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| One of Us |
I am starting to get into the planning stages for my first African trip, for Buffalo. Where is the most cost-effective free range hunt for me to consider? Ideally, I would like to find some place where I could also, maybe shoot a good kudu. | ||
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| One of Us |
Try some of the agents that post here. Unfortunately, “cost effective”, “free range” and “kudu” are not easy to find. You may to try a management buff hunt or non-trophy hunt. If you get an offer less than $10k, be wary. In this world of dangerous game hunting , you get what you pay for. | |||
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| One of Us |
Good for you! Dog at is right, you get what you pay for. Free range excludes much of SA, though there might be a few “free range” areas. Zim is the obvious choice if price is a concern (and it is for most of us), an email to CMS will surely get you a reply with reasonable offers (Dande area, great place), same with Mokore Safaris (Save). Hunted with both and had excellent hunts for Buffalo, saw kudu at both concessions but wasn’t looking for kudu. In Moz, Zambezi Delta Safaris would be hard to beat, thousands of Buffalo but I think no kudu. Mark Haldane runs a fantastic operation. Never hunted Buffalo in Zambia, Tanzania or Namibia but I know there are quality outfitters in each of these countries. Good luck! Karl Evans | |||
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Karl Evans | |||
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One of Us |
Be careful. The best areas for buff are not inexpensive, and there are sub-standard areas, including Dande East, operated by CMS, that are nearly as expensive as far better ones. If you are going to pay high rates, you would be well-advised to pick a better place than that. There are many. The best are in Tanzania, especially if kudu are on your list, but there are also great areas in Zambia and Mozambique, as well. I would think the prime (non-swamp) areas in Mozambique would be the most cost-effective these days. Personally, I would call Jumbo Moore, Charl van Rooyen and Andrew Baldry, and work it out with one or the other of them. Quality is more important than price. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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| One of Us |
That's great news, Colin! My $0.02: "Cost Effective" is a damn relative term in DG hunts. After hunting quite a few places, I'm planning to stick with the large, wild areas that preferably have little/no human habitation. Boddington suggested this in "Where Lions Roar" but it didn't totally sink in for me until recently. And with that idea in mind, hopefully start by picking a great PH. Jack Atcheson, Jr taught me that. If I needed to, I'd wait an extra year (or sell a rifle or two) to raise some extra cash to do it right. An extra couple grand could make the jump from "pretty good" to "awesome." I keep hearing great things about the Niassa Reserve in Mozambique, and I want to hunt Zambia's Luangwa Valley very badly. Zim's Save Valley with the Duckworths or Whittalls is also on my radar. | |||
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One of Us |
The most cost-effective areas for a truly free range hunt are likely to be Zim, Moz and Zambia. My advice is focus on reputable outfitters with an established history of satisfied, repeat clients. Plenty of outfits that fit that bill in all three of those countries, e.g., Buzz and Myles, the Duckworths, Andrew Baldry, Thor Kirchner, Mark Haldane, to name a few, that consistently produce a high percentage of successful hunts for mature buffalo hunted in a traditional manner. Keep your eyes open for cancellation hunts or specials by outfits like these and that can be another way to economize without sacrificing quality. Book with such an outfitter . . . and keep your head in the game until the game is over . . . and you will be fine and enjoy the experience of a lifetime. Congrats. Mike | |||
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The African Hunting universe is a large one. My only advise is to NOT limit your search to only AR. There are plenty of guys that can offer you a great hunt and aren't sitting at home poaching hunters off the internet. Formerly "Nganga" | |||
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| Administrator |
I bet Zimbabwe is your only choice if cost is important, and you wish to shoot a kudu. Buffalo alone you probably can get a good deal in other countries as well. And whatever you hear, you WILL be taking a very BIG chance if you really, really wish to hunt a wild area, avoid South Africa. The words FREE RANGE mean different things to different people. For me it means a totally wild area. Never a farm. You can get several buffalo and a kudu in the Selous. But it will cost you more. I have done exactly what you wish to do, in Zimbabwe and Tanzania. I have also huntedSouth Africa a couple of times. Had an absolute fantastic and very enjoyable time. Neber shot a buffalo there, and never will. Farms and buffalo hunting just do not seem to be right for me. Best of luck, and tell us what you finally decide on. | |||
