outfitters in attendance. Easy to see whats available.
Don't forget your Taxidermy Costs in your budget. First trip I had all my hides and heads prepared then shipped back and I used a MT Taxidermist to get them done. Two or three each year...all I could afford back then. Took me three years plus to finally get them all done. Taxidermy CAN cost as much as the hunt.
Second trip over I had the majority of the heads prepped then simply European mounted. Saved me a ton of money.
I'd suggest buying/borrowing a book on African Game animal anatomy as well. Their vitals are set up a bit differently than your average whitetail. "The Perfect Shot" by Robertson is the standard.
Good Luck.
FN in MT
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If you are not afraid to take a small risk, on that Accurate Reloading forum, there is a section for short notice discounted hunts. FLights may cost a little more, but there are some great deals.
You can probably do a little better than the Reno shows, like the Dallas Safari club show ( seems to be getting better all the time ) and the Houston Safari show, much easier to travel to, more flights to each, Reno is a Beyotch to get to.
Don't worry about the high fences in Africa, most are 100k+ acres, the critters do just fine there, and can be very hard to find. I've done both, both can walk you to TIRED! The open areas, not fenced, will cost more, and not always have the trophy size if that is important to you. Poaching is very real in a land where people are starving for protein. An elephant is reduced to a grease spot in a half day, by a mob of knife wielding villagers.
I might suggest Omujeve and Africa Thirstland safaris in Namibia, hunted with both, had only good to report. Namibia is very safe and a good place to start in. Not much malaria either, nor sleeping sickness, both are as real as the animals is certain parts.
BTW, may as well hunt DG, many of the PG hunts get you right among them, lions and leopards can be anywhere. Elephants can hide too, and you might surprise one when you least expect it. There is a reason the PH carries a big rifle, even when PG hunting.
A little more than 3 weeks, I am headed back!
You can probably do a little better than the Reno shows, like the Dallas Safari club show ( seems to be getting better all the time ) and the Houston Safari show, much easier to travel to, more flights to each, Reno is a Beyotch to get to.
Don't worry about the high fences in Africa, most are 100k+ acres, the critters do just fine there, and can be very hard to find. I've done both, both can walk you to TIRED! The open areas, not fenced, will cost more, and not always have the trophy size if that is important to you. Poaching is very real in a land where people are starving for protein. An elephant is reduced to a grease spot in a half day, by a mob of knife wielding villagers.
I might suggest Omujeve and Africa Thirstland safaris in Namibia, hunted with both, had only good to report. Namibia is very safe and a good place to start in. Not much malaria either, nor sleeping sickness, both are as real as the animals is certain parts.
BTW, may as well hunt DG, many of the PG hunts get you right among them, lions and leopards can be anywhere. Elephants can hide too, and you might surprise one when you least expect it. There is a reason the PH carries a big rifle, even when PG hunting.
A little more than 3 weeks, I am headed back!
Several observations:
1. For whoever you decide to go with, communicate with 2 or 3 hunters who have gone with the outfitter you're considering using.
2. Accuratereloading.com is a good resource for recommendations.
3. Join your local Safari Club Internations chapter. They have a yearly banquet/auction and there are at times smoking deals on African safaris.
4. In South Africa, because of hunting/landowner laws, you're going to find very little unfenced property. There are certain animals, however, that consistently get through or under fences so are essentially free range. Warthogs, jackal, baboons and others aren't stopped by fences. Also as noted above, if you're hunting 40,000 acres, the animals do have places to run and hide. I also hunted a working grape/fruit farm for grysbuck; that was truely an unfenced free range hunt.
5. If you wish to do a lot of shooting on the cheap, consider a cull hunt.
6. I've only hunted South Africa but another country to consider would be Namibia and you might find more free range hunts there.
1. For whoever you decide to go with, communicate with 2 or 3 hunters who have gone with the outfitter you're considering using.
2. Accuratereloading.com is a good resource for recommendations.
3. Join your local Safari Club Internations chapter. They have a yearly banquet/auction and there are at times smoking deals on African safaris.
4. In South Africa, because of hunting/landowner laws, you're going to find very little unfenced property. There are certain animals, however, that consistently get through or under fences so are essentially free range. Warthogs, jackal, baboons and others aren't stopped by fences. Also as noted above, if you're hunting 40,000 acres, the animals do have places to run and hide. I also hunted a working grape/fruit farm for grysbuck; that was truely an unfenced free range hunt.
5. If you wish to do a lot of shooting on the cheap, consider a cull hunt.
6. I've only hunted South Africa but another country to consider would be Namibia and you might find more free range hunts there.
