I am not trying to be cavalier just an honest question. Most people on here talk about RSA, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania and a few of the more exotic locations CAR... but no Botswana.

Are there any unique hunting experiences in Botswana?

Elephant

I have not hunted there but I hear you can look at 50+ bulls a day.

It's really not fair to put RSA in the comparison. Driving across the border from RSA into Botswana, at least in some places, is as dramatic a shift as one could imagine. Botswana is wild Africa.

Botswana hadn't been discussed as much over the previous 4 years or so because most of the hunting was closed. Once the elephant hunting gets going again, I suspect there will be a lot more discussions on this site about Botswana.

They also have great plainsgame/ranch hunts.

I'm in Africa for another two weeks. When I return I will post my plains game hunt near Ghanzi, Botswana. After my experience with Jaco Visser I would not hunt plains game anywhere else! In eight days I took three warthogs, impala, wildebeest, three huge gemsbok and two wonderful eland. If one wants a 60" kudu, 40" gemsbok and 40" eland this is the place to go! All free ranging and natural Kalahari animals.
Cal

If and when the government gets elephant opened and gets buffalo and some of the PG there on quota as well, I will be shopping for a hunt there.

Nothing against ranch hunting, but I like to hunt some DG on a trip that requires that much travel.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...481046931#6481046931


Two words "Okavango Delta" the most incredible place I have ever seen. Big elephants everywhere, hunting by boat from island to island, herds of buffalo and plainsgame.

Saw a herd of zebra come tearing through the water being chased by a pride of lions.

Monster crocs swimming under the boat, plus great fishing.

Of all the places we have been, Botswana is definitely at the top of the pyramid.

Link has photos from the hunt.

Years ago I almost booked a buff hunt in Bots but I didn’t, to my everlasting regret.

Perhaps one is in my future?

BH63

I read a lot of reports before the ban of clients seeing 500 to 800 bulls in 14 days.

Of all the African countries I’ve been to Botswana IMO was the nicest followed by Tanzania. I haven’t been to Zambia but from talking to friends that have hunted in Zambia sound like it might be as nice if not nicer.

Botswana is a fantastic country! The Kalahari is some of the wildest country you can find, interesting and quite remote. Then, you have the north, with entirely different species. The Okavango, Linyanti and Chobe areas are full of game and are simply beautiful habitats to spend a few weeks enjoying.

Does anyone have a clue who may end up with the trophy elephant areas?
And....will that Ivory be importable to the U.S. ?

I've hunted there twice. The country is game rich, diverse in environment and previous to the closure the level of safari was very high. The Okavango is a must see. If they institute safari hunting as we understand safari hunting it could be a great general bag area with big elephant, monster lion, unsophisticated leopard and good PG. What little I know about it is that there is no plan in place yet and when hunting opens it may not resemble what we might expect. I know that sounds vague but it is what I've been told by people that supposedly are in the know.

Mark

I was there for 2 weeks in 2014. No hunting - just visiting my brother in Maun and national parks.

The Kalahari is an amazing place. The sheer volume of game is mind boggling. Millions of doves & sand grouse. 500+ herds of Sprinbok, Impala etc. Kori bustards by the dozen as you sit in the car. Falcons taking doves overhead.

Lion, leopard, cheetah, around camps. Giraffe, kudu, eland, and more.

No buffalo, hippo or crocs in the scrub desert!

Chobe in the North is a different ecosystem with a lot of game. Plenty of buffalo, hippo, crocks, lion, leopard, wild dog. We went into the aprk at 6.30 & in 10 minutes we saw a pak of wild dogs just finishing off the morning kill. The rib cage was quite large & was probably a waterbuck or a large Lechwe.

I would love to go. Hope they get it right

Not been there, but have seen it from RSA (Limcroma Safaris property ) from south bank of Limpopo.

Like some other parts of Africa, it looked a lot like Texas - fields / pastures full of cattle.

quote:

Originally posted by crshelton:
Not been there, but have seen it from RSA (Limcroma Safaris property ) from south bank of Limpopo.

Like some other parts of Africa, it looked a lot like Texas - fields / pastures full of cattle.

I thought the same about Limpopo looking like parts of Texas. A lot of the areas where I hunt in Argentina are similar. In fact I took my guys out to Albany after DSC and they agreed.

I do hope Botswana gets it figured out. Zambia may be before, but Namibia and Botswana follow as close seconds.

Just wanted to let Safari2 know in 1999 in Bots, my partner and I saw 600 bulls in 12 days.
Starting in the AM (we were told the bulls came every other day to water) at the waters edge we would follow any rear foot track over 24" back into the Mopane sp. until we caught up with them.
Sometimes running to keep up. Sometimes they moved off down wind.... The trackers & PH would
climb trees to evaluate tusks to judge length and weight. We were hoping for 80 pounds.
-- On the 12th day my friend took a bull that was headed for a tribal concession - both tusks 72" length/ both 66lb - 18" circumference at the lip. This ele had 22" back foot measurement. He had two younger askaris with him.
on our way out of this camp we came across a bigger bull but we were still very happy with the one taken.
This was my first safari - I knew it was one to cherish, Lee

One day the camp manager showed up with an ultralight. He took me out over the Delta for a " National Geographic" 30 min. spectacular spin over the swamp. The early morning temp was low, the thermals were not to bad. The hippo trails stuck out. Saw lions on a Zebra kill... lots of plains game but zero ele. I videoed as much as possible

It sounds like Botswana is a gem that needs to be further explored. Thank you for taking the time to answer my question