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My first Africa hunt was with Guy Whittall in Zim at Humani, in the Save Conservancy. Absolutely free range and we found both a lovely buff and a fine kudu. The Save is a magical place with a remarkable diversity of wildlife and I so enjoyed Humani that I returned with my wife and son and asked Guy to guide him. Besides a good buff, my son also collected a 59 1/2" kudu and was thrilled. (Peter Wood led me to another buff and an excellent nyala that trip). I've been back for a lioness and will return next August to again chase Cape Buffalo with Guy. For a wonderful free-range and cost-effective hunt for buff and kudu, I think you'd be hard-pressed to do better than the Save Conservancy. | |||
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One of Us |
I can assist you with a buffalo hunt in the Balule Game Reserve. Balule is part of the APNR and shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park. Balule is 400 km sq and though surely free range enough, I wouldn’t refer to it as a wilderness area. We have excellent free range kudu hunting here in the Eastern Cape. This would be an affordable hunt. Please PM me if interested. Victor Watson Karoo Wild Safaris Email: info@karoowildsafaris.co.za Cell: (+27) 721894588 www.karoowildsafaris.co.za | |||
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| One of Us |
Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania are places to look at for free range. If you are able to travel at short notice, wait until the end of the season and pick up a deal on left over quota. Zimbabwe does have a lot going for it, but some areas are not so good and you need to exercise due diligence. Most areas that I have been in have kudu, but if you are doing end of year clean up, that’s going to be iffy. Lots of great operators, a bunch many have not heard of, and a few bad apples. Zambia, I have not really seen Kudu like I have elsewhere (but there are some!), but they have other rare plains game that you might not find elsewhere. There doesn’t seem to be the plethora of outfits in Zambia like Zimbabwe, but Muchinga, Allister Norton, Andrew, and Thor have produced for folks here. Mozambique I hunted Coutada 9 and buffalo were good, and we saw Kudu everywhere. Tanzania is a bit of a question to me right now. There are the top outfitters who produce outstanding results, and you pay for that… but I’m also seeing a lot of very competitive priced buffalo out of Tanzania. The kicker for you is Kudu are a premium species there. I’ve shot excellent buff and kudu there, but it wasn’t budget friendly. I’d have a lot of questions before taking a cut rate hunt there. I haven’t hunted Namibia, but the free range dangerous game are pricey there. Most likely kudu would be farm hunting. South Africa can be budget friendly, but I wouldn’t think the limited free range buffalo in greater Kruger are cheap. Some ranch hunts can be challenging if the property is big enough and managed right… that being said, while I’ve hunted South Africa, and like what I did, I have not seen the farm that I would consider a true fair chase buffalo hunt yet. In my book, you have to be careful, and in any case, you typically get what you pay for. If it’s cheap, there is usually a reason why. | |||
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My first buffalo hunt was in the Selous. I'm pretty sure you can still get two buffalo on a ten day license in Tanzania, so that makes Tanzania a bit of a bargain for buffalo. However, I don't think you can get a kudu on a ten day license, so to get a kudu you'll have to buy a longer license. I don't know if you can get kudu on anything shorter than a 21 day license. While some outfitters will let you hunt less than 21 days on a 21 day license, they generally are going to require more than ten days. | |||
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Hi Colin My name is Gary Hopkins and I operate in Zimbabwe. I can offer you a great 10 day Buffalo,plains game hunt at Sondelani If you are interested please contact me at ghopkins@yoafrica.com | |||
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| One of Us |
Thank you all for the advice. I will be reaching out to everyone that made some suggestions. Kudu is certainly secondary, and I hate that I have a budget. I only want a free range hunt, and I don’t know when I will be able to do this again. I do have a some ability to pull the trigger on short notice if the right deal came along. I am not into taxidermy, but if I can hunt a Buffalo I would like the skull and horns. | |||