In Namibia, although the farms are fenced, it is usually a low fence and has gates/gaps for game to move from one area to another.
Many of the ranches there don't like fences due to the population of leopards and cheetahs, they use the fences as funnels to focus and capture game. Since the game has value ( due to hunting ), the rancher makes a simple value decision, the only way a high fence works, is to keep the predators out. Of course, they have to provide water also then, as they can't migrate to water, nor escape a wildfire, which is a common occurrence there.
Cull hunts are great - I think I am doing that next time, shoot a lot, taxidermy bill = 0!!!!!
Many of the ranches there don't like fences due to the population of leopards and cheetahs, they use the fences as funnels to focus and capture game. Since the game has value ( due to hunting ), the rancher makes a simple value decision, the only way a high fence works, is to keep the predators out. Of course, they have to provide water also then, as they can't migrate to water, nor escape a wildfire, which is a common occurrence there.
Cull hunts are great - I think I am doing that next time, shoot a lot, taxidermy bill = 0!!!!!
MountainMan.
Here's a Namibian outfitter we went with in March/April of this year.
Home
As mentioned, we went to an SCI dinner and auction, and picked up the hunt for a pretty low price. The accomodations were great as was the hunting. We had an absolute blast.
Here's the thread w/all the specifics of travel etc.
It was a lot easier going thru Windhoek vs Jo-berg, they are gettin mighty picky about firearms and such, to the point that some airlines will not check firearms w/Jo-berg as the final destination. Hope this helps.
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...g-africa-suppressed-blood-gore-pic-heavy.html
Here's a Namibian outfitter we went with in March/April of this year.
Home
As mentioned, we went to an SCI dinner and auction, and picked up the hunt for a pretty low price. The accomodations were great as was the hunting. We had an absolute blast.
Here's the thread w/all the specifics of travel etc.
It was a lot easier going thru Windhoek vs Jo-berg, they are gettin mighty picky about firearms and such, to the point that some airlines will not check firearms w/Jo-berg as the final destination. Hope this helps.
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...g-africa-suppressed-blood-gore-pic-heavy.html
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The accurate reloading forum is a great place and has lots of good info. The other one that I like even better is Africa Hunting.com. One of the friendliest forums anywhere. They also have some late notice hunts that can be priced well. There has been a special advertised for Kanana in Botswana that is worth looking at with your budget. The hunt reports indicate its a great place. My advice is to pick the animals that are most important to you and then pick someone that has good trophy quality in those specific animals. Best of luck. Bruce
Thanks for the advice y'all. I have been looking around on the Accurate Shooter forum, and the short notice hunts look like a cool way to go. I have narrowed the countries down to Namibia and South Africa, now I am just looking for an outfitter with a good deal. I will be joining up with SCI. Hopefully this pans out. Best of luck Mike, shoot well.
Just got back from RSA w/ Somerby Safaris. Cannot recommend them enough! GREAT folks to hunt with. Good lodging, quality and quantity of animals unsurpassed IMO. Four of us went for 10 days. 29 animals. Wives outshot the men. Hunted two reserves one 100,000 and one 150,000 and a few smaller 12k-15K concessions. My wife and I accounted for 16 of the 29 and of those 11 were SCI gold, 3 silver and two Zebra. My Kudu went 58 and the wife's 53. Drom (PH/Owner) and his wife Sune' promise a lot an deliver more. Check em out! Good luck. And yes, the taxidermy is almost the cost of the safari. You only live once.......AND.....you'll go back, I can almost guarantee it. Oh, check out his cull hunts as well...7 days, 20 animal, great price.
Weaselthis - WHERE ARE THE PICS MAN?????
A hunt like that, c'mon, share some pics and tell some stories!!
Some of us really DO want to see your vacation pics!
A hunt like that, c'mon, share some pics and tell some stories!!
Some of us really DO want to see your vacation pics!
Not meaning to glom onto OP's post, but perhaps he can use some of the additional info and view pix as well to help him make a decision.
Posted on SH earlier:
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...92858-africa-trip-may-2013-a.html#post2519569
Posted on SH earlier:
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...92858-africa-trip-may-2013-a.html#post2519569
You may follow the link below for the story/photos of my last year's hunt in South Africa:
2012 South Africa Hunting
2012 South Africa Hunting
mountainan 308
I went with Kris last year had a great time I post on Accurate Reloading forum also a member of the Dallas Safari Club
Welcome - Kuche Safaris South Africa
I went with Kris last year had a great time I post on Accurate Reloading forum also a member of the Dallas Safari Club
Welcome - Kuche Safaris South Africa
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