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If Zambia was on your agenda I would be looking at Central Luangwa which is serviced by a domestic flight to Mfuwe rather than an expensive charter. I have booked a number of hunts there for next year and the prices are very reasonable. Late-season deals are also worth considering if you are looking for a bargain. I have just returned from North Luangwa and we shot a cracking Buffalo and there was a good population of Kudu. Thor Kirchner in Munyamadzi would be an excellent choice but I believe he has sold out for 2023. ROYAL KAFUE LTD Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144 Instagram - kafueroyal | |||
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The Selous is good for two buffalo but Kudu are scarce and expensive. A proper "wild Africa" hunt. In Zambia, Andrew Baldry "Fairgame" runs a "no frills" operation which gives excellent value for money with the wide range of species available. If he still has quota available try him for a late season hunt. The Zambesi valley in Zim is one of the great true wilderness areas. Hard and satisfying buffalo hunting but Kudu aren't easy. Personally I would advise you to concentrate on the buffalo for a first African hunt in the Selous or Zambia or Zimbabwe. If you get a few plains game as well that is a bonus. In a year or two go back to Africa, Namibia or South Africa and collect a heap of species, including Kudu for half the price of hunting farther north. Victor Watson will get you everything you wish for on the closest thing to "free range" South Africa can offer. Namibia has more fence free areas than SA but the game are concentrated by the provision of water holes in the desert. | |||
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| One of Us |
As others have said Tanzania is a great area for buff but the license and trophy fees are going up in 2023 so if you get a quote make sure that it's based off of 2023 pricing. | |||
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| Administrator |
Find who is hunting Matetsi concessions in Zimbabwe. I remember they have lots of buffalo and kudu. Used to shoot several of both on one hunt. The Selous has both. But I think you need a 21 day license for a kudu. And you get 3 buffalo too. | |||
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| One of Us |
Being your first trip, the best advice I can give is call Mark Young , Mark's Exclusive Ad. here on AR. He'll line you up with the right outfitter, the right time of year, hold some of your trophy fees in escrow so you won't have to carry so much cash, help with firearm permits, visas, etc. There is so much more to it than just getting an outfitter. There is no way I would go on my first safari with out their help. | |||
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| One of Us |
Saeed, I think it's up to 4 buffalo on a 21 day license at least in some areas. | |||
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| Administrator |
That is terrible! I got cheated then by Alan! He only let me shoot 3 on each license! I am going to sort that man! I have known him since he wet behind the ears! On second thoughts, I suppose he let others in our party shoot all that is allowed on their license! Might reconsider taking all these supposedly friends on safari! They end up shooting my buffalo! The joke is on me I suppose!  | |||
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Yep, 4 buff on a 21-day license in TZ | |||
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| One of Us |
Define your expectation. Then research, research and reference an outfitter and area to meet that. Value for money unfortunately often implies spending good money for a quality area and outfitter to meet that expectation. | |||
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Once you extract the agent's commission there is little margin for a discounted hunt. ROYAL KAFUE LTD Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144 Instagram - kafueroyal | |||
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| Administrator |
Any outfit that gives a cheaper price to anyone booking directly with them than through an appointed agent should be avoided. They might special deals, but those deals should be the same price whether direct or through an agent. | |||
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And if you get a 10 day license to run concurrently with the 21 you can bang 6  | |||
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One of Us |
I’ll 2nd the suggestion to talk to Mark Young. He’s got some excellent options in Zimbabwe and Mozambique for what you’re seeking. Zambia too. Ask him about Coutada 9. I just booked a hunt there through him for late season in 2024. Lots of good kudu and other spiral horned game as well as good quality buffalo. | |||
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| One of Us |
FWIW - i hunted Matetsi with Gary Hopkins, he posted above me someplace. Great hunt - not too pricey - great guy to hunt with. I've seen the photos of the buff he's taking at Sondelani and they're really really nice. I'll second the idea of talking to Mark Young. He's the one that sent me to Matetsi and Gary Hopkins. I went in 2019 (lucky me) - if you want to chat, PM me. Happy to share what little knowledge I have!!! Jeff | |||
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| One of Us |
Let me explain. A hunter contacts me for a buff and I contact an operator as a PH knowing full well there is a margin for negotiation as there is no agents fee. ROYAL KAFUE LTD Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144 Instagram - kafueroyal | |||
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| One of Us |
As I know it to be, outfitters pay the agent a negotiated commission ranging between 15/20% on sales and seeing this commission gets deducted from the price of the hunt, it can be considered a discount if booking directly with the outfitter. OTH, I have seeing agents applying their own prices (inflated) both on the cost of the hunt and the trophy fees as well. | |||
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| One of Us |
I book direct. Better for me and better for the outfitter. Fulvio, if I could spare 30 days out of the office, I'd be first in line for that 6 buffalo deal. | |||
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| one of us |
Also important: don’t get too excited, don’t expect too much. I have been dreaming of buffalo my entire life, always wanted to shoot a real old dagga boy. Well, after two unsuccessful hunts in Zimbabwe I have US$ 25,000 less in my account but still no buffalo. During the first hunt (October) we didn’t see a single buffalo and during the second safari (May) just a handful. Only in one area (second hunt) the bush was very thick, the other area was wide open, still nothing resp very little to be seen. In other words be prepared to go home empty-handed. | |||
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| Administrator |
In all my years of hunting, never failed to shoot all the buffalo on my license! There are areas where one can be taken for a ride by unscrupulous operators. But if one does his homework, and hunts with a reputable outfit, he will get his buffalo. | |||
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| One of Us |
The grading of the 2 licenses is what secures you the privilege of hunting 6 buffalo .... you don't necessarily have to stay for 30 days as I have seen several clients who managed to "clean up" this quota + a whole bunch of plains game in 14 days. It all depends on the outfitter. | |||
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| One of Us |
How the hell do you manage to go on 2 different buffalo hunts and never shoot a buffalo???? There are so many great operators and places where you can shoot not one, but 2-4 buffalo, on a single hunt. I can’t understand how you can manage this unless you do no research at all before booking. Spend an hour researching here on AR and you’ll have more solid, very legit opportunities than you’ll have the time or money to burn through. | |||
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| Administrator |
I think he was unlucky to go with a couple of incompetent, crooked outfits! Very sad indeed. I have heard similar stories. One particular one was of a concession that had no buffalo at all. But a farm not far. Apparently they paid the farmer to bring some cows into their concession, so they show the poor sod hunting with them that there were buffalo there! | |||
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How is it possible? It is much easier than you think. That is why my first two words of advice on this thread were: Be careful. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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| one of us |
Folks, I'm sorry to hear stories like Sunshine's. His $25,000 thrown away could have been put toward (1) great hunt in a myriad of places that have great buffalo and plains game. When you book something that is way below the norm in price you probably are going to get screwed. If you pay an average price, go at the best time of year for the area the only excuse for a failure would poor shooting, incredibly bad health or something catastrophic. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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| One of Us |
While I agree with doing your research and due diligence, the pages of AR are full of folks looking to strictly gain favor from an outfitter, or support a friend. There are the AR “Golden Boys” who can do no wrong. That’s why I always advise, don’t limit your hunting universe to AR and its members. Are there good operators here? Sure, just not ALL of them. The unbiased nature of a recommendation just does not exist here. I have 30 some-odd trips behind me and have had only one bad one. I found it here on AR. Federico Gellini. Some or even most of the best operators in some of the finest areas don’t post here. Don’t limit your options. Formerly "Nganga" | |||